Steps to a Plastic-free Life

Beth TerryDo you think it’s possible to live life without plastic? Or to at least live with less of it?  Check out this list of plastic-free alternatives and see for yourself.

My name is Beth Terry, and I don’t buy new plastic. What does that mean? It means refusing foods in single-use packaging; finding plastic-free personal care products; looking for secondhand electronics and other durable products rather than buying new, or repairing the things I already have. And it means not eating food from plastic containers because of the toxic chemicals that can leach from them.

I’ve been compiling this list of plastic-free and less plastic alternatives since June of 2007. It’s not meant to be overwhelming but simply to show what is possible. Choose a few that seem doable and that will make the most impact. No one can do it all at once. But we can all get started!

If you still have questions after looking over this list, search the blog for more plastic-free ideas, or contact me directly. You can also subscribe My Plastic-free Life for regular blog updates. And if you like what you see here, please use the email link above to forward this list on to the people you love. We can all make a difference.

Top 2 Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste

1.    Carry reusable shopping bags.

Carry whatever works for you. Some people like reusable canvas totes (such as those from Eco-Bags Products or Project GreenBag.) Others prefer to put their purchases into a backpack or messenger bag. Do you often forget your reusable bags?

ChicoBags are a great emergency alternative. While they are made from synthetic materials, they compress into their own attached stuff sack, which makes them very convenient and likely to be used. I carry several of them in my purse so I am never without a bag. If you have a car, keep your grocery bags in it and remember to bring them into the store with you! And one more thing: reusable bags are not just for groceries! Carry them for all your purchases, from electronics to clothing.

2.    Give up bottled water.

Not only does it come in a plastic bottle, but tremendous resources are used to extract, bottle, and ship it. And many brands of bottled water are simply filtered tap water. Get a reusable stainless steel bottle (Klean Kanteen has just come out with a completely plastic-free water bottle — no plastic on the cap at all!) or stainless steel travel mug, fill it up with tap water before leaving the house, and refill it wherever you happen to be. I don’t recommend reusable plastic or aluminum bottles. Plastic may leach chemicals into the water and aluminum bottles are lined with an epoxy resin, some of which has also found to leach into water depending on the brand. Why take a chance? Read my posts about bottled water for more information.

Plastic-Free Grocery Shopping

3.    Shop your local farmers market

Farmers markets are a great way to buy fresh, local produce without plastic, as long as you remember to bring your own bags. Normally, the fruits and vegetables at farmers markets don’t even have those little plastic stickers on them. Read more about farmers markets going plastic-free.

4.    Say no to plastic produce bags.

They are generally unnecessary. What are we worried about? That our apples won’t get along with our broccoli during the trip home? Or is it that the produce will get dirty? Hey, it grew in the dirt, and we’re going to wash it anyway, right? I put produce directly into my reusable bag, whether I’m at the farmers market or in the grocery store.

If you do feel you want a separate bag for produce, cloth options are available. Some alternatives are ECOBAGS, ChicoBag produce bags, Acme produce bags, or handmade bags from Etsy sellers. Check out this video of a woman who can make five reusable bags from one T-shirt!

Wondering how to store your produce without plastic once you get it home? Check out this extensive list of ways to store produce without plastic.   (And read why I never use Evert Fresh green bags.)

5.    Buy from bulk bins as often as possible.

We have some great bulk food stores here in the Bay Area (Rainbow, Berkeley Bowl, Whole Foods, for example) and I can get almost all dry foods as well as some personal care products from the bulk bins. These foods include rice and other grains, pasta, beans (learning to cook dried beans is an important part of plastic-free living), seeds, nuts, all kinds of flour, baking soda and other dry baking ingredients, cereal and granola, pretzels and chips, some candy, tofu, oils, nut butters, olives, herbs, tea & coffee, and more things than I can think of right now.

The key is bringing my own reusable bags and containers with me to the store. You can carry the same kind of cotton bags for bulk purchases as for produce (see above.) Glass jars and other containers work great as well. Why shop from bulk bins and take new plastic bags?

