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Are you looking for effective ways to reduce the use of plastic?
If you are intrigued by living a more sustainable & plastic-free life, this article will provide you with easy & beginner tips on how to get started.
The ideas below will help you to get started with your plastic-free journey, with actionable steps that you can start implementing right away.
Now, let’s jump right to the 11 ways to reduce the use of plastic!
11 easy ways to reduce the use of plastic:
1. Rethink what you really need
Have you ever found yourself, shopping, and buying things that it’s questionable if you need them? It can happen with food, clothes, shoes, electronics, small gadgets, notebooks, pens, etc.
This can cause unnecessary clutter in your house and mind.
It is not the best thing for your pocket, and it can cause a lot of additional unnecessary waste.
ACTION STEP:
Whenever you are about to buy something, be mindful. Think if you really need the thing you are about to buy, or if you have a similar item already at home.
2. Buy last-lasting things
Switching to long-lasting & reusable products will save you money while reducing a lot of plastic waste.
There are hundreds of wasteful things you can avoid, like:
- Paper towels/Tissues
- Baking paper
- Menstrual pads/tampons
- Plastic bags
- Plastic straws
- Food wraps
- Cotton earbuds
The list can go on, and on. To make it easier, consider eliminating the most polluting & single-use items first.
ACTION STEP:
1. See if you have reusables at home or if you can make some
If you have a reusable bottle as a gift, cotton bags, food containers – start using them! Even if some of the things are plastic, use it until it breaks or until you can. Moreover, you can make DIY things, such as cotton rounds by cutting down an older towel.
2. Buy long-lasting products
Next, start looking for long-lasting items, that are durable and reusable. This will reduce a lot of waste and you will save you money in the long run. Some examples include:
Cotton rounds –> Washable cotton rounds
Paper towels –> Cotton cloths
Tissues –> Handkerchiefs
Baking paper –> Reusable silicon mat
Menstrual pads/tampons –> Menstrual cup/reusable pads
Plastic bag –> Reusable bag
Plastic straws –> Stainless steel/bamboo straws
Single-use cotton earbuds -> Reusable ear cleaner
Food wraps –> Prepare your own food in reusable food containers
Related post: How To Save $5,337 A Year By Going Zero Waste
3. Start composting
Composting is another essential part of living a plastic-free and (almost) zero waste life.
When you throw your food scraps in a plastic bag and go to a landfill, they can’t decompose. There, they produce landfill gas – a natural byproduct of the decomposition of organic material.
It contains both methane and carbon dioxide, which are trapping heat in the atmosphere.
So, composting can reduce your greenhouse emissions drastically.
The good news is that composting is not hard, and it is totally doable even if you live in a small apartment.
ACTION STEP:
1. Pick a composting method – The first step is to simply read out 7 ways for apartment composting and choose one.
2. Prepare – Once you pick a method, you need to get the needed materials:
- A bucket (or two)
- Charcoal filters
- Compostable bags (optional, if you choose Countertop composting)
- Bokashi bran (optional, only if you choose Bokashi composting)
- Paper, worms (optional, only if you choose Vermicomposting)
3. Compost – Once everything is set, you can start composting. For much more details on how to compost, be sure to check this article.
4. Minimize food packaging
This really depends on your situation and how much of a choice you have.
If you are lucky enough to have a farmers market or even a bulk shop nearby, start shopping from there!
Just by that, you will probably reduce more than 60-70% of your kitchen waste.
Usually, from the farmer’s market, you can get all your veggies, fruits, sometimes they even some grains/nuts.
Then, from the bulk store, you can get the rest of the grains, legumes, nuts, oats, seeds, cooking products, spices, etc.
If there aren’t bulk stores around, you can find plastic-free items in a lot of supermarkets, too.
ACTION STEP:
1. ALWAYS bring your cotton bags and jars – Use them instead of single-use plastic or paper bags.
2. Buy loose vegetables and fruits – Most big supermarkets often have a section with loose veggies and fruits.
3. Buy products that are in glass or aluminum containers, since they are 100% recyclable – Then you can reuse some of the containers, to store different goods.
5. Use what you already have
If you decide to lower your plastic waste and to try to be (almost) zero waste, that doesn’t mean to get rid of everything unsustainable in your home.
First, use everything you have, even if it’s a single-use or products in plastic containers, and then start getting sustainable alternatives & reusable items.
Do NOT throw it away, just because it’s plastic! It will be much worse if you do it and it will be even more wasteful.
Eventually, if you really don’t want to use something, try to find someone that might want – family members, friends, charities, etc.
ACTION STEPS:
1. Finish the products that you already have – It can be from a shampoo bottle to a pack of tissues. If you don’t want to use something, find someone who will!
2. Once you are done with the stuff, start looking for getting some reusable, plastic-free, long-lasting products – You can find my huge list of zero waste swaps, including 142 zero waste products you MIGHT need!
6. Plan more
The key to avoiding any unnecessary plastic waste is to plan ahead and be prepared.
Probably you will have some small fails at the beginning, at least I did, but with time, you will become better.
This can apply to various situations, like going on a trip, or to work/university.
For instance, you can always bring your reusables, prepare food in advance to avoid plastic waste from food wraps, etc.
ACTION STEPS:
1. Plan in advance – If you are going on a short or long trip, prepare things that you might need, such as – reusable, cotton bags, water bottles, etc.
2. Don’t beat yourself if you fail – Especially in the beginning, it will be hard to remember everything you need to do. Living a plastic-free life is a process. Mistakes will make you become better and learn!
7. Observe (your trash)
Taking a good look at your trash, for a week or two can be really eye-opening.
Once, I did an experiment, and I collected my trash for a month. It was interesting to see from where most of my waste came from.
It is a fantastic exercise since once you see your biggest sources of waste, you will be able to take action and find ways to reduce it.
ACTION STEP:
1. Figure out your trash – This will help you to realize what are the products that create the most waste.
2. Find alternatives – Once you figure out that, then start looking for more sustainable alternatives. Luckily, you can find alternative, package-free, and more sustainable products for almost anything.
Related post: Beginners List of Zero Waste Swaps
8. Just say, “No.”
Do not take things that you won’t use and don’t need. Simple as that.
That can be freebies, junk mail, or anything else from a family member/a friend.
ACTION STEP:
1. Refuse whatever doesn’t serve you – Things you don’t need, won’t use and are wasteful.
Picture from EarthHero.com
9. Waste “wisely”
Having a 100% trash-free life can be quite difficult, and at times – almost impossible. That’s why you should be mindful, and waste “wisely”.
Whenever you can avoid plastic – great! Try to find alternatives, but for the situations and cases in which there are no other options, don’t beat yourself up.
ACTION STEP:
1. Do your best – Try to do as much as you can, and even if sometimes you ”fail”, don’t be too harsh on yourself.
2. Recycle properly – Even though recycling is a delicate topic, it’s always better to do your part and to always recycle properly. You can find out how to recycle metal, paper, old electronics, and different items.
3. Reduce – Try to reduce (if you can) the consumption of an item/product, that you currently cannot find an alternative and more sustainable solution.
10. Buy second hand
The truth is that the fashion industry is a huge waste generator. For 2013, 13 MILLION tonnes of textile have ended in landfills.
A huge percentage of these items are made of a cheap synthetic material called polyester (aka plastic).
Instead of buying new clothes & other products, and contributing to the waste stream by the fashion industry, start shopping second-hand.
Related post: 16 Best Online Thrift Stores for Secondhand Clothing
ACTION STEP:
1. Check your local second-hand shops – Whenever you need something new, visit s few local second-hand stores first.
2. Check out second-hand online stores – If you are not able to find what you need locally.
11. DIY products
It is convenient to buy stuff, packaged in plastic since they are often much cheaper than plastic-free and ”zero waste” options.
The truth is that oftentimes, zero waste goods can be a bit pricey.
So if you are not ready to pay $8-12 for a package-free deodorant bar, or $9-10 for zero waste toothpaste, start making them by yourself!
It is actually super easy and you can minimize the expenses quite a lot.
ACTION STEP:
1. Make easy DIYs – like tooth powder, deodorant, dry shampoo, etc.
2. Experiment – Don’t be afraid to try new things and test different recipes.
Which tip is the easiest/hardest for you, when it comes to reducing the use of plastic?
Feel free to share in the comment section below.
Infographic:
A great info graphic, until the very last line. Repurpose, not repuspore.