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More Than a Plastic Bag: An Action Guide for Environmentalists of Every Level
More Than a Plastic An action guide for environmentalists of every level. Dedicated to everyone who’s sick of “raising awareness” and is ready to take action. We all want to be more sustainable – but how? We all know it’s important to reduce our waste – but how? We know we must fix our broken systems – but how? More Than a Plastic Bag is here to answer those questions in a practical, accessible way for environmentalists of every level. Dive into 12 sections of sustainable living – from the kitchen to gardens to policy and beyond – and explore 3 different levels of action items. At 144 pages, the book is a quick but endlessly applicable read! Whether you’re taking your first sustainable steps (Beginner), moving beyond the basics (Intermediate), or ready to take action beyond yourself (Advanced), More Than a Plastic Bag is your guide. Skip right to the spot that works for you and get step-by-step guidance on how to stop wishing and start acting.
69 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2020
4 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 19, 2020
I loved how the book provided ways to tackle each area or issue depending on your level. For example, each subject had a beginner, intermediate, and advanced section.
July 28, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book (both physical and PDF) for free as a prize from a giveaway Polly Barks had on her Instagram. Thank you so much again Polly for your generosity!
With the large amount of online content covering environmentalism (zero waste being one of the most popular topics/buzzwords I've personally seen) it's easy to get overwhelmed by all of it. I wouldn't doubt that some people have been intimidated to get into the movement with so many variables to consider as, with just by living, we will use up resources and thus create some sort of waste. This is especially prevalent in America with consumerism being ingrained into our modern society.
The book and the way its set up makes such a wide topic much easier to digest in my opinion. It's set up into neat sections (such as food/grocery shopping, minimizing/decluttering, travel/adventure, etc.) with steps clearly categorized for beginners, intermediates, and advanced environmentalists. Having such sections allows the reader to jump to whatever area they feel they want to learn more about. As mentioned in the book, "there's no particular order in which they should be completed". Work at home? You can likely skip the "Sustainability at Work" section! Planning to travel soon? Jump right to the "Travel & Adventure" section!
Given there is just so much information behind each topic as a whole, Polly Barks can only provide so much information before the book ends up becoming a dictionary. That's not necessarily bad though. The book does provide enough general information for each section but if you want to dive deeper into something the book also serves as a good launching point. For example, while the book can tell you that one great way to reduce waste is to purchase less items as producing items costs resources (material for the item, energy used to power the production, emissions made by transporting the item, etc.) it won't go into large detail like the 2015 documentary "The True Cost" does with fast fashion. I personally never thought about hosting my own zero waste workshop, but now I'm aware it's a thing because of the book and can look into it further online if I wanted!
Polly Barks also prefaces the book with some foundations to be aware of before starting anything. Such topics include the feeling of not doing enough to make a difference, accessibility issues (like fresh food in food deserts), decision fatigue, fear of people judging you for things such as using your own container, "zero waste" not truly being zero waste, etc.
To help fuel the circular economy the book emphasizes, the book was made with the idea of it being used and passed onto the next person. This is shown in the durable binding that's not only glued, but sewn too. An unpopular method considering its more expensive and time consuming. I've seen the same binding in the book "Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things", another environmentalism book that focuses on manufacturing.
If you're well versed in environmentalism, may possibly already know a good chunk of information in this book, and don't mind reading digitally then I may suggest you look into getting a digital copy. This is not only to save money but also reduce waste as well. If you think this book may provide you a lot of new information and don't mind reading digitally, hey power to ya! Although if you're anything like me, you may prefer having the physical copy in hand to read. I personally already knew most of the information in this book and will be sending it to a friend of mine. I may have kept it to myself had it not been for the PDF copy I also have.
With the large amount of online content covering environmentalism (zero waste being one of the most popular topics/buzzwords I've personally seen) it's easy to get overwhelmed by all of it. I wouldn't doubt that some people have been intimidated to get into the movement with so many variables to consider as, with just by living, we will use up resources and thus create some sort of waste. This is especially prevalent in America with consumerism being ingrained into our modern society.
The book and the way its set up makes such a wide topic much easier to digest in my opinion. It's set up into neat sections (such as food/grocery shopping, minimizing/decluttering, travel/adventure, etc.) with steps clearly categorized for beginners, intermediates, and advanced environmentalists. Having such sections allows the reader to jump to whatever area they feel they want to learn more about. As mentioned in the book, "there's no particular order in which they should be completed". Work at home? You can likely skip the "Sustainability at Work" section! Planning to travel soon? Jump right to the "Travel & Adventure" section!
Given there is just so much information behind each topic as a whole, Polly Barks can only provide so much information before the book ends up becoming a dictionary. That's not necessarily bad though. The book does provide enough general information for each section but if you want to dive deeper into something the book also serves as a good launching point. For example, while the book can tell you that one great way to reduce waste is to purchase less items as producing items costs resources (material for the item, energy used to power the production, emissions made by transporting the item, etc.) it won't go into large detail like the 2015 documentary "The True Cost" does with fast fashion. I personally never thought about hosting my own zero waste workshop, but now I'm aware it's a thing because of the book and can look into it further online if I wanted!