A question I am frequently asked is how to avoid paying for the additional weight of the container. Stores have various methods for deducting the container weight. At Whole Foods, for example, I take my containers to the customer service desk to have them weighed before filling. That weight is then deducted from the total weight of the item at the checkout counter. At Berkeley Bowl, empty containers are weighed at the Bulk Counter and then weighed again at the same counter when full before checking out. At Rainbow Grocery, customers weigh their own containers. And all the cotton bags that I use are printed with the tare weight on their tags.

Even if you live in an area that does not have bulk food stores, you can still buy non-perishable goods in large size packages, which will decrease the amount of plastic used overall.

6.    Cut out sodas, juices, and all other plastic-bottled beverages.

I’ve made the decision to eat fresh fruit instead of buying juice. This eliminates the need for all disposable bottles — glass as well as plastic. I don’t drink sugary sodas, but I do like seltzer water. Especially in the summer. So I got a Soda Stream Penguin soda maker for those times I crave some fizz. The soda maker itself is plastic, but the carafes are glass, and the soda maker replaces hundreds of disposable bottles. What’s more, the reusable CO2 cartridges are returned to the manufacturer for refilling.

7.    Buy fresh bread that comes in either paper bags or no bags.

At the farmers market or natural food stores I can buy bread that comes in only paper. At the bakery down the street, I can have my bread placed in my own cloth bag and avoid all packaging. Bread keeps fresh when stored in the cloth bag inside an airtight tin. I reuse a popcorn tin that was sent to me as a gift several years ago. Often, thrift stores have more of these tins than they know what to do with. Fresh bread is a bit more expensive than its plastic-packaged cousins, but to me, it’s worth it. And since I buy so few new things, I can afford to spend more for quality, plastic-free food. See my post Fresh Bread: Buy It, Store It, Keep It Fresh Without Plastic.

8.    Return containers for berries, cherry tomatoes, etc. to the farmer’s market to be reused.

One reader asked what I do about cherry tomatoes or berries since they can get crushed in reusable bag. I buy them at the farmer’s market in the green plastic basket and then return it to the farmer each week for a refill, so I never have to take new ones. Don’t have a farmers market nearby? Ask your local grocer to take them back. Or empty your berries into your own container before leaving the store and leave the plastic basket behind. If enough of us do this, perhaps merchants will take note.

9.    Bring your own container for meat and prepared foods

I take my own containers with me to the butcher counter at Whole Foods or local butcher shop. (While the humans in our house don’t each much meat, the kitties do.) The butcher can weigh the container and deduct the weight, just as is done with bulk foods. The servers at the deli/prepared foods counter can do the same thing. Just ask.

10.    Choose milk in returnable glass bottles.

Many areas have local dairies that provides milk in returnable glass bottles rather than plastic or plastic-coated cardboard (yes, all cardboard milk containers are coated inside and out with plastic, not wax.) In my area, I buy Straus milk, which is available in natural grocery stores. Unfortunately, the milk bottle does contain an unrecyclable plastic cap. But I would rather buy milk in a glass bottle capped with plastic than milk contained in plastic on all sides.

11.    Buy large wheels of unwrapped cheese.

They can be hard to find, but when I do come across plastic-free cheese, I buy the whole thing.  Going in on it with friends can make it more affordable.  Check out my instructions for storing cheese without plastic.

12.    Try to choose only wine bottled in glass with natural cork stoppers.

This is kind of a trial and error project since you can’t see the stopper until you open the bottle. I started keeping a list of wines and the types of stoppers they have for future reference, and then I quit updating the list when I stopped drinking! If you haven’t already, please read this post about endangered cork forests and why it’s important to support them by choosing natural cork over plastic stoppers or metal screw caps (which contain BPA in the lining.)

13.    Let go of frozen convenience foods.

This was a hard one. I agonized for a while over which brands of frozen meals used the best containers, but in the end there was just no sound alternative. They all use plastic. Even frozen food trays that seem to be made of cardboard are lined with plastic. The more we limit our consumption of frozen convenience foods, the less plastic waste we’ll generate and the healthier we’ll be!

14.     Give up chewing gum.

Did you know almost all chewing gum is made from plastic? That’s right. When you’re chewing gum, you’re chewing on plastic.  Read more about plastic in chewing gum here.

