I have FINALLY convinced my parents to stop buying entire bags of spinach only to throw 7/8 of it away and start buying frozen, which we can actually eat in our own time, comes in a smaller bag than the fresh spinach, and was more likely to have been picked closer to in season!!!! After literal years of trying not to scream about this weekly occurrence i finally did it
I try to give myself and my family a 3 strike system for certain grocery items. It started because my sister kept buying eggs and not eating them. I decided that after 3 times of buying something I will either reduce the amount, change the form(fresh v. Frozen etc.) or just stop buying all together if I notice it is mostly going to waste regularly. It’s helpful for me to be realistic with how we use our groceries and other items.
@@mikailagray I'm no longer "allowed" to buy fresh cucumbers and mushrooms because my husband got tired of me never eating them before they went bad. If he sees me eyeing them at the store, he immediately reminds me of every single time in the past where I've bought them and then had to compost them within a week because they already went bad, and I hadn't even touched them yet😅
I put my spinach in a tub with some paper towel (yes, not the most sustainable option) and it means my spinach usually stays fresh for weeks. I'm very pro frozen veg, but I have spinach in my salads, and frozen just doesn't work for that.
I really like how you look at the whole picture. It's sad that people have forgotten about reduce and reuse, recycling shouldn't be the go-to for sustainability without considering the other two.
About food preservation, I think one of the issues in the US is the size of your fridges. It causes people to buy far too much fresh, perishable food at once. When you have a very tiny fridge, you buy just what you need for the next few days, you see everything you have left and you don't waste anything.
and I think that goes back to lack of infrastructure. At my place in Sweden, I just walk to the store and get what I need for the day or so. For people like my parents in the US, my mother can't make frequent trips like that without getting in the car and driving 20 minutes every time or spending $14 to get it ordered to her house - which is also not a sustainable way, especially for her own personal time and energy spent going out to do it.
@@wallsofgab I was just about to say this! We have big fridges here in the (rural) US because it isn't economic to drive to the store everyday for just the essentials; we stock up with big purchases at one time thus packaging to extend the shelf life is needed
I think it's also based on time. We don't have time to go to the grocery store every couple days because of the way society is set up. We can't just walk down to the market and pick up a few things. Depending on where you live it can be a lot of trouble to get to a grocery store either because of traffic or distance.
I appreciate how you approach things as meeting the problem where it is. If we had an excellent recycling structure in the US, this would be a different conversation. We won't do better if we don't start with where we are instead of an ideal state. You don't enter a hoarder house and focus on dusting.
I'll be honest, I feel like if more people went back to basics and at the VERY least had the know how to grow and prepare their own food, that there would be less food waste. Knowing where your food comes from and the work that goes into getting it to the table gives you more respect and appreciation for it
I agree. But a lot of people dont have access to a garden, and that they actually own, where they can grow their own food. I dont own the garden outside my home and its decided it should just be grass on it, that also needs to be cut for no practical reason. I dont agree with it. Sometimes food actually does go bad, but I think a lot of people should have more respect for not wasting food (especially throwing perfectly good food because its easier and quicker there and then) and planning in advance to avoid it. But the real changes wont come before the stores stop importing way more food than what is actually bought and used in time
It helps if you have time . Most people might be working two jobs to afford a tiny apt that's 1/3 -1/2 of their income and that apt doesn't have dirt they can call their own.
I think you should continue this series. It’s very eye opening to me to see the numbers and put it into perspective. I’ve been working on not buying rather than recycling or thrifting because I know it’s the biggest step I could take in this aspect.
i appreciate that you are open and honest about when and how your opinion changes based on new research. data is being updated all the time so having the humility to preach something different than before is great. makes me trust you.
When I found your channel a couple years ago, I changed my way of thinking. And videos like this are so important, hope it finds someone like past me, and that it changes their lives too
Shelbi, video idea: I know you've done shopping videos in different stores to see what you can get without plastic or packaging, but I'd love to see a walkthrough in any random store and a talk-through of "what options in the grocery store are sustainable" given the options and given different lifestyles. Seeing the different considerations you make for different contexts and options would be really helpful as modeling what questions to be asking when WE are food shopping.
Yes! I would like to know about packaging for precut vegetables for example, because I am not going to be able to eat vegetables regularly if I have to cut them myself, but I'm not a fan of all of that plastic
An interesting and informative video, as always! One suggestion if you do make this a series: consider adding "Myth" in the on-screen text for each section header, for instance "Myth: 01", etc. It was a bit confusing seeing the text written as if it is your assertion, rather than a myth you are refuting. Looking forward to more videos!
Thank you for sharing this information! I feel like a lot of expectations surrounding sustainability are based on an idealized system in which things work - where no one throws out their food, where recycling works, etc. But we have to work with what we have until the system changes, even if it doesn't feel as pretty and wrapped in a bow as having a jar of trash. Very important information!
Yes please make this a series! I'm sure these videos are some of the more challenging to make but there's so much to be learned from them. At my grocery store pretty much all the organic produce is in plastic I figured it was to separate organic vs non organic but packaged so it lasts longer makes sense never thought of it that way
Agreed that space can be like a vacuum and having a large fridge can support bad habits like overbuying perishables. For me a large fridge is a must as I meal orep for two people with 10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 2 huge bottles of homemade soy milk, condiments, my compost bin, plus staples and pre-cooked components for dinners and snacks throughout the week. I actually wish my fridge were larger, but i make it work. Meal prepping saves me time, keeps us eating right, and reduces waste.
I just explained to my family how glass is not always better than plastic at Christmas 😄 Even though our recycling system is slightly better here in Germany than in the US, I would say (faaaar from perfect, but overall one of the best ones out there, as far as I know).
I started using glas a year ago but aside from the recycling ... i crashed so many bottles xx. I stopped as i crashed a 50€ Rosewater bottle who thought i should buy this in glas. But nah~, this way i produced even more waste i think xx.
I love your approach to sustainability!! As a therapist, I have more expertise and tend to focus on issues related to healthcare and education, but see so much of the same cognitive biases and logical fallacies in my work. Human brains, especially those in western individualist cultures, want simple all-or-nothing answers; complexity and context are often difficult logically and emotionally. A key part of getting to a more sustainable and equal future is going to require shifting worldviews and thought processes to be more big picture and an interconnected understanding of systems. While that takes time we don’t really have, we will continue to be stuck playing crisis wak-a-mole until we make those changes within ourselves, our groups, and the general public…
Thank you for this video! I have been trying to convince the eco conscious folks around me that single use glass is not often a better alternative for the longest time. Especially since our country has no recycling of absolutely any materials, putting glass in landfills is much, much worse than putting thin plastics in landfills. And even if we bought everything in glass, we cannot realistically reuse all glass packagings enough to neutralize its impact.
Yessss, I would love for this to be a series! I really appreciate all the nuances you bring up when looking at the "most sustainable" option because it really isn't simple and can drive me crazy! I'm mostly trying to focus on avoiding food waste right now, for financial and environmental reasons, so packaging has fallen down on my list of priorities recently, and this video has helped me feel a lot less guilty about this, so thank you Shelbi!
This is a great video! Media leaned so hard into “asthetic” sustainability in the 2010s and made everyone think plastic was the worst thing ever, I hope content like this catches on and makes people think about the bigger picture. I live in Canada and would love you hear your take on the single use plastic ban we have going on right now, and how helpful or unhelpful it is (I strongly suspect its unhelpful)
I appreciate this video so much. It’s so hard to know what’s the ‘best’ option. It can feel so freaking overwhelming. You’ve taught me so much and really changed the way I think when I buy things or choose not to buy things.
Any product labelled as "1 time use" is NOT sustainable no matter what material it is made of. We should try to re-use everything unless It's a medical product etc... Our recycling process sucks
You make a strong argument for shopping locally, eating seasonably, and preserving (canning, pickling, and fermenting that uses minimal energy and reusable jars). Check out the Becoming a Farm Girl RUclips channel and blog where Cassandra documents her preserving journey while living in a condo; growing what she can in stackable planters; and shopping produce sales and farmers' markets for fruit and veg to preserve.
I work for an e-grocer delivery service, but in marketing so I was very confused to see it was a "huge win" that our distribution centers were now able to saran wrap vegetables for orders. I questioned it and the team that manages logistics and shipments took the time to explain that this actually decreased food waste by making food last longer during delivery and once delivered. Completely changed how much emphasis I put on the impact of packaging (very visible to consumers) vs the detriment of food put in landfill (out of sight). Thank you so much for presenting everything with data. Really appreciate how disciplined you are in your morals for environmental education
I would love to see a video with Nola maybe showing us around her recycling centre or something She makes incredible tiktoks and I love what her mission is
Considering we cannot escape plastic, that it lasts thousand of years and turns in microplastic, glass and metal seem like better options. It terrifies me that no new born child can escape this microplastic infestation because microplastic has been found in the mother's blood and placenta. We basically eat the amount of plastic equal to a credit card every few weeks. I fear plastic will be a new cause for cancer or other incurable diseases that we do not even know it could exist or develop in the far future. Great video, but I believe extended shelf life is not the final solution for preventing food waste. People would be healthier if they ate food that does not last 5 years on the shelf. How to do that? Buy local and encourage local.If I find in a nearby store next to me products shipped from the other part of the planet, no wonder that life shelf must be at least 1 year considering transportation and all that stuff. And buying local at least 40-50% would solve a lot of other problems too. Again, great subject, someone had to say. Sand is running short due to the construction industry too. It's all related and we need to discuss it openly.
Also try to reduce animal food consumption or cut out completely, its been found that eggs the least impactful animal food are still more impactful than tofu (the highest impact plant protein). Also its been found that animal food, even if local, is still less sustainable than plant proteins shipped from out of state (although local for plant foods is always a good idea) :).
@@helenapflaum6800 but is that just for conventional farming? Or does it include regenerative? Because you cannot do regenerative farming without livestock.
eating locally is a great option, but only for part of the year depending on your climate. where i live, there's next to nothing available (because it's not growing due to the cold) between november and april. so we would either have to purchase foods grown elsewhere, or store the harvest, which requires some type of packaging. i suppose if everyone had a root cellar, perhaps we could technically survive the winter without using any packaging, but our diets would be extremely limited. not even i would do that, and i love eating local produce.
I agree with that when it's for example plastic vs cotton (bc I've seen people complaining about organic cotton totes vs plastic single use bags bc of emissions?? when at least cotton is biodegradable). But with glass idk, glass isn't biodegradable after all so both plastic and glass could end up in the landfill. Ahhh but if it's about shelf life I agree, we could buy less food or not buy food that goes bad too quickly.
I truly appreciate you sharing science with us and talking about changing your opinions as you learn more facts. Too many sustainability channels focus on simple living, no cars, bulk shops, composting and growing your own food. That is unattainable for the vast majority of Americans.
thank you thank you! My executive function being trash and being a stay at home mom has made my journey with ecominimalism up and down. But I am going to try and start some systems in notion to help me start some sustainable habits 😮💨
i think having large scale, accessible compost would be beneficial to helping not only the food waste issue but packaging as well. similar to the accessibility of recycling (despite the ignorance and inefficiency in our current system) it would be great to see regular people have the ability to easily compost their extra food, as well as give people more incentive to purchase biodegradable or compostable packaging and actually allow it to biodegrade.
Since you talked about animal food, could you make a products for animals sustainable swaps video? Since their foods come in plastic, plastic bags are used to clean up after them in walks, plastic toys, plastic everything essentially, I would love to know more for when I get animals when I one day get a place of my own (i have 2 cats but live with my family still since I am 16)
Rather than buying plastic bags, I save up plastic food packaging or my WhoGivesACrap toilet paper wrappers and use that, if I run out I scoop the waste directly into a small outside bin and empty that into the collection bin when it’s full. Hope that helps :)
Please address the effects of micro-plastics on our health, chemical leaching/toxicity and the persistence of plastics in our environment. A big reason people may choose glass and other non-plastic materials, myself included, is because of these reasons, even if it's not the most "sustainable" in terms of natural resources and increasing food shelf life. To that note I do think it is important to only buy what you need when you need it, if you can afford to do so.
