Want To Go Plastic-Free? These Richmonders Published A Book To Help You.
January 22, 2024 |
Jacob Sequeira and Kassidy Coleman of Richmond, Virginia, are A Better Impact. The married couple combines their creative talents to share their journey to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. They recently published their second book, “Pretty Much Plastic-Free.” It’s packed with hope for the future and realistic tips regular people can follow. CVWMA emailed A Better Impact some questions about the new project.
Q: Why did you decide to focus on plastic this time around?
A: There is a lot of plastic in our day-to-day lives that most people don’t even think about. With a little effort and good habits, a majority of plastic waste is avoidable. The idea of navigating a more plastic-free lifestyle can be overwhelming. We wanted to make the journey easy for anyone and show that even minor improvements can make a difference.
Q: What will surprise people about this book?
A: “Pretty Much Plastic-Free” isn’t your everyday book. Many environmental books don’t have pictures and are doom and gloom, which may leave the reader feeling hopeless. Our book will surprise people because it is bright and colorful and provides solutions positively. The book is also interactive, facilitating action from the reader, like a mini crash course in living pretty much plastic-free. We hope everyone enjoys it.
Q: What inspired your design?
A: Our inspiration came from a love of graphic novels and our everyday life in Richmond. We combined the simplicity of the “For Dummies” books and the interactivity of modern prompted journals to make sustainable living more appealing and fun. So, every time you turn the page, there is something different. We used our personal interests and hobbies as inspiration to make the information digestible.
Q: Tell us about a plastic product you’ve successfully avoided.
A: (Jacob) I draw a lot, and I used to use these very popular felt-tip pens. The problem was that they ran out of ink really fast or dried out. Being made of plastic, I realized that switching to a nib and ink well for fine lines while drawing reduced the amount of plastic waste I was making.
A: (Kassidy) Disposable razors are so wasteful. They are mixed with plastic and metal, so they are not recyclable, making them destined for landfills. They are also not the best quality since they are made to be disposed of. I switched to a reusable, plastic-free razor a few years back and have no regrets. The razor is metal, and I only have to buy safety razor blades, which cost pennies.
Q: What’s on your horizon for 2024? What’s the ultimate goal of A Better Impact?
A: A Better Impact started with just documenting our eco-conscious journey. As regular people, we had many doubts and questions along the way. When looking information up, we found many sources to be dry. Making the information accessible is important to us, so we offer a variety of content. Starting at a local level, we wanted to connect and inspire change in Richmond to see tangible results. Our goal became expanding our reach and continuing to educate and empower people to live a more sustainable lifestyle. We want to show that anyone can do this in 2024!
“Pretty Much Plastic-Free” can be purchased directly from A Better Impact through Etsy. It’s also available at Eco Inspired in Bon Air or online from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million or Bookshop.org.
Tags: a better impact, green living, plastic-free, richmond va, rva, sustainable, zero wasteCategory: Ashland, Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Hopewell, New Kent, News, Petersburg, Powhatan, Prince George, Richmond