30 Ways To Reduce Plastic Waste
There is a good chance that every item made of plastic that has ever been in your possession probably still exists. Some of that plastic may have been recycled once, and some of it may have been incinerated, but the majority of plastic ever created is still around. Want to know the industry that contributes to plastic waste the most? Packaging. Humans have been brainwashed in recent decades to be consumers, and with consumption comes packaging for those consumed goods. And now even the goods themselves are cheaper and more disposable…which is quite literally destroying the planet.
I spent much of the last two years trying to figure out how to reduce my carbon footprint, and while a zero-waste lifestyle is ideal, I’ve learned it’s not always possible for the average person. However, I believe in baby steps, and a low waste lifestyle is absolutely achievable. Reducing waste involves making a few adjustments here and there, but it’s not entirely on consumers to do better. After all, we aren’t the ones creating the waste (we are just consuming it to eventually dispose of it), but we can influence the culture by choosing to only support businesses and brands that are also committed to reducing their environmental impact.
So how can you do your part? Here’s my list of 30 tips for greening up your lifestyle:
The first place I tried to address in my life was the plastic in my shower. Let’s trade those plastic bottles for solid bars of soap, shampoo, and conditioner. There are plenty on the market these days, and if you don’t feel like searching, I got you covered—I make all three {try my soap, shampoo, and conditioner}. That drugstore plastic loofah can also be replaced by a Konjac sponge, a sea sponge, or a natural loofah for exfoliating.
Speaking of soap…my current apartment doesn’t have a dishwasher, so it inspired me to create a solid bar for washing my dishes that had more cleansing power than Castile soap. There are others on the market, but if you want to spread love my way, you can cop one here.
Let’s pop back in the bathroom for a sec…are you still using disposable plastic razors? You got better options, fam. I switched to a safety razor that will last a lifetime and my shaves have never been closer. I also love that the one I found came in plastic-free packaging with a pretty bamboo handle. You can find it here. If that one is no longer available try this one.
If you haven’t already, switch to a bamboo toothbrush (or an electric toothbrush with bamboo replacements)! Dentists recommend that you toss them out after 3 months, so after saving a few for deep cleaning the nooks and crannies of sneakers and homes, these bad boys can be composted and returned to nature. And if you still have plastic ones at home, save those for cleaning—the goal is to reduce plastic waste, and not throw things out if they can still be useful in another capacity.
Whenever possible, avoid ordering delivery and food to go, and if you have time, pack your own lunch. I know take-out is convenient when you are starving and have to get back to your desk, but I am the queen of bringing my laptop to a restaurant. Dining in creates less plastic waste than ordering your meal to go, and your tip will support starving artists like me trying to pursue their passions outside of their restaurant gigs…shameless plug. You can also bring your own reusable take-out container to pack your leftovers in. Many families with young children opt for take-out to save from embarrassment in the restaurant, but I shun this too. Getting small children accustomed to the dining experience is super important. Dining with my family at various restaurants across the globe is the experience I treasure most from my childhood. Food is love and should be shared at a table on real plates and not plastic containers. Opt for restaurants that source local ingredients and aim to be as carbon-neutral as possible.
This one has been hard for me, but stop buying paper towels! Switch to cloth rags in the kitchen, and use old towels and stained t-shirts for cleaning. If you are like me and make soap, it’s hard to stop buying them completely for sanitary manufacturing reasons, but opt for recycled versions or towels made of bamboo. I’m only allowed to use my roll of paper towels when making products, and I have purchased 2 individual roles in the last 6 months—I’m proud of myself for this. Need a few cloth towels to make the transition easier? Try these…or these…or these…
I grew up seeing Scotch-Brite sponges in the kitchen, so when I went off on my own, that’s the brand of sponge I bought. Was it ideal for the environment? No. Now that I know better, I recommend bamboo scrubbers and biodegradable sponges sold in paper boxes (like these or these)
This overhaul of products has made me notice how few liquids are in my life, including liquid detergents. Liquid products require either plastic or glass packaging, while powdered laundry detergents and laundry sheets are often sold in a box (or tin can). Opt for the box or reusable tin can whenever possible. There are box and tin options for dishwashing detergents as well (for those of you with dishwashers).