You are by far the best information on sustainability on RUclips and I thank you for that! I also love that you expressed your frustration on how people don’t get this and keep not educating themselves and putting bad information out. I would also appreciate if you could maybe start sending links on bills we should be fighting for or things we could sign in order to help the true cause and fixing the broken system because like you said not everybody has time to go out and find this stuff. Great work and thank you for all the great info 😁 Also could you please please share the color green that is on the wall behind you?
Shelby! You gotta have a grocery video going over the comparisons between different packaging for the same product! Would love to those examples and comparisons.
I live in a Mississippi suburb and we don’t even have glass recycling here. We used to be able to take it to the co-op in the capital city but the co-op closed. I don’t even know where I could take glass. When I looked it up, the MS Dept of Environmental quality says: “The market for glass containers for Mississippi is in Texas and Georgia. Very simple, the transportation cost to ship the glass to these glass manufacturing facilities is generally more than what they receive for the material. So many programs and recycling facilities have dropped glass collection from their programs. In addition, if the three different color grades of glass are mixed together, it is almost impossible to find a buyer for mixed cullet (glass). Finally, more programs in the nation are collecting all the recyclable materials together in one compactor truck at the curb rather than separating them on the truck. This helps save money, but also hurts glass recycling because glass can often contaminate the paper since it can break and imbed into the paper. This can be a major contamination problem at paper mills.”
This is such a fantastic video! I often get asked what my issue with the recycling system is, because I know the system is flawed and it frustrates me to no end, but I have difficulty explaining it. You've explained everything so clearly and well, I am going to use this video as my reference in the future. Thanks for sharing this!
Food waste is my next focus in my personal life. As far as individual choices, I think it's more doable for me than package-free at this point. Using up what I buy is an option for me even when my budget, time, and shopping options are limited.
Excellent video! Thank you for your guidance and your passion! I have a question, as we think of all these different packaging materials life cycle, how is the problem of micro plastic weights against all other considerations of recycling, production footprint, food waste prevention etc?
I'm wondering this too. The problem of microplastics on human and ecological health is why I still prefer to buy things in glass when possible, despite the excellent points put forward in this video.
@@naikopako1840 yes. All of what she is taking about is valuable and important. But if we are trying to weigh out all factors, micro plastic bugs me a lot. I spent month trying to find table Salt with LESS micro plastic particles in it. It’s hard not think about it.
Great information. Thank you for your passion and for sharing this message. Also, off the subject, I saw a story on social media about a company in Austin that rents Christmas trees. You rent them and return them, and when the tree becomes 7ft, they plant it. I found this concept very interesting.
Thank you for explaining very easily understandable that glas is not the solution to everything and plastic should not be demonized just because. I hope this sparks some interest to think more about the whole life cycle of things (food and packaging) to make the best decision in the future 🌍
I still think shrink wrapping cucumbers are not necessarily the best option. I bought cucumbers in bulk bags vs. shrink wrap, the water vapours in the shrink wrap makes the cucumber mould faster. We buy bulk bags and put them in paper bags or wrap in paper towel and they work much better
CO2 and recycling are not the only issue with packaging but we should also be looking at endocrine disruptors or forever chemicals. Really wish we could get back to reusable system like the soda companies used to do with glass bottles. I mean with automotive parts we have a core charge on many car parts which are priced high enough where you want to bring back the broken part to get your core charge back.
I mostly eat frozen produce instead of fresh produce. In general, I live more off of frozen foods, including convenience items like frozen pizza, than fresh stuff. I've been criticized for this because of the packaging, but I'm pretty sure the lower food waste that results from having long lasting stuff in the freezer, eating mostly plant-based, and ordering less takeout because I can live off of convenience foods is overall better for the planet.
I want to ask a question. I would like to know why prescriptions for pills have to come in some cumbersome, oversized pill bottles. This is not about liquid prescriotions or otc meds like cough syrup. How can pharmacy make their packaging smaller?
I used to work for a packaging company mostly for chips and yogurt containers. You would be enraged by the amount of packaging that gets produced in China, shipped to nyc then sat in a warehouse unused for years. Especially the ones that got printed in the “wrong shade”.
I've got mad respect for you and glean a lot from your videos. Thank you so much for all of the research and hard work you do. You always explain everything so succinctly and I've learned a lot.
Thanks to you being so inspiring I have gone back to college and started studying environmental sustainability and im learning so much but I whole heartedly know a lot of it wouldn't make sense if you hadn't been so amazing at what you do. A million times thank you for all you do for us and for the planet ❤️❤️❤️
I remember hearing somewhere on a “conscious shopping” program on television that unwashed - with actual soil on it - veg lasts waaaay longer (like 60 to 90 days depending on the veg). But it doesn’t sell, so companies don’t tend to do that.
I used to get so frustrated that HelloFresh, a brand that says they're sustainable and uses less packaging, puts their zucchinis in plastic bags. I didn't realize until last year that they do this because it helps keep the zucchinis fresh so that they don't spoil on the travel from the packing facility, to your fridge, to your stove. I now just try to keep the bag to reuse for whenever I get package free cukes or zucchinis from the store.
For the first point: plastic bottles are actually much more recyclable than glass bottles because glass breaks easily, decreasing the chance of another life cycle. In my country we have a system where you send back used plastic bottles for a little bit of money in return. And of course that SHOULD be everywhere. I generally hate plastic and first and foremost for the damage it does directly to wildlife, although there are more issues. But there is a huge difference between single use and multiple time use here. Its often hard to decide and rather subjective whats the most Eco-friendly because many different type of factors play against each other. I didn't know we were also running out of glass sand, but heard that glass take more energy to produce and transport.
I always appreciate folks who change their mind with new information. This was a really refreshing take on recycling and sustainability. Happy new year!
Loved this video!!! Would love a series, but can you also do an update on your plants and how you’re taking care of them. One of the goals for this year was to have more plants lol
I literally clicked this video because I thought you were advocating against wrapping food in plastic and I was outraged by that (I know about the food waste issue). But of course you are well informed and deliver the information in a great way. This is why I follow you.
