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We have been working on ways to reduce plastic in our home this year, so I thought I would share some of what we are doing. When you really start to pay attention to how much plastic we use/buy/bring into our homes on a daily basis, you start to see and realize what a major issue it really is! From the grocery store and take-out, to coffee shops, cleaning supply bottles, and ziplock bags — it’s A LOT. Here are some major changes we try to make, why it’s important, and how you can join in!
Ways to Reduce Plastic
Now I am not an unrealistic person. It’s going to be nearly impossible (sadly) to really reduce plastic usage fully, but with some effort, we can make changes that we feel good about and ones that are do-able and realistic for our lifestyles and our families!
I do love that others are taking action: many grocery stores are no longer doing plastic bags and are switching to paper, and many coffee shops and states are actually getting rid of the use of plastic straws! Bravo! Now, let’s do our part!
How Can You Reduce Plastic Use
- Reusable water bottles
- If you buy plastic water bottles because of the quality of your tap water, purchase a high quality filter and install it on your sink
- Glass or stainless straws
- Silicone bags
- Opt out of plastic produce bags in the grocery stores, and bring your own grocery tote bags
- Opt to buy cartons or glass versus plastic when possible
- Switch to glass food storage containers and glass mason jars
- Avoid plastic containers or plastic bags of food
- Use cloth napkins or reusable towels in the kitchen – to avoid extra trash (plastic garbage bags)
- Reusable coffee mugs or a mason jar to the coffee, juice or smoothie shop (bonus: you often get a discount when you bring these
- Purchase and eat less packaged foods (bonus: you’ll be eating less processed foods along the way)
- Seek out or find local “Buy Nothing” groups to pass on your unused stuff to avoid waste
- Make your own household products like cleaning sprays, body scrubs, etc.
- Shop in the bulk section of the grocery store with your own reusable bags
What I Personally Use
- Tote Bags
- Silicone Plastic Bags
- Glass food storage containers
- Reusable Water Bottles and Coffee Thermos (also a great holiday gift)!
- Lunette Period Cup
- Stainless Steel or Glass Straws
- Dish Towels
See other items I’ve swapped on my Amazon Storefront.
Why is Plastic Bad & Why It’s Important
- Plastic can release harmful chemicals into our planet. Which can then seep from the soil into groundwater or other surrounding water sources and the ecosystem.
- Our environment is seriously impacted. 91% of plastic isn’t recycled and over the last ten years, we have produced more plastic than during the whole of the last century.
- Toxic load. I work hard to reduce the toxic load in my environment for a many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is that Mike and I both have the MTHFR gene mutation and don’t detox properly. So when I’m exposed to plastic and heavy metals, they hang in my body unless I work hard to detox and remove them. The amount of toxic load we are consuming and putting in our body is alarming, detox issues or not!
How YOU Can Get Involved
- JOIN ME! Tag me with what you’re doing and using to make changes! I can’t wait to see what you’re doing to reduce your plastic consumption!!!
- Remember: Be prepared! Before heading off to work, grab your reusable water bottle and coffee mug. Meal prep in glass containers to avoid take out. Remember your tote bags for the grocery store!
- Gift it! This Holiday Water Bottle/Travel Mug (2-pack) is an awesome gift for family members, friends, co-workers, or a neighbor!
P.S. There are other things I’m doing in my home to create a healthier environment, like removing harmful ingredients from products we use, like PEGs, Parabens and Phthalates. These ingredients that we’re exposed to in makeup, shampoos, home cleaner and more contribute to human and animal illnesses and environmental pollution. Parabens, for one, are in almost every topical product and contribute to everything from hormonal disruption and rising infertility rates to water pollution. Read here about other swaps I’ve made!
This post is sponsored by Ello Products. All thoughts and opinions are always 100% my own! I love the integrity of their products and think you’ll love them too. Thank you for continuing to support LCK and the brands I work with!
I’ purchased glass storage containers for leftovers and recycled all my plastic ones. I also switched to glass or metal water bottles.
I always use reusable water bottles and coffee mugs!
I’m in the process of creating our wedding registry and I’m currently registering for several of the items that you mentioned including the reusable silicone bags and glass Tupperware!
I always use a reusable cup with a metal straw! I would like to get a few silicone bags to try and need to be better about bringing my reusable totes to the grocery store.
I started using a reusable water bottle recently, and I’ve been using reusable towels in the kitchen for years. I plan to switch to silicone bags next.
I always try to take my own bags to the grocery. I love Aldi and that they don’t just give out bags. I have phased out straws in our house too. It is especially challenging with two little ones!
I want to stop using plastic bags as often as I do. Particularly as the liner for trash cans or as ways to store food. Additionally, I love the idea of using products like beeswax instead of plastic wrap.
I want to stop using plastic bags as often as I do. Particularly as a liner for the garbage cans.
I just switched to stainless steel straws! I even think they make whatever I’m drinking taste better! Love this post and excited about those @elloproducts!
I love this, thank you so much for posting and caring about reducing plastic! I think it compliments living a “clean” lifestyle so well. Some ways I’m trying to reduce plastic use in my home is by slowly transitioning all my plastic Tupperware to glass, using stainless steel straws, and using reusable grocery bags. I’d like to decrease my ziplock bag usage next!
I am all about using my reusable bags! But I need to be more mindful about not using ziplock bags and I love your suggestions for that!
I am working towards a plastic free home! We have made many steps this year from using and taking our own water and coffee mugs everywhere we go including social outings, we also bring our own reusable beer glasses with us ! I pack our lunches in glass daily and have changed to no plastic and waste for my monthly girl time. 2019 will be our year to be more than 90% plastic free ?
I have switched to stainless steel bottles for water on the go. Glass storage for food and also glass pitchers instead of plastic ones!
Love this post. Always up for new ways!
We use reusable bags, metal straws, silicone bags, we use hydroflasks for EVERYTHING and try to buy groceries that use less packaging. I also love pyrex!!!!!! Thank you for posting about this. It’s a passion that everyone needs to get involved in.
We use reusable water bottles, I use a Lunette cup (love it!), Reusable snack and sandwich bags for my kids lunches, stainless straws, Norwex clothes instead of paper towel, and of course reusable shopping bags.
We use reusable water bottles and straws in my house everyday, and reusable shopping bags and produce bags when we shop!
We actively try to reduce plastic in our home! We use our own grocery totes when we go shopping, keep items in tupperware, and pack our own utensils for lunch. We’re doing what we can for the environment and appreciate everyone here doing the same!
A goal for 2019 is to be much better about bringing my own bags to the grocery store!! I want to also start re-using ziplocks. We also use glass containers for food whenever possible.
We reduce plastic by using Mason Jars for food storage! We can tomatoes so once we are done with the tomatoes I wash the lids to use for storage. Next I want to try a period cup to cut waste from menstration.
It has taken me a long time to get onto this but I have started bringing my own bags to the grocery store (I always forget) so now I keep a bunch of them in my trunk!
I also am wanting to buy the silicone bags instead of ziplocks!