Landfills are probably flooded with deodorant tubes…is it worth it? Not hardly. Stop wasting money on a product that is quietly toxic, and do what your ancestors did: rub a fucking lemon wedge on your pits when you sweat and continue with your day. If you insist on wasting your money on a natural deodorant (that will probably make you smell worse or cause a rash) make sure it comes in a biodegradable tube or metal tin. (I wrote about that once)
Toothpaste tubes are also ruining the world. Switch to toothpaste in a fully recyclable metal tube, or try a tooth powder or tabs sold in a reusable glass jar. You can also make your own with coconut oil, baking soda, and xylitol (but the xylitol I found came in a resealable plastic bag which possibly defeats the purpose unless you reuse it to store something else). I’m probably going to make a solid tooth soap soon, though…I don’t enjoy the feel of the tooth powders or tabs but they are good for when you are camping or traveling.
Death to lotion bottles with those pumps that will live forever, as small plastics don’t usually get recycled, and lotion bottles contain mostly water. I gave up water-based lotions when I started making my own products, and my skin thanked me. My lotion bar is my facial moisturizer and my body butter keeps me ash-free and glowing, and even with my obvious gray hairs, I still get carded. Opt for solid lotion bars in biodegradable containers and oil-based moisturizers sold in glass jars (and don’t worry, I got you covered)
We all get lazy at the grocery store and try to grab the fruits and vegetables that are pre-chopped and wrapped in plastic wrap or a plastic container but DON’T DO THIS. Take the extra 5 minutes and chop your own shit. Buy your produce loose and wash it well.
Bread. The best bread is homemade, but ain’t nobody got time for that…lol. Instead, I recommend buying bread from a bakery or the bakery section of your grocery store and choosing the bread that comes in paper bags over the plastic-wrapped ones, and if you can cop a loaf package free, that’s even better (just bring your own bag or container for it).
I’m young and broke so Ikea, Target, and Wayfair are my go-to spots for inexpensive furniture but that shit does not last. If you are in a position to invest in long-lasting furniture, it is totally worth it in the long run. The goal is to buy high-quality things once to reduce your waste, and if you must buy things more than once, the original item is still in good enough condition to bring joy to someone else’s home rather than a landfill. The same goes for kitchen appliances—one with glass and metal parts will last you longer than an appliance made of mostly plastic. You might spend more upfront, but you will definitely save in the long run.
I know fast fashion is all the rage, but some of my favorite articles of clothing came from either a friend’s giveaway pile or a thrift store. If you must buy clothing or shoes brand new, I recommend investing in high-quality items designed to last a lifetime over an item that will fall apart after a few washes. And buying secondhand is a great way to reduce your waste. High-quality furniture is another great thing to cop secondhand or trade with friends. Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, and bulky pickup days in your neighborhood are great places to find used items. And don’t sleep on local thrift stores, antique shops, and Buy Nothing Facebook groups.
One place I have struggled with getting rid of plastic is the refrigerator, but I recommend opting for condiments, spices, and sauces in glass jars whenever possible. Glass jars (unless they are broken) are almost always recycled, but if you don’t want to throw them out, they are great for storing leftovers or using as glassware. Some of my glasses once contained kimchi or Kalamata olives…and the water I drink from them is just as refreshing as the water I drink from store-bought glassware.
Freezer bags are great and all, but I found there are many reusable freezer bags on the market…these are a high-quality alternative, but these are more affordable.
Waxed cloth wraps are an awesome alternative to plastic wrap for storing food. You can buy them or make your own using thin fabric you no longer care about and beeswax or soy wax. But I get it if you don’t feel like making them. I have the materials to make them, and I still bought a pack on Amazon. They are great and rinse clean with cold water. Try these…or these…
To my people with periods: 100% cotton pads and tampons are cute, but step it up a notch and switch to a menstrual cup or Thinx panties. I thought I was doing well by buying applicator-free tampons back in the day, but they were all still individually wrapped in plastic…throw the whole tampon industry away. Also, the Diva cup changed my life and made vaginal orgasms magical (maybe I’ll write a post on that next).
Disposable cotton pads for cleaning your face can also be replaced by reusable ones (found here). You can even store them in an upcycled glass jar from your fridge or pantry…mason jars are another good option.
Upgrade your floss. My whole life I’ve been buying the floss in little plastic containers but I recently came across this glass one and I’m never turning back (found here).