I know this is an older vid but I would absolutely love for you to expand on this for other things - totes versus single use or multi use plastic bags (that Danish study found up to 7000 uses required for a tote???) - are reusable pads and undies really less CO2 per wear than pads/liners/tampons? - keep cups - I buy coffee out maybe twice a month... Would I have been better off with disposable cups?
Thanks for the clarification of flexible packaging. Mind blown! I wonder though about the chemical leaching into the food packaged as to does it do so at a concerning level?
Not me learning something… I knew erosion was happening because of the increase of storms, but I had no clue we were running out of sand because of glass, too! This was a great video.
glass is my favorite storage item because I can use it again. I drink from years old pasta jars, I bring soup to work in the same jars. it also doesn't end up tasting like plastic or silicone like plastic containers do.
Not sure if I am repeating a comment: I buy in glass for my health- I don’t want plastic or metal leaching into my food. It’s a hormone disruptor… I don’t know what to do😩
Please make more of these videos! This was so informative and really put a lot into perspective for me! The sections on packaging, food waste, and attempting to use technology to make climate change disappear were so on point. Thank you for all you do 😊
Just found this channel and I’m obsessed. I initially found the lush behind the scenes video as I had heard they were guilty of greenwashing. Now I’m going to watch them all!!❤
Thank you Shelbi! I really appreciate you and the knowledge that you share on this platform! Wishing you and Madison a New year overflowing with all the best things life has to offer 🙏 Peace
What I like to do is buy my produce lose for things like carrots, broccile, etc. Then I take an old plastic bag from my drawer or thin plastics and some rubber bands if I need it and "package" it when i get home so it lasts longer
Food waste drives me absolutely drives me nuts. The holidays are especially annoying because people make too much food. Or do you know those types of people who “hate/can’t eat leftovers” because it’s too boring? Just blows my mind.
I loved the perspective change this video subjected us to. I felt uncomfortable at times but I want to learn. Things are so complex and not black or white like I used to see them. Please continue the series.
I understand the use of thin plastic to extend the life of food but in the end, I feel like no packaging is still better. It's a question of buying what we really need and using it instead of piling up food in our fridge "just in case" or, because it will last long, "let's think about what will make of it later". However, I'm single with no children so I understand it's easier said than done when you're a busy family and you can't necessarily go shopping too often.
I will take a series on anything you want to talk about! But this actually makes me feel a bit less guilty on the few packaging things that we have to throw away. And your plants are looking so great in the area that you set up!
I love your videos so much! It has really helped me to see all of the opportunities we have, and in so many ways to do our part in saving the planet. I would love it if you could make a video with regard to coffee. This is a really rough one. I did find a wonderful farmer owned coffee Company in Sacramento called Pachamama. The farmers and the company and produce very high quality coffee that is farmed in sustainable ways. also, I am going to put a plug in for Better Place Forests which is a way that we can eliminate cemeteries and do something good for the environment. I know it sounds kind of gross, but they are also looking into ways to incorporate the process of composting for the deceased. thank you so much for all the good work you do, and educating us, and spreading the word!😊
Wow, I randomly thought about you and I checked your channel and this was uploaded just a minute ago!! Guess it was fate to watch this video 😂 Never stop making videos, Shelbi!
It needs to be pointed out that the vast majority of sand mined is used for construction, not packaging. And despite a higher carbon footprint, glass packaging doesn't contribute to our microplastics crisis.
Microplastics are found in fish and crustacean tissues all across the world because plastic waste breaks down to microplastics and look like food to sea creatures... We are literally eating plastic when we eat seafood. I will buy glass over plastic every time my food is available in glass.
And then there's the element of what phthalates in the mothers blood can do to a fetus' developing reproductive system. Plastic is awful for anything consumable (including lotions and things like that)
The facts you presented in this video coupled with passion and honesty are amazing. Especially number 7 is so damn true. We have the solutions at our hands, they already exist but we seem too blind or unwilling to actually use them! Same with world hunger, in my opinion, we KNOW how to end it but it seems as though we don't really want to.
Video idea: what about a makeup version of the skincare video you did with Hyram? Maybe with Hannah Louise Poston or Kackie? Reviewing makeup that works well but also sustainable.
So much of this food waste stuff is unfathomable to me as a European urbanite. Do fruits need to last longer than a week? Is this because grocery stores are hard to get to and require a planned trip?
Yes, most of us can't shop more than once a week as most people don't live close enough to a grocery store to go more often. We also have terrible transit systems and most communities aren't walkable. It is even harder to access locally grown and produced foods. Many people eat primarily frozen, canned, or other preserved foods instead of fresh foods due to accessibility issues.
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I have FINALLY convinced my parents to stop buying entire bags of spinach only to throw 7/8 of it away and start buying frozen, which we can actually eat in our own time, comes in a smaller bag than the fresh spinach, and was more likely to have been picked closer to in season!!!! After literal years of trying not to scream about this weekly occurrence i finally did it
If they sold spinach in half the size they do at my store, we'd never throw spinach away again.
I try to give myself and my family a 3 strike system for certain grocery items. It started because my sister kept buying eggs and not eating them. I decided that after 3 times of buying something I will either reduce the amount, change the form(fresh v. Frozen etc.) or just stop buying all together if I notice it is mostly going to waste regularly. It’s helpful for me to be realistic with how we use our groceries and other items.
Or, simply freeze unused spinach before it goes bad. Just put the half used bag in the freezer.
@@mikailagray I'm no longer "allowed" to buy fresh cucumbers and mushrooms because my husband got tired of me never eating them before they went bad. If he sees me eyeing them at the store, he immediately reminds me of every single time in the past where I've bought them and then had to compost them within a week because they already went bad, and I hadn't even touched them yet😅
I put my spinach in a tub with some paper towel (yes, not the most sustainable option) and it means my spinach usually stays fresh for weeks. I'm very pro frozen veg, but I have spinach in my salads, and frozen just doesn't work for that.
I really like how you look at the whole picture. It's sad that people have forgotten about reduce and reuse, recycling shouldn't be the go-to for sustainability without considering the other two.
too common a misconception
About food preservation, I think one of the issues in the US is the size of your fridges. It causes people to buy far too much fresh, perishable food at once. When you have a very tiny fridge, you buy just what you need for the next few days, you see everything you have left and you don't waste anything.
