
Enter to win a plastic free LIQUID Dish soap kit! Just answer this question in the comments below:
How do you get "stubborn" family members on the Plastic-Free Train?
The prize includes 3 Plastic-Free Liquid Dish Soap pods, etee's original 'LOOFIE' Scouring sponge (the fibrous loofah sewn onto a cellulose dish sponge) and a cellulose dish cloth. We'll select 1 lucky winner from the entries.
Make sure to include your name and email address so we can contact you if you win. Only your name is visible with your comment / entry. Your email address will not be visible.
Hurry! Contest closes on Monday, October 7th at 9 am ET.
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Congratulations to the winner Michelle Seal, with her award winning comment!
I collected all our single use plastics for 3 months and revealed them at once to show the impact we could make by switching out just a few reusable things for plastic in the kitchen and bathrooms. I also calculate the yearly monthly savings for each swap we make, which keeps the most frugal family member on board. We continue to add one or two impactful switches every month and we shop and live more consciously. We monitor each others habits to be sure we stay on track, and as a family we are always on lookout for other sustainable changes we can make like our new worm compost bin! Little things lead to big things.
Here are some honourable mentions!
To get “stubborn” family members on the Plastic-Free Train it is important to present them with information about the affects on our environment (there is tons and the pictures can be motivating) from plastic and plastic free options for helping our environment, and to educate them on the affects on our health from using plastic. This can easily be done on Facebook which will affect more than family. Plastic free options are a great gift to get others to try them. Also it is helpful for family and friends to visit and see the ease of living plastic free. Cost could be an issue but in many cases there is a cost savings. I am grateful for companies like etee that continue to offer plastic free options and looking forward to a plastic free dish soap option which I had not found yet.
Janet Grace
Well, it’s too late for the contest. However, I’m slowly getting several friends, neighbors, clients and one husband to switch out of plastic.
1) I give alternatives as gifts – easy with friends, neighbors, clients.
2) I seek to change one habit at a time. When that habit sticks, I’m onto the changing another.
3) I remind my husband he’s going to the dump FAR less frequently now and am making a bit of a contest out of this. I’m husband’s second wife. With his first wife and his daughter, he used to have to take smelly trash to the dump 1x/week. I started him composting. I’ve started towards the zero waste movement. Now, he takes a trip to the dump, recycling included, 1x/6 weeks! And, that’s not even a full load.
Mye Lane
The best way is to lead by example. I live on the Jersey shore and the effects of plastic pollution killing our fish and marine wildlife at an ever increasing pace. By teaching our grandchildren a cleaner, greener way to live to start, they can see the impact it has. For example, no plastic bags, straws, or food wrap in our trash not only makes less trash, but less stinky trash with less chance of animals or birds getting into it and being harmed.
Donna M Lofdahl-Wac
Admittedly, it has taken some time to convince our hardest compadres: our mothers. But through sheer force (yes force – we will rummage through their garbage for items to recycle) REPEATEDLY, adding comments into conversations about the health of the Earth (especially for their beloved GRANDCHILDREN-yes, hit ‘em where it hurts), acting as we hope to change/show others (recyclable bags & containers, own straws, cloth towels instead of paper, etc., etc.), we have made a difference in our tiny, tiny circle of the world. Also, explaining more to our township board, creating a “Green Team” at the kids’ school; swathing soccer fields after games for rubbish; and explaining (in brief) that what ONE does in his/her everyday actions CAN make a difference… gotta walk the talk!
Lieca
I have some of the MOST stubborn family members. Some are on board with sustainability, but some are not, primarily because it’s ‘too much trouble’ and wave their hands saying they have no time to remember or sort it out. I tell them, one step at a time until you have changed an old habit for a new one. Start with re-useable bags for your grocery shopping. I promise that after a month or so, you won’t have so many instances of not remembering your bags. And not too long after you’ll wonder why you ever thought it was so hard. Then try NOT BUYING plastic wrap or sandwich bags. If it isn’t in your house, you can’t use it and will be pressed to find another way to store your food. There, that is two steps, and a good start. [Then I will recommend ‘etee’ products.]
