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REDUCING PLASTIC IN YOUR LIFE

 

"There is no such thing as 'away'.  When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere"

    

-Annie Leonard
 

FOOD

   

  1. AVOID FOOD WITH PLASTIC PACKAGING:  Avoid frozen, processed or other food products with unnecessary plastic packaging.

  2. BUY BULK:  Bring your own, reusable bulk and produce bags.

  3. BUY LOCAL:  Support local growers and FARMER'S MARKETS to get better produce and reduce packaging.

  4. SAY NO TO PLASTIC AND STYROFOAM TO-GO CONTAINERS:  Ask for an alternative or bring your own containers.  Carry your own thermos instead of using to-go coffee cups with plastic lids, or just skip the lid.  Do not buy drinks in plastic to-go cups. 

  5. USE A WATER BOTTLE:  Unnecessary plastic production and the commodification of tap water are just a few of the many horrific problems surrounding the bottled water industry.  Drinking your tap water is often safer, and you can buy an extra filtering system or a Brita pitcher for extra purification.  

  6. STOP USING PLASTIC WRAP & ZIPLOCK BAGS:  Use glass storage containers and plastic-wrap alternatives, such as BeesWrap.

  7. BRING YOUR OWN SHOPPING BAGS:  If you forget your reusable bags, ask for a paper alternative.  No paper?  Use your arms. 

  8. STOP USING PLASTIC UTENSILS:  Carry your own utensils for take-out situations.  Throwing a party?  Use wooden disposable silverware.

  9. STOP USING PLASTIC STRAWS:  Even in restaurants.  If you must use a straw, bring your own reusable metal, glass or bamboo straw. 

  10. CARDBOARD EGG CARTONS:  Avoid buying plastic or styrofoam egg cartons.  Eggs in natural cartons are often fresher! 

  11. FIND A LOCAL BUTCHER or DELI:  If you eat meat, support your local butcher and get your meats fresh and wrapped in paper, rather than frozen in plastic.  Local butchers are also often using more humane practices than large-scale meat markets and factories. 

  12. FIND LOCAL CHEESE:  Fresh, local cheese can be found wrapped in natural wax or paper, rather than plastics.

  13. GROW YOUR OWN FOOD:  Take advantage of your land, windows and community gardens to produce your own food.

  14. MAKE YOUR OWN FOOD AND CONDIMENTS:  To reduce plastic bottles and packages, cook at home from scratch. 

  15. CANNING & PRESERVING:  Learn how to can, preserve and freeze fresh produce in reusable containers to prepare for seasons when produce may not be readily available. 

HOUSEHOLD/DAILY LIFE

  

  1. DON'T CHEW GUM:  Chewing gum made from synthetic rubber (i.e. plastic) and is the second most common trash littered after cigarette butts. Chew mints or try an all-natural gum from Simply Gum.    

  2. PAPER PRODUCTS:  Buy toilet paper and other products wrapped in paper, not plastic.  

  3. REUSE BAGS:  Reuse pet food bags, reusable plastic bags, or paper bags for your trash instead of a new plastic bag each time.  Consolidate your trash into one bag when emptying to also reduce the amount of plastic bags being used.

  4. BOXES BEFORE BOTTLES:  Buy products packaged in cardboard boxes instead of plastic bottles when available, such as laundry detergent. 

  5. PACKAGING ALTERNATIVES:  Use newspapers and paper to fill packages instead of using bubblewrap or packaging peanuts. 

  6. USE MATCHES:  The empty plastic lighter you throw away could end up in a seabird's stomach.  Or try a re-fillable metal lighter. 

  7. AVOID DISPOSABLE PENS:  Pay extra for a stainless steel pen that may last for years instead of plastic pens you readily throw in the trash.  Or try a fountain pen!  

  8. AVOID CHEAP PLASTIC KID'S TOYS:  Buy wooden, fabric or recycled toys, reducing the amount of plastic that may end up in the trash.

  9. USE CLOTH DIAPERS:  Or try another alternative like these biodegradable, disposable diapers from gDiaper.  About 3.5 Billion diapers end up in landfills each year, and each one may take up to 500 years to decompose.   

  10. HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS:  Make your own instead of buying chemical-laden cleaners in plastic bottles.  

  11. AVOID SYNTHETIC SPONGES:  Sponges are often foamed plastic.  Recycle old clothes and towels into cleaning rags instead.

  12. COMPOST:   Give back to the soil while reducing the amount of plastic garbage bags you use.  

  13. ENVELOPES:  Avoid using pull-n-stick envelopes with the plastic pull-strips, and envelopes with plastic-covered address windows.

  14. RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES:  Non-rechargeable batteries leak toxins into ground water and are harder to recycle.

  15. AVOID ZIP-TIES:  Use twine or rubber bands, instead of plastic zip-ties that will eventually end up in the trash or on the ground.

  16. SWITCH TO VAPOR:  If you can't stop smoking, try a nicotine alternative.  A single cigarette butt consists of thousands of microfibre plastic strands.

  17. BURN INCENSE:  Instead of using plastic air fresheners, aerosols, or cheap plastic candles.  

PERSONAL

  

  1. BRUSH WITH BAMBOO:  Stop using plastic toothbrushes and use biodegradable brushes instead.  Make sure your wooden toothbrush doesn't have plastic bristles or come in a plastic package.  A good option is this brush by Primal Life Organics. 

  2. CHEW ON A STICK:  Try cleaning your teeth with a Miswak Stick, eliminating both plastic toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes! 

  3. DON'T USE DISPOSABLE FLOSSERS:  Use thread, wooden toothpicks, or this biodegradable floss from WooBamboo!

  4. DON'T USE DISPOSABLE RAZORS:  Use a razor with replaceable heads, or try a safety razor! 

  5. SANITARY PRODUCTS:  Opt for waste-free methods, such as the Diva Cup.  Buy organic, cotton tampons with paper applicators, non-synthetic pads free of plastic wrappers, washable sanitary napkins or try THINX Underwear.  

  6. NEVER USE PRODUCTS WITH MICROBEADS:  Microbeads are minuscule plastic particles added to cleansers and beauty products as an exfoliant.  In the US alone, 8 trillion microbeads are rinsed directly into the water each day.  

  7. PLASTIC-FREE COSMETICS:  Try supporting plastic-free cosmetic companies, like Zao, or find a company that refills your old cosmetic containers.  Try making your own products when you can.  

  8. BAR SOAP:  Use bar soap, or buy natural liquid soap in bulk to reduce plastic dispensers. 

  9. NATURAL CLOTHING:  Avoid synthetic fabrics, cheap plastic rain coats, plastic shoes and other items that will eventually end up in the trash.

  10. USE CLOTH BANDAIDS OR GAUZE:  Cheap bandaids are made from plastic and are throw directly into the trash. 

  11. NO PLASTIC HAIR BANDS:  Although convenient, these plastic hair ties are often single-use.

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