The Real World

I start a new job today. It's not just a new job - it's a new part of my life, post-grad school. It's the sort of work I hope I'll do for quite some time. Even though I've been an "adult" for awhile now, it somehow seems like the beginning of real life. The beginning of the rest of my life. Per the Grey's Anatomy episode and my previous post, "Today, my life begins..."

Accordingly, I have to take some of my anti-plastic accouterments with me to this new office. I want to take silverware, but I'm pretty sure those won't pass the metal detectors. So I'm taking plastic silverware (washed and reused from some previous event ... don't worry, we don't buy that stuff). I always take a bowl to work. Plus I'll have my fold-up reusable bag with me (love that thing!!).

And the usual. The Sigg and the reusable coffee cup.

I think I'm set. Off to work!

"Recycled" Cups and Policy Perspectives

I was in the graduate department office today, tying up some loose ends. I was thirsty. Somehow, I had left my Sigg at home. So I used a disposable paper cup to get some water.

I noticed that the department is trying -- they are using the "bare" line of the Solo cups. "Bringing Alternative Resources for the Environment," the brand uses 10% post-consumer recycled paper. Really? 10%? Plus there's the plastic lining...ugh.

What I really don't understand is why these cups are made with so little post-consumer paper when you can print on 100% post-consumer paper that looks perfectly great. For example, the student journal Policy Perspectives (which features an article by yours truly!) uses lots of eco-friendly methods. The editors didn't stop with that awesome-looking 100% post-consumer paper. They also made sure the paper was created using renewable energy, printed with soy-based ink, used chlorine-free processing, and purchased carbon offsets for the printing and editorial processes. That means they basically produced the journal at social cost (not just at the cheapest cost they could do from an organizational, budgetary standpoint). And did you know that using soy-based inks means they consumed "less than 1 percent of the energy required by traditional, petroleum-based inks" (Policy Perspectives 2009. Design Note)? Want more about the journal? Check out the website (linked above) or the blog.


Is it the fact that cups are going to affect food/beverage intake? Is it a health thing? Because the cup is also going to get lined with something to make it waterproof, so how much does it matter where the recycled paper has been? Anyway, I feel bad about my one-time use cup experience.

On the plus side, I was strong tonight. I refused a cookie wrapped in plastic. Fortunately, I could get an ice cream cone instead. Ahh, ice cream, my treat of perfection. Love how you eat the container!

Writing Utensils -- and a Contest

I love office supplies. Anyone who knows me has experienced this love. I have markers, pens, pencils, colored pencils, tape of every color and type, index cards, paper, glue, stickers. I'm very likely to bust out my collection of highlighters and colored pens, pictured above, in class to color-code my notes (yeah, I'm a dork. big time.). Really fun office supplies are one of the things I miss the most about teaching.

But most office supplies are tragically plasti-cized. Basically everything I just named is mostly plastic. Now, there are new ideas coming up (see the post on recycled paper pens below), but basically, I use plastic.

Here's where the contest comes in. Let me know your best anti-plastic office supply tip by leaving a comment. The most useful/most creative will win...an e-gift certificate to that office supply provider! (I'd hate to waste plastic in shipping and energy costs...so we'll do electronic. Unless you live nearby. Then I can mail you something.) So help me out and you'll get a boost too. The contest will end tomorrow (Sunday, May 3) at midnight.

Recycled Paper Pens at Friendship Hospital for Animals!

Today, I took my cat, Angie, to the vet. As I was checking out, I noticed that their pens are made almost entirely of recycled paper. Yup, a recycled disposable pen! (Not surprising that this veterinary clinic is across the street from a Whole Foods.)

As you can see, my cats enjoy the pen as much as I do. It has a cardboard "body" and a wooden clip. It does have a little plastic on the tip and the end, but it's still a big improvement over the usual kind. Plus, there is a nice note indicating that the cardboard is recycled (couldn't get the right camera angle, but trust me, it's there).
Yay Friendship Hospital for Animals!

Recycled Scissors

Today, I purchased a pair of scissors whose handles were made of 100% recycled plastic! A great re-use of old plastic and a great chance to purchase scissors without having to buy plastic!

Yay for new scissors that didn't force me into a plastic purchase.

Read My Lips: No New Plastic!

So, Day 1 went pretty well. I cooked at home which made being plastic-free a lot easier. I think this plastic challenge will force me to cook more, which is objectively good. I even found a metal pen for class. I've also decided on a clarification of the rules: Plastic usage accrues to the day the non-reusable plastic is purchased. This is because I should use the plastic I already have -- it doesn't help the world for me not to use stuff I already have.

Writing Utensils

Tonight I started preaching the gospel of un-plastic in my Fiscal Federalism class (which, by the way, is amazing -- if you go to GWU, you should definitely take it!! or anything Prof. Brunori teaches). The result? My professor banned plastic henceforth in class. This is great! Except, now I don't know what to write with...

Last weekend I saw some feather pens at Glen Echo park. Looks like fun, but the ink might be messy. I'll have to see if I can find a good metal pen somewhere. Or perhaps a pencil. But pencils have plastic erasers and require sharpeners, many of which are themselves plastic. Anybody have advice on un-plastic writing utensils?