Plastic free July: Quitting plastic in a family of five

Tuesday, 2 July 2019

Zero waste advocate Hayley Crawford says she started by eliminating plastic bags and supplying her own containers.

Zero waster Hayley Crawford says she's not perfect, but reducing personal waste should be a gradual change.

She's been working for about two years to cut down on plastic and all waste in her life and, even with three children, she says it's possible.

'I've always been conscious of the environment and waste and made a lot of sustainable decisions in that regard.

'But in the last few years I've started to really take it seriously and I think that Plastic Free July has helped to me to look at different things I can do and pledge.'

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Reducing waste doesn't happen overnight, says Crawford.

Crawford said she started one step at a time, first by eliminating plastic bags and bringing her own containers.

'I think the biggest improvement was composting, and not just food scraps.'

Bulk food shopping also helped her to avoid plastic packaging at supermarkets, she said.

'I remember thinking that I would never go as far as menstrual cups or menstrual underwear, but once I felt like I'd reached that point I found it was really easy, a real game changer, and I loved it.'

Crawford said things had really changed since she started to make changes.

Plastic bags have been made illegal in New Zealand as of this week, but Crawford was told at a major retailer just a few years ago she had to take a plastic bag 'because of security reasons'.

'It's encouraging to know that all the things you can't do now, they will change when we just keep fighting for it.'

She started a YouTube channel and Instagram account to spread the zero waste word: Trash Talking mama.

Even Crawford's children have moved to less waste.

They used to love fruit pouches, but with her encouragement they gave them up, citing the environment as the reason.

Crawford said she still struggled with some things and was trying veganism to consume fewer animal products.

'I feel like I should be a vegan for the environment. I struggle with it but I dabble in it.'

People needed to be cutting back on plastic continuously not just in July, but it was a good month to become inspired, Crawford said.

'I tell people to take it one step at a time.'

People as individuals could make a difference, but it would be better if big corporations and supermarkets made huge changes, she said.

'It will come to a point where we'll have to do it out of necessity.'