Why I Hate The Plastic Packaging Drama! [CC]

Grr Arg, ableism! I want to be environmentally conscious but that isn't always possible for disabled people!

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[jessicaoutofthecloset]

Hope you enjoyed the video! Sorry for the light/colour changes- oh January in England!
Please watch to the end of the video before taking out any pitchforks ;) If you have ideas for solutions to this problem then I would love to hear them xxx

[aaronlee]

I was watching another video about disabilities and I remember them saying "You don't actually know how ableist the world is until you are disabled" these are some good examples!

[krmacaulay]

I am an able bodied person, and I was of the opinion that products like plastic packaged fruit was very wasteful. However, after having my eyes opened to why these packaged products can help disabled/less-able bodied people, I was disappointed that I was so narrow minded. I can still do my part to reduce plastic waste to help the environment, but this was a great lesson for me (and probably for other people) to try and think outside my own experience's box. Thanks for bringing this up!

[sarahgates]

I’ve honestly never thought about how banning plastic packaging could affect people with disabilities. Thank you so much for opening my eyes to a new perspective!

[victoriakondo]

You make a very good point that I had never considered before. Thank you.

[starhill]

As far as the prepackaged fruit goes, to solve both issues we should use biodegradable packaging. (:

[Brynwyn]

There are environmentally-friendly plastic-like packaging alternatives, big companies just aren't looking into them because they don't see the need.

I can cook usually but because I'm autistic my brain sometimes gets stuck and executive dysfunction leads to me standing looking at a potato trying to remember the chopping process. I do make lists of steps for those kinds of days but it's not always enough. Having pre-cut foods and microwave things means I get to eat more than asda-brand snackajacks and tons of sweetcorn.

The thing is, it isn't individuals causing most of the damage: it's the big corporations. We can't reverse what we didn't cause. Me throwing out the ends of a bread load isn't the same as the co-op throwing out 300 loaves of bread and not even letting homeless people eat them. Do you get what I'm saying?

[ILovePeetaMellark]

Environmental issues are something I am deeply passionate about, and I indeed thought it was ridiculous when supermarkets etc. provide such large amounts of plastic packaged foods.

I enjoyed hearing your perspective, it gave me something to think about.

While I understand that certain products make life much easier for people with disabilities, I think the onus is on the company producing these products to do so using environmentally friendly packaging. It is feasible for them to use alternatives to plastic, such as compostable or fully recyclable materials, wherever possible. Peeled fruit, chopped veg and other prepared foods should be sold because people need them, but these items do not have to be sold in un-recyclable plastic.

Using more environmentally friendly packaging would also provide those who rely on these products with the option of being environmentally conscious. I now realise that I have taken my ability to choose to be environmentally conscious for granted.

People who genuinely need pre-prepared items to live their daily lives should never be made to feel guilty for this.

[joshuacreel]

I find it super weird that people who freak out about prepackaged things etc don't approach it from a "why don't we figure out a better way to pack this?" rather than "why does this exist" they probably have made it for a good reason if it sells well enough to exist.

Also they're rarely like vegetarians or vegans or even just don't eat pork and beef to reduce their impact but hell hath no fury if you buy a prepeeled orange.

[DoomsdayDollie]

Quick tip here! I used to work in a produce department and we'd cut things for people all the time. If you have the time and the store has the ability to, you can pick what you'd like and ask the clerk to cut it. It didnt cost any extra where I worked and I honestly loved doing it.

[anna_mar]

I absolutely agree with everything you've said. And anyway, I'm completely done with "activists" putting blame on individual consumers rather than you know, the system. It shouldn't be up to disabled people to lower their carbon footprint by not using products they need, it should be up to the companies who provide these products to make them as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. I really like the research they're doing with biodegradable plastics made from things like plant fibres to lower the environmental impacts of food packaging, stuff like that where it's about improving the product rather than not having the product.

[CarolineFarrow]

Environmentalism needs to be more intersectional, it can be quite classist as well. I was just having a conversation about this the other day...

[AnnikaVictoria]

Ugh - the guilt is real! Thank you thank you thank you for making this video!!!

[aiyamusicchannel]

Some old witch cursed my mom out in a parking lot for driving a big truck. I would have had a fit but my sainted mother calmly explained to her that we need it for my brother's medical equipment. I admire her for keeping her composure! I'm sick of the death stares people give us for having that truck. Imagine being so privileged and sheltered that you've gone your entire life without it ever even crossing your mind that people with mobility impairment need a way to transport their devices... > <

[luaevablue]

All these people commenting about how you opened their eyes... it's beautiful.
Not 100% related but I have Aspergers and communicate 1000x better by text chats (even my mother says I sound like a different person since I stoped living with her!) than talking and I once fought someone because he said if 2 people were right in front of each other they should talk instead of texting each other. I personally don't do this but I hate it when people say a way of communicating is less than the other. Heck, he didn't even know why they were texting.

[fatiguedreader]

I think this has been my discussion with my therapist on and off for years. I still feel like a burden.
Thank you for helping make others aware of this!

[andy]

Thankyou, this is so important, as an environmentalist with ongoing chronic conditions and disabilities I often feel kinda guilty for getting so many prepackaged things and not being able to go zero waste a lot of the time when my health is bad, so it's really important to spread awareness that it's ok and your health really needs to just come first with some things and that doesn't make you lazy or a bad person

[buddywriggles]

Look, if prepackaged fresh food was the only wasted packing... actually, even then, we could probably manage. But most things you buy come in unnecessary packaging... sometimes ridiculously so. People love to focus on prepackaged Oranges in the same day they gush about their gorgeous new Eyeshadow Palette or the lovely packaging for their high end makeup brand... superfluous packaging that they then often immediately throw out. We need to substantially cut down packaging waste, particularly on items bough instore that you're not intending to post or transport... but clickbait articles don't criticize things that serve absolutely no purpose because then we'd need to re-evaluate our life choices.

Here ends my sefl-important, indignant rant. Great video and very eye opening, thank you!

[nymeria]

Totally agree with you! I use some pre-cut and seasoned meats and vegetables, more for convenience and mental health spoon management than because of physical ability. I think perhaps instead of scapegoating disabled people, we should put pressure on big companies to try and make their packaging more sustainable and environmentally friendly, especially since we all throw away trash, disabled or abled alike. But yes, be compassionate, y'all!

[bryonywillis]

An interesting point of view, thank you. I think the problem is purely with the packaging and not the food. Prechopped foods need to exist for the reasons you mention - but the single use plastic packaging? Does not.