5 Easy Ways to Ditch Plastic at Home

By The Plantish Team

Lydia using a hand brush with the soap cake on a glass bowl over a kitchen sink

5 minutes to read

We get it. The idea of living zero waste seems like just that: an idea. One that looks great on paper, but in real life seems far-fetched if not entirely impossible. But like all types of change, achieving a low waste or even zero waste lifestyle in our consumerist society doesn’t need to happen overnight. Taking actionable steps towards living sustainably means starting small. And one of the best ways? Ditching plastic. Read on to learn more about why you should ditch plastic at home for good, and 5 easy ways you can start today. What’s Wrong With Plastic? Plastic in itself isn’t inherently wrong. Rather, how we use–or misuse–plastic is. It’s estimated that every minute, one dump truck full of plastic is discarded into our oceans. By the time you’re done reading this blog post, there will be about five more dump trucks worth of plastic added to our oceans. This not only leads to chemical pollution, but harms wildlife on land and sea alike. And even when we recycle, about 22% of our recycled products are mismanaged. The only way we can truly save our world from plastic is by drastically decreasing our consumption of this material. Hidden Plastics in Your Home Even if you’ve ditched plastic straws in favor of reusable ones, or switched to reusable shopping bags (both great ways to start living low waste!) plastic is much more abundant in your home than you may realize. We’ve compiled a list of some common products around your home where plastic is hiding in plain sight: Kitchen Dish brush & sponges Food packaging Dishwasher tablets Cutting boards Dishes Snack bags Bedroom & Bathroom Toilet paper Furniture & décor Razors Q-tips & cotton rounds Loofa & other scrubbers Menstrual products Personal care products such as deodorant, shampoo, makeup, & more Cleaning Products Wet wipes Bottles of cleaning solution Towels Gloves Scrubbers & brushes And how many of these products end up in the trash after one use? One week? One month? If you’re like most people, then the answer is a lot. Luckily, there are several eco-friendly swaps on the market that are not only plastic-free, but vegan and non-toxic. What Is Zero Waste Living? Zero waste living means going about your day to day life with the goal of creating little to no waste. The waste that is created is often repurposed in one way or another, or can even biodegrade over time. Low waste living shares the same goals, but still may involve single-waste items from time to time. Both are great ways to decrease plastic at home and minimize the amount of waste you throw out that eventually ends up in landfills, our oceans, or other places it won’t biodegrade or doesn’t belong. One of the best ways to start striving towards this sustainable lifestyle is by looking for eco-friendly swaps to traditional products around your home. 5 Easy Ways to Ditch Plastic at Home Say goodbye to plastic products and hello to sustainable living with these quick & easy sustainable swaps: #1 Invest in Reusable Containers One of the first steps you can make to achieve a zero waste lifestyle starts in your kitchen. Just about everyone knows that reusable water bottles are a great eco-friendly swap for plastic ones, but what about the rest of the single-waste containers that hold your food and drinks? Instead of using disposable bags for your snacks, consider swapping them out for reusable ones. The same is true with other food storage items, grocery bags, produce bags, and more! #2 Shop Second Hand Are you one to redecorate your home with the latest trends? How about filling your closet with the latest fashion? You might want to think twice next time you swipe your card. Many of these furniture pieces and clothing items contain harmful microplastics that are rarely recycled properly, leading these microplastics to end up polluting our earth. Try going to your local thrift store and buying second hand, or focus on purchasing items you know you’ll love in a year–even ten years… not just for one month. #3 Mix Up Your Shower Routine We’re not saying you should never wash your hair or body again. We just believe there’s a more sustainable way for you to scrub away the day’s dirt. When you use shampoo and conditioner bars that come in eco-friendly packaging, you will get 2-3 bottles out of every bar. That not only saves you money, but keeps around 15 bottles out of landfills each year! #4 Clean Green You’ve ditched plastic water bottles, now it’s time to ditch plastic cleaning solution bottles. From your dish soap to your laundry detergent, there are severable sustainable swaps on the market that will allow you to create a more eco-friendly cleaning routine. Another benefit? Many of these products don’t contain the same harsh, highly toxic chemicals that traditional cleaners do. Not only is cleaning green a win for the planet, but a win for you! #5 Spread the Word By now, you’ve realized that for just about every plastic product in your home, there’s a sustainable swap. We could list some more amazing options, or you could check them all out here, but there is one important way you can live with low or zero waste: and that’s by encouraging others to do the same. Believe it or not, many people aren’t overly concerned with the waste they create, or are even aware of the plastics hiding in their home. You can spread the word about the need to ditch plastic at home by… Sharing educational articles like this one Talking about the swaps you’re making with friends and neighbors Finding ways to get involved in local cleanups and sustainable fundraisers in your community Who knows, you may just encourage someone to strive towards a zero waste lifestyle, potentially doubling your impact of plastic waste reduction. And another great way to make sure you’re sticking to your low waste goals? Do it with a friend! Experts say that working with a friend towards a similar goal not only helps hold you accountable, but keeps you motivated. Remember, you’re not on this journey alone. Ready to Start Living Zero Waste? At Plantish, we believe striving towards a zero waste lifestyle is a perfectly imperfect journey that everyone can start today. Reach out to us to chat about sustainability or browse our products to find eco-friendly swaps for your home!

Goodbye Plastic, Hello Zero Waste Living

We get it. The idea of living zero waste seems like just that: an idea. One that looks great on paper, but in real life seems far-fetched if not entirely impossible.

But like all types of change, achieving a low waste or even zero waste lifestyle in our consumerist society doesn’t need to happen overnight. Taking actionable steps towards living sustainably means starting small. 

And one of the best ways?

Ditching plastic.

Read on to learn more about why you should ditch plastic at home for good, and 5 easy ways you can start today. 

