13/06/2024
HOW TO REDUCE PLASTIC WASTEđď¸âťď¸
1. Bring your own shopping bag
The usefulness of these thin and easily ripped bags is extremely limited, yet according to the Environmental Protection Agency, up to one trillion plastic bags are used each year around the world.1 Although free to shoppers, these bags have a high environmental cost and are one of the most ubiquitous forms of garbage. Bringing your own environmental bag is common but good environmental advice, such good advice that some governments have implemented policies to encourage people to do it. Disposable shopping bags have been banned in a number of places, including states such as Hawaii and California.
In addition to bigger carryall bags, you can further reduce waste by bringing your own reusable produce bags or skipping them entirely.
2. Stop buying bottled water
tattooed hand refills water from canister into reusable metal cup
Unless thereâs some kind of contamination crisis, plastic water bottles are an easy target for reducing waste. Instead, keep a refillable bottle handy.
3. Bring your own thermos to the coffee shop
Speaking of refillable, bringing your own thermos for to-go coffee is another way to reduce your plastic footprint. Disposable coffee cups might look like paper but theyâre usually lined with polyethylene, a type of plastic resin. In theory these materials can be recycled, but most places lack the infrastructure to do so. Then there are lids, stirrers, and coffee vendors that still use polystyrene foam cupsâwhich can all be avoided with your own mug.
4. Choose cardboard over plastic bottles and bags
Generally speaking, itâs easier to recycle cardboard than plastic,2ďťżďťż plus paper products tend to biodegrade more easily without adding a lot of weight to the product the way glass or aluminum can.3ďťżďťż So, when you have the choice, pick pasta in the box instead of pasta in a bag, or detergent in the box instead of the bottle. Even better would be to check for companies that source their cardboard sustainably or have a strong stance on deforestation.
5. Say no to straws
Whether for home use or when youâre ordering a drink at a bar or restaurant, plastic straws are often a single-use item that's just not necessary.
6. Get the plastic off your face
Much of the plastic thatâs polluting the oceans is microplastics, tiny chunks that are next to impossible to filter out. These plastics can come from bigger items breaking down, but they are also commonly added to consumer products like face wash and toothpaste.4 These little beads are intended to be exfoliators, but many wastewater treatment facilities arenât able to stop them.5 There are many biodegradable alternatives, so avoid items with âpolypropyleneâ or âpolyethyleneâ on the ingredients list or consider making your own.
7. Skip the disposable razor
Instead of tossing a plastic razor in the trash every month, consider switching to a razor that lets your replace just the blade or even a straight razor.
8. Switch from disposable diapers to cloth
If youâve got a young baby, you know how many diapers can end up in the trash each day. TreeHugger writers are pretty big fans of the the reusable cloth option.
9. Make your period waste-free
There are a number of non-disposable options out there to cut down on period waste, from the Diva Cup, to the Ruby Cup to DIY-with-pride reusable pads. All these choices reduce the incredible amount of packaging that most pads and tampons are encased in. If youâre not in a situation where giving up tampons is an option, consider skipping brands with plastic applicators.
10. Re-think your food storage
Plastic baggies, plastic wrap, and plastic storage containers are worth re-evaluating. Instead of sandwich baggies, why not pack a bento box or Mason jar for lunch? Instead of throwing away plastic zipper bags or wrapping things in Saran wrap, why not use jars or glass containers in the fridge? When it comes to carryout, these types of containers be used instead of disposable onesâalthough it can definitely take a bit of courage and some explaining to help your local restaurants to understand.
11. Shop in bulk
For many households, the majority of plastic waste is generated in the kitchen. So one of the best ways to reduce the packaging waste madness is to bring your own bags and containers and stock up on bulk foods. Shopping with jars is a great option, and keep your eye out for brands with refilling stations, like Ariston oils and Common Good cleaners.
