What would it take?

I just watched a short video about another accumulation of plastic trash in the ocean - this one found in the Caribbean. Here's an article about it.  I wish I knew what it would take to convince each of us to make the effort to significantly reduce our use of plastic.  I mean, take one look at any of those photos of plastic gyres in the ocean and it should convince you.  But this post is not about giving you a list of the "10 bits of plastic you can quit today". 

I really do wonder - What would it take?  I like to think I'm more conscientious than many.  I never buy single serving plastic water bottles and usually even refuse to take one when they're free at some event.  I carry a collapsible silicone travel cup that I use instead of throw-away coffee cups.  I take my own shopping bags to the store and generally buy as much stuff in bulk as possible at the co-op using my own containers.  

But I still do inexcusable things.  The other day at work, it was our team's turn to clean the break room.  Part of that job is emptying the refrigerators of old food and containers.  I noticed that a team member had put several nearly-empty two liter soda bottles into the trash.  I looked at them and briefly thought, "those should go into the recycling," and walked away and left them. Really???  What would it take?  Now, we don't have a sink in this break room but I could have easily picked them off the top of the pile of trash, taken them to the bathroom to empty and rinse them, and then put them into the recycling.  This would have been a simple thing, and, even though I thought about it, I didn't do it.

And if I didn't do that simple thing that I thought about, what will it take for me to do things that require either a bit more effort or a bit more sacrifice?  I still sometimes buy products that come packaged in plastic.  Like, I really like Trader Joe's cashew butter.  It comes only in a plastic jar and I buy it anyway.  Am I unwilling to give up my cashew butter treat?  Am I unwilling to buy cashew butter that comes in a glass jar because it is more expensive?  Neither one of those options would create any sort of hardship for me so what is my excuse?  I feel like every time I consent to purchase something packaged in plastic I am proclaiming that my personal convenience or desires are more important than caring for the environment.  And I know I don't really believe that. 

This is just one small thing but it's really about everything in my life.  So, I will continue to explore this question for myself. What would it take for me to live fully with integrity - to act in ways that are consistent with my stated values?

And what about you?  Do you struggle with this question?  How do you deal with those places in your life where your actions and your values don't line up?