PLASTIC REDUCTION CHALLENGE #7 – SPEAK UP!

 

 

The Challenge – Share your concerns and needs to the local sales person or manager who sells you the goods and services you buy.

 

Of course you want to buy local.  And here’s one more way to make your local dollars and voice count.

 

If you’ve followed our challenges so far, you’ve started work on replacing plastic packaging and objects from your kitchen, your bathroom and your cleaning supplies.  But you may recognize that the real impact – the BIG impact – on our climate depends on decisions made by business and big corporations.  In the last few years it has become clearer and clearer that the most environmental damage is caused by industry more than individual choices.

 

So, what can an individual do to make any impact on the status quo of big business?  Here are a few thoughts to start you out:

 

Every time you make a purchase you are placing a vote of support for the product or service you bought.  Every time you express dissatisfaction (or satisfaction) with a product, you influence the person who makes decisions about what to provide their customers. Even one voice can increase the chances of creating a ripple in the products’ future.  Think how all of us could impact the plastic that comes into the valley if we speak up, even one time.

 

Sample sentences to get you comfortable with speaking up;

 

• When the check-out says, “Did you find everything you were looking for?”  You: “Not this time.  I was sorry not to find any X that didn’t come in plastic”

• “Do you sell reusable produce bags?” (or any other reusable products)

• “I appreciate that you have this deodorant in paper packaging!” 

• “Can you expand your bulk section to include dried beans?” (or anything else)

 

Now you try it!  Let’s go into our local stores to show our local businesses support and our community’s desire to reduce the continuing increase of plastics (micro and nano plastics) in our valley.