Living Without Plastic 101

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Dec 5

Plastic Sucks!
Tips for a plastic free life!

Living without plastic 101

Plastic is a convenience many people take for granted until they don’t have it, and that usually means the damage these plastics inherently do is also something that usually goes relatively unnoticed. Both regular and microplastics can hurt the environment, oceans, and other sub-ecosystems, and even in the deepest parts of the ocean, there are plastics. In order to keep these pollutants out of these ecosystems and the food we eat, action must be taken to reduce their use. While at first it may seem like a single person’s contribution wouldn’t add up to much, the combined efforts of many like-minded individuals such as yourself can change the world for the better.

At home:

There are many different ways, big and small, to reduce your plastic use at home. For starters, be sure you’re properly recycling everything you can and discarding what you can’t, such as plastic cups and dishes. Keep in mind not to dispose of your recyclables in plastic bags as they often get jammed in the recycling equipment. Here’s our favorite recycling bin. Another basic step is to make sure your current waste management provider properly recycles as well. Many times, it can be tempting for a company to cut corners when it comes to profits, but that can prove extremely harmful for the environment. After thorough research, you find that they aren’t, you can contact the company directly or write your local lawmakers to file your complaints.

If you'd like to take further steps to make your home toxic-free, you should choose simple alternatives to everyday products such as cleaning supplies, toiletry and personal care items. One example is a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, hot water and lemon which is a great substitute for traditional cleaners which come in harmful plastic bottles. Changing your plastic or synthetic sponges for a more natural scrubber is also a really easy and cost-effective win. In terms of toiletries, subbing bar soap for bottled, liquid soap (for both body and hair) and buying plastic-free toothpowder are the right ways to go.

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At work:

The main source of plastic used at work tends to be related to lunchtime. To help lessen this practice, consider bringing your own lunch in reusable containers. You could even use a homemade zero waste kit that includes a canvas bag, refillable water bottle, reusable bamboo utensils, and anything else you’d need throughout the day. Encourage your coworkers to follow along with you by starting a plastic-free campaign at your place of work. This could include simply petitioning to get rid of single-use plastic within the office, starting an upcycling program, or even just beginning a Facebook group where you can communicate solutions effectively.

On vacation:

Believe it or not, it is possible to avoid plastics while on vacation. As stated before, bringing your zero waste kit along with you can help you reduce any accidental plastic use throughout the trip. Or if you are even more serious about being completely zero-waste, you may want to consider booking with one of the many different resorts and even some cruise lines, which have eliminated single-use plastics from their experience. This can help you avoid any accidental slip-ups as they will already have alternatives in place of plastic use.

When buying souvenirs and other take-home gifts, be sure to avoid products made from plastics, and other inorganic materials. Stick to buying local products sourced from wood, metals or plants. Or instead, forgo traditional gifts completely and give someone a framed picture you took yourself. After all, a picture may be worth a thousand words, but it can be even more special with the intention of helping the planet.

While shopping:

Shopping may be one of the hardest things to do when attempting to avoid plastic. Before you even walk out the door, make sure you have an accurate shopping list with exactly what you will need/eat until your next trip. This will not only reduce food waste but also will lessen the amount of plastic packaging you throw away every year. Also, replacing plastic shopping bags with reusable ones is a great start that seems like everyone can get on board with them nowadays. If you go out to a restaurant, get into the habit of telling the waitress that you don’t need straws. regardless of if it has or hasn’t been opened, it is generally the policy of most companies to throw out any straw that has been served to a customer, so it's best to just avoid that problem altogether.

As the importance of eco-friendliness continues to grow in consumers’ minds, businesses have been forced to act. There are plenty of sustainable consumer goods for those who love to shop, but still want to make a difference. Overall, buying and continuing to buy sustainable goods will change businesses minds’ even further about how much effort they should be putting in to reduce their impact. So just keep pushing. Just do plenty of research beforehand on the goods you buy to make sure they truly meet your standards. Also, shopping at second-hand outlets and thrift stores can be a great, and cheap option for your wardrobe.

It may seem like a daunting task to take on all of these strategies and efforts all at once, so take your time. By starting small and taking increasingly larger steps towards a plastic-free life, you’ll ensure the habits you create along the way will be there to stay. Also, don’t be afraid to share your stories with others. Not only will that inspire them to start their low-impact journey, but they might also have ideas you can use! If we can help other people make the change to a plastic-free life, we’ll be doing the world a huge favor. Please share your plastic-free experience with all the like-minded readers down below in the comments!

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