Is plastic-free obtainable?

I'm planning on making some grocery bags that I can toss in the washing machine. I hate getting a million and 1 bags whenever I go shopping.

I made a bunch of market bags out of an ex-sheet set. I got 8 large bags out of one queen-sized flat sheet, plus 2 more from the pillow cases. They are strong; I can fill one up to where I almost can't carry it easily. I found an easy-to-follow pattern on a blog called (I think) Wisdom of the Moon. These are a couple of years old now, and still going strong, though a couple got badly stained when a meat package leaked.
I tried to get plastic out of our house and had to give up; it just doesn't seem to be possible if you are buying anything commercial. The best I've done is reduce it by about 2/3.

2/3 is not bad Britesea! I love that recycled sheet/bags idea. Those type of bags do go on forever, don't they? I see fabric bags for sale at the Aldi here as well and I should buy some, but at the moment I have so many plastic bags that I'm re-using for shopping, I have no need yet.

I don't think plastic-free is really possible, so I'm thinking more along the lines of no plastic for things I'll use fewer than 5 years. or that will last fewer than 5 years - I have a baby so many items are durable and will be passed on.

EVERY single piece of plastic that has ever been created since the 19th century is still SOMEWHERE on our planet. So if it never goes away, where does it go?

If you want to see the extent of what we have done to our planet, to life on our planet, and to ourselves because of our plastic addiction, you have to watch Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Unfortunately, you have to have Netflix, Hulu or another subscription, or you can rent the video for $2.99-$3.99.

Here is the trailer:


and, see some frightening statistics in this video below:


I literally felt sick after viewing Plastic Paradise. We have truly squandered our beautiful planet. Where will it end?

Hopefully, efforts like this one will be supported and will help to begin cleaning our oceans of plastic:

http://www.theoceancleanup.com/



Here is a website with a lot of ideas on how to kick the plastic addiction: http://myplasticfreelife.com/

Unfortunately, the only way to get rid of plastic is for the companies to stop packaging everything in plastic. And, that's only going to happen if people refuse to buy it.

I fully agree with you, Deb, but I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon. It seems most folks are more concerned with convenience than conservation.

True -- more convenience than conservation. Efforts to reuse plastics by making into usable things -- park benches, lumber replacement, etc. -- could be expanded.

Realistically, with the current population and lifestyles, no one wants to (or knows they can) support small shops, paper bags, meats cut at butcher and wrapped, etc. It would be hard for that to happen in our large cities. Most box stores have the meats arrive pre-pkged now.

Very much like the huge farms producing our GMO foods, 8 tractors abreast, with commercial additives and pesticides. Although I do see farmer's markets in many areas, being used, so much of our population doesn't know (or care?) about the degradation of our food supply. Heck, some don't know where eggs come from!

We can all cut back dramatically if we try. Many won't try.

Here's a website that specializes in non-plastic alternative products. A bit pricey, you can probably find most cheaper elsewhere, but it is good for ideas.

http://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/store/

Thank you so much for putting effort into this thread. This is a subject that I never really put much thought into. But now as I think about what all is in my home it is everywhere. You folks really have me thinking.