I was an environmentalist before I was vegan. I've cared about sustainability since I was young (growing up in SF and California's influence). I sort my trash and try to recycle and the other r's.
Plastic is despicable. But I'm not plastic-free.
I had this new year's resolution in 2017 that I lost track of and fell off the wagon: being zero waste.
Here it is:
It's hard. It's hard when the automatic is plastic packaging. It's hard when we're in a rush. It's hard because it's not convenient.
It's also an issue of accessibility. It can be expensive and extra time-consuming. And time and money is valued, since I'm a student, unlike one who makes a living on their own with a decent income.
In Kamikatsu*, Japan, there are over 30 recycling categories, where the waste is re-used, composted, (or incinerated). The town is, in effect, zero-waste. And we just don't have that yet, here.
Investing in the long term is an argument that vegan and zero waste sides use.
However, changing to a vegan diet is much more simple. I don't call people who live in homes with non-vegan things not vegan, if they went vegan for animal rights and abstain from animal-based products as much as possible, they are vegan.
It's good to be aware.
*Source: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-29630/this-will-be-the-first-trashfree-community-in-the-world-lets-take-a-peek.html
Orig. 1- Pub. 12/2018