Single-use plastic is the worst. Completely cutting it out of your life is nearly impossible, but there are some easy ways to reduce how much plastic you use. One person’s efforts may not seem like a lot, but I am determined to do what I can, both for the planet and for myself.
Shampoo bars. I get them from Lush, and I love them. They work as well as shampoo from a bottle and come in lots of options.
Homemade face cleanser. I use a recipe I found in an Ayurveda book that consists of almond meal, dried milk and ground orange peels. It smells nice and is super cheap.
Use coconut oil rather than lotion on your face. I haven’t figured out a non-greasy solution for body lotion yet.
Bring your own bags, obvs!
Straws. Last Christmas was THE time to get and give re-usable straws. I have both silicone and metal straws now, but I haven’t used them yet. I have no problem lifting a glass to my mouth, so I prefer to go without a straw.
Homemade laundry soap. You may be noticing a trend here. I recently made laundry soap for the first time and I’m pretty psyched. The ingredients are borax, soap flakes and washing soda. So easy and, again, cheap! Laundry detergents are different from soap, and they contain petroleum products. So even if you are buying detergent in paper boxes, there is still petroleum in there.
Use glass re-usable containers rather than plastic ones. The lids are still plastic, but at least the plastic is not touching the food. Bonus: You don’t need to transfer your food to something else in order to microwave it. Note: Do not microwave plastic!
Recycle plastic bags. You can drop off plastic bags, films and Amazon plastic envelopes at Target for recycling.
Bring your own cutlery. Full disclosure: I have never done this, but it looks like a great idea. The bamboo sets are really cute. Or just bring some from home! A cloth napkin in your bag or backpack can come in super-handy as well.
Carry re-usable containers for leftovers. I have not done this one either, but mad respect to anyone who does. The city where I live has banned styrofoam, so most restaurants are using paper or compostable take-out containers. Rad!
Tap water is not great everywhere, but if your town has safe tap water, please drink it! Bring your own water bottle rather than drinking bottled water, of course. I love La Croix, and even though it comes in a can, aluminum is highly recyclable.
I have huge regrets about using plastic cups, plates and utensils when my kids were little. I put them on the bottom shelf of the dishwasher where the heat can cause degradation. Particles of plastic can come off on your food and act like a hormone in your body. Ugh. Better late than never, our family has switched to metal cups for the kids. If I had it to do over, I would have bought metal plates and bowls for the kiddos too. (Now they are old enough for ceramic plates and bowls.)
Glitter. Not only does glitter get all over everything, it is a microplastic and very bad for the environment. Microplastics pollute water systems, the ocean and even the air.
Buy used clothing. I am a super-bargain shopper, so if I find a piece of clothing that costs more than $6.99, that feels kind of high to me. Most new clothes are made with plastic fibers. Check the tags or get to Goodwill!
Co-op shopping is great. I feel like a great citizen of the world when I use my own containers to buy bulk food – especially if a Mason jar is involved. For produce, I often skip the plastic bags and go commando, or re-use produce bags for items that are wet or work better in a bag.
Make your own toothpaste. Haven’t tried it yet, but you know I am on that road!
Get a bamboo toothbrush.
If soft hair is not your thing, you can make homemade hair gel and hairspray.
Bring extra re-usable bags to Goodwill or to the farmer’s market to give away.
Convenience foods. I have seen pre-made entrees that come with an extra plastic container for heating up the food in the microwave. Wrong and wrong! Don’t people have bowls? Costco, I’m looking at you. Wouldn’t the products be cheaper without the plastic container included?
Check out my friend’s sustainability business: https://www.facebook.com/SustainabilityBootcamp
Sad, this list is way too small. If I can get to 600, will the plastic problem be solved? Stay tuned.