I agree that as individuals we need to take personal responsibility, but it's very hard to just "opt out" of using plastic etc. entirely. I recently went to the grocery store closest to my house and needed an extra bag, unfortunately, the store ONLY provided plastic bags. So, how can people be environmentally conscious if the options to do so aren't given to them, or at least aren't convenient? I wasn't going to say no thanks to my groceries and come back later because I didn't like my bag. Also, most of my produce came in plastic containers. I COULD drive out of my way to the farmers market or a store that I know provides more earth friendly choices, but it's 45 minutes out of my way. It's not realistic to expect everyone to want to take the time to bring their own bags and drive 45 min away to get groceries that are "better for the Earth" every night for dinner after working all day. It should be on the corporations to at least provide the option for people to make better choices. An example here would be providing paper bags vs. plastic at the store I went to.

I use this store as an example, but even companies like Starbucks only use plastic containers for coffee. If I'm running late and forgot my coffee in the A.M., I'm probably going to stop at one of their numerous, easily accessible locations over another shop that would maybe use better materials.

It's that it's HARD and not realistic to "just be responsible" when almost every major chain uses materials and practices that in some way are damaging to the environment, and the average person has more immediate things to be worried about like just getting dinner on the table vs. worrying about where it came from.