An epic data instructing you learn the way to chop again plastic use in day-to-day life – at home, work and on-the-go by switching to reusable merchandise that are extra wholesome for YOU and the planet. Consists of concepts for plastic-free shopping for + reusable choices to single-use disposable plastic merchandise.
Flashback to a earlier summer time season journey. I was sitting on the seashore of a ravishing lake in Pennsylvania, sipping water from my HydroFlask.
I picked up a reproduction of Planet or Plastic? – the June model of Nationwide Geographic journal, dedicated to elevating consciousness regarding the world plastic air air pollution catastrophe, and commenced paging by means of.
Whoa! Somewhat little bit of a downer for journey, nevertheless it certainly was gripping nonetheless.
The stats have been mind-blowing (40% of plastic devices are single-use, 9 million tons of it end up throughout the ocean yearly), and the photographs have been laborious to contemplate (a residing stork trapped in a plastic bag, kids working in large heaps of plastic waste).
It left me with a heavy coronary coronary heart nonetheless motivated me to hunt out some additional areas to reduce plastic use in my very personal life, above and previous what we’re already doing.
So I put collectively a list of over 20 simple methods wherein anyone can use curb their use of plastic with barely little little bit of planning and by switching to additional sustainable choices.
(If you happen to want to dive in and be taught additional about this horrible plastic waste downside, be taught additional at Nationwide Geographic.)
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Choose to Refuse Single-Use Plastics
In reality, eliminating plastic isn’t one factor you might merely do in a single day (or ever, to be totally reliable). Anyone who strives to reside a additional eco-friendly, pure life-style is conscious of that it’s a journey. Perfection is never the aim and it’s all about these baby steps you take alongside one of the simplest ways.
One factor that helps me maintain the overwhelm of all of it’s to focus on one house of enchancment or small change at a time. Over time time, these habits changes can have a huge effect on your entire amount of plastic you utilize.
Since single-use plastics are by far the worst contributor to the plastic waste downside, it’s smart to begin on the market to aim to lower your non-public plastic footprint. Single-use plastics like water bottles, straws and meals packaging have been found littered on seashores, clogged in waterways and have prompted damage to marine life and the pure environment.
Choosing to refuse plastic devices such disposable straws and plastic cups, or selecting plastic-free grocery merchandise are simple and extremely efficient strategies to reduce the amount of plastic you personally use.
Take heed to me talking about just a few of my favorite strategies to ditch plastic! ⬇
Prime Tips to Cut back Plastic at Residence and in Day-after-day Life
Breaking up with plastic may be a daunting idea – nonetheless there are numerous simple points you’ll be able to do to eradicate single-use plastics in your home and day-to-day life-style.
On this submit we’ll cowl the 4 large strategies you might reduce your dependance on plastic and alter to reusable, refillable and sustainable choices:
1. Skip Plastic on the Grocery Retailer
Think about your typical journey to the grocery retailer. How so much plastic do you come home with? If I’m not cautious after I retailer, I end up with additional plastic packaging than I perceive, which can be super irritating. Use these tips to be prepared and aware so you might lower the plastic you carry home alongside along with your meals.
Preserve reusable shopping for baggage in your automotive. Whether or not or not you may have a jumble of miss-matched baggage, or a elaborate set of reusable baggage, having them throughout the automotive will make it simpler to skip the single-use plastic baggage at checkout! Skilled tip – I actually preserve grocery baggage in every of our cars on account of I on no account know which one I is prone to be using.
Have a stash of reusable produce baggage. This was a more durable habits to get into nonetheless now I exploit my very personal reusable produce baggage regularly. I preserve them throughout the automotive with my completely different reusable shopping for baggage – in order that they’re always capable of go! Uncover my favorite mannequin of produce baggage proper right here – they’re lightweight and durable and even do double obligation as a nut milk bag!
