WHAT I STILL BUY IN PLASTIC (busting myths about zero waste living, exposing my zero waste life)

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

I just want to show you that what you normally see online isn't always the reality, especially as we go into the new year! What do you still buy in plastic? Any tips for how I can reduce more plastic?

[@Mewpasaurus]

Seconding other folks here: Thank you so much for being practical about reducing/reusing waste materials instead of making it aesthetically pleasing and promoting buying a bunch of very expensive "zero-waste" products. As a person from the Midwest who grew up with a lot of these approaches, it is *nice* to see someone actively showing how a lot of us still maintain and manage to cut down waste without buying a bunch of pretty stuff. Does it look as nice? No, but that's not really the point of reducing waste, so it shouldn't be what people strive for. Especially if you live in places where bulk stores, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, etc. aren't available (which is a lot of the places I have lived during my lifetime). A lot of rural areas in the U.S. don't have access to any of the stuff that is promoted by a lot of low-wast/zero-waste people.. and most of the people I grew up with couldn't afford to spend $150 on a pair of nice bed sheets, for example. If you can, great! But the majority of people (that I know) couldn't afford that and would feel guilty that they would have to contend with polyester blend sheets (or whatever their sheets happen to be made from). So I love that you focus more on making sustainable and oftentimes free swaps and suggestions. Those are more sustainable, more self-sufficient and in a lot of cases, you're learning and utilizing new or less used skill sets, which is awesome!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

aww thank you so much!

[@freya7084]

I'm not zero waste by any means but I appreciate how down to earth you are and not one of those super aesthetic channels that have everything in manson jars and make their own toothpaste with fairy powder and unicorn blood in the middle of their cottage core house in the mountains of Siberia. I mean. Yuk. THANKS!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

For sure, thank you! Don't get me wrong, I love the cottage core vibes, but I want to prove that sustainable living can be for anyone :) (not zero waste)

[@miabonventre2159]

So much respect for you that you’re putting the real side of sustainability on this platform 😊

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Thanks so much Mia! Stay tuned because I have much more planned like this for 2021! I want people to see that sustainability isn't about perfection and can be easy, and sometimes free, and also fun!!

[@michaelafischer6177]

Just a important note from a vegetarian (who likes vegan food a lot) of over 15 years: Seeds aren't sufficient as a source of Omega 3, just because they don't provide the essential DHA/EPA fatty acid varieties that are only found in fish and seafood--with the exception of sea vegetables (which are actually how fish get their Omega 3, too.) It's still REALLY good to eat vegetarian Omega 3-rich foods, like flaxseed (I'm a huge fan of this in particular), but if not eating a pescatarian diet for sustainable or ethical reasons, it's basically necessary to buy vegan EPA/DHA supplements, which are now gratefully widely available. Just be sure that it is a sea vegetable/algae source and lists the EPA/DHA values. However, since you're in Japan, you could also enjoy eating macrobiotic-style sea vegetables if you like these! I've always liked a bowl of brown rice with sea veg, but it's just not practical where I live. When I started eating vegetarian so many years ago now, it was definitely not the case that these vegan O3 products were on the market (which strikes me as a huge hole in consumer nutrition, and is evidence of the growing trend/market for vegan products). It was a few years for me until fish stopped being a nutritional necessity due to the only vegan Omega 3 supplements being seed-based. Even once I found it, I was having to import sea vegetable-based Omega 3 online from across the world, and it was noooot cheap. Now they're available at most pharmacies in the West! The unusual thing is that this is probably the biggest gap in nutritional knowledge I've seen in the vegetarian and vegan community. Literally EVERYTHING else can be had in abundance from a vegetarian diet, including iron and calcium, other minerals, etc. Protein is there in stacks, and is easy to combine into complete proteins. Even vegetarians don't seem to suffer B12 deficiencies at a particularly greater rate than omnivores, although this is based on the patients at the general practice I used to work at, rather than population surveys. That said, B12 supplements are the only other supplement usually--but not always--essential for vegans other than an Omega 3 EPA/DHA. I do know some vegans who get enough B12 from copious use of nutritional yeast, Vegemite (in Australia), and B12-fortified foods. Just get your routine blood work done, then you'll know! If supplementation is required, shots are easiest and most effective, but I highly recommend using sub-lingual wafers or liquid drops rather than tablets, as you'll get better absorption. (In saying that, Sweden is the only country with a history and preference for using tablets rather than shots, and they've had good success with that, so I wouldn't worry too much.)

