Plastic has been taking over our lives since 1907. Although it has certainly made our lives easier in many ways- we also now know it’s made a negative impact on the environment & our health. Today, plastic can be found everywhere from your fridge to your bloodstream. It’s nearly impossible to completely rid our lives of plastic- but we can still make small changes everyday to create a bigger impact in reducing our consumption.
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So whether you’re trying to reduce plastic in your life for your health, the planet, or simply because you prefer a different compound- here are five ways to start reducing your everyday use.
- Start with what is currently in your home. What do you use every single day that’s plastic or single use? Go to your kitchen and make a list of the items that you would like to replace. Find out what changes you can make each month that also fits into your budget.
- Commit to stop buying more plastic items. Yes- it’s true that it’s in almost everything we buy! Even our favorite glass tumbler comes complete with a sneaky gasket to keep it from leaking. But if you’re serious about making the shift, opt for a different medium that contains the least amount of plastic whenever possible. You might even be surprised how much $$ you save! (Goodbye impulse buying at the grocery store).
- Swapping single use items for reusable ones. Single use items are things like plastic bags, cotton swabs, bottled water, period products, household cleaning containers, straws, & other plastic dinnerware. This task can easily be integrated into your life each month to replace one item at a time. Plus, reducing your use of single use products also creates less waste in your home altogether. When you think about the disposable items you use in your day-to-day life, 3 things are highly likely- they are made completely of plastic, they contain plastic, & there is a reusable version waiting for you in your online shopping cart.
- Recycle your glass jars for drinkware & food storage. How many pasta jars, condiment jars, or other glass food jars have you tossed this month? Recycle them to store your leftovers or drink out of them.
- Instead of canned or most bottled drinks, opt for glass if you can. While we think aluminum cans are free of plastic, many people do not know that most aluminum cans have a thin plastic lining inside the can to preserve the beverage.
- Finally, one of the easiest ways to reduce your plastic use is to find yourself a reusable water bottle! You can find a great & affordable option online or in your favorite grocery store. These days, reusable water bottles come in stainless steel or glass and there is something for everyone. Even babies can have glass or stainless steel bottles!
It can be very overwhelming when you think about making the shift to a “plastic-less” life. Just remember these six tips and you’ll be well on your way to living with less.