Plastic-Free Eating and Drinking on the Go

15.    Carry your own containers for take out food and leftovers.

16.    Carry a stainless steel travel mug or water bottle at all times for coffee and other drinks while out in the world.

(I use my travel mug for water instead of a water bottle.) Besides the plastic lid and plastic straw, paper cups are lined with a plastic coating. When I first began this project, I got in the habit of requesting “no lid and no straw” when ordering a drink in a disposable paper cup. But nowadays, if I’ve forgotten my mug, I simply do without until I can find a water fountain or sit-down cafe or restaurant with durable cups and glasses. This process helps me to remember my reusable mug next time.

17.    Carry reusable utensils and glass drinking straws.

I keep a To-Go-Ware bamboo utensil set and a couple of GlassDharma drinking straws in my purse at all times. And actually, I didn’t need to go out and buy the bamboo. I could have just as easily used my own stainless steel utensils. Check out blogger Mindful Momma’s cute DIY utensil wrap.

18.    When ordering pizza, say no to the little plastic “table” in the middle of the pizza box.

It’s called a “package saver.” Think about it. A single use plastic device meant to save a single use cardboard box. What about all the marine animals that swallow that type of disposable plastic? It doesn’t save them, does it? When ordering, say, “Please don’t put that little white plastic thing in the middle of the pizza.” They’ll know what you mean.

19.    Treat yourself to an ice cream cone.

Instead of keeping containers of ice cream in the freezer, I will enjoy the occasional ice cream cone while I’m out. That keeps my ice cream consumption down, which is better for my health, and it also does away with the plastic-lined containers as well. Ice cream cones require zero container or utensil waste. If I do want to bring some home, I can have my ice cream handpacked in my own container.

Plastic-Free Lunches at School or Work

20.    Bring plate, bowl, glass, and utensils to keep at the office.

This way, I can avoid all the disposable cups, plates, and cutlery in the lunchroom.

21.    Carry lunches in reusable stainless containers or cloth bags.

A few examples of good lunch container options are:

22.    Choose reusable cloth sandwich/snack bags.

Read about the many reusable cloth lunch baggie options here. One of my favorite brands is Graze organic cotton snack/sandwich bags.

Plastic-Free Food Storage & Kitchenware

23.    Choose glass/stainless steel food storage containers, and reuse what you have.

We save nearly all glass jars and bottles for purchasing bulk foods and for storing leftovers in the refrigerator or even the freezer. When we run out of jars, we store leftovers in bowls with saucers on top instead of plastic wrap. Bowls with saucers are great for stacking. We also use Anchor glass refrigerator containers to store daily portions of our homemade cat food. More on that below. The key to freezing foods in glass is not to fill the jar too full, since the food will expand inside the container. The other caveat is not to heat the glass too quickly. Let foods thaw at room temperature to avoid glass breakage.

Another option for the refrigerator or freezer are the flat-topped airtight stainless steel containers from Life Without Plastic. Their flat top makes them easy to stack and the fact that they are airtight means food can be stored longer.

24.    Store foods without freezing.

Read about how to avoid freezer bags by canning foods in glass jars or dehydrating produce to keep through the winter.

25.    Avoid non-stick cookware.

Cookware coated with Teflon or other resins give off toxic perfluorochemicals when heated. We’ve donated all of our non-stick cookware and replaced it with stainless steel and cast iron. I did question whether it was better to donate these unhealthy items or to trash them. In the end, I figured that if someone was looking for non-stick, they’d buy it anyway whether I donated or not.

26.    Choose a stainless steel ice cube tray.

If your old plastic ice trays have worn out, consider replacing them with stainless steel.

27.    Use stainless steel popsicle molds.

If you and your children enjoy popsicles in the summertime, consider investing a stainless steel popsicle mold instead of buying packaged frozen treats or using plastic or silicone popsicle molds.

Learn to Make It From Scratch

28.    Make your own yogurt without a yogurt maker!.

It’s easier than you might think, using only a Thermos, a pot, a thermometer, some milk, and some yogurt from a previous batch. (Your first batch can be store-bought.) See recipe and instructions here.