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

yeah we're going to have to disagree on this one. I eat seeds at every meal and honestly, if you think about it, fish get their omega-3s from plants. I've had blood work done with no issues. It's hard to critique someone's diet from the outside ;) I also eat nutritional yeast which is anywhere from 100-400% daily value of b-12 (fortified) and also drink plant milk that is fortified. Do you have any sources for this information on seeds? I'd love to learn!

[@michaelafischer6177]

@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist I'm so, so, very sorry that this came off as a criticism of your diet, and I really need to onboard that as feedback in the way I write things! I wouldn't presume to govern the way anyone eats or their priorities, and I was really writing as someone who used to communicate in a healthcare context, which tends to influence the way that I approach this sort of information. It can come off as prescriptive without me wanting it too. I want to say that I think you probably have a healthier diet than even I do! I wasn't saying you need B12 supplements (just sharing advice for those who do, especially new vegans finding their feet--I've needed B12 myself some years!). You also have way more commitment to getting those healthy fatty acids than I do! But it wouldn't matter either way. A person's health is definitely between them and their PCP, and diet is governed by a lot of factors, taste and ethics among them, which mean that we don't always eat in some idealised, food pyramid-y way regardless. What my comment was originally meant to be was more of a literal breakdown on the importance of EPA and DHA, because these are essential fatty acids that the body can't make, versus ALA, which is the fatty acid found in plant-based foods (which we also can't make, but tend to get a lot of)! Small amounts of ALA get converted to EPA and DHA (limited by available enzymes), and you certainly increase your chances of this happening sufficiently by eating A LOT of flaxseed, which you clearly do, but it wouldn't generally be enough in most cases. It's also true that fish get their Omegas from (sea) plants, which I was trying to clarify. Sea vegetables are therefore probably THE BEST source of Omega 3. There's just no plant vegetables on land that contain EPA and DHA in the same way, and this in turn reflects the fatty acid requirements of land mammals (other than humans). The only other species to share our particular fatty acid requirements is the dolphin, which is weird by the way, and is currently more or less a mystery. (I'll source this below too!) I know the Japanese really enjoy sea veg, so it would be adequate to integrate this into the diet as a food source of EPA/DHA (like you've said, food sources are the ideal source of nutrition), but the wonderful thing for people who don't like or don't have access to this is that supplement companies are starting to make their Omega 3 supplements with sea vegetables to make them vegan. I know sources are really important, so I'm going to put a bunch, which I should have done in the first place. www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/why-not-flaxseed-oil Here's a Harvard health article on why flaxseed isn't a suitable option for Omega 3, even for omnivores (PLENTY of people hate fish, even if they eat animals, and sea veg isn't exactly common in the Western diet). "The health benefits of fish oil are believed to derive principally from two omega-3 fats, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Flaxseed oil contains a third, plant-based omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Other foods (especially walnuts) and oils (canola and soybean, for example) contain ALA. But at about 7 grams per tablespoon, flaxseed oil is by far the richest source. The main problem with ALA is that to have the good effects attributed to omega-3s, it must be converted by a limited supply of enzymes into EPA and DHA. As a result, only a small fraction of it has omega-3's effects - 10%-15%, maybe less. The remaining 85%-90% gets burned up as energy or metabolized in other ways. So in terms of omega-3 "power," a tablespoon of flaxseed oil is worth about 700 milligrams (mg) of EPA and DHA. That's still more than the 300 mg of EPA and DHA in many 1-gram fish oil capsules, but far less than what the 7 grams listed on the label might imply. But flaxseed oils a backup, not a substitute, for the omega-3s in fish and fish oil because of the conversion factor." In response to this, it's not up to me to say that you're not individually eating enough flaxseed to achieve a better conversion factor than could be expected, but just that in general, it's not recognised as an adequate substitute across the population. Your diet is definitely enough to stop deficiency from occuring, which is quite rare in Western populations anyway, as the body will try to convert at least a minimum from ALA. One issue is that there's no RDI for EPA and DHA, which makes it difficult to say what's 'good' other than the current recommendations are that a direct source is needed. But we use it for a lot of essential or important things, and it does seem to really improve overall human health. If we go back to our overall fatty acid ratio requirements, there's definitely an indication that more is better. Here's a US National Institute of Health article on Omega 3 that expands on the subject further: ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-Consumer/ "The three main omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is found mainly in plant oils such as flaxseed, soybean, and canola oils. DHA and EPA are found in fish and other seafood. ALA is an essential fatty acid, meaning that your body can’t make it, so you must get it from the foods and beverages you consume. Your body can convert some ALA into EPA and then to DHA, but only in very small amounts. Therefore, getting EPA and DHA from foods (and dietary supplements if you take them) is the only practical way to increase levels of these omega-3 fatty acids in your body. Omega-3s are important components of the membranes that surround each cell in your body. DHA levels are especially high in retina (eye), brain, and sperm cells. Omega-3 dietary supplements include fish oil, krill oil, cod liver oil, and algal oil (a vegetarian source that comes from algae). They provide a wide range of doses and forms of omega-3s. Most people in the United States get enough ALA from the foods they eat. They also get small amounts of EPA and DHA. Recommended amounts of EPA and DHA have not been established." And here's two passages from Vegetarianism: A History that goes into the ratio thing: "Land mammals have 3-6 times more Omega 6 than Omega 3 fatty acids, while fish have more Omega 3 (cod has a ratio of 1:40 in its muscle membranes), but dolphins have the same 1:1 ratio as ourselves. Let me now turn to the idea that a diet of fish rich in Omega 3 fatty acids would achieve that ratio with Omega 6 of one to one which is necessary in the human nervous system. Omega 6 is found in seeds, nuts and plants (land mammals have about three to six times as much Omega 6 as they do Omega 3). Omega 3 is found in all marine life and in the green parts of plants, phytoplankton and algae. It is possible for a marine animal to have an equal ratio, but the dolphin has to work hard at it finding the Omega 6 - squid contains arachidonic acid which is their main source of it. It is thought that dolphins because they began existence as land mammals still retained their dependence upon Omega 6. Biochemically, they were still land mammals living in a marine habitat.24 It is also possible for a herbivorous land mammal that never visits the sea to retain the ratio of 1 to 1, but again it would have to search for the food source of Omega 3. It would have difficulty in finding the nutrient require-ments for the brain and visual system. But it is not impossible, it might, for example, find it in algae - the Aztecs dried algae and made cakes out of it. Spencer, Colin. Vegetarianism (pp. 12-13). Grub Street Cookery. Kindle Edition." I know this turns a comment into a veritable essay, but I really hope it helps to clarify where I was going in my original comment, which came off as policing and which I apologise for. I'm clearly very new here, but I've loved everything I've watched so far. Your life really resembles my own a lot more closely than most of the zero-wasters I follow, which is eye-opening and comforting, and I've already learnt so much! As obvious as it is, it never really occurred to me that it would be better to rescue plastic shampoos than buy brand new zero-waste personal care. And while I've always known that bulk is better, it wasn't quite setting in that I'd be better off with a large plastic tub than buying multiples, thinking of the overall production impact. I've also nabbed your tortilla recipe! So, I'm 100% here to learn too, and you've already helped me tremendously. I'm really grateful for that, and was just hoping to give back with my knowledge. Even if the above doesn't agree with you, I hope the spirit of that intention comes through more now!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

@@michaelafischer6177 oh gotcha! thanks for all the info!

[@michaelafischer6177]

@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist No worries. Thank YOU for all the info ont his channel! Besides, I used the word, "plant vegetables", so I think my right to talk science on the internet has been permanently revoked. Lol!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

@@michaelafischer6177 haha thanks!

[@sk.est2020]

Completely the same in our area too, we can’t escape the amount of plastic, but like yourself we buy the largest version of it we can. I buy the largest washing up liquid bottle I can and top up my old small side side one (it is easier to handle the weight for me and kids) instead of buying and throwing away just small bottles every few weeks or so. The old sink side bottle last us 3 years before giving up on us. I’ve only just started watching your videos or any similar ones, I’ve always tried to see other uses in items since I was a teenager, not because it has been drummed into me, just because we learnt the value everything we buy or are gifted from a very young age, especially as we didn’t have a lot of money. The only thing I’m now refusing to buy that is wrapped in plastic is fresh fruit and veg, companies here in the U.K can do better and I’m refusing to support them. Luckily we have markets that have no packaging, so instead of being lazy I want to do better. Other than that, like yourself I don’t avoid buying something we need or want just because of the plastic, but try to reuse if I can or give to someone I know that can. No one is perfect. Love your videos, thank you xxx

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

we can only do what we can!

[@evaastoul8160]

Love this! We shouldn't feel guilty for still using plastic. We're doing the best that we can, that's the whole point of sustainable living :)

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

YES!!! Making small everyday changes and inspiring others to do the same is what matters, not perfection! Glad that message was clear :)

[@kiterafrey]

I think this is a great example of how to do it properly. We all have different options, abilities, and privileges. Just like people who can’t afford to buy glass jarred food, or live in food deserts, or have no bulk stores. Just like people who cannot afford a more picky piece of clothing, like work safe shoes, because they make min wage and those are hard to find thrifted in most areas. It’s important that we discuss that everyone should do their best, but that our bests all look DIFFERENT. Being able to be 100% perfect is a privilege that very few people have unless they live in specific countries with specific budgets and specific life abilities (like not being disables, diabetic, food allergies, etc). We should celebrate people doing their best instead of attacking people for using plastic. I’ve been the poor girl who couldn’t avoid plastic and had to reuse butter tubs as Tupperware, who nowadays would be yelled at for buying plastic (when it was all we could afford).

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

well said!

[@ellisonpearson3387]

my grandmother was a wealthy lady who washed her plastic bags and hung them in her garage on a special line to hang them for drying. ❤

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

my grandmother did the same thing!

[@ourfutureismars8965]

I never would have thought to make a video like this... I don't have the courage to show all of my plastic even though at this point it is not too much. Love the video though!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Thank you! I'm not perfect and I want to show people new to the movement that no one is perfect. Esp those of us who don't have access to bulk/zero waste stores, but we can still make it work! I don't think I produce too much plastic, but once I get access to a bulk store, I will really cut it down a lot!! Maybe one day you can do one like this too :)

[@cosmic_plant]

I still buy in plastic: seitan, tofu, berries (although strawberries come in a biodegradable bag, which is cool), wholewheat bread, yoghurt, broccoli, vanilla vegan protein... And I think that it, probably some treats. The rest came in cartoon, aluminium or glass :) I enjoyed so much this video! Thanks for showing the reality.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

glad i'm not alone!!

[@hannahf3305]

I like that you said that about the bread. Where I'm from there are a few places that sell food that would otherwise be thrown away, including dented cans and packages and expired food (which is still good 99% of the time). It saves them from going to landfill.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Always here to rescue food waste!

[@beatricewong3777]

Happy that I found your channel! Loving your practical approach to the low-waste lifestyle, rather than recommending products as swap.... I wish more people will discover your channel and get inspired to kick start the zero waste lifestyle!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Aww Beatrice you're too sweet!! Thank you!! That is the goal here to show that you don't need a bunch of products to live sustainably. Thank you SO much for the support :)

[@agregory]

I've been buying nuts in bulk or large packages for ages and store the excess in the fridge or freezer, depending on how quickly I eat them. They stay fresh longer that way.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

how cool!

[@Kazz_03]

Refreshing video indeed. I try to take the same approach with what we buy. While I do have the option of bulk, once COVID hit the whole section is now pre-bagged by the 0.5 pound.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

so annoying! But I understand the precaution, I saw lots of extra plastic here too starting this spring. Happy to shed some light on this issue!

[@amythomson4446]

Love your style and realness....a girl after my own heart...blessings...🥰

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Aww thank you Amy!!

[@kiwifeijoa]

Great topic, and useful info for conscientious vegans. I once took apart and measured a small plastic packet (× 12) of food against its giant bag counterpart. It was the same amount of plastic use, but the huge plastic bag was resealable and tougher plastic so now I use it for storing things. The smaller bag couldn't be reused, so that was better. My local bulk shop has recently made great efforts to reduce their prices of everyday items, and they plant trees and grasses native to our country. I really understand and want to support them. Sometimes it's also about what can be affordable. This tough choice time might last a while so agree with you, we have to last through it too, balance balance balance.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Neat!! That is sooo cool!

[@woolypuffin392]

I love the food waste shop in my town. They sell Sandwiches, selfmade bread and all sorts of discounted or crooked food from farmers.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

how cool!!

[@bambiren5920]

I usually tend not to leave comments often under the TONS of videos about zero waste living I watch but it felt so important to thank you so much for your contribute to the community: I had NEVER heard such words as yours regarding the more accessible, human, REAL aspects of sustainability. There's always this toxic tendency to strive for perfection that surely leaves a bad taste in lots of newbies' mouths. Thank you so much for being the most real on here ♥

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

thank you! comments mean a lot to all creators :) i couldnt agree more though!

[@juliaholton8974]

Thank you so much for making this video, I really love the fresh and different perspective you give to living sustainably! I still have a lot of plastic that I am phasing out that I won't buy again, but a lot of food plastic is because I still live with my family and they won't buy without plastic because it's less convenient and more expensive. This kind of videos reminds me to be less harsh on myself for the things out of my control and just do the best with what I can do and lead life being a conscious consumer. Thank you for this, I can't wait for your next video!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

No problem! I want to prove to people that zero waste (low waste) living can be free (ish), easy sometimes, and fun a lot of the time and that we don't have to strive for perfection but rather try our best. Definitely helps me to remind myself too to not be so hard on myself and do my best and remember that ultimately we live in a wasteful world where these choices are hard! Thank you for your support :)

[@riawhetstone3725]

A video idea I haven’t seen an eco KZbinr create yet is the pretty/“aesthetically pleasing” part of living sustainably 😁

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

I see that alllll the time! Check out Shebizleee her home is all about the aesthetics!

[@bes4497]

OMG the amount of plastic packaging here in Japan drives me up the wall. Even when my supermarket (rarely) has loose veggies, the cashier always insists on putting it in one of those little plastic baggies, even as I tell them multiple times not to. side note:Are the houses on the US bases all American style? I'm very very jealous! My kitchen is a sink and two burner stove with only enough counter-space for one chopping board, and it's not even like my apartment is one of those tiny 1 room boxes, it's a 3LDK! (also BTW the "wheat gluten" you're holding up is actually rice flour with wheat gluten added to make "strong rice flour" for baking bread, not actually pure wheat gluten)

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

it is soooo hard in Japan to be plastic free! happens to me too! yes, they're all American style and I just filmed a house tour :) I figured as much haha it's hard to find that here but it works for now :)

[@Kereea]

I've been working for a couple years now to decrease the plastic in my bathroom. Main issue is just backlog of things like body wash and lotion from super sales two or three years ago that I'm still working through. Main plastic source other than that is medicine bottles, which thankfully are accepted at the local recycling center as #5s. Deodorant has lasted a very long time and so I'm still waiting to replace that with a plastic free brand. And I've switched to some better products from Soap Cauldron for bar shampoo/conditioner/soap when I'm not working through the old body wash backlog. Main guilty pleasure is Shower Steamers, which always come in plastic bags that seem multilayered and not that recyclable. I've been looking for better options there.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Backlogs are nothing to worry about! Better to use a plastic-wrapped product than buy an "eco" version and waste the other one :)

[@lilypaxton6240]

Omgs, Soap Cauldron!! I love that company!! 😁

[@tamzinpage8293]

I love your videos, and that you emphasize that it shouldn't be about giving up everything. It really helps me remember not to be so hard on my self 💖

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Thank you so much! They're kinda a reminder for myself haha but it's progress over perfection :)

[@emilymiller40]

I definitely use more plastic than you 😅 becoming more practically sustainable is definitely a process and a journey. I just bought some zero waste floss to use once my plastic package runs out, and I’m excited about it! Maybe I’ll get some ideas from you for my next zero waste swap.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

It definitely is a process and we all start different places! I still don't have zero waste floss so you beat me there ;) I hope you do!

[@stacyberry6097]

I like that you talk fast. I jerp up it keeps me listening and I don't get bored. 😊

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

so glad to hear it! I just put that disclaimer to make my channel inclusive :)

[@caroe3330]

So tetrapak is recyclable here in Quebec, Canada. Just check where you live if it is possile in your area!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

that's amazing! I found a drop off location here so I got lucky!

[@kathleengilroyart]

Lots of useful tips 👌 however I think that targeting the big companies that over use plastic should be the priority .. it's not our fault so you shouldn't feel guilty ! it's their responsibility to stop polluting the environment and poisoning us

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

of course it is the priority! I am just making this videeo to be realistic and to prove you can be an envionrmentalist who still uses plastic

[@Warrrkotka]

This is really reassuring. Thank you for that.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Of course! I don't want anyone thinking that zero waste "influencers" on KZbin or Instagram are perfect because no one is!

