Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too

I don't know how or when I first learned about Terry's endeavor in trying to get rid of plastic from her life. But one thing for sure, it turns out, we both cried when we saw the images of plastic debris filled dead albatross carcasses; she saw them on Algalita and I saw them on Chris Jordan's Midway: A Message from the Gyre. But unlike me, she set out to do something about it. She boldly decided to get rid of plastic from her life, while I 'try' but still struggle with the endeavor.So it's no surprise that Terry wrote this book so people like you and me, can learn how to do it, without being overwhelmed. This book gives you easy tips to follow with brilliant and quick steps you can do, to get rid of plastic from your daily living. The message I got, and love, from Terry's book is that you don't have to be drastic, like her, to live plastic-free. She acknowledges that it can be hard but she teaches you how we can, by taking little steps to start. And the facts, the directory, exhaustive research she did and shared in the book give you enough information to start and to keep for reference. She did the leg work so we can take the guess work out of our plastic free journey.I especially love how every footnote is referenced. I also love the "rent/borrow/share" directory with links, the difference between silicone and plastic (Good to know she's on the same page as I about silicone), directory of plastic free clothing and accessories...the list goes on.If you don't know how important it is to eliminate plastic from our lives, for our health, for the planet's health, and for the animals' health, then, you definitely should pick up a copy. You can buy this digital version (like I did) or you can preorder the hardcover paper version soon. The paper version of the book is plastic free, packaging is plastic free, and shipping is plastic free - the whole book is compostable afterwards! No glue and no toxic ink was used. Compostable cotton thread was used to bind the book!I think we are worse than the dead albatross in the Gyre. The poor birds couldn't escape plastic that they had nothing to do with, 2000 miles away from us - but we are swimming in plastic every day and dying from the effects.We owe it to our children to eliminate plastic from our lives so they don't end up like the albatross babies, dead with stomach filled with plastic soda caps. And Beth Terry teaches us 'how', with this book.

In the Pacific Ocean between America and Japan floats the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area somewhere in size between the state of Texas and twice the size of the continental United States. Couple that with the fact that the average American generates between 88 and 120 pounds of plastic waste per year, and we begin to understand the problem as well as our responsibility to reduce the impact of plastic consumption. Even if you don’t feel it is your job to reduce plastic waste, learning of the lethal chemicals in plastic may help to change your thought process.Beth Terry has written an understandable and easy-to-read guide full of suggestions and tips on how each of us can begin to cut down on plastic use. She presents informative facts and insights concerning how deeply plastic is intertwined with our lives, appearing in items we would never have dreamed of. Of course, we don’t have to think of the exotic uses. For most of us, a simple trip to the grocery store can instantly generate pounds of waste (think water/juice/cola bottles, plastic bags for veggies and everything we buy, trays to cook your food in, and on and on). When one begins to think of all the changes necessary to reduce our personal waste in pounds down to single digits, the task seems daunting. I began by recycling paper bags and refusing plastic (even for my veggies). It’s amazing how checkout clerks react…some grin, some agree, and some treat not putting your food in those easy to dispense sacks a major problem.The author understands that reducing your waste is not an overnight feat. It takes time, and she walks you through the different areas where you can personally make an impact. Personally, I have not achieved the level of success as Ms. Terry, but no matter. Regular referral to her book helps to identify the next area where I can eliminate plastic, and I feel good making progress even if it is little by little.This book is an eye-opener as well as a guide on how you can follow in the author’s footsteps and do your part to reduce your personal waste. Five stars.

It gives actual replacements for plastic products, which is great, because my problem was that I wasn't sure if I could find any on my own.

This book "kicks" it as far as really informing you a jillion ways to avoid allowing single-use plastic into your life. Beth Terry has come up with so many innovative ways to live your life plastic free and, as a result, more simply. The first thing I picked up was keeping all my glass jars for storage, and actually choosing products which are packaged in glass. This is a big plus: nothing to dispose and you gain a storage container. I've gotten rid of most of my plastic now, and am happy to report you can find many sizes of glass containers at very reasonable prices at TJMaxx, Marshall's, and Ross. I'm sure there are others, but these are in my locality. She also shows the beauty of taking your own re-usable bags when shopping. It is an easy book to pick up for awhile, assimilate a few tips, and put it down while you practice. You can return to it at any time to resume your learning of good habits. Thank you, Beth Terry, because you are changing my life.

I have made it about 2/3 of the way through it. I found it to be an awesome resource. There is a lot that I have learned and I have used the links to go buy some of the products that she switched to. The turtle and the plastic bag story is sad. I understand the need to bring up the effects of plastic on the environment and animals but that one bothers me.Some of what she recommends isn't that practical but a lot of it is. She has a sort of scale each chapter that gives what you can do that has very easy changes and gradually gets to more difficult. Also she lists some of the restrictions she has ran into. It is nice to have someone explain the pros and cons of the changes. For example many places ban glass water bottles.

First, I think it’s awesome that she researched to make the book itself as plastic free as possible. Kudos!Overall, the book was approachable and readable. Real. She talks about being overwhelmed and like you won’t make a difference but has encouragement for us starting this process and feeling like we’re one small person in our community.Love the bios and inspiring stories. Love love love the resources she offers by suggesting books and companies and products and websites. Love her practical checklists for how we can start making our lives more plastic free. Love the feel and heft of the book itself...One thing I was not too fond of: her formatting. Some bios cut off her previous sentence and it’s not continued until after the bio. There were a few times I thought my book had pages missing.Concern: she mentions that hemp and bamboo might not be as eco friendly as we think, but there isn’t any bit of paper devoted to how cotton (even organic) may also have a huge environmental footprint. But she does reiterate multiple times that reusing or finding used products is best, so going with that for her lesson is great.And her lessons are great. “The point to this story is that learning to live with less plastic requires not only a willingness to experiment but also to fail, to laugh at ourselves, and to try again. Over and over. Until we get it finally right, and move onto the next adventure.” (216) “The point is to realize we have a choice and do the best we can...let’s cheer ourselves when we succeed, laugh at ourselves when we fail, and speak up...” (166)This book is encouraging and in no way tried to shame or guilt you but make you realistically look at your life and encourage you to take some simple baby steps and push yourself (just a little bit at a time) to make more conscientious choices for our environment.Add: she goes over composting as a green option and I’d want to add the bokashi bin to her research. It’s small and apartment friendly and works rather well (if I do say so myself).

Just starting out on my own plastic free journey this book is the ultimate guide. Beth Terry has an easy and entertaining way of informing and inspiring you. I feel so empowered by her simple and intelligent advice.

I highly recommend this book!!!! A must-read for anyone wondering about plastic in our lives and the world. Beth has done her research; she provides a great easy read full of facts, tips, and her own discoveries (and mishaps!) she has made in her journey toward living completely plastic-free. I loved the summary profiles she included of other plastic-free pioneers who have already made a difference in the world and continue to inspire others to do the same.

Wonderful book. A great map and how to guide for living with less waste.

Amazing. A lot of information about a plastic-free life. The book it's even made without plastic.