Summary

What’s Wrong With Plastic?

Person using a regular plastic kitchen sponge to a plate in the sink

Person using a traditional plastic sponge

Plastic in itself isn’t inherently wrong. Rather, how we use–or misuse–plastic is. 

It’s estimated that every minute, one dump truck full of plastic is discarded into our oceans. By the time you’re done reading this blog post, there will be about five more dump trucks worth of plastic added to our oceans.

This not only leads to chemical pollution, but harms wildlife on land and sea alike.

And even when we recycle, about 22% of our recycled products are mismanaged. The only way we can truly save our world from plastic is by drastically decreasing our consumption of this material. 

Hidden Plastics in Your Home

Even if you’ve ditched plastic straws in favor of reusable ones, or switched to reusable shopping bags (both great ways to start living low waste!) plastic is much more abundant in your home than you may realize.

We’ve compiled a list of some common products around your home where plastic is hiding in plain sight:

Kitchen

  • Dish brush & sponges
  • Food packaging
  • Dishwasher tablets
  • Cutting boards
  • Dishes
  • Snack bags

Bedroom & Bathroom

  • Toilet paper
  • Furniture & décor
  • Razors
  • Q-tips & cotton rounds
  • Loofa & other scrubbers
  • Menstrual products
  • Personal care products such as deodorant, shampoo, makeup, & more

Cleaning Products

  • Wet wipes
  • Bottles of cleaning solution
  • Towels
  • Gloves
  • Scrubbers & brushes

And how many of these products end up in the trash after one use? One week? One month? If you’re like most people, then the answer is a lot.

Luckily, there are several eco-friendly swaps on the market that are not only plastic-free, but vegan and non-toxic.

Woman using a multipocket tote bag in California

What Is Zero Waste Living?

Zero waste living means going about your day to day life with the goal of creating little to no waste. The waste that is created is often repurposed in one way or another, or can even biodegrade over time. 

Low waste living shares the same goals, but still may involve single-waste items from time to time. 

Both are great ways to decrease plastic at home and minimize the amount of waste you throw out that eventually ends up in landfills, our oceans, or other places it won’t biodegrade or doesn’t belong.

One of the best ways to start striving towards this sustainable lifestyle is by looking for eco-friendly swaps to traditional products around your home.

5 Easy Ways to Ditch Plastic at Home

Say goodbye to plastic products and hello to sustainable living with these quick & easy sustainable swaps:

#1 Invest in Reusable Containers

One of the first steps you can make to achieve a zero waste lifestyle starts in your kitchen. Just about everyone knows that reusable water bottles are a great eco-friendly swap for plastic ones, but what about the rest of the single-waste containers that hold your food and drinks?

Instead of using disposable bags for your snacks, consider swapping them out for reusable ones.

The same is true with other food storage items, grocery bags, produce bags, and more!

3 mesh bags filled with fruits and vegetables on a kitchen counter

#2 Shop Second Hand

Are you one to redecorate your home with the latest trends? How about filling your closet with the latest fashion? You might want to think twice next time you swipe your card.

Many of these furniture pieces and clothing items contain harmful microplastics that are rarely recycled properly, leading these microplastics to end up polluting our earth.

Try going to your local thrift store and buying second hand, or focus on purchasing items you know you’ll love in a year–even ten years… not just for one month.

Man looking through a clothing rack in a thrift store

#3 Mix Up Your Shower Routine

We’re not saying you should never wash your hair or body again. We just believe there’s a more sustainable way for you to scrub away the day’s dirt.

When you use shampoo and conditioner bars that come in eco-friendly packaging, you will get 2-3 bottles out of every bar. That not only saves you money, but keeps around 15 bottles out of landfills each year! 

Set of hydrating shampooo and conditioner bars on a bamboo soap dish on a bathroom vanity

#4 Clean Green

You’ve ditched plastic water bottles, now it’s time to ditch plastic cleaning solution bottles.

From your dish soap to your laundry detergent, there are severable sustainable swaps on the market that will allow you to create a more eco-friendly cleaning routine. 

Another benefit? Many of these products don’t contain the same harsh, highly toxic chemicals that traditional cleaners do. 

Not only is cleaning green a win for the planet, but a win for you!

Woman finished popping up her red panda pop up sponge over the kitchen sink

#5 Spread the Word

By now, you’ve realized that for just about every plastic product in your home, there’s a sustainable swap.

We could list some more amazing options, or you could check them all out here, but there is one important way you can live with low or zero waste: and that’s by encouraging others to do the same.

Believe it or not, many people aren’t overly concerned with the waste they create, or are even aware of the plastics hiding in their home.

You can spread the word about the need to ditch plastic at home by…

  • Sharing educational articles like this one
  • Talking about the swaps you’re making with friends and neighbors
  • Finding ways to get involved in local cleanups and sustainable fundraisers in your community

Who knows, you may just encourage someone to strive towards a zero waste lifestyle, potentially doubling your impact of plastic waste reduction.

And another great way to make sure you’re sticking to your low waste goals? Do it with a friend!

Experts say that working with a friend towards a similar goal not only helps hold you accountable, but keeps you motivated.

Remember, you’re not on this journey alone.

Lydia holding a box full of zero waste, plant-based and vegan products

Ready to Start Living Zero Waste?

At Plantish, we believe striving towards a zero waste lifestyle is a perfectly imperfect journey that everyone can start today.

Reach out to us to chat about sustainability or browse our products to find eco-friendly swaps for your home!

 

 

 

 Meet our guest author, Sydney Manns! Sydney is a freelance sustainability copywriter that is dedicated to raising awareness about the need to live more sustainably. She works with eco-friendly brands to create content that will inspire customers to take action and lead to impactful environmental change. To view her latest work, checkout her portfolio website by clicking this image!

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