Clever Like a Fox- 101 ways to use less single-use plastic.

 

101. Ways that you can use less single-use plastic by Juliana2me. Progress over perfection.

Your small daily actions matter. 

 

1. Remember to bring your bags to the grocery store. The most sustainable bag is one you already have, but if you need some please purchase a bag with one of our designs.

2. Try to remember to fill your water bottle each and every time you leave the house. This way you won’t be tempted to purchase a drink in a plastic bottle to hydrate.

3. Skip the straw. If you go to a restaurant first thing before you order kindly inform your server. "No straws please". Just last week I forgot this one and the waiter left the straw on the table. I was sitting with my husband talking and I inadvertently opened it! 

4. Buy in bulk. Many coops allow you to refill your own jars. Mason jars are wonderful for this and the added benefit is that they make a pantry look neat, organized, and pretty!

5. When you shop, (non-bulk)  look for items wrapped in glass rather than plastic. 

6. Make your own salad dressing. I have created a design you can download and keep in your kitchen for handy reference. This way you can be familiar with the right proportions and you can be creative with what you add in. 

7. Make your own granola bars to save on all the plastic wrap.

8. Try beeswax wrap instead of plastic wrap. You could try to stash the plastic wrap underneath a cabinet in a hard-to-reach place and keep alternatives handy. When I did this I found that I no longer needed it at all. 

9. Use bar soap instead of liquid soap for hand-washing. There are so many wonderful handmade soaps available in a variety of beautiful scents. Try making your own or look for artisans in your area to purchase from. 

10. Use a stain stick bar for clothing stain treatments rather than one that comes in a plastic spray bottle. 

11. Buy veggies and fruits at your local farmstand. You will be supporting local agriculture and the items will not be wrapped in plastic. 

12. Travel with your own silverware. Find a pretty cloth napkin to wrap it in and stash in your purse or day bag. Examples for use: out for ice cream? Paper cup serve and use your own spoon. Takeout to sit and eat outside? No asking for plasticware. You'll have your own.

13. Don't use plastic sponges. There are some great alternatives. Swedish dishcloths are wonderful and last 6-9 months. 

14. Buy deodorant in paper tubes or choose other plastic-free alternatives.

15. Refill your razors rather than purchasing disposables

16. Drink loose-leaf tea or check the brand you use as many teabags have plastic in them. (this can't be healthy) Click here to read my blog post with some plastic-free alternatives.

17. Travel with a travel mug. Many places will let you fill up with coffee or tea while on the go.

18. Shop at thrift stores. 

19. Try bar shampoo. Click here for my blog post called. SWAP THE BOTTLE FOR A BAR. 

20. Make your own cleaning products.

21. Give up chewing gum as it is made of plastic. 

22. Visit a refill shop near you to refill your essentials

23. Buy laundry detergent in a box not a bottle. Better yet, try laundry detergent sheets. 

24. Pack a lunch rather than take out whenever you can. 

25. Buy eggs in cardboard or recycled plastic. styrofoam is the least sustainable so skip this kind if you can. 

26. Cook fresh over frozen. Frozen food is packed in plastic or cardboard coated in plastic. The less of this you can buy the better. 

27. If you can find it at the coop, buy milk in a returnable glass jug. 

28. Skip the produce bags at the store. Bring your own or simply put them loose in the cart as they will be washed at home before eating. 

29. Try a bamboo toothbrush or if you use an electric one, plan to keep it as long as you can and just replace the heads. 

30. Try a bar for dish soap or consider Seventh Generation as this liquid dish soap is packaged in 100% recycled plastic.

31. Buy condiments in glass instead of plastic. Many condiments in glass jars can be reused. Some of my favorites are Grey Poupon mustard, and Mrs, Renfros Salsas which both have a nice glass jar to make salad dressing in or to store nuts/snacks in to pack. 

32. Buy spices in bulk. In addition, try making your own spice blends. My favorites are Taco Mix and Blackened Cajun Spice Mix. I make big batches and keep them on hand which is more economical and flavorful. You can save glass jars and make gifts for family and friends.

33. Plant some greens. If you are lucky enough to live where you have a little lot of land then a full garden is wonderful. even if you live in a city try a rooftop or patio container garden. One of the easiest things to grow is greens. They are delicious and fresh, and then you will not need to resort to buying greens wrapped in plastic boxes. Or at least you could limit the number of times you do. If you do purchase greens in plastic boxes, consider saving and using these boxes. They are great for storage, and for hand washing bins, and I have found them to be particularly useful for mini-greenhouses. Starting seed inside or containing small plants for easy bottom watering and still allowing all the light in.