Catherine
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266 Comments
Guerry McConnell
January 15, 2020Guerry McConnell
January 15, 2020I've already bought the kit to have all of the plastic free items to show people.
I am working on how to carry you bamboo utensils, reusable containers, and a drinking mug in the car.
Unfortunately, currently I tend to not have these with me when I am at a place to order take out.
Loraine
October 9, 2019Matt
October 8, 2019Pat Grinnan
October 8, 2019Linda Porter
October 8, 2019Tracy Lynn Angel
October 7, 2019Jennifer
October 7, 2019Carol Haulk
October 7, 2019Katrina S.
October 7, 2019Kara
October 7, 2019Freesia Krogstad
October 7, 2019Jaired H.
October 7, 2019Cynthia
October 7, 2019Noella Leggio
October 7, 2019Donna
October 7, 2019Pat Lee
October 7, 2019Mye Lane
October 7, 20191) I give alternatives as gifts - easy with friends, neighbors, clients.
2) I seek to change one habit at a time. When that habit sticks, I'm onto the changing another.
3) I remind my husband he's going to the dump FAR less frequently now and am making a bit of a contest out of this. I'm husband's second wife. With his first wife and his daughter, he used to have to take smelly trash to the dump 1x/week. I started him composting. I've started towards the zero waste movement. Now, he takes a trip to the dump, recycling included, 1x/6 weeks! And, that's not even a full load.
Lee Myers
October 7, 2019Katie Turner
October 7, 2019Tove Edens
October 7, 2019Kathleen
October 7, 2019Mandy
October 7, 2019Davi Ann Ann Mueller
October 7, 2019Janet Grace
October 7, 2019Marjorie Dorney
October 7, 2019Share options and products I use
Gift plastic free products
Remind effect one person can have if all of us became that one person
Think of the world we will leave for our children and grandchildren
Marjorie Dorney
October 7, 2019Share options and products I use
Gift plastic free products
Remind effect one person can have if all of us became that one person
Think of the world we will leave for our children and grandchildren
Stacey Keller
October 7, 2019Barb McCarley
October 7, 2019Donna M Lofdahl-Wac
October 7, 2019Susan Campbell
October 7, 2019Elizabeth Chen Schmidt
October 7, 2019Ask myself every time I leave the house, do I have what I need to use less plastic! My water bottle, silverware for lunch, reusable grocery bags and mesh bags, mug for coffee, reusable straw(that ones hard to fit in my bag!)! EVERYTIME!! By doing this, I can try to lead by example!!
Rita
October 7, 2019Danielle Hayashi
October 7, 2019Jim Badowich
October 7, 2019Annemarie
October 7, 2019Kathy
October 7, 2019Louise Minor
October 7, 2019Erick Groo
October 7, 2019Peggy Burns
October 7, 2019Lynn
October 7, 2019Leah Berkey
October 7, 2019Laura Holland
October 7, 2019earthyone
October 7, 2019Diane
October 7, 2019Kathy
October 7, 2019SArah
October 7, 2019Lieca
October 7, 2019Sandra
October 7, 2019leslie waskey
October 7, 2019Thank you. Keep up the good work!
Sarah
October 7, 2019Lisa Frank
October 7, 2019Loraine
October 7, 2019Tara E
October 7, 2019Debra Dueppen
October 7, 2019Margaret Renney
October 7, 2019KRISTI R WEISGERBER
October 7, 2019Cathy Sterner
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October 7, 2019Sarah Berto
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October 7, 2019Chloe Christensen
October 7, 2019Patricia
October 6, 2019Sherri Doxey
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October 6, 2019aryn J roth
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October 6, 2019Karen Aboud
October 6, 2019Iris Moore
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October 6, 2019Dominic Lim
October 6, 2019Tammy
October 6, 2019Kathleen White
October 6, 2019Alison K
October 6, 2019Damon Runnals
October 6, 2019kathryne l wright
October 6, 2019Renee
October 6, 2019Peggy poutre
October 6, 2019Judith Hertel
October 6, 2019Amy Paikuli
October 6, 2019marvelous plastic free options from Etee!
Christine 🎵 Templin
October 6, 2019Laura
October 6, 2019Eileen
October 6, 2019Michelle Seal
October 6, 2019Kate Bailey
October 6, 2019Carly
October 6, 2019I also like to give plastic-free items, such as your wax bags, and wraps as gifts, particularly with those who have shown interest.
Lauren Hesser
October 6, 2019Jennifer Jester
October 6, 2019Gretchen
October 6, 2019But for those who struggle with all these "hippy" ideas, I find good results reminding them of where our values overlap: conscious consumption + spending, less pollution, less waste. The convenience of never running out of things (because they last forever). A return to old-fashioned values of quality + craftsmanship. There's *always* common ground once you get past the buzzwords + jargon.
Jenean
October 6, 2019Siu
October 6, 2019Kathy Hanley
October 6, 2019Sandra Holmes
October 6, 2019Erin Richey
October 6, 2019Sherri Travers
October 6, 2019Evelyn Griffith
October 6, 2019Catherine Reynolds
October 6, 2019Courtney
October 6, 2019Anita Sue Hamilton
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October 6, 2019Patricia Young
October 6, 2019melanie centis
October 6, 2019Carey Nadeau
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October 6, 2019Sylvia Langmann
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October 6, 2019Courtney Brosseau
October 6, 2019Mary Lou Bruno
October 6, 2019Mary Lou Bruno
October 6, 2019Natasha Sankovitch
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October 6, 2019Lorielle Fournier
October 6, 2019Candis Fudge
October 6, 2019Janet Price
October 6, 2019Keturah
October 6, 2019Rebecca Hill
October 6, 2019Karen D
October 6, 2019Patricia Klemen
October 6, 2019Darlene Sharpe
October 6, 2019John Walters
October 6, 2019A little browbeating May also be necessary.
Dea
October 6, 2019Sarah
October 6, 2019Karyn Deibel
October 6, 2019susan uhlott
October 6, 2019Scott Kurruk
October 6, 2019Chris Guebert
October 6, 2019Leah Golland
October 6, 2019Peggy Morley
October 6, 2019JAN
October 6, 2019Sue Fukushima
October 6, 2019Paul Bellantoni
October 6, 2019Heather Brown
October 6, 2019Jamie L Grimes
October 6, 2019Catherine Mclellan
October 6, 2019Tracey Donnelly
October 6, 2019Marsha Arditti
October 6, 2019Natalie Robertson
October 6, 2019Devorah L Reynolds
October 6, 2019Lisa Rumolo
October 6, 2019Angela Lanahan
October 6, 2019Elizabeth Simon
October 6, 2019Carol Peters
October 6, 2019Monica Leon
October 6, 2019Robyn Pepper
October 6, 2019Christy Anderson
October 6, 2019Robin Laurel
October 6, 2019joanne darrell
October 6, 2019Carrie Cannaday
October 6, 2019Nancy Dangerfield
October 6, 2019available for all to use. I also give as gifts!
Cathy Flores
October 6, 2019Diane
October 6, 2019Lindsey
October 6, 2019Laura Evans
October 6, 2019Lynette James
October 6, 2019C Dixon
October 6, 2019Karen
October 6, 2019Laura Maher
October 6, 2019Nancy
October 6, 2019Brittany
October 6, 2019LoriJB
October 6, 2019Wendy Dentremont
October 6, 2019Tini
October 6, 2019Sheryl L Lock
October 6, 2019Have to use what is there
Wendy Webber
October 6, 2019Shawna Lenych
October 6, 2019Ellen Jones
October 6, 2019Kristy
October 6, 2019Lois Walton
October 6, 2019C. Rand
October 6, 2019Shellie
October 6, 2019Shellie
October 6, 2019Diane Ferrara
October 6, 2019Brenda Mayberry
October 6, 2019Lynn Danilowicz
October 6, 2019Sharon parker
October 6, 2019I have a 33 yr. old daughter (who has been my "bubble child" since birth. She is allergic to almost every food and product out there. Her biggest issue - corn. Corn is in almost EVERYTHING!
She has to make her own soaps
( buying the 1 brand she can only seem to use ) and melting it down to liquid form to wash her dishes and do laundry.