Skip the plastic clamshell packaging. It’s crazy what variety of meals are packaged in these laborious plastic clamshells – from cookies & nuts to fruits & veggies. I do my biggest to avoid them as so much as attainable and each make hand-crafted variations or seek for producers with a lot much less packaging. Berries are a difficult one nonetheless typically I uncover berries in cardboard bins on the meals co-op or farmer’s market.
Choose glass or paperboard over plastic. Scan the cupboards for non-plastic packaging – you’ll be surprised what variety of events you may have a variety. Assume pasta sauce for instance – choose the mannequin that’s out there in glass as an alternative of plastic. Related goes for juice (choose paperboard over plastic), salad dressing, sauces and loads of completely different packaged meals.
Buy from the bulk bins. Individually, bulk bins are among the many most interesting improvements ever! Not solely can you buy merely the amount you need at a decrease price, nonetheless you utilize so much a lot much less packaging than conventional. Ship your private baggage, containers or glass bottles (or use one provided by the store) and fill them up (ensure to weigh empty containers first to get the tare weight).
Proper right here’s a primer on learn the way to buy meals from the bulk bins in the event you’re new to it or a bit intimidated. And once you’ve obtained bulk meals down, switch on to buying non-public care and cleaning merchandise in bulk (on the market at many co-ops and pure meals outlets).
Be taught additional about plastic free grocery shopping for proper right here.
2. Avoid Plastic Whereas On-the-Go
That’s the place I get caught means too many events. I’m out and about – working errands, driving the youngsters spherical or going out to eat – and I am not prepared.
Holding reusable supplies throughout the automotive is an excellent step in the direction of decreasing plastic use on-the-go. So is being conscious of the alternate options you make when ordering meals from consuming locations and occasional shops.
On a regular basis carry your reusable bottle. For one issue, it’s always good to take care of hydrated, nonetheless the massive advantage of always having your reusable water bottle with you is that you’re going to on no account be tempted to buy these horrible plastic bottles of water – merely fake bottled water doesn’t exist!
Have a reusable espresso cup useful. If you happen to occur to’re like me and likewise you rarely get espresso out at a espresso retailer, this might be a sturdy one to remember – nonetheless is certain is sweet to have your favorite insulated espresso cup ready everytime you need that caffeine restore. Furthermore, a reusable cup is way nicer to drink from than disposable espresso cups!
Skip the straw. The anti-straw movement has been gaining momentum and it’s good to know that firms like Starbucks are eliminating them – nonetheless plastic straws are nonetheless all over the place. My drawback is to aim to take care of them out of my drinks all the time – even in sit-down consuming locations the place they usually give you a straw alongside along with your water (ugh!)
Preserve a zero waste package deal in your automotive. What’s a zero waste package deal? It’s one thing that helps you avoid single-use plastic utensils, plastic containers and completely different disposables when you end up out on-the-go. It’s possible you’ll seize a pack of reusable bamboo utensils and stainless-steel reusable straws or buy an cute cutlery pouch from Etsy and fill it your self!).
You may additionally preserve reusable meals containers or mason jars in your automotive to bundle up leftovers or use for grocery shopping for.
Choose a cone as an alternative of a cup. OK this one may solely be associated in July and August, nonetheless in the event you’re craving an ice cream, go for the totally edible cone as an alternative of the plastic-lined cup and plastic spoon. Get pleasure from!
Research additional strategies to reduce waste proper right here.
3. Use A lot much less Plastic throughout the Rest room
Surprisingly, the bathroom is a hotbed of single-use plastics. From oral care to tub & magnificence to supplies for that time of the month – so many merchandise are used solely as quickly as after which thrown away. It’s possible you’ll make a dent in that plastic waste by switching to plastic-free variations of your bathroom requirements and selecting reusable over disposable. (Attempt my submit on Zero Waste Rest room Swaps too!)
Try a bamboo toothbrush. Your tooth will certainly on no account know the excellence for many who brush with a bamboo toothbrush as an alternative of plastic. An electrical toothbrush with replaceable heads is one different sensible choice.