34. Make yogurt. Which is much easier than it sounds and the amount of beneficial bacteria in homemade yogurt is far greater. Also, you can control the number of sugars and even ferment it for 24 hrs to make it lactose-free. There are many methods to try, so have fun exploring. Once it's ready try adding fresh fruit, nuts, coconut, or granola for toppings. Another benefit is that it is very economical. 

35. Quit soda and soft drinks. Lots of wasted plastic and terrible for your health. Great alternatives are Seltzer, Juice mixed with water, or making your own lightly sweetened iced tea!

36. Treat yourself to fresh bread at the bakery or the bake shop in your grocery store. Many loaves come in paper bags. 

37. Flowers, not balloons. Next time you host a special occasion such as a birthday party, switch out the balloons for fresh flowers, Balloons are made of plastic and they surely are not a necessity and are single-use. Flowers last longer, smell better . . . 

38. Check your wardrobe. Many fabrics are synthetic and this means that each and every time they are washed they send micro-plastics into the environment. I'm not suggesting that you be wasteful and switch out your whole wardrobe, but if you do plan to buy a new article of clothing, consider organic cotton or able fabric choice. 

39. Eyeglasses-I have recently learned of eyeglass manufacturers that use wood or recycled plastic. Check this out, hopefully, we see more of this in the future.

40. Mulch, compost, planting mix. If you garden and you live in an area where you can have these delivered it will save all those plastic bags!

41. Crafty? Try experimenting with more natural materials for your crafts. Children will much prefer the feel of using natural materials such as stones, feathers, cloth...It will allow them to be much more creative.

42. Do you knit? Crochet? Treat yourself to natural fiber yarn. The synthetic cheap yarns add more micro-plastics to the environment.

43. There are options for toothpaste that comes in tablets instead of tubes. Try them or try buying tubes that are made mostly of metal and only plastic on the top. 

44. Skip the produce bags at the grocery market. Bring your own produce bags or beeswax bags. Or if it's something that can just be thrown in your cart just keep it loose. It won't hurt it as you will be washed before eating.

45. Choose fresh produce over frozen as often as you can. You can buy fresh, chop, and freeze in reusable silicone bags. 

46. Visit a refill shop if you have one nearby. I have started to compile a list on this site to help. I will continue to add to it and grow this list. There seem to be new ones popping up all the time. 

47. Less online ordering. Many items--including the ones I offer come wrapped in plastic bags for shipping. (Please note, I am working with the suppliers to see if I can change that with my shipments, and hopefully, that will change. Some items are shipped without any plastic and it pleases me). Packaging can be wasteful and try to reuse what you can. 

48. Pet food can come in plastic bags. I choose Earthborn because the bags that they use are 100% Recyclable. In fact, you can return them to your local pet store. I was instrumental in getting my local pet store to start to take them by making some calls and emails so if you don't find a place near you reach out and see what you can do to make that happen. They also plant a tree for every UPC you save from the bag. 

49. Try using wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are made of polyester, they are not recyclable, and they also are often filled with harmful chemicals. 

50. Going out to eat? Travel with your own "to go" box. Any container will do. Just slip it into your bag and you will be ready. Any food you want to be carried home to save can easily be put into your own to-go box by you! no need to ask for a to-go box which most likely will be plastic or styrofoam. 

51. Make popcorn at home. You can make a batch and store it on paper lunch bags to save for later or to pack as a snack for school or lunch. 

52. Skip to the top. Maybe every once in a while you go to a coffee shop. If you do not have your own travel mug for them to refill or if you are getting a specialty coffee so they need to use a cup they have, you can simply skip the plastic top.  Take a few minutes to sit down and enjoy your coffee and then head to the car. If it is 1/3 full it should be just fine in the travel mug slot in your car and you will have saved one plastic top from the landfill. 

53. Skip the packet condiments at fast food restraints and choose the items that you know are not packaged in a lot o plastic. 

54. Get takeout at a restaurant that allows and encourages BYO containers. 

55. Buy less new clothing. Many clothes are synthetic fibers and they contribute to microplastics when washed.

56. Freeze items in silicone bags rather than plastic bags or try this trick. wrap your food in wax paper then add it to a freezer bag. This way you can reuse the bag over and over again as there will be no food touching the bag. A silicon muffin cup mold works well for freezing soups and other liquid items into solid blocks that can then be wrapped in wax paper. 

57. Instead of eyeglass wipes wrapped in plastic pouches or in a spray bottle, just a drop of dip soap and water will do to keep them clean. 

58.