It’s common knowledge that plastic is bad for the environment and that it threatens our planet. It’s in everyone’s best interest to make an effort to use less plastic and practice more sustainable methods of living.
Something to keep in mind is that you don’t have to make huge lifestyle changes right off the bat. Even making the smallest changes in your day-to-day life can have a large impact on the environment!
It all starts with being mindful of the products that you buy and what you do with it afterwards. Recycling plastics that can be recycled is essential.
Using plastic products is entirely in your control. And the less plastic used, the less will be produced, and that means less plastic in our landfills.
Because that’s the reality.
A lot of plastics aren’t recyclable which means they’ll head to a landfill where it will leak chemicals into the earth or get blown into waterways which leads to oceans, which will then get mistaken for food by animals.
It’s up to us to help make a change for the environment to help keep it plastic-free.
Whether you want to use less plastic to reduce waste, for health reasons, or to save money, these tips will help you start saying goodbye to plastic once in for all.
Here are 14 simple ways you can use less plastic in your home.
1. Use Reusable Grocery Bags
Instead of using flimsy plastic bags from the grocery store, bring your own reusable bags every time you do groceries.
Not only is it the best zero-waste option, but it’s also a lot easier to carry your groceries with sturdy reusable bags.
You should also bring your own zero-waste produce bags to put your fruits and veggies in, instead of reaching for those flimsy plastic bags that grocery stores offer.
2. Use Plastic-Free Food Storage
Instead of continuing to purchase plastic containers once yours inevitably break, invest in food containers that are longer lasting.
Glass and stainless steel are a great alternative because they’re sustainable, easy to clean, non-toxic, and recyclable. You can also freeze meals in glass and stainless steel containers.
You can also use other storage methods that aren’t containers, like beeswax wraps and reusable “Ziploc” bags.
Here are some great plastic-free alternatives:
Beeswax food wraps are 100% natural and will last you over year.
Stainless steel containers – pretty much indestructible and BPA-free.
Silicone Sealer Bags are good for storing, freezing and cooking.
If you really don’t want to transition from plastic containers, opt for containers that use recycled plastic.
Whatever plastic containers you have left, use them until they’re broken, for alternative storage, or recycle them.
3. Bring Your Own Coffee Cup
When you buy takeout coffee, those single-use coffee cups usually come with an unrecyclable plastic cover and the cups themselves are usually lined with plastic, making them unrecyclable.
To use less plastic, ditch the disposable coffee cup and bring your own stainless steel travel mug when getting coffee to really make an impact on the environment.
4. Don’t Use Plastic Straws
An easy way to use less plastic is to stop buying and using plastic straws.
There are alternatives to plastic straws that are zero-waste and budget-friendly. You can get stainless steel, glass, even bamboo straws.
You should also keep your reusable straw handy when you’re travelling or heading to a restaurant. Instead of taking a plastic straw for your drink, pull out your fancy straw.
I’d recommend getting a stainless steel or glass straw from Simply Straws since they have a lifetime guarantee. They are also a certified B-corp and a member of 1% for the Planet!
Use my code #MINDFULHOME for 10% off your order.
5. Use Soap Bars Over Plastic Bottles
Instead of using body wash, shampoo and conditioner that comes in plastic bottles, use bars of soap.
My favorite plastic-free (and SLS-free) shampoo and conditioner bars are from Unwrapped Life which came with absolutely no plastic packaging.
Not only was the entire package I received super sustainable, but the bars are of great quality and last a long time. My shampoo bar lasted me over 7 months and my conditioner bar a year.
Check out Unwrapped Life and their wide range of plastic-free products for your hair and body.
6. Ditch Plastic Baggies & Wrap
Plastic baggies and plastic film wrap are unnecessary when there are so many eco-friendly substitutes.
The film wrap is hard to recycle, more expensive to recycle, releases toxic chemicals when burned, and pollutes the soil.