Buy refillable dental floss. I latterly discovered Dental Lace – a refillable dental floss that’s out there in a glass container! Now what to do with all these freebies from the dentist….
Make hand-crafted toothpaste. On no account in 1,000,000 years did I really feel I would make hand-crafted toothpaste – nonetheless I did and it could be saved in a repurposed glass jar so there’s no need for plastic. One different plastic-free selection is tooth powder, which is out there in a metallic tin. I actually like how latest my tooth actually really feel after using it!
Say no to plastic microbeads. Many facial scrubs use plastic beads for scrubbing power nonetheless why use plastic when pure elements are so much nicer? Try my customizable facial scrub recipe as an alternative!
Experiment with a shampoo bar. Over time I’ve tried quite a lot of fully completely different plastic free shampoo bars and I’m constructive you will discover one which works for you. My native co-op carries one or two sorts of shampoo in bulk nonetheless I’ve been having an extreme quantity of satisfying attempting out fully completely different non-toxic shampoo producers to stick with just one.
Ditch the disposable razors. I’ve always hated disposable razors – I suggest why use a flimsy razor when you might get a sturdy one and alter out the blades? I actually like my Leaf Razor, which is a triple-blade safety razor. One different sensible choice is a Defend razor that is produced from recycled plastic.
Buy plastic-free magnificence merchandise. Good data! Many pure magnificence and personal care merchandise come packaged in glass, metallic or paperboard containers as of late. A couple of of my favorite producers with non-plastic packaging decisions embody Beautycounter, Activist Skincare, RMS Magnificence, and Pacifica. (Uncover additional of my sustainable make-up picks proper right here)
Use reusable menstrual merchandise. Give it some thought. These plastic lined menstrual pads aren’t exactly good for you down there. And folks plastic tampon applicators? What a waste! It’d take some getting used to nonetheless materials menstrual pads and menstrual cups (similar to the Diva Cup or the Lena) are one of the simplest ways of the long term.
RELATED: Zero Waste Choices to Plastic Wrap
4. Cut back Plastic Use throughout the Kitchen
A ton of plastic can get wasted throughout the kitchen in the event you’re not cautious. Personally, I uncover sturdy, reusable kitchen merchandise so much nicer to utilize than low-cost disposables! Uncover out my favorites and start swapping out plastic wrap and plastic baggage for longer-lasting decisions.
Use bowl covers as an alternative of plastic wrap. If there’s one issue that has helped me most likely probably the most in my efforts to reduce single-use plastic in my kitchen, it is bowl covers. I actually like my brightly colored materials bowl covers from Etsy nonetheless these stretchy silicone covers work correctly too. It’s possible you’ll pop them on bowls and stretch them over plates, nonetheless moreover they cowl meals immediately like half a watermelon for instance.
Preserve a stash of reusable baggage. Reusable snack & sandwich baggage are wonderful for packed lunches nonetheless they’re going to transform helpful for meals storage as correctly. Clear silicone baggage are wonderful for storing cheese, along with greens or fruit and one thing you may wish to freeze. Zippered baggage help preserve points like crackers or nuts latest and dry. The additional reusable baggage you may have, the additional you might avoid wasteful plastic baggies.
Try beeswax wraps. Chances are high you will assume beeswax wraps are too hippy dippy nonetheless you need to give them a try! While you experience the magical sticking power of beeswax, you’ll see why it’s a most popular approach to wrap meals. Merely ensure to scrub in chilly water so the beeswax doesn’t soften. And in the event you’re so inclined, you might make your private beeswax wraps.
Rely on reusable containers. Clearly the Glad agency would barely have you ever ever buy low-cost plastic meals containers by the dozen, nonetheless you are so much higher off looking for a half dozen high-quality meals storage containers (choose glass containers or stainless-steel or safer plastic containers in the event you should) that you want to use many times. Even my reusable lunch containers serve double obligation for leftovers.
What are your favorite strategies to reduce plastic in your life? What are your biggest struggles? Depart a comment and share your concepts!
