[RESEARCH STAGE]

As a family who goes grocery-shopping on the weekends, it is inevitable to use plastic bags. But…is it all that necessary? Although we do reuse the plastic bags for garbage collection, we are, nonetheless, using plastic. The detriments of plastic are widely known; from the usage of fossil fuels in its production and the negative impact on the environment with irresponsible disposal, it is important to reduce the total usage of plastics alongside recycling and reusing. The Taiwanese government has vowed to decrease the usage of plastic through some so-called “policies,” but are they really all that effective if we can still see plastic bags everywhere? The answer is quite obvious.

Therefore, in order to pursue a zero-plastic life, I began doing some research on alternatives for grocery-shopping at traditional markets.

1. Shopping Without plastic
   1. This website provides potential containers that can be used for grocery shopping. It promotes the idea that even without buying new bags or alternatives, people can start by using daily-life items such as an abandoned pillowcase for vegetables, sealed chip bags for meat, and pringles cans for small, round fruits such as lemon/passion fruit. The publisher is an NGO dedicated to promoting a greener life and hence a pretty authentic choice for issues pertaining to plastic. The photos on the website provide readers with a “scale” of how effective and convenient each alternative is, which is super helpful since it shows that these ways are indeed possible, not just empty imaginations that are impractical.
2. A Comparison of Steel bento box vs. Glass Bento Box
   1. Another issue we are facing is that although the alternatives mentioned above are feasible, they are not long-term. The issue we struggle with the most is actually the purchase of meat at the market. Although glass bento boxes work, the shortcoming comes in the fact that they cannot go into the freezer. Therefore, to convince my mom to try steel boxes, I found this website that compares the differences between steel boxes and glass ones. The website is essentially one that is dedicated to promoting a better kitchen life, which is also pretty credible in the case of comparing food containers. The website provides clear infographics that show the difference in mass, temperature change endurance, convenience in organizing, etc.

The ultimate goal of this CAS act is to publish an infographic/video in which I challenge myself to decrease the usage of plastic and making it a long-term habit. Let’s all prove that it is possible!