Week Two's challenge to shop plastic-free is one of the hardest changes to make! How did it go for you?
A big part of shopping plastic-free is finding stores and markets that reduce or eliminate traditional packaging in the first place. We hope you can stop by your local farmers market or bulk store this week to see what a difference it makes to shop plastic-free (or close to it!). Check out this article about the world's FIRST plastic-free supermarket aisle , which opened in Amsterdam in February 2018 in response to people like YOU who want to curb the world's plastic binge!
WEEK TWO GIVEAWAYS!
Having your reusable totes AND produce bags when you shop is key, and we'll be giving away five sets of organic cotton produce bags today!
Check your inbox later today to see if you’ve won!
Every week, we’ll send you inspiration for change, so you have more understanding about why we’re doing the week’s challenge. This week, we start with the question, What packaging is best for the environment?
Most of us still need or want to buy certain products that come in packaging, but also want to make the most environmentally-friendly choice. So, what's the best packaging to buy? While there is no clear "winner," taking a behind-the-scenes look at the environmental impacts of some of our main packaging materials can help you decide!
PLASTIC is made from crude oil and natural gas extracted by drilling or fracking. Some plastics are recyclable—but only once, or maybe twice. Most of the time, plastic packages are recycled into more permanent products that aren’t able to be recycled again. For example, a plastic bottled water can be turned into a reusable tote bag, but that reusable tote bag is not recyclable. Text Link
GLASS bottles are made from liquefied sand, sodium carbonate (called soda ash), limestone, and sometimes recycled glass. Limestone is mined, and can harm habitats and scar landscapes. However, glass can be recycled an unlimited number of times without a loss of quality. Once glass bottles are tossed into the recycling bin, they could be back on shelves in less than a month!
ALUMINUM cans are made from bauxite, a mineral mined in rainforests and other eco-systems in Australia, Indonesia, China and Brazil. The mining of bauxite requires strip mining land of its topsoil and clear cutting forests. However, there is good news: aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable! Making a can out of recycled aluminum requires only 5% of the energy consumed to produce aluminum cans from bauxite.
Coming up: Week 3
Recognizing and Avoiding Microplastics

The Week Three challenge will be delivered to your inbox on Sunday.
Eco-Cy cle is a 501(c)(3) nonp rofit social enterprise. All revenues generated are invested in programs to advance Zero Waste communities in Colorado.
Questions? Contact us!
303-444-6634