That means that single-use plastic literally has a negative environmental impact no matter where it goes at the end of its lifecycle.
You can use fewer plastic bags and wrap by storing your food in containers or use zero-waste products like Stasher bags and using beeswax wraps.
You just wash them after you use them instead of throwing them in the trash.
If you really can’t see yourself giving up disposable food bags, opt for bags that are compostable.
I just discovered BioBag’s compostable sandwich bags over at EarthHero (really great sustainable marketplace by the way!) that will keep the convenience, minus the waste.
7. Use Bamboo Toothbrushes Instead of Plastic
You should stop buying thick plastic toothbrushes and instead opt for a bamboo toothbrush.
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable types of wood, which makes it a go-to eco-friendly material.
Bamboo toothbrush handles are also biodegradable so you’ll never have to throw away a bulky plastic toothbrush again. And they’re nicer to look at.
8. Stop Buying Plastic Water Bottles
One of the best ways to use less plastic at home and when travelling is to stop buying bottled water.
Water bottles are one of the main drivers of plastic pollution. Also, did you know that when you buy bottled water, you’re essentially paying for the plastic?
Invest in a non-toxic and zero-waste water bottle and just refill the bottle as needed.
Tap water is usually drinkable, but if you’re unsure, use a filtered water dispenser to filter your water before filling your water bottle.
You’ll reduce your plastic waste so much by refilling a water bottle instead of buying individual single-use plastic bottles!
9. Get Boxed Cleaning Products
Instead of buying cleaning products in plastic bottles, try opting for boxed packaging.
For example, there are various laundry detergent brands that sell their powdered detergent in a cardboard box rather than a large plastic bottle.
Try and get as many cleaning products in boxes instead of plastic bottles to help use less plastic at home.
You can become even more plastic-free and start making your own laundry detergent!
10. Ditch Plastic Lighters
Plastic lighters aren’t easily recyclable because there’s metal in them. You’d have to take them apart in order to properly have them recycled.
Instead of using plastic lighters, use matches, refillable lighters, or a rechargeable electric lighter that uses electricity to light stuff. Yeah, that’s a thing! My boyfriend loves his.
11. Shop at Farmers’ Markets
Unfortunately, a lot of grocery stores have produce wrapped in a bunch of plastic. A good way to get around this is to shop at farmers’ markets.
A good way to reduce plastic you get from your groceries is to shop at Farmers’ Markets.
Farmers’ markets produce is typically cheaper, fresher and it’s generally more eco-friendly since you’re supporting your local area.
Don’t forget your reusable bag!
12. Say No to Plastic Freebies
I’m a fan of the blog Going Zero Waste and in her free eBook, Kathryn talks about refusing items to reduce waste, which makes a lot of sense.
How many times have you been offered something that you’ll never use, but took it just because it was free? I have to admit, I’m guilty of this!
Try to stay away from plastic freebies to help avoid accumulating unnecessary plastic products.
13. Support Plastic-Free Brands
There are a lot of eco-friendly brands that are conscious about the products they sell, how they ship them, and even how they receive their inventory from their suppliers.
Supporting these brands will make your home and our planet a little greener.
For example, there are many brands that ship their products zero-waste, which means your purchases won’t come in any unnecessary plastic packaging.
Unwrapped Life for example shipped my bar shampoo and conditioner in a small cardboard box with paper as a filler instead of bubble wrap and absolutely no plastic.
Do your research on brands and see if they ship their products plastic-free prior to making a purchase from a company you’re not familiar with.
The same goes for clothing. Shop from sustainable fashion brands that use eco-materials instead of polyester that’s made from plastic.
14. Buy Food in Glass Jars
A great way to use less plastic at home is to never bring it home to begin with.
When grocery shopping, try buying food that comes in glass jars instead of plastic containers. Then, you can reuse those glass jars for storage and organization around your house. It’s a great way to save money on food storage, and it’s plastic-free.
Here’s a bunch of practical ways to reuse store-bought glass jars at home.
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