10 Ways To Reduce Your Plastic Waste

There it is again.

Every. Single. Time. I chuck a piece of plastic into the bin and then I feel "the guilt" (because I know that stuff isn't going to decompose). Are ya with me? You know it's bad, but you have no idea where to start in cutting back your own plastic trash.
Take a deep breath... relax... run yourself a bubble bath.  We're going to help this change be as painless as possible. 

This won't hurt a bit.

10 simple ways you can reduce your plastic waste

  1. Don’t forget your reusable grocery bag in order to avoid grabbing a disposable plastic one at the grocery store. Having one handy in your purse, bag or in the trunk of the car makes it less likely that you’ll forget it when it's time to hit the shop.Reusable, waxed organic cotton Every Day Carry, but etee
  2. Bamboo, steel or glass straws are great reusable alternatives to the everyday plastic straws out there  - keep it with you so that you always have it ready for your next smoothie or cocktail. And no, the glass ones won't break in your mouth - they're super strong! Keep on sippin', y'all.
  3. Take away lunches can be eaten without any guilt if you refuse the single-use, plastic fork being handed to you, and keep a set of reusable cutlery with you instead. Bamboo can be harvested quickly and is a sustainable alternative to plastic. Bamboo cutlery sets are reusable, easily washable and super sturdy (no more breaking your fork into your lunch)!
  4. Speaking of lunch… etee reusable food wraps & bags, instead of plastic wrap and food baggies are a great way to reduce the plastic that’s touching your food every day.
  5. Go back in time and grab a bar of soap instead of the liquid soap in the plastic container that stands by your sink. While you’re at it make the switch in the shower too, using solid shampoo & conditioner like the ones that Lush makes. They're all just as effective as those suds in the plastic container, but don't have the waste that liquid soaps do!
  6. Step away from grabbing a plastic toothbrush after your next dental check-up. Bamboo toothbrushes are becoming a common (not to mention sustainable) option. We'll admit, they are a bit more expensive than the plastic variety, but you can find bulk packs online that ring in at only a few bucks a piece! Not only will a bamboo toothbrush reduce your exposure to plastic, but also will break down once you’re done brushing your chiclets with it!                                                                   
  7. Swap your plastic dish scrubber for a scrub pad made from plant fibre. The Safix scrub pad, made of coconut fibre is fully biodegradable & compostable, but still gets the job done when cleaning dirty pots and pans.
  8. Thirsty? Next time you see a case of plastic water bottles at the grocery store, keep on walking by. Use a refillable water bottle, like the ones from S’well, and fill it up before leaving home for a simple way to reduce the number of plastic water bottles that you go through in a week. 
  9. And while we’re on that note, don’t forget to bring a reusable coffee cup with you and avoid disposable cups & lids that you’ll be served your next cup of java in. Even better, make a pot of coffee before leaving in the morning rather than buying while you’re out and about.
  10. Go bulk! Filling up at the bulk food bins in the grocery store is not only saving plastic packaging from end up in the dump, but it’s also saving some extra cash in your wallet! 

 

What do you do next? It's easy - choose 1 of the 10 tips on the list, and make the swap away from disposable plastic. Next week, try something new on the list!

Less waste and better for your health. You can do it!

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Comments


  • Andrea S. – can you imagine how great it would be if we were able to have some sort of biodegradable diapers? Wow.
    Andrea W – thanks for that tip – I too have started saving glass jars to reuse for bulk purchases, as well as leftovers too!

    Melanie from etee! on
  • I love what you do in helping us all to do our part in being healthier and being better stewards of this earth and preserving it for future generations. Now if we can come up with a convenient recyclable alternative ( I know biodegradable is not an option) to disposable diapers I’d rest easier. A return to cloth diapers is not a realistic option for the mass public in the world in which we live. Tell me you’re working on that…

    Andrea Smith on
  • Replying to Stacy’s comment on February 3rd: You can bring your empty jars into the store to refill them…or you can use little cloth or mesh reusable bags to buy things in bulk in the grocery store to bring home to put in your jars! My cupboards are full of different size mason jars…no plastic containers!

    Andrea Wright on
  • I live in Phoenix and Sprouts has bins to put used plastic bags. I save them up and when I remember I take them with me to Sprouts and drop them in. Check it out.

    Denise on
  • There are lids with holes for straws that fit on a mason jar and stainless steel straws at your local hardware store.
    Look for the adaptors for spice jars.

    Sandra on
  • Thanks for the suggestions.
    Sometimes I worry about eating fish, for instance…after hearing that minuscule shards of plastic are in the fish we eat and these could lodge permanently in our organs, causing health issues eventually.

    Cecilia BRown on
  • Buuut, buying food in,bulk means we are using those thin plastic bags they give us… :(

    Stacy on
  • Thank you for thinking outside the box with your products. I feel much less guilt now about plastics. I’m also very careful about using paper products.

    Lisa on
  • Trying hard to go plastic free, wish berries at grocery stores weren’t in plastic containers.
    Wondering if you have a web site you trust for bulk bamboo toothbrushes?
    Thank, love your wraps.

    Annette on
  • I’m with you !! We must establish new habits re our use of plastic.
    Our 5yr old granddaughter came home from kindergarten three weeks ago telling me that plastic milk bottles, etc. sit in the ocean for 1000’s of years and never decompose. We no longer buy milk in plastic bottles! Now I am learning that elements of plastic bags leak into our food. That plastic is found in children’s bodies! Whoa ! We need to change our habits of using plastic. Thanks for for these suggestions.
    December 13, 2018

    Julia on

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