Reducing the Plastic

A reader asked me for suggestions in how to reduce the plastic we use in our daily live. Reduction in consumption is certainly a great way to be eco-consious! As I sit in my kitchen, I can easily look around and see plastic present in so many things like a ball of Walmart sacks that need to go in the recycling bag or the one gallon water jug sitting on my counter. The soap comes in a plastic container and so many of our foods are packaged in plastic. Cereal may have a cardboard box exterior but there is a sealed plastic bag lurking within.

I hope to showcase products in future posts that make great green alternatives to plastic that are reusable and perhaps more durable. In the meantime, how about we have a little “Instead of this, try that”?

Instead of single use plastic bags at the grocery store, try bringing your own shopping bag made from cloth. You could purchase shopping bags from a variety of vendors online or make your own! I saw a neat tutorial on how to turn a pair of jeans into a shopping bag. Some grocery stores will sell reusable bags at the checkouts. One thing I like about one of my reusable cargo bags is that it is insulated. Since we live a little bit of a drive from the grocery store, an insulated bag helps keep my cold stuff cooler longer which is very important in Texas heat. Also, reusable bags tend to be bigger than single use bags so that means less trips from the car to your kitchen. 🙂

Instead of purchasing single use bottles of water, purchase a reusable bottle or cup with lid that you can refill. A friend of mine makes personalized mugs and cups and I actually decided to trade out the leaking freebie I got at the hospital when I delivered my youngest kiddo for a nice cup. They certainly makes me smile and they are long lasting with proper care.

Instead of using single use disposable straws, decline straws at restaurants or invest in a metal straw that you can reuse. There are several available online that come with tools for cleaning and storage sleeves.

Instead of pasta in plastic, go for the pasta in the cardboard boxes. Cardboard is easier to recycle and biodegrade. This choice could also apply to all sorts of items where you have the option of that product in cardboard or plastic.

Instead of plastic sandwich bags, try reusable containers or wrapping materials. I will be testing out a product this weekend that I purchased as an alternate to Saran Wrap called “Bee’s Wrap”. The wrap that I will be testing on some homemade brad is made of beeswax, organic cloth, tree resin, and jojoba oil. The cardboard packaging will be easy to recycle; the back even informs the purchaser that the packaging is made from “100% recycled paper & biodegradable cellulose.” How neat is that? I’m excited to test this one out.
Another alternative to plastic sandwich bags are some made out of silicon. There’s a brand called Stasherbag that I want to check out that uses natural resources like sand to make silicon bags that are completely free of plastic and BPA.

Instead of going to the grocery store for your produce packaged in plastic, check out what your local farmer’s market has to offer! Odds are, the produce won’t be wrapped in plastic so take your reusable grocery bag or basket and see what local farmers have to offer. Also, you could purchase (or make) your own produce bags to use at your grocery store rather than using plastic. This Good Housekeeping article offers seven affordable options for reusable produce bags.

Instead of buying shampoo or deodorant in plastic containers, try finding packaging-free options. A quick Internet search revealed items are available out there like the shampoo bars offered by Unwrapped Life or a whole section of body care products from Taylor’s Naturals that is plastic free. I don’t have any product reviews for these items but hopefully I can test a few out!

These are just a few ideas to get you started in rethinking how we shop and live in a world where plastic is everywhere we turn. Plastic was first invented in 1907 so it has only been around for 112 years. Prior to that, mankind figured out other ways to live their lives in a way that didn’t impact the environment to quite the same degree as our waste does now. Perhaps if we make a concerted effort, we can help reverse the damage and improve our planet’s health. But it all starts with taking that first step towards a new lifestyle and new way of thinking … remembering to go green as much as we can with every decision we make. Go green, my fellow Texans! Until next time… ~ Lacie ~