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CECILIA L. FROM MICHIGAN ASKS:
I was sad to learn my state has the most trash per capita in the United States. I especially don’t like that plastic is everywhere. I’d love to break up with plastic. Is this even possible? What are some simple tips for avoiding single-use plastic and also just using less plastic in general?
MOM DETECTIVE ANSWERS:
Living a plastic-free or even “zero waste” life is such a gorgeous goal, Cecilia. There are so many reasons to use less plastic, including that plastic is harmful to the environment as well as human health. Plastic is made from petrochemicals and it’s increasingly showing up in our bodies. We’re eating plastic, and we’re drinking plastic. As you say, plastic is truly everywhere, and the health impacts of petrochemical pollution are disturbing. Plastics and other petrochemicals are also the world’s fastest-growing industrial source of greenhouse gases.
Tell President Biden: Negotiate a Powerful Global Plastics Treaty
So much of this plastic, like single-use plastic, is nonessential. No one needs a plastic water bottle to drink out of once, then toss. Reducing the amount of plastic in your life is possible. It takes a mind shift. I have many easy tips for using less plastic that I’ve been relying on for years. I’ll detail those below, going room by room of a home, plus share some ideas for when you’re on the go. But these really only scratch the surface. There are people who have built entire brands and written books about plastic-free living. Their work is more extensive than what I have space to share here. I’m indebted to their curiosity and creativity. Check out these inspiring go-to websites for additional ideas.
If you’re new to plastic-free living, the sheer amount of tips can feel overwhelming. Years ago, I started following the author Beth Terry, who has been actively avoiding plastic since at least 2007. Her 100 steps to a plastic-free life still holds up. So does her sage advice for anyone feeling unsure about what plastic-free steps to take first: “Choose a few that seem doable and that will make the most impact. No one can do it all at once.” So true.
The kitchen
This is my favorite place to embark on a plastic-free journey. There are so many impactful ways to ditch plastic in the kitchen. Some thoughts:
- Food: When shopping for groceries, avoid plastic bags and clamshells for produce; just say no to water, juice, and condiments, including vinegar, in plastic bottles; and opt for packaged foods in cardboard, not plastic. The less packaging, the better. Shopping at farmers’ markets, health food stores with bulk bins, butchers, and cheese stores makes it much easier to find plastic-free options.
- Storage: Use reusables like glass, lead-safe ceramic, and cloth, not plastic, to store leftovers.
Laundry and cleaning
DIY types can make their own plastic-free laundry detergents and cleaners. Less crafty types can seek out options sold in cardboard boxes, not plastic. For laundry, there are sheets, powders, and even soap nuts sold plastic-free. Wool dryer balls or old tennis balls do the trick to soften fabric and reduce static.
Liquid detergents and a wide variety of cleaners can also be found at a refillery or zero-waste store if there’s one local to you. (This isn’t a plastic concern, but if you like to avoid toxic chemicals in cleaning products, just because something is sold at a refillery doesn’t mean it’s less toxic. Sometimes it is, but not always. Buyer beware.) And consider what everything related to cleaning is made of too when you’re in the market for an item. There are plastic-free sponges and even natural rubber, not plastic, gloves. Seek them out.
The bathroom
From toilet paper to shampoo to the toilet brush, plastic abounds in bathrooms. Thankfully, there are enough people like us who want plastic-free options that there are affordable and effective alternatives for pretty much everything. There’s toilet paper wrapped in paper, a variety of shampoos (bar, dry, or even no-poo), plastic-free toilet brushes as well as hairbrushes, toothbrushes, and even razors. To avoid toothpaste in a plastic tube, choose pellets and powders, and opt for shaving soap instead of plastic-encased creams.
Switching personal care products is a trial-and-error experience–and it can be fun. Check out a refillery or no-waste store if you have one near you. They sell simple plastic-free replacements for medicine cabinet items you may not have considered yet, like lip balm and tints in cardboard tubes or recyclable metal tins. Some health food stores have hair care in aluminum bottles. For all moisturizing needs, nothing beats food-grade coconut oil in a glass jar. It even works as a leave-in conditioner, depending on your hair type.
Kids’ rooms
It’s tempting to buy inexpensive plastic furniture and other items for kids’ rooms. It’s easy to clean and simple to hand off to other parents when your children age out. Resist the urge. Durable, reusable wood is preferable. As children grow, there’s gear marketed to families constantly for every stage. Pause before you buy to avoid plastic–from high chairs to toys to clothing made from plastic fabrics like polyester. There’s always a simple way to find plastic-free options. Here’s our take on safer toy materials.
Out in the World
If you’re not already carrying a reusable bag, water bottle, and coffee mug daily, now’s the time. You don’t leave home without your phone, wallet, or keys, and these items are equally essential. To reduce even more plastic daily, add a set of reusable utensils and a glass or metal straw to your bag. Lunch out can be an unanticipated source of daily plastic, so stock up on reusable lunch bags, containers, and tiffins. If you eat takeout food frequently, ask the restaurant to put your pick up order directly in your reusable container. For delivery, some restaurants operate reusable container programs. Frequent them. It can be harder to be plastic-free while traveling, but a little research before taking a trip can help.
Cecilia, even if you do all of the above, you will still have plastic in your life. We all suffer the same fate. There’s no way to be perfect, but don’t let that get in the way of trying to live life with less plastic. Every step you take to use less plastic puts pressure on companies, restaurants, and stores. There may not be a plastic-free cell phone or computer just yet, but with consumer demand comes supply. Also, it’s not up to you alone to rid the world of plastic! Join Moms Clean Air Force to collectively demand that our elected officials break up with plastic, especially single-use and nonessential plastic. Our environment and our health depends on it.
Tell President Biden: Negotiate a Powerful Global Plastics Treaty