I look up to my sister-in-law a lot. She did this no-waste challenge before me, and inspired me to do the same. It was just a bonus that I was able to make it into an honors experience. At the time she was living in Cincinnati, working at the zoo. She taught me how to compost, showed me how I can buy in bulk without plastic, and taught me what Cincinnati recycles and where to recycle what they don't. Now she is working in Colorado Springs, working to promote sustainable palm oil production. She wrapped our family's Christmas presents in cloth and bought me re-usable silverware made of bamboo, to carry around with me. She was been inspiring even my parents to try to use stainless steel straws instead of plastic.
It has been over a year since my honors experience, and I still think about this project most days. It has become part of my daily routine to use a handkerchief, re-usable shopping bags, and now a re-usable straw. It's not always easy and I find myself just grabbing a plastic snack bag or eating out way too much because it's simply more convenient. But I know that one plastic bag won't make a difference, but it's more about changing habits and changing society's perspective on waste. Over the course of this past year I have seen way more posts on facebook and been a part of way more conversations about plastic and waste, and I'm hoping that these topics will become more prevalent in our society as time goes on.
I think we can all agree that humans make probably the biggest impact on the earth and it's resources. I believe we are meant to be good stewards of what we have been given, and I want future generations to be able to appreciate the beauty of the earth. This all might sound like tree-hugger stuff, but it's the truth.
I've noticed that parties can create a lot of waste in a home. It's easier to use plastic or paper cups, silverware, napkins, and plates rather than worrying about clean up. I hosted a bachelorette party this past weekend, and I did my best to reduce the amount of waste from the party. I did not put up useless paper decorations; I forgot about balloons; and I used mason jars for cups. I used paper straws rather than plastic, and used paper plates that my parents already owned. It wasn't a particularly waste-less party, but I made intentional changes to reduce the amount of trash I would be taking out afterwards.
I'm not sure where I will end up after graduation, but I want to work somewhere that cares about the environment and creates a well made product that will help the consumer in the long run. I am excited to take a renewable energy class and industrial design seminar next semester, and hopefully both classes will help me figure out where I want to be in the work field.