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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!
We always, always use cloth, or reusable shopping bags. We bring our Contigo coffee mugs and have the coffee shops fill those instead of using theirs.
We do pretty much everything you suggested. I will be replacing my plastic Tupperware with glass once they’re worn out.
We’ve started using real dishes when eating snacks, as opposed to disposable – dishes really aren’t so bad once you get used to them! We also use reusable water bottles and coffee cups to reduce plastic/paper use.
Glass lunch containers, reusable coffee travel mugs, travel tumblers for our water at work. Need to invest in some lunch bag alternatives as well and make our own beeswax food wrap.
I bring my own bags to the grocery store and always have a reusable water bottle.
I only use glass storage containers now, I also bring my own shopping bags to the stores with me now too. Slowly but surely! ?
We have been using and LOVE Ello! During our “reduction beginning period” my husband received a roll of paper towels one year for Christmas! Lol.
It was funny for nostalgic sake as we have been using kitchen towels instead for over a decade (among other changes). Merry Christmas, Lexi!
On a daily basis, I use a re-usable water bottle, glass containers for left-overs & lunches and take our own bags to the grocery store. I would like to transition to metal straws and re-usable zip lock bags too!
I bring reusable bags for produce at the grocery store, it’s crazy how many plastic bags add up especially considering how much produce I buy each week!
I always use my reusable water bottles and a Camelbak backpack for hiking. I store everything in canning jars with metal lids, and am replacing plastic storage containers (as they break and get recycled) with glass.
My partner and I now only use glass containers to take our food with us. We meal prep a week in advance ? (usually with some of your receipes) We also take metal fork and knives to work for our prep.
Stasher bags are also a staple of ours. We use the small snack size bags and larger quart bags for different fruits, veggies and other snacks! They’re reusable and actually fun to eat out of
I use reusable water bottle and grocery bags!
I started using Ello glass water bottles and ditched my plastic bottles. I love their products so much!! Also started using more glass contaibers to store food instead of the plastic and ziplock bags.
We use stainless steel water bottles, glass food storage bowls/containers, and reusable bags.
I use glass containers and I use glass and stainless steel water bottles. No more plastic!
I use reusable water bottles. Also, I’ve been using the fabric or silicone baggies when I can!
I use reusable water bottles. Also, I’ve started using the fabric or silicone baggies whenever I can!
I purchased reusable produce bags to go with my reusable shopping bags. And I have been declining straws and bringing my own stainless steel or paper ones with me
We use stasherbags for our breakfasts and lunches on the go, use reusable grocery bags, and have reusable produce bags , so helpful and it actually saves us money! ?
I’ve been way better about bringing my own bags to the grocery store. And not using plastic bags when buying produce!