Easy Ways To Use Less Plastic

By the year 2050, there will be more plastic in oceans than actual fish.

That was a scary-ass statistic that had me shook.

I’ve known for quite a while that our oceans aren’t in the best shape, but I had no idea to what degree.

If that statistic doesn’t worry you, let me put things in perspective. The ocean’s current state doesn’t just affect the life living in it. It affects us too. The ocean regulates our climate, it supplies us with half of the oxygen we need to breathe, it feeds us, and also gives many of us jobs that support our families and societies. Without a healthy thriving ocean, all these benefits will cease to exist.

That’s why it’s so important to play whatever little or huge role we can play to fix the problem that we, as a consumer-driven society (it’s also important to note that some societies had a bigger hand in creating this problem than others, but that’s for another time) have caused.

So what can an average person do? A hell of a lot, actually.

Did you know that an average person in North America and Western Europe uses 220 lbs of plastic each year?

Therefore, the easiest place to start is by swapping small everyday plastic items with greener alternatives. Here are some easy ways to use less plastic:

Opt for reusable Ziploc-type bags that are plastic-free. You can use them over and over and they’re actually stronger and more durable and can withstand even the cold temperature in the freezer.

Ditch the Tupperware and go for stainless steel containers instead, to store leftovers or on-the-go meals. It won’t give off cancer-causing chemicals found in plastic containers and stainless steel is a lot lighter and safer to use than glass containers around the kids.

Why throw away your deodorant case when you can just refill it with the actual deodorant itself? Try Myro, a company that sells reusable deodorant cases that you can refill with plant-powered deodorant pods that are also recyclable. No waste at all! You can choose from a variety of fun colors and scents. I have the pillow talk (nude pink) case and absolutely adore the fresh scent of Chill Wave.

Go from liquid to bar soap when it comes to your dishes, hands, and your body. Bar soaps aren’t packaged in plastic and will give you an excuse to get some cute bamboo soap holders. For dishes, my favorite is the Dish Washing Block Soap from No Tox Life. It’s free of dyes, fragrances, and made with vegan and biodegradable ingredients. And best of all, it works! I even use it to clean my tiles and counters and found it more effective than the Method tile cleaner I used to buy. For my hand and body, I default to Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Bar Soap. I like how it’s gentle enough that it doesn’t strip away the oils from my skin but still gives me that clean and fresh feel. It’s also gentle enough for people with sensitive skin, like my partner (he’s actually the one who introduced the Dr. Bronner line to me - thanks babe). Like No Tox Life, Dr. Bronner soaps also use vegan, cruelty-free and biodegradable ingredients and are packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled wrappers.

Bring your own reusable produce bags to the grocery store. I like the ones without holes so that I can use it to carry dried beans and rice. Store them inside your grocery tote bags so you’ll be sure not to forget them.

Replace your plastic straws and utensils with reusable ones to prevent another sea turtle from going through unnecessary pain.

Instead of saran wrap, use nature’s version, beeswax wrap. You can clean hand reuse it over and over again.

Opt for refillable concentrated cleaning products, like the multisurface or tile & tub cleaner from Brandless. Not only does it save plastic, but it also saves you money in the long run since most cleaning products actually contain water as the main ingredient. No more paying for water!

Aside from these helpful swaps, you can also get to know your local city’s recycling guide and practices so that you minimize your waste even more. Here’s the recycling guide for Los Angeles. During my research, I discovered that I could recycle my water filters so if you too own a pitcher, don’t throw your filters away! Instead, set them to dry and send them to recyclewaterfilters.com and they’ll recycle it for you for free.

We often ask where things are made, how they’re made, and who made them. Let’s start asking, how will I dispose of it? How will this item breakdown and affect the Earth? These simple questions will naturally guide all of us to think twice before we buy.