Beth Terry - Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too

The problem or the solution starts with each one of us. We can choose to live a life of mindless consumption, becoming consumed by our possessions, or we can choose to live an inspired life, always working to create harmony with our environment. In Plastic-Free, Beth Terry shares the story of her path to a life filled with less plastic and more harmony. Anyone who reads this book will be motivated to follow her lead.

Jack Johnson, musician, cofounder of the KMkua Hawai'i Foundation

We could have such lovely things in our lives. Why do we settle for crap made from plastic? Beth Terry is the pioneer when it comes to building a life filled with the things that truly matter.

Colin Beavan, author, No Impact Man, and founder of the No Impact Project

I've been struggling to rid my home of plastics for years. This book makes it so much easier!

Linda Ronstadt, musician, Plastic Pollution Coalition member

This is the tool that we've all been waiting for to ease the transition to going plastic-free. Time to wake up. Peace.

Rosanna Arquette, actor, Plastic Pollution Coalition member

The use of plastic is enmeshed in our American way of life. Kicking any habit is tough, but kicking a habit that is invisible in its ubiquity is even more difficult. In this important and enjoyable book, Beth Terry walks the reader through her trials and travails and shows what the average person can do to rid themselves of plastic. Along the way, she creatively demonstrates that ridding one's life of plastic is not only good for the planet but also good for the health and the pocketbook of the American consumer. This book is inspirational and has helped me kick my plastic habit not only when shopping but throughout my daily life.

Congressman Steve Cohen, Tennessee

Beth Terry is one of the most inspiring people on the planet. Her wisdom about plastic-free living is a beacon of hope for what's possible. Everyone should read this book!

Stacy Malkan, cofounder, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and author of Not Just a Pretty Face

Inspiring. Empowering. And most of all, liberating! Finally, here's everything you need to know to live a healthy, safe, plastic-free life. Kudos to Beth Terry! She's definitely my plastic-free guru!

Diane MacEachern, author, BigGreenPurse.com

Beth is the most knowledgeable person on plastic, particularly disposable plastic, that I know. Her journey to getting rid of disposable plastic is inspiring and amazing, but she also makes it doable for the rest of us. When I first met her, I lived my life pretty nontoxic, but I still used a lot of disposable plastic. Her efforts inspired me to eliminate disposable plastic too, and faced with choices, I always ask myself WWBD (or What Would Beth Do)? She is the standard by which I measure my greenness. Jennifer Taggart, www.thesmartmama.com, author of Smart Mama's Green Guide: Simple

Steps to Reduce Your Child's Toxic Chemical Exposure

Friendly, fun, and informative, Plastic-Free is a tutorial on how to cut plastics from your life. Beth empowers us to implement change in our own lives and save the world at the same time. Refuse disposable plastics!

Dianna Cohen, visual artist, creative director and cofounder,

Plastic Pollution Coalition

Tempted to bring your own reusable silverware to take-out joints but dread the eye-rolling it may generate? This book is for you. With sass and intelligence, the anti-plastic crusader Beth Terry guides readers toward the road less consumptive, offering practical advice and moral support while making a convincing case that individual actions to lighten our environmental impact do matter.

Elizabeth Royte, author, Garbage Land and Bottlemania

We're so addicted to plastic, it's hard to imagine doing without it. But Beth Terry dared to imagine, and with hard work, humor and lots of trial and errorturns out there's no easy way to make your own liquid hand soapshe broke the plastic habit. Her book is informative and inspirationalan ideal combination for anyone hoping to follow a less plastic path.

Susan Freinkel, author Plastic: A Toxic Love Story

Plastic-Free tells a story that could inspire everyday behavior change for all of us. Small steps, leading to one big milestonea planet free of plastic pollution. The power lies with each of us to take these steps. It is that simple.

Daniella Dimitrova Russo, cofounder and executive director,

Plastic Pollution Coalition

Copyright 2012 by Beth Terry

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or info@skyhorsepublishing.com.

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

www.skyhorsepublishing.com

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.
ISBN: 978-1-61608-624-2

Designed by Brian Peterson

Printed on ECO-G Recycled Woodfree Paper, made of 100% recycled pulp (post-consumer and pre-consumer mixed).

Printed in China

For Michael Stoler, my hero.

In memory of Betty Terry, who didn't know the meaning
of the word procrastination.

Publisher's Note on Making a Plastic-Free Book

What do we mean by minimal plastic?

When we decided to publish a book called Plastic-Free, we knew we wanted to make the book itself plastic-free. As it turns out, that's something of a challengewith plastic coating on the cover and jacket, polyester or nylon thread in the binding, and plastic glue throughout, most books are full of plastic! So we've stripped things down. The jacket is uncoated, the thread is made of cotton, and the boards and spine are exposed. Our printer even managed to find a plastic-free glue to use. With all that in mind, we assure you that if the book's not 100% free of plastic, it's as close as can be!

Author's Note

Please download a free reader's guide for your book group at
www.MyPlasticFreeLife.com/book/

I have made every effort to ensure that the information presented in this book is as current as possible. But while the general principles and strategies of plastic-free living are timeless, the specifics may change. Companies go out of business and new ones emerge. Researchers make discoveries. Websites move.

After reading this book, please visit MyPlasticFreeLife.com for in-depth reviews of new plastic-free products and solutions, posts on the effects of plastics on human health and the environment, up-to-date resource pages, and stories and suggestions from the community on ways to reduce plastic in everyday life.

Combatting Hopelessness

Gaining Perspective

Recognizing Progress

Keeping Motivated

Choosing to Change

Personal Actions and Policy Changes