The first swaps post for Plastic-Free July 2020 included laundry detergent, gum, and suggestions for plasticware that is considered single-use. There are countless swaps for items we use every day. We can also repurpose those items once their initial purpose has been fulfilled. Here are some suggestions for more plastic-free swaps, some of which are included in the purchase of goods:
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There is one area where I could control the plastic that is brought in, and that is with straws. Does that mean I am making a difference? Not in terms of manufacturing. Companies will still make the same amount, which is something that the zero-waste community doesn’t really discuss. Many people in the zero-waste/low-waste community give the impression that a refusal of products means that the company all of a sudden will make less of it. That’s not quite how it works, but that is for another post. Back to the straws: I have boba straws and regular, glass and metal, plus some bamboo straws (I’m not a fan of the bamboo type). Now, I do know that some people need to use plastic straws for medical reasons, which I have no objection to. If you are one who does, you shouldn’t feel bad about needing them, either.
Continue ReadingBy now I probably sound like a broken record. At the current time, where I live, plastic is pretty much unavoidable. How do you reconcile with the increase in plastic waste? The biggest thing for me is to focus on the future. There will be a time when we won’t have to buy in plastic, but until that happens, we have to make do with what we have. I have bought less snack items and began to make more of my own. I have also looked for compostable packaging, and at the very least, plastic packaging that I can recycle or reuse. Tofu containers make great soap molds or mini planters. Plastic produce bags can be used for holding any trash you accumulate. The saying goes something like, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” Well, the same can be said for plastic.
What are you doing with the unavoidable plastic that has come in? Do you have any creative uses? Let us know!
Peace & Love, always!
Going plastic-free is challenging enough, especially with the current pandemic. Stores here are once again running out of products, and many people are on a tight budget. I love finding plastic-free options, but am also aware that they tend to cost quite a bit more. That shampoo bar is going to cost quite a bit more than the largest plastic bottle of shampoo at Target. Please know that I am aware that these suggestions may not fit everyone’s budget, hair type, skin type, etc. If there are cheaper alternatives, let me know in the comments.
Continue ReadingI see time and time again that people with medical waste feel guilty when they choose to go low-waste or zero-waste. I cannot stress this enough: STOP FEELING GUILTY! Medical waste should never be counted. There are reasons for medication bottles, IV bags, tubes, etc. being single-use and being plastic. There are specific, sanitary reasons for this. If you are feeling guilty, ask yourself why you are feeling this way, because you shouldn’t. Can you imagine if bandages or ostomy bags were multi-use? Or if the tubing for your IV came from another patient? With changes in medicine came changes in hygiene practices, and with the invention of plastic, patients (at least where I live) no longer need to wonder if their medical waste was originally hooked up to another patient.
Continue ReadingToday’s post is going to be a short one. Those who are a part of a low-waste, zero-waste, and/or plastic-free lifestyle are all too familiar with the judgment that accompanies it. That odd look when you use washable produce bags, or the side-eye when you use your own jar in the bulk bin. While we can’t use them now, there will most likely, be a time when we can again. Even though we shouldn’t care what people think, even a stranger can influence how you feel about what you’re doing. I get asked all the time, “What is the trick to not feeling weird?” The truth is, I don’t have the answer. Everyone responds in a different way.
Continue ReadingAdmittedly I have purchased so much more in plastic, and it’s not all by choice. I have always tried to be as transparent as possible when it comes to purchases I make. While I am not plastic-free, I strive to have as low-waste a life as possible. Unfortunately the package-free strides we were making have gone by the wayside since the pandemic. In all honesty, if dealing with more plastic waste, and waste in general, means that it might lessen the spread, then I’m all for it.
Continue ReadingMuch like the famed mason jar, silicone is everywhere in zero- and low-waste. Since it is Plastic-Free July, I have seen more and more people discussing silicone as if it were the “end all, be all”…but is it? Silicone is an elastomer derived from silica, which is a polymer with elastic properties (Gent, 2020). Medical-grade silicone is clinically tested for its compatibility with living tissue (Biodermis, 2018). Silicone is more durable than plastic, and when it breaks down it hasn’t shown to break down into microplastics.
Continue ReadingThis topic is not exactly plastic-centered, but it is relevant. The first thing is to not feel guilty for purchasing food in plastic. Right now, most of us have very limited options for plastic-free food, and I would rather you eat than not buy that bag of cucumbers because it comes in plastic. After spending over 4.5 hours cleaning and washing out the fridge at my folks’, I saw the insane amount of food waste they had (& have). That’s not to say that I don’t throw things out, but I do my best not to do so. Here are some tips on how to minimize food waste. Now, I realize that times are different, people are stockpiling items, etc. While there is nothing really wrong with that, there is if the food goes bad and/or isn’t stored properly.
Continue ReadingThis post is not about recycling less, but doing the best with the resources at your disposal. Recycling is something that is avoided as much as possible in being zero-waste, which I’m not anymore. There are misconceptions about recycling, and it is almost vilified, but it shouldn’t be. The type of recycling that is offered is dependent on your area. Where we live, we are fortunate that most plastics are accepted. When it comes to recycling, it is so important know what your waste management accepts. When an item is not accepted, it goes into the landfill. By doing some research, you may be surprised by what you can’t, and can, recycle. If you buy items in plastic, see if the packaging can be repurposed (coming in a later post) or recycled instead of assuming it can’t and toss it in the trash.
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