And this is true
I'm visiting my family right now their fridge 💀
and I think that goes back to lack of infrastructure. At my place in Sweden, I just walk to the store and get what I need for the day or so. For people like my parents in the US, my mother can't make frequent trips like that without getting in the car and driving 20 minutes every time or spending $14 to get it ordered to her house - which is also not a sustainable way, especially for her own personal time and energy spent going out to do it.
@@wallsofgab I was just about to say this! We have big fridges here in the (rural) US because it isn't economic to drive to the store everyday for just the essentials; we stock up with big purchases at one time thus packaging to extend the shelf life is needed
I think it's also based on time. We don't have time to go to the grocery store every couple days because of the way society is set up. We can't just walk down to the market and pick up a few things. Depending on where you live it can be a lot of trouble to get to a grocery store either because of traffic or distance.
I appreciate how you approach things as meeting the problem where it is. If we had an excellent recycling structure in the US, this would be a different conversation. We won't do better if we don't start with where we are instead of an ideal state. You don't enter a hoarder house and focus on dusting.
we need to do better to make recycling better!
Consumerism is the problem in the US, not the lack of recycling options.
I'll be honest, I feel like if more people went back to basics and at the VERY least had the know how to grow and prepare their own food, that there would be less food waste. Knowing where your food comes from and the work that goes into getting it to the table gives you more respect and appreciation for it
I agree. But a lot of people dont have access to a garden, and that they actually own, where they can grow their own food. I dont own the garden outside my home and its decided it should just be grass on it, that also needs to be cut for no practical reason. I dont agree with it. Sometimes food actually does go bad, but I think a lot of people should have more respect for not wasting food (especially throwing perfectly good food because its easier and quicker there and then) and planning in advance to avoid it. But the real changes wont come before the stores stop importing way more food than what is actually bought and used in time
It helps if you have time . Most people might be working two jobs to afford a tiny apt that's 1/3 -1/2 of their income and that apt doesn't have dirt they can call their own.
Little things like sustainability don't matter when you have no time, money, or space.
I think you should continue this series. It’s very eye opening to me to see the numbers and put it into perspective. I’ve been working on not buying rather than recycling or thrifting because I know it’s the biggest step I could take in this aspect.
i appreciate that you are open and honest about when and how your opinion changes based on new research. data is being updated all the time so having the humility to preach something different than before is great. makes me trust you.
When I found your channel a couple years ago, I changed my way of thinking. And videos like this are so important, hope it finds someone like past me, and that it changes their lives too
Shelbi, video idea: I know you've done shopping videos in different stores to see what you can get without plastic or packaging, but I'd love to see a walkthrough in any random store and a talk-through of "what options in the grocery store are sustainable" given the options and given different lifestyles. Seeing the different considerations you make for different contexts and options would be really helpful as modeling what questions to be asking when WE are food shopping.
Yes please!!!
Yes! I would like to know about packaging for precut vegetables for example, because I am not going to be able to eat vegetables regularly if I have to cut them myself, but I'm not a fan of all of that plastic
Omg this!
An interesting and informative video, as always! One suggestion if you do make this a series: consider adding "Myth" in the on-screen text for each section header, for instance "Myth: 01", etc. It was a bit confusing seeing the text written as if it is your assertion, rather than a myth you are refuting.
Looking forward to more videos!
Thank you for sharing this information! I feel like a lot of expectations surrounding sustainability are based on an idealized system in which things work - where no one throws out their food, where recycling works, etc. But we have to work with what we have until the system changes, even if it doesn't feel as pretty and wrapped in a bow as having a jar of trash. Very important information!
Yes please make this a series! I'm sure these videos are some of the more challenging to make but there's so much to be learned from them. At my grocery store pretty much all the organic produce is in plastic I figured it was to separate organic vs non organic but packaged so it lasts longer makes sense never thought of it that way
Agreed that space can be like a vacuum and having a large fridge can support bad habits like overbuying perishables. For me a large fridge is a must as I meal orep for two people with 10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 2 huge bottles of homemade soy milk, condiments, my compost bin, plus staples and pre-cooked components for dinners and snacks throughout the week. I actually wish my fridge were larger, but i make it work. Meal prepping saves me time, keeps us eating right, and reduces waste.
I just explained to my family how glass is not always better than plastic at Christmas 😄 Even though our recycling system is slightly better here in Germany than in the US, I would say (faaaar from perfect, but overall one of the best ones out there, as far as I know).
I started using glas a year ago but aside from the recycling ... i crashed so many bottles xx. I stopped as i crashed a 50€ Rosewater bottle who thought i should buy this in glas. But nah~, this way i produced even more waste i think xx.
I love your approach to sustainability!! As a therapist, I have more expertise and tend to focus on issues related to healthcare and education, but see so much of the same cognitive biases and logical fallacies in my work. Human brains, especially those in western individualist cultures, want simple all-or-nothing answers; complexity and context are often difficult logically and emotionally. A key part of getting to a more sustainable and equal future is going to require shifting worldviews and thought processes to be more big picture and an interconnected understanding of systems. While that takes time we don’t really have, we will continue to be stuck playing crisis wak-a-mole until we make those changes within ourselves, our groups, and the general public…
These may not be popular opinions, but I applaud you for challenging your own beliefs!
It's a critical skill for growth 🧠🌱
Thank you for this video! I have been trying to convince the eco conscious folks around me that single use glass is not often a better alternative for the longest time. Especially since our country has no recycling of absolutely any materials, putting glass in landfills is much, much worse than putting thin plastics in landfills. And even if we bought everything in glass, we cannot realistically reuse all glass packagings enough to neutralize its impact.
Yessss, I would love for this to be a series! I really appreciate all the nuances you bring up when looking at the "most sustainable" option because it really isn't simple and can drive me crazy! I'm mostly trying to focus on avoiding food waste right now, for financial and environmental reasons, so packaging has fallen down on my list of priorities recently, and this video has helped me feel a lot less guilty about this, so thank you Shelbi!
This is a great video! Media leaned so hard into “asthetic” sustainability in the 2010s and made everyone think plastic was the worst thing ever, I hope content like this catches on and makes people think about the bigger picture. I live in Canada and would love you hear your take on the single use plastic ban we have going on right now, and how helpful or unhelpful it is (I strongly suspect its unhelpful)
I appreciate this video so much. It’s so hard to know what’s the ‘best’ option. It can feel so freaking overwhelming. You’ve taught me so much and really changed the way I think when I buy things or choose not to buy things.
Any product labelled as "1 time use" is NOT sustainable no matter what material it is made of. We should try to re-use everything unless It's a medical product etc... Our recycling process sucks
You make a strong argument for shopping locally, eating seasonably, and preserving (canning, pickling, and fermenting that uses minimal energy and reusable jars). Check out the Becoming a Farm Girl RUclips channel and blog where Cassandra documents her preserving journey while living in a condo; growing what she can in stackable planters; and shopping produce sales and farmers' markets for fruit and veg to preserve.
I work for an e-grocer delivery service, but in marketing so I was very confused to see it was a "huge win" that our distribution centers were now able to saran wrap vegetables for orders. I questioned it and the team that manages logistics and shipments took the time to explain that this actually decreased food waste by making food last longer during delivery and once delivered. Completely changed how much emphasis I put on the impact of packaging (very visible to consumers) vs the detriment of food put in landfill (out of sight). Thank you so much for presenting everything with data. Really appreciate how disciplined you are in your morals for environmental education
I would love to see a video with Nola maybe showing us around her recycling centre or something
She makes incredible tiktoks and I love what her mission is
Considering we cannot escape plastic, that it lasts thousand of years and turns in microplastic, glass and metal seem like better options. It terrifies me that no new born child can escape this microplastic infestation because microplastic has been found in the mother's blood and placenta. We basically eat the amount of plastic equal to a credit card every few weeks. I fear plastic will be a new cause for cancer or other incurable diseases that we do not even know it could exist or develop in the far future. Great video, but I believe extended shelf life is not the final solution for preventing food waste. People would be healthier if they ate food that does not last 5 years on the shelf. How to do that? Buy local and encourage local.If I find in a nearby store next to me products shipped from the other part of the planet, no wonder that life shelf must be at least 1 year considering transportation and all that stuff. And buying local at least 40-50% would solve a lot of other problems too. Again, great subject, someone had to say. Sand is running short due to the construction industry too. It's all related and we need to discuss it openly.
Also try to reduce animal food consumption or cut out completely, its been found that eggs the least impactful animal food are still more impactful than tofu (the highest impact plant protein). Also its been found that animal food, even if local, is still less sustainable than plant proteins shipped from out of state (although local for plant foods is always a good idea) :).
@@helenapflaum6800 but is that just for conventional farming? Or does it include regenerative? Because you cannot do regenerative farming without livestock.
eating locally is a great option, but only for part of the year depending on your climate. where i live, there's next to nothing available (because it's not growing due to the cold) between november and april. so we would either have to purchase foods grown elsewhere, or store the harvest, which requires some type of packaging. i suppose if everyone had a root cellar, perhaps we could technically survive the winter without using any packaging, but our diets would be extremely limited. not even i would do that, and i love eating local produce.
I agree with that when it's for example plastic vs cotton (bc I've seen people complaining about organic cotton totes vs plastic single use bags bc of emissions?? when at least cotton is biodegradable). But with glass idk, glass isn't biodegradable after all so both plastic and glass could end up in the landfill. Ahhh but if it's about shelf life I agree, we could buy less food or not buy food that goes bad too quickly.
right I cannot ignore the microplastics!
I truly appreciate you sharing science with us and talking about changing your opinions as you learn more facts.
Too many sustainability channels focus on simple living, no cars, bulk shops, composting and growing your own food. That is unattainable for the vast majority of Americans.
thank you thank you! My executive function being trash and being a stay at home mom has made my journey with ecominimalism up and down. But I am going to try and start some systems in notion to help me start some sustainable habits 😮💨
Good for you! Truly, any steps we can take all make a difference:)
i think having large scale, accessible compost would be beneficial to helping not only the food waste issue but packaging as well. similar to the accessibility of recycling (despite the ignorance and inefficiency in our current system) it would be great to see regular people have the ability to easily compost their extra food, as well as give people more incentive to purchase biodegradable or compostable packaging and actually allow it to biodegrade.
Encourage your town to implement city-composting! we have it here in cambridge, MA
Since you talked about animal food, could you make a products for animals sustainable swaps video? Since their foods come in plastic, plastic bags are used to clean up after them in walks, plastic toys, plastic everything essentially, I would love to know more for when I get animals when I one day get a place of my own (i have 2 cats but live with my family still since I am 16)
I second this. We have 3 cats and a dog and we always get the plastic grocery bags to dispose of their poo
Has anyone tried composting their own dog/cat’s poo at home (if they have a yard)?
@@Rosie-xm7ry like with bokashi and/or ensopet?
@@Liloldliz yeah, I wonder if it’s worth it before i try and dig a 6ft hole lol
Rather than buying plastic bags, I save up plastic food packaging or my WhoGivesACrap toilet paper wrappers and use that, if I run out I scoop the waste directly into a small outside bin and empty that into the collection bin when it’s full. Hope that helps :)
Please address the effects of micro-plastics on our health, chemical leaching/toxicity and the persistence of plastics in our environment. A big reason people may choose glass and other non-plastic materials, myself included, is because of these reasons, even if it's not the most "sustainable" in terms of natural resources and increasing food shelf life. To that note I do think it is important to only buy what you need when you need it, if you can afford to do so.
You are by far the best information on sustainability on RUclips and I thank you for that! I also love that you expressed your frustration on how people don’t get this and keep not educating themselves and putting bad information out. I would also appreciate if you could maybe start sending links on bills we should be fighting for or things we could sign in order to help the true cause and fixing the broken system because like you said not everybody has time to go out and find this stuff. Great work and thank you for all the great info 😁
Also could you please please share the color green that is on the wall behind you?
Please make a video that addresses micro-plastics and possible chemical contaminants in food from packaging when deciding on packaging.
Shelby! You gotta have a grocery video going over the comparisons between different packaging for the same product! Would love to those examples and comparisons.