Polly Barks also prefaces the book with some foundations to be aware of before starting anything. Such topics include the feeling of not doing enough to make a difference, accessibility issues (like fresh food in food deserts), decision fatigue, fear of people judging you for things such as using your own container, "zero waste" not truly being zero waste, etc.
To help fuel the circular economy the book emphasizes, the book was made with the idea of it being used and passed onto the next person. This is shown in the durable binding that's not only glued, but sewn too. An unpopular method considering its more expensive and time consuming. I've seen the same binding in the book "Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things", another environmentalism book that focuses on manufacturing.
If you're well versed in environmentalism, may possibly already know a good chunk of information in this book, and don't mind reading digitally then I may suggest you look into getting a digital copy. This is not only to save money but also reduce waste as well. If you think this book may provide you a lot of new information and don't mind reading digitally, hey power to ya! Although if you're anything like me, you may prefer having the physical copy in hand to read. I personally already knew most of the information in this book and will be sending it to a friend of mine. I may have kept it to myself had it not been for the PDF copy I also have.
August 5, 2020
An informative, proactive guide on how to make headway on tackling the climate crisis, from individual action through to community engagement. A really good read and some great tips.
July 5, 2020
I’ve followed Polly for over a year or so now and I credit her as one of the people who have truly guided me whether they know or or not through my zero waste journey. Feeling like I fell into a lull and not knowing where to go or what to do next, reading this book was a great motivator. Much I was familiar with by content I’ve seen Polly produce before or elsewhere but even then, the book provided action steps for me to approach at a new angle I may not have considered or in a linear way. The book is an easy read and can benefit anyone no matter where they are in their journey, and is an excellent guide that does not focus on just individualism. Glad the book came to me and I highly recommend reading, as well as checking out the author’s other work on her website and social media as well
July 27, 2020
An excellent resource for the climate activist of any level. Polly is an amazing, down to earth guide to help you get involved.
September 11, 2020
I would highly recommend reading Polly's book, whether you're new to sustainability and environmental justice or a seasoned expert. I consider myself well-versed on sustainability since I have a BA in Environmental Studies, but this book helped me actually put that knowledge to use through actions in my community. As someone who has personally taken a lot of time and energy to become low-waste and low-impact, I needed to be reminded that it is important to take action outside of your own home.
One criticism I would have is that I wish the author had devoted more space to talking about the threats animal agriculture poses to our planet, public health, and worker rights, and had used a section to advocate for a plant-heavy or when possible, vegan lifestyle. As someone working in the animal rights field, I think the environmental movement needs to take a stronger stance against the cruelties our fellow beings experience when they are viewed as products instead of sentient beings. In our work to create a more equal, just, peaceful, and sustainable world for all humans, we cannot forget other animals.
One reason this book spoke to me is because of how much I relate to Polly's eco-anxiety/depression, and her critique of our wasteful consumerist capitalist society. It really helps to know I'm not the only one who dwells on the sorry state of our planet everyday, and that I'm not the only one f***ing PO'd at our system and many of those in power for not doing more. More Than a Plastic Bag gives me room to grieve and be angry, but also pushes and inspires me to get up and use anything and everything at my disposal to make a change for the better.
The world is better off because of Polly, and because of this book she wrote. Thank you, Polly!
One criticism I would have is that I wish the author had devoted more space to talking about the threats animal agriculture poses to our planet, public health, and worker rights, and had used a section to advocate for a plant-heavy or when possible, vegan lifestyle. As someone working in the animal rights field, I think the environmental movement needs to take a stronger stance against the cruelties our fellow beings experience when they are viewed as products instead of sentient beings. In our work to create a more equal, just, peaceful, and sustainable world for all humans, we cannot forget other animals.
One reason this book spoke to me is because of how much I relate to Polly's eco-anxiety/depression, and her critique of our wasteful consumerist capitalist society. It really helps to know I'm not the only one who dwells on the sorry state of our planet everyday, and that I'm not the only one f***ing PO'd at our system and many of those in power for not doing more. More Than a Plastic Bag gives me room to grieve and be angry, but also pushes and inspires me to get up and use anything and everything at my disposal to make a change for the better.
The world is better off because of Polly, and because of this book she wrote. Thank you, Polly!
September 13, 2020
Really enjoyed this guide and learned a lot! I would say that I knew and already practiced sustainability on the personal level, but I wanted to go to the next level. This guide gave me some great ideas how to be an environmental advocate in my work place and in my community. The area I live leans conservative so I didn’t know where to start and have been really shy. This book is great for activists at very level which I really appreciated. I also really liked that there was some background information for every section for those who may be beginners. Super excited to work through the action items that will push me out of my comfort zone!
March 6, 2024
The recommendations for living a zero-waste lifestyle are extensive, yet not overwhelming. The author categorizes each big zero-waste action into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. As someone who's done a fair amount in reducing waste, I still learned a fair amount about what else I can do. I highly recommend this book for both novices and those who are well-versed.
September 13, 2021
I inhaled this book. An accessible “easy” read on an overwhelming topic. Some of the info I knew, some I had forgotten and some was new. I like there was space for notes and ideas, that it was made to share, I look forward to sitting back down with it adding to the actions I can take.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews