Plastic Free Tips for Your Home

1.Use refillable water bottles over plastic. This tip may seem like it goes without saying but with roughly 400 billion plastic water bottles used worldwide each year, we all clearly need this reminder. Get in the habit of taking your refillable with you to work, the movies, out to the store and everywhere else you go. If you’re the type of person who has a hard time remembering to bring your refillable bottle with you, put one in your car, at your work desk and by the door where you keep your keys.

2. Clean with natural ingredients. Chemicals used in cleaning products are bad for the environment on multiple fronts. When it comes to plastic, most cleaning products are guilty of using oversized bottles that are filled mostly with water. A gallon of laundry detergent, for example, contains anywhere from 60-90% water. Some cleaning products can be bought in concentrate solutions which are sold in smaller bottles. The best way to cut out all plastic, however, would be to make your own cleaning solutions out of things like lemon juice, baking soda, and white vinegar.

Check out this blog on how to make your own cleaning products at home.

3. Store leftovers in glass containers. The best way to store your extra food is in glass containers. They hold up longer than plastic Tupperware and can be put in both the microwave and dishwasher.

4. Skip the plastic liner in your trashcan. For your small office, bathroom, and bedroom trashcans, get in the habit of skipping the plastic liner. Instead, take your trash directly to your outside trashcan or waste bin when they get full. Garbage in plastic bags will take even longer to biodegrade, as the plastic trash bag will have to break down first. Or you can reuse paper bags from the grocery store. Also, composting reduces waste and need for plastic bags while reducing carbon emissions.

5. Reuse glass jars for flower vases. Lots of products like jelly, pickles and condiments are sold in glass jars. Next time, don’t toss the jar in the trash when you are done. Remove the label, wash it, and use it as a flower vase or storage.

6. Swap plastic wrap for beeswax wraps. It’s easy to throw a piece of plastic wrap over your leftover food. The problem is that plastic wrap is single-use and ends up in landfills for years. Beeswax wraps offer a great alternative! It seals your food just like plastic wrap and can be used over bowls, plates or even around the food itself!

Check out this article for recommendations on the best beeswax wrap products.