I live in a Mississippi suburb and we don’t even have glass recycling here. We used to be able to take it to the co-op in the capital city but the co-op closed. I don’t even know where I could take glass. When I looked it up, the MS Dept of Environmental quality says: “The market for glass containers for Mississippi is in Texas and Georgia. Very simple, the transportation cost to ship the glass to these glass manufacturing facilities is generally more than what they receive for the material. So many programs and recycling facilities have dropped glass collection from their programs. In addition, if the three different color grades of glass are mixed together, it is almost impossible to find a buyer for mixed cullet (glass). Finally, more programs in the nation are collecting all the recyclable materials together in one compactor truck at the curb rather than separating them on the truck. This helps save money, but also hurts glass recycling because glass can often contaminate the paper since it can break and imbed into the paper. This can be a major contamination problem at paper mills.”
This is such a fantastic video! I often get asked what my issue with the recycling system is, because I know the system is flawed and it frustrates me to no end, but I have difficulty explaining it. You've explained everything so clearly and well, I am going to use this video as my reference in the future. Thanks for sharing this!
Food waste is my next focus in my personal life. As far as individual choices, I think it's more doable for me than package-free at this point. Using up what I buy is an option for me even when my budget, time, and shopping options are limited.
Excellent video! Thank you for your guidance and your passion! I have a question, as we think of all these different packaging materials life cycle, how is the problem of micro plastic weights against all other considerations of recycling, production footprint, food waste prevention etc?
I'm wondering this too. The problem of microplastics on human and ecological health is why I still prefer to buy things in glass when possible, despite the excellent points put forward in this video.
@@naikopako1840 yes. All of what she is taking about is valuable and important. But if we are trying to weigh out all factors, micro plastic bugs me a lot. I spent month trying to find table Salt with LESS micro plastic particles in it. It’s hard not think about it.
Please continue the series. Well done! Also I quite seriously would watch a plant care video/how to.
This is definitely one of your BEST videos by far!! -Long time listener and fellow lover of “it’s more complicated than it looks”
Great information. Thank you for your passion and for sharing this message. Also, off the subject, I saw a story on social media about a company in Austin that rents Christmas trees. You rent them and return them, and when the tree becomes 7ft, they plant it. I found this concept very interesting.
I really appreciate videos like this. We all want things to be simple black and white, but they rarely are.
Thank you for explaining very easily understandable that glas is not the solution to everything and plastic should not be demonized just because. I hope this sparks some interest to think more about the whole life cycle of things (food and packaging) to make the best decision in the future 🌍
I still think shrink wrapping cucumbers are not necessarily the best option. I bought cucumbers in bulk bags vs. shrink wrap, the water vapours in the shrink wrap makes the cucumber mould faster. We buy bulk bags and put them in paper bags or wrap in paper towel and they work much better
CO2 and recycling are not the only issue with packaging but we should also be looking at endocrine disruptors or forever chemicals. Really wish we could get back to reusable system like the soda companies used to do with glass bottles. I mean with automotive parts we have a core charge on many car parts which are priced high enough where you want to bring back the broken part to get your core charge back.
Yes, please-make this a series. Great vid, thanks for all your hard work. ❤
I mostly eat frozen produce instead of fresh produce. In general, I live more off of frozen foods, including convenience items like frozen pizza, than fresh stuff. I've been criticized for this because of the packaging, but I'm pretty sure the lower food waste that results from having long lasting stuff in the freezer, eating mostly plant-based, and ordering less takeout because I can live off of convenience foods is overall better for the planet.
It's extraordinary how complex this is! Thanks for explaining it all to us so clearly.
I want to ask a question. I would like to know why prescriptions for pills have to come in some cumbersome, oversized pill bottles. This is not about liquid prescriotions or otc meds like cough syrup. How can pharmacy make their packaging smaller?
Love for this to become a series. Myth-busting, talking about the not so well known issues and facts; and focusing on different sides of things.
I used to work for a packaging company mostly for chips and yogurt containers. You would be enraged by the amount of packaging that gets produced in China, shipped to nyc then sat in a warehouse unused for years. Especially the ones that got printed in the “wrong shade”.
I've got mad respect for you and glean a lot from your videos. Thank you so much for all of the research and hard work you do. You always explain everything so succinctly and I've learned a lot.
Thanks to you being so inspiring I have gone back to college and started studying environmental sustainability and im learning so much but I whole heartedly know a lot of it wouldn't make sense if you hadn't been so amazing at what you do. A million times thank you for all you do for us and for the planet ❤️❤️❤️
I have glass canning jars that are over 100 years old, and I think it’s super cool that people have been preserving their food in them for a century!
this was really helpful! do make it into a series! it's a super interesting topic!
I remember hearing somewhere on a “conscious shopping” program on television that unwashed - with actual soil on it - veg lasts waaaay longer (like 60 to 90 days depending on the veg). But it doesn’t sell, so companies don’t tend to do that.
I used to get so frustrated that HelloFresh, a brand that says they're sustainable and uses less packaging, puts their zucchinis in plastic bags. I didn't realize until last year that they do this because it helps keep the zucchinis fresh so that they don't spoil on the travel from the packing facility, to your fridge, to your stove. I now just try to keep the bag to reuse for whenever I get package free cukes or zucchinis from the store.
Yes please on making a series! I love when you make these types of videos. I learn so much from them.
Please make a series, I love this content.
For the first point: plastic bottles are actually much more recyclable than glass bottles because glass breaks easily, decreasing the chance of another life cycle. In my country we have a system where you send back used plastic bottles for a little bit of money in return. And of course that SHOULD be everywhere. I generally hate plastic and first and foremost for the damage it does directly to wildlife, although there are more issues. But there is a huge difference between single use and multiple time use here. Its often hard to decide and rather subjective whats the most Eco-friendly because many different type of factors play against each other. I didn't know we were also running out of glass sand, but heard that glass take more energy to produce and transport.
I always appreciate folks who change their mind with new information. This was a really refreshing take on recycling and sustainability. Happy new year!
Loved this video!!! Would love a series, but can you also do an update on your plants and how you’re taking care of them. One of the goals for this year was to have more plants lol
Please makes this a series!,important information we all need!
