Here at RM, we're all about sustainability, design, and DIY culture. But we’re human and don’t always practice everything we preach, so we bring to you a new series called Confessions. It might sound like the title of a bodice-ripping romance novel, but we’re calling ourselves out and asking for your tips and suggestions. And perhaps it'll spark something to make changes in your own life too.

My desk at RM's NY HQ, in real, plastic-covered time. 

Yesterday afternoon I was out grabbing a bite to eat with a friend when it hit me: "I consume plastic for lunch," I told him as I was paying for my meal. "No, no, I said I don't need a bag!" I screamed at the checkout dude who was putting my salad—in its plastic clamshell packaging—in a plastic takeout bag with a plastic knife and a plastic fork at the bistro near our office. 

"Tell me about it," my friend said. 

I have something I need to get off my chest: I use far too much non-recyclable plastic.

Sure, I learned a lot of lessons during my Week Without Garbage. I vowed to contribute less waste, to pack my lunches in reusable containers. But then I moved to New York and I got busy and learned to lean on the deliciousness of New York salad bars. I just got lazy. Finally, after chatting with Serene Bacigalupi about how the containers used in many salad bars can't be recycled in NYC (she uses the material to make Shrinky Dinks), I realized today that something needs to change. I have to cut my plastic-consuming addiction. 

This isn't my proposal to start a Week Without Plastic; Katherine already did that (and it's an excellent series, if you haven't already had the pleasure of reading it). Instead, this is my public vow to quit my non-Earth-friendly habit. I refuse to throw plastic in the trash can any longer! 

Wow, that statement overwhelmed me. That's probably not possible, right? OK, let me try that again:

I vow to seriously cut my daily plastic consumption! 

Oh, dear Mother of Zeus. I'm not even sure what this means. But like a smoker wanting to go cold-turkey, over the next two weeks I'm going to make some serious lifestyle changes to help kick my plastic problem. And I'll be checking in along the way to let you know how it's going. I'll start with tips from Jeanette's great write-up full of ways to help me say no to plastic. Still, I'm scared. Will I have to lug around lunch containers all over Manhattan? Will the cutie barista think I'm a Brooklyn hippie when I hand over my own cold-coffee cup? Can I ever eat at the salad bar again? To be continued....

(In the meantime, any advice—besides not being lazy, I get that—will be greatly appreciated...) 

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