We all want our lives to matter. And our lives do matter.

Some of the “biggest little things” we can do to positively impact life (and nature!) have to do with how we eat and what we buy.

Consider Martha Bebinger.

Recently “She tried to avoid plastic while grocery shopping for a week. Here’s how it went.”

Spoiler: not very well. But it’s not her fault.

As an earlier article explains, “The plastic problem isn’t your fault, but you can be part of the solution.”

And in case you’re not concerned, realize that “Scientists find microplastics in fresh Antarctic snow for the first time.”

Scientists have even discovered microplastics in human blood(!!!).

Each of us must find a way to make a difference, and many people and organizations are.

One such company is Grove Collaborative, a company that sells natural cleaning, home, beauty and personal care products. Grove is committed to being plastic free by 2025.

And rePurpose Global, the world’s leading plastic action platform, is working to achieve something it calls “Plastic Neutrality” in pursuit of a waste-free future.

It’s a beautiful vision, and one worth working for.

Nearly a decade ago, Tom Szaky, founder of TerraCycle, wrote a book called Outsmart Waste: The Modern Idea of Garbage and How to Think Our Way Out of It in which he points out, “Garbage doesn’t exist in nature—the output of one organism is the useful input of another.”

And, he asks, “So why does garbage exist in the human system? Why did it only become a problem in the past century? And most importantly, how can we eliminate it—outsmart the very idea of garbage?”

None of us can eliminate all plastic waste by ourselves, but I love John Wooden’s words, “Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can do.”

After reading these articles today, I’m committing to avoid buying single-use plastics for AT LEAST the remainder of this month.

Care to join me?