29.    Make your own soy milk.

If you regularly drink soy or nut milks, you can learn to make your own, either with a soy milk maker or on the stove. All prepared soy milk cartons contain plastic.

30. Make your own condiments.

Most are not difficult. I’ve learned to make my own chocolate syrup, mayonnaise, mustard,  and ketchup.  I squeeze fresh lemon and lime juice and keep it in glass jars in the refrigerator. And we make our own hummus, either from dried chick peas or from the dry mix in the bulk bin at Whole Foods.

While it’s true that some of these condiments can be purchased in glass containers, the homemade versions often taste better and involve less packaging waste overall.

31.    Make your own snacks.

You don’t have to give up crackers, energy bars, and other snacks that come packaged in plastic if you learn to make them yourself. Read about my friend Katie’s awesome e-book, Healthy Snacks To Go.

No More Plastic Trash Bags

32.    Compost food waste.

I bought a 100% recycled plastic Urban Compost Tumbler and started composting. This solves several plastic problems. First, since we no longer put wet stuff in the garbage, we don’t need plastic garbage bags of any kind (bio- or petro-based.) And I can mix the compost with soil from the yard to pot my houseplants and avoid buying potting soil in plastic bags.

Lately, though, I have not had the time or energy to maintain my compost bin. But here inOakland(as well asBerkeleyandSan Francisco) we have city-wide composting. We can put all of our food scraps (including meat) and food-soiled paper, along with yard waste, into our green bins. It’s then picked up with our garbage and taken to a commercial compost facility where our food scraps are converted into rich soil amendments for residents and local farms.

Read more about collecting garbage without plastic trash bags.

Switch to Natural, Plastic-Free Household Cleaning Techniques

33.    Clean with vinegar and water.

I use a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water as an all-purpose spray cleaner (storing it in a reused spray bottle) and produce wash. I buy Spectrum vinegar which comes in a glass bottle. Only the cap is plastic.

34.    Baking soda is a fantastic scouring powder.

35.    Use powdered dishwasher detergent in a cardboard box.

36.    Hand wash dishes without plastic.

Use baking soda or bar soap. Seriously, I’ve been using baking soda to hand wash dishes for several months now. It scours well and leaves dishes feeling squeaky clean.

For really tough baked-on messes, I use a Chore Boy copper scrubber, which comes in a cardboard box with no plastic.

37.    Use natural cleaning cloths and scrubbers instead of plastic scrubbers and synthetic sponges:

  • Compressed natural cellulose sponges are often sold without any plastic packaging because they don’t need to be kept moist; they expand when wet.
  • Coconut coir brushes are great for cleaning water bottles and scrubbing dirty dishes.
  • Skoy cloths are made from cotton and cellulose, work like a cloth, absorb like a sponge, and can take the place of 15 rolls of paper towels.
  • And of course, good old rags made from old clothing and towels are free and probably the greenest option of all.
  • Laundry Tree brand soapnuts come in plastic-free packaging.
  • Borax comes in a carboard box.
  • Ecover laundry powder comes with a recycled carboard scoop instead of plastic.
  • Read all about plastic-free laundry methods here.
  • Treat laundry stains with a borax/water paste or with a handmade laundry stain bar from Picnic Basket Crafts.

38.    Wash laundry with soapnuts or laundry powders without a plastic scoop.

39.    A reusable Swiffer cloth is great for those of us who already own a Swiffer mop.

If you don’t know what a Swiffer is, don’t worry about it. It’s plastic and you don’t need one. But if you already own a Swiffer mop, check out the reusable Swiffer cloths from Picnic Basket Crafts.

40.    Use natural rubber gloves.

When I needed a pair of rubber gloves (for some disgusting task — I can’t remember what) I opted for Casabella 100% latex gloves lined with 100% cotton flocking. Yeah, they’re girlie. But at least I didn’t have to buy plastic.

Personal Care

41.    Check labels of personal care products!

Did you know some facial scrubs and other personal care products contain tiny plastic beads? Avoid anything with “polyethylene” listed as an ingredient. Read my post Flushing Plastic Down The Drