1.02.2011

4 Day 1 - No Impact Experiment


I started the No Impact Experiment today. Each day will have a specific focus and the goal is to reduce your overall footprint over the course of the week. For Day 1 the focus is Consumption. The goal is to reduce the amount that you consume within the week. To look at what you want and need to purchase differently. So I made a list of everything I need and want to buy this week and then I cut that down to what I need to buy.

Here is my list:
- Banana's (organic, can compost peel)
- Avocado (organic, can compost rind, recycle bag?)
- Blueberries (can recycle container)
- Blackberries (WILL NOT BUY - already have some but was going to get more due to a sale)
- Bread (WILL NOT BUY - can do without)
- Razor blades
- Diapers (can I find someone who will let me borrow a few CD's for night time?)
- Wipes (WILL NOT BUY - going to make my own)
- Butt stuff  (natural and organic)
- Yogurt (organic, can recycle containers)
- Organic oats (WILL NOT BUY - already have some but was going to get more due to a sale)
- Whole chicken (will try to find free range antibiotic/hormone free)
- Roast (will try to find organic)
- Cereal bars (organic, recycle box, wrapper is trash though *I think*)
- Pop (WILL NOT BUY - don't need)
- Cottage cheese
- Cheese
- Cereal (WILL NOT BUY - don't need)
- Beans
- Alpha getti (WILL NOT BUY - don't need)
- Pasta sauce (find organic?)
- Green peppers
- Mushrooms
- Dishwasher detergent (biodegradable, phosphate free)
- Bra's (WILL NOT BUY - will get another time)
- Winter coat (WILL NOT BUY - Find one 2nd hand?)
- Winter boots (WILL NOT BUY - will get another time)

So my list has 27 things on it and of that 10 I am not going to buy, 6 are environmentally friendly, 5 I am going to look for an environmentally friendly alternative. Not too shabby.

Throughout the week I will report back daily on how I am doing with consumption. It is not too late to sign up if you are interested. Just head over to the No Impact Project and register.

Day 2 Update
Went to the store today and stuck to my list! Even with the tempting 'deep discount' Burts Bee's sale. Yes I would like to have some of their body scrub but I do not need it so it stayed on the shelf. They did not have any beef or pork that was free range and antibiotic/hormone free so I didn't buy any. The organic avocado's were rotten and I could  have bought the non organic one's but decided not to (and B hates the non organic one's anyways).

It was easy to not buy things when you ask yourself 'do I really need this?' Plus we were in and out of the grocery store in 30 minutes and spent under $100.

Consumption UpdatesDay 3 - Did not buy anything
Day 4 - Did not buy anything
Day 5 - Did not buy anything
Day 6 - Did not buy anything
Day 7 - Did not buy anything
Day 8 - Did not buy anything

Related Posts - Check them Out
Tap Water vs Bottled Water
Eco-Challenge: No TV
No Impact Experiment

4 comments:

  1. Jen, when I read you post on my linky about trying to go zero trash in 2011 I was absolutely in awe. Great post and good luck. I will be watching your progress. :)

    ~Laura http://greeninreallife.blogspot.com/

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  2. Thanks Laura! The only thing in our trash right now is biodegradable diapers and non recyclable plastic. I probably create a kitchen sized garbage bag once every 10-14 days. So looks like som elimination of products and potty training are in my future!

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  3. Cereal bar wrapper may possibly not be trash according to TerraCycle. Look them up, they have programs for most wrappers. I'm participating in the energy-bar one (and a couple others too, but don't have as many things collected for those).

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  4. I thought about that today Sam. But their program is not as big in Canada so they don't take nearly as much. I will have to look into it as the last time I did it was limited and was only open to schools.

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