Please make this a series!!
I literally clicked this video because I thought you were advocating against wrapping food in plastic and I was outraged by that (I know about the food waste issue). But of course you are well informed and deliver the information in a great way. This is why I follow you.
I know this is an older vid but I would absolutely love for you to expand on this for other things
- totes versus single use or multi use plastic bags (that Danish study found up to 7000 uses required for a tote???)
- are reusable pads and undies really less CO2 per wear than pads/liners/tampons?
- keep cups - I buy coffee out maybe twice a month... Would I have been better off with disposable cups?
Thanks for the clarification of flexible packaging. Mind blown! I wonder though about the chemical leaching into the food packaged as to does it do so at a concerning level?
Not me learning something… I knew erosion was happening because of the increase of storms, but I had no clue we were running out of sand because of glass, too! This was a great video.
glass is my favorite storage item because I can use it again. I drink from years old pasta jars, I bring soup to work in the same jars. it also doesn't end up tasting like plastic or silicone like plastic containers do.
Not sure if I am repeating a comment:
I buy in glass for my health-
I don’t want plastic or metal leaching into my food.
It’s a hormone disruptor…
I don’t know what to do😩
Please make more of these videos! This was so informative and really put a lot into perspective for me! The sections on packaging, food waste, and attempting to use technology to make climate change disappear were so on point. Thank you for all you do 😊
I learn something new from you every time I watch one of your videos! Keep up the great work. Thanks.
Yes, make this a series.
Just found this channel and I’m obsessed. I initially found the lush behind the scenes video as I had heard they were guilty of greenwashing. Now I’m going to watch them all!!❤
This is one of your best videos, Shelbi. Thank you!
Thank you Shelbi! I really appreciate you and the knowledge that you share on this platform! Wishing you and Madison a New year overflowing with all the best things life has to offer 🙏 Peace
What I like to do is buy my produce lose for things like carrots, broccile, etc. Then I take an old plastic bag from my drawer or thin plastics and some rubber bands if I need it and "package" it when i get home so it lasts longer
Food waste drives me absolutely drives me nuts. The holidays are especially annoying because people make too much food. Or do you know those types of people who “hate/can’t eat leftovers” because it’s too boring? Just blows my mind.
Thank you, Shelbi, and happy new year!
Great topic! I learned so much from this video.Thank you for your time to make these videos 😘 xo
I loved the perspective change this video subjected us to. I felt uncomfortable at times but I want to learn. Things are so complex and not black or white like I used to see them. Please continue the series.
Great video, informative and thought provoking as always! Love your channel so much!!
I understand the use of thin plastic to extend the life of food but in the end, I feel like no packaging is still better. It's a question of buying what we really need and using it instead of piling up food in our fridge "just in case" or, because it will last long, "let's think about what will make of it later".
However, I'm single with no children so I understand it's easier said than done when you're a busy family and you can't necessarily go shopping too often.
I will take a series on anything you want to talk about! But this actually makes me feel a bit less guilty on the few packaging things that we have to throw away. And your plants are looking so great in the area that you set up!
I love your videos so much! It has really helped me to see all of the opportunities we have, and in so many ways to do our part in saving the planet. I would love it if you could make a video with regard to coffee. This is a really rough one. I did find a wonderful farmer owned coffee Company in Sacramento called Pachamama. The farmers and the company and produce very high quality coffee that is farmed in sustainable ways. also, I am going to put a plug in for Better Place Forests which is a way that we can eliminate cemeteries and do something good for the environment. I know it sounds kind of gross, but they are also looking into ways to incorporate the process of composting for the deceased. thank you so much for all the good work you do, and educating us, and spreading the word!😊
Thank you so much for bringing theses perspectives that we don't think about
Wow, I randomly thought about you and I checked your channel and this was uploaded just a minute ago!! Guess it was fate to watch this video 😂 Never stop making videos, Shelbi!
Canada’s single use plastic ban takes effect this month. Would really like to see a video on your opinion on current global government efforts
your plants always look so healthy. how do you keep track of when and how much to water them?
It needs to be pointed out that the vast majority of sand mined is used for construction, not packaging. And despite a higher carbon footprint, glass packaging doesn't contribute to our microplastics crisis.
Microplastics are found in fish and crustacean tissues all across the world because plastic waste breaks down to microplastics and look like food to sea creatures... We are literally eating plastic when we eat seafood. I will buy glass over plastic every time my food is available in glass.
Not just Fish, recently microplastics have been found in human fetuses.
@@natnuss98 Yes I know it is because microplastics are in our food. We have to end our global addiction to plastic.
And then there's the element of what phthalates in the mothers blood can do to a fetus' developing reproductive system. Plastic is awful for anything consumable (including lotions and things like that)
Hmmm what was that study about the flexible packaging? I’d like to read it
The facts you presented in this video coupled with passion and honesty are amazing. Especially number 7 is so damn true. We have the solutions at our hands, they already exist but we seem too blind or unwilling to actually use them! Same with world hunger, in my opinion, we KNOW how to end it but it seems as though we don't really want to.
So insightful and well communicated!! Thank you for this!
Video idea: what about a makeup version of the skincare video you did with Hyram? Maybe with Hannah Louise Poston or Kackie? Reviewing makeup that works well but also sustainable.
So much of this food waste stuff is unfathomable to me as a European urbanite. Do fruits need to last longer than a week? Is this because grocery stores are hard to get to and require a planned trip?
Yes, most of us can't shop more than once a week as most people don't live close enough to a grocery store to go more often. We also have terrible transit systems and most communities aren't walkable. It is even harder to access locally grown and produced foods. Many people eat primarily frozen, canned, or other preserved foods instead of fresh foods due to accessibility issues.
Please do more videos about this subject.
Please do more videos about this subject.
Please do more videos about this subject!
What about microplastics? I know glass has its problems...but at least it doesn´t release microplastic as it breaks down?
If anyone has been watching you for any amount of time, accusing you of being paid off is laughable!! Keep on keepin’ on🥰
Can you make a video about your favorite zero waste swaps and which ones you would recommend for a college student?
i loved this informative video! Please continue this as a series :D