Its very hard to find good quality allergen free products that hold up with longevity in marketing as well and aren't yanked off the shelves or internet because of poor sales - even if the are quality made.
Natasha
October 6, 2019Linda Tarney
October 6, 2019Charlene Rider
October 6, 2019Gisele LaRose
October 6, 2019Christa
October 6, 2019Lisa Robin Morales
October 6, 2019Sandra G. Wortzel
October 6, 2019Mary
October 6, 2019Sharon Jones
October 6, 2019Lynne Woodley
October 6, 2019Stephen Hale
October 6, 2019Susan Logan
October 6, 2019Wendie Howland
October 6, 2019Lauren
October 6, 2019NIcole TUrcotte
October 6, 2019Beth
October 6, 2019I thought I wonder if Steve has or will and low and behold the solution was in my email the next day.
Way to go Steve and team!!!!
So much better for the environment not to mention how easy it is to just make. Oh wait did I also mention the cost.
Start doing thing that are better for all of us.
Lisa f
October 6, 2019Kim Knowlton
October 6, 2019Brandi
October 6, 2019Deb Lake
October 6, 2019M. Meservey
October 6, 2019Kari P
October 6, 2019BonnieJean Kurle
October 6, 2019because I've developed so many tools for my students, I've been able to practice some integrity in front of my family. I haven't been able to convince anyone, at least in my extended family. When I visit my mom, I often do her grocery shopping. But she doesn't have cloth bags, so I always ask for paper. I think she wanted to complain about it once, but then I reminded her of what we did when I was a kid. Eventually, this led to a useful conversation with my mother about how plastic has become so ubiquitous. She made a really interesting comment, remembering the energy crisis of the 70s, when I commented how much I was trying to cut back on plastic all together. She said, "oil used to be such an important commodity that we conserved it every time we could, and there were long lines at fuel gas stations. Now plastic is everywhere. What are we thinking?" I noted how it's all winding up in the ocean now, too. To which she replied, "yeah, the animals have to pay for our mistakes." I consider that progress. I don't know if she'll change her behavior, but she's starting to think about it.
Houston Smith
October 6, 2019Debbie
October 6, 2019Terry Martinez
October 6, 2019Melissa Miller
October 6, 2019Also, the simple fact that your products work. We have tried other wraps in the past and they just don’t do the job. When family members can see the product in action in my home they are more likely to buy in.
Joy
October 6, 2019Mary Keil
October 6, 2019Janice Cournoyer
October 6, 2019Connie Maestas
October 6, 2019Laney Britten
October 6, 2019Bona S. Glass
October 6, 2019BonnieJean Kurle
October 6, 2019Dianne Leroy
October 6, 2019Margot Lucarelli
October 6, 2019Susan Johnson
October 6, 2019Nyx Bean
October 6, 2019Denise M
October 6, 2019Shayna Kefalas
October 6, 2019David Williams
October 6, 2019Kareen Springett
October 6, 2019Toby
October 6, 2019Robin Lockwood
October 6, 2019Carole D
October 6, 2019Victoria Krause
October 6, 2019PJ
October 6, 2019Kim MacAdam
October 6, 2019renee mirsky
October 6, 2019Deana
October 6, 2019Janet Russell
October 6, 2019Christina Gebhard
October 6, 2019Jenny Smith
October 6, 2019Diane Severson Mori
October 6, 2019Clotilde Cadman
October 6, 2019Jaki Mathews
October 6, 2019Trust me..... you're really on top of your game. Since I received your 3 reusable square wraps/covers, I've stopped using plastic and it was very easy. Thank you. 👌🤗
susan dickerson
October 6, 2019Amanda Franklin
October 5, 2019They’ll adapt in no time...
Dianna M Kent
October 5, 2019Kathleen
October 5, 2019Annie Bananie
October 5, 2019Carlina
October 5, 2019Renee
October 5, 2019Cathy MacLellan
October 5, 2019Michele
October 5, 2019Mavis
October 5, 2019Laura
October 5, 2019Sharon
October 5, 2019Laurie
October 5, 2019Raewyn
October 5, 2019Roberta Staley
October 5, 2019Marnie Pershke
October 5, 2019Dianna
October 4, 2019Jimbo
October 4, 2019