[@CurveTheRain]

Love these doable tips! The discount bread save is great!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Yes it is!! I get to enjoy bread without feeling guilty about all the plastic! THank you so much :) You'll love my "free ways to live zero waste" pt 6 episode coming soon!!

[@CocoShin]

Let's organize a letter writing campaign to our favorite companies that package their foods in plastic. 2021 goal?

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

YES!! I would love to make something like this! It's seriously almost 2021 and we're still forced to use this much single-use plastic, I don't think so.

[@CocoShin]

@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist It's on!

[@ChewonThat]

Ooh yum, I really need to make seitan!! I forget, do you have a video on it? Or for the black bean patties? I love this honest video!! So relatable👏 I still buy a bunch of stuff in plastic but WAY less, and it always gets better😊The key is holding yourself and others accountable without judgement!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

I do not have a video but I should make one! My recipe is sooooo easy and quick and perfect for patties or to add to a salad or wrap :) Maybe some good veganuary content?? YES!! No judgement is key! "Messing up" is okay and we get better ane better each day :)

[@ChewonThat]

@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist Yes please!! Can't wait to watch your veganuary content!

[@sharonshmuel3386]

Hi thanks for your help & information - wishing you a very Happy New Year 💖🎉🥰

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Thanks so much! Glad this could be helpful :) Happy new year !!

[@annemarie8176]

I live in a rural area with few bulk items.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

That is where like I grew up

[@aimeeseek]

You can take the plastic bread bag to the store if clean and dry.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

i like to reuse them!

[@curiouslyunruffled]

It's not just the Japanese! Indians love plastic too. I feel most third world countries prefer it bc it's cheap, convenient and a victim of mass production.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Oh interesting! True, though, Thailand was veru plastic-obsessed when I visited there, too. In Japan, I think it is a "cleanliness" thing. While the product itself might be "cleaner" the plastic leads to so much pollution so it's kinda counterintuitive!

[@CatBloom42]

Regarding vit.B12: when people are B12 deficient, it's almost always because of malabsorption and NOT because of a lack of B12 in the diet. Malabsorption means you can't absorb the vitamin from your food and you will need (usually lifelong) B12 injections. You will not be able to fix it with food, no matter how much B12 you eat. A real deficiency, as in: a lack of B12, is actually quite rare and only happens in long term vegans who don't take supplements. So if you are an omnivore/vegetarian/supplementing vegan and suspect a deficiency, please go to a doctor and have blood tests done, because most of the time it's malabsorption and not just a deficiency. One of the articles you linked to actually mentions this. I've heard this "but omnivores can be B12 deficient too!"-argument so many times, and it angers me, because not only is it misleading, it can be downright dangerous. They are not deficient, they have a medical condition that was not caused by their diet. Also: yeast doesn't naturally produce vit. B12. If your brand of nutritional yeast does contain B12, it means it was enriched with it. So even if it's in your food, its still a supplement.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

how interesting!

[@shaunaburton7136]

Plastic is everywhere. Our whole society is full of plastic. It's not going away.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

That is so true! So I focus on limiting my consumption vs stressing about NO consumption

[@arson3630]

OHHHHH THAT WS ME TOO IN KOREA AND I RELIED ON THE PX

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

yessssssss

[@shaunaburton7136]

The grocery store by my house started selling more environmentally friendly products like water bottles, bamboo towels and silverware and they wrapped it all in plastic!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

That's so cool! I love seeing this become more popularized :) hopefully they were sustainably made

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

@@grt764 UGH YES!! It's so sad!!

[@taylortsakopulos1216]

Can make your own tortilla chips buy corn tortillas and then bake them cheaper than the bags you buy

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

True! But that is still plastic...I have considered making my own chips bc I already make my own tortillas, but this is something I still do for convenience bc that is super time consuming :(

[@Margot-c6z]

Thank you :)

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

No problem 😊

[@aimeeseek]

Austin has a military base of Camp Mabry.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

okay

[@rh7968]

I CANT GIVE UP Berries, not offered at farmers markets

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

I am in the same boat! I don't have fresh berries in Okinawa and berries are so important to get antioxidants so I buy the biggest bag I can in the freezer section and keep them frozen so they last a long time!

[@mikelberke8239]

Lol, yeah my adhd brain had to speed this up lol 😆

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

i'm so glad i'm not alone haha!

[@nephilimslayer73]

Darrell Lea Licorice and chocolate is the BEST. 🇦🇺❤️😀

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

OOOH I LOVE that licorice!!!!