This one is minor, but once your Q-tips run out, try switching to bamboo and cotton as opposed to just cotton, or those garbage plastic and cotton ones. The brands using bamboo usually come in plastic-free packaging, and bamboo is more sustainable than cotton alone. Try these…
If you own your home or plan to live in your apartment for a while, I highly recommend installing a bidet to use less toilet paper, or opt for toilet paper made of bamboo - my living status isn’t permanent, so I haven’t done this yet, but toilet paper brands that care about the environment are always better than ones that don’t. I also miss being able to thoroughly wash my ass after using the bathroom in India and I’m convinced all Americans have dirty assholes. Yea, I said it.
I don’t encourage Veganism because lamb, pig, and goat are my favorite meats, but moderation is better than overconsumption. Try not to consume large amounts of meat every day, and buy meat from your closest butcher before buying it in the meat fridge of the grocery store where it is usually wrapped in plastic. Normally when I go to meat markets, the meat is wrapped in butcher paper instead. Local butchers might even be okay with you bringing your own air-tight container…just ask.
Eco-Friendly Bandages. Once you use up all of your Band-Aids that probably contain plastic, cop these…
Some commercial tea bags apparently contain micro-plastics that leach into your mug when combined with hot water according to this article from the Washington Post, so I recommend switching to loose-leaf tea sold in either a metal tin or biodegradable bag (like mine) and brew it using a reusable tea strainer or eco-friendly teapot…like these…
Busy schedules require caffeine, and sometimes we need to refuel on the go…I get it. I’m not a coffee snob and don’t mind room temp coffee so I gladly make it at home and toss mine in a mason jar on the way out the door, but for those of you grabbing deli coffee on your way to point B or C, I highly recommend you bring your own cup and lid. Many of the cheap, plastic disposable lids might leach carcinogens when they come in contact with hot liquids. For my fancier friends who frequent the nicer coffee establishments (which I sometimes do too), I’m sure the baristas don’t mind when you bring your own cup—and I hope it one day becomes the standard. Many of those same coffee shops sell reusable mugs, and if you don’t already have one, cop one! (Death to those NYC coffee cups that end up everywhere except the garbage can). AND CONFESSION: I have yet to try this at my favorite bubble tea spots, but I’m hoping they would be down to fill a mason jar for me…
And on the subject of bringing your own shit, cheers to everyone bringing their own bags to the grocery store…this is the standard in California, but NYC is a little behind the times. Have you also copped your own reusable produce bags? They are pretty dope and easy to wash. I copped some a year ago and they are still going strong. Just don’t forget to remind your cashier of the different tare weights.
This one is hard for those addicted to sugar, but STOP BUYING JUICE (and candy…and packaged snacks…but duh). It’s healthier to eat whole fruit instead, and most juice comes in a plastic bottle. If you must buy liquids on the go, opt for substances in glass bottles and reuse them later to propagate plants — Tea Tonic bottles are actually perfect for this. You can also use the bottles for homemade salad dressings, infused bottles of vinegar or olive oil, or decoration.
Reusing and upcycling are great ways to reduce waste, but I also recommend buying things and substances that serve multiple purposes. Instead of buying a shower cleaner, a toilet cleaner, a floor cleaner, and a wood cleaner, just buy baking soda (paper box), vinegar (glass bottle), olive oil (glass bottle), coconut oil (glass bottle), and lemon (package free). These ingredients can be used to cook with, clean with, bathe with, and moisturize with, and in the end, you’ve saved a ton of money while reducing your consumption of plastic.
I could go on and name many other things to help promote a zero-waste lifestyle, but the truth is, even I struggle to practice what I preach. Living a low waste lifestyle requires a lot of planning ahead. Living in a big city without a car is hard, and you may not always have your reusable items on hand when you spontaneously stop by a grocery store or coffee shop.
Plastic has become a convenience for us, and it’s hard for many businesses to kick the convenient habit of packaging your goods to go in something cheap. Let’s try to make it easier for them by bringing our own packaging that won’t destroy the environment whenever possible. And this is not an overnight shift, I’ve literally been trying to do better for the last 2 years, and I still use disposable gloves when making soap and other natural products—I’m no saint.
I also can’t give up buying cheese or plastic bags of flash-frozen fish. But there are so many ways we can all reduce the problem, and the first step is acknowledging where we have gone wrong. When you know better, you do better…or at least you try. Cheers to trying…even if most of the low waste products on the market I’ve found are made in China and not locally…(like I said…lol…baby steps).
I hope this list finds you well. It is shared with love, and may it inspire your low waste journey into the future. Many of the products I mentioned can be found on Amazon (and if you use the links provided, I may receive a small commission to help keep this site running). Click here to check out all of my recommendations (and a few I didn’t mention).