Holding a master's degree in Marine Plastic, I have always been passionate about fortifying the environment, but it wasn't until I became acutely aware of the impact of plastic waste on our planet while in university that I decided to take personal responsibility and make changes in my daily life to reduce my plastic waste production. This triggered the thought of “If I won’t do it, then who will?”

Initially, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of where to start, but things fell into place gingerly. It was not an easy task, but it involved plenty of blog articles, Reddit experiences, and research for alternatives. My notion was to commence my journey with small steps. I began by using a reusable water bottle instead of buying disposable plastic ones. It did make my bag heavy, but my amour propre lighter. It was a simple change, but it had a big impact on my plastic waste production. I also switched to a bamboo toothbrush and refillable soap dispensers instead of buying single-use plastic bottles. This gave me an opportunity to explore types of reusable bottles, and my favorite is made out of copper.

As I continued on my journey, I looked for new ways to reduce plastic waste in my life. I started purchasing products in bulk to reduce plastic packaging waste and switched to eco-friendly cleaning products. Furthermore, I carried my own carry bag to avoid the use of plastic bags, which was pretty cost-efficient if you give it a thought.

Throughout this journey, I learned that even small actions can make a big difference. When I see the amount of waste I generated this month, it all fit into a mason jar, only some crushed papers and a few wrappers.

Reducing plastic waste is an ongoing journey, but it's one that's worth taking. We can all make a difference by taking small steps towards reducing our plastic waste consumption. Whether it's using a reusable water bottle or using bamboo brushes, every action counts.