Again, Less Plastic is Still Plastic.

Greenwashing on the grandest of scales. Using the argument that you should use this product instead of that one because this one has "less plastic, it's the smarter choice for the environment" is the equivalent of saying, "Smoke this cigarette, it only gives you a little cancer."

Yes, I am back on the K-cups. Those hated things. Honestly, they make those reusable filters for them, so the machines aren't evil... just the people who insist on continuing to buy the little plastic hell-cups even while we know better. Have you seen these new ones? Here ya go:

Cute, huh? They have a papery type filter as a bottom instead of being wholly made of plastic. Just that little top part. SO much better for the environment. Buy our coffee instead. Spend way too much, Go ahead. It's OK - it's less plastic.

It's STILL PLASTIC. And now, it's an even smaller bit of plastic which will never have any chance of EVER getting put through a recycling process - nope, it'll just end up in the ocean. Around a bird's beak, because it's a tiny little ring and it is perfectly suited to that. Or around a tiny baby turtle. Or a fish. Just floating around there in the environment, hurting maiming killing any innocent animal that comes along, because we have to have our convenient coffee. 

"It's the smarter choice for the environment." No it's not. It's just another different issue. And it's still plastic, it's still unknown chemicals subjected to boiling hot water and put in your beverage. The smarter choice is one of the many reusables they make that you can find pretty much anywhere. WIth your own tiny little scoop of coffee in it. They aren't difficult. And you SAVE money. What's the issue here? 

And I may punch my monitor if I see one more image of the idea that you can use K-cups to plant seeds. No one is using those that way in any quantity near where they are being used. Now you're just insulting my intelligence. No real human is actually doing that. Besides, everyone knows you use toilet paper rolls. :)

EveryDrop Counts

Here's a product I'm in love with and I haven't even held one of them yet!

As I refuse to buy bottled water, I have a filter on my faucet on our kitchen sink. I'm used to it. I don't really like it, it's a Pur, I find it cumbersome and in the way and slow and most of all expensive to replace the filters. Plus, I feel wasteful throwing away the filters, but there is nothing else to do with them. I've pondered the Brita pitcher, I actually look at them every time I have to go buy new Pur filters. I don't like those either. They take too long to fill and are also cumbersome. And there's that time when you'll be waiting some water and there will be like half an inch fro the last person who neglected to fill it. So there's that. And it's also a lot of plastic. It seemed like the faucet-mount was the best way to go, despite the drawbacks.

So I really like the concept of this little guy. Yes, it's made from plastic, so there are some in my circles who would automatically nix it. I will not. It's much smaller than a pitcher. I think it has a certain simple elegance to it. If it were made of glass or something heavier, it might be too slippery - you are using it with water after all.

EveryDrop, by Whirlpool. Yeah, the big appliance guys. I was pretty instantly hooked with their cool website, 'cuz I'm all visual that way! It's very informative and thorough. I was ready to run out and buy one after browsing. Good job, web-dev-dude.(https://www.everydropwater.com/product-details.html)

You are still going to end up throwing away filters, of course, but they are worlds smaller than those giant beasts in the faucet-mount filter. If you have a nice faucet, you don't want to stick one of those things on it anyway. And ours has leaked from Day 1, even with plumbers' tape. Annoying. Couldn't be bothered to take it off to return it. And I'm always crashing into it. I also can't help having a sneaking suspicion that one day I will turn on the water and the thing will just explode off my faucet, scaring all living creatures in the house including me and spraying water all over Creation. Somehow, I don't get that feeling looking at this!

I picture this sitting quietly out of the way until it is needed. I see being able to take it on trips, so I can actually drink and use the water in hotel rooms. Heck, you know me, I would even take it to people's homes for gatherings, so I don't have to drink bottled water! Is this tiny? No - I wouldn't throw it in my purse. Well, I might be tempted, actually. Be it's definitely portable - your faucet-mount or stupid pitcher is NOT. I find this to be a product whose time has come. With this, you have almost no excuse to not use your tap. Oh the money you will save! Well, you have an excuse if your local water supply has been ruined by Clean Coal or fracking, but I think most of us are OK so far.

I personally cannot wait to get my hands on one of these. I know it will last a nice long time, so I don't worry about the plastic aspect as much. Plus the filters are a much better price point than those Pur and Brita gargantuan hulks. (I cringe so badly when I have to buy them. Seriously. Can't stand it.) I'm getting one ASAP. Then I'm a-gonna go all Office-Space-Fax-Machine-Scene on that farkin' Pur faucet-mount. Want me to do video of that when I do?

Shock and Awe but in a Good Way

Sometimes a product comes along that surprises me in a good way, leaves me hopeful rather than dismayed... it happens. Such is the case with this Rubbermaid product: LunchBlox. Someone has the right idea for a change.

They are kind of cute, aren't they? Of course, these are based on similar products made of the preferred stainless steel, but I'm actually OK with these. They will last a long time, Rubbermaid is a very high-quality name out there. They are certainly preferable to Saran Wrap and plastic bags.  Look - even a salad is wonderfully.... CONVENIENT: 

They even sell a cute bag, but you don't have to get it, you can use your own. I can see that some parents would think this is too much trouble to send in with the kids, but really, come on, let's stop being lazy and making excuses. New habits are only new for a little. Then they are just good habits. Teach a little responsibility for a change. And these are ideal for office lunch. Especially if you are buying and eating crap on a day to day basis. The blue thing is a cool pack to keep it chilled if you do not have a fridge at work. And insulated bag will keep it all good until lunch time. Microwave, freezer, dishwasher safe, no BPA. I still wouldn't heat it in the microwave, but that's me. And I would use the crap outta these, I wouldn't just use them for a few months then throw them away to buy more. If these can be used for a good long time, then I'm all for it. 

I'm a fan. Thanks, Rubbermaid. I know they make a lot of plastic products, but some of them can be worth a second look. This is a nice bridge product. Every little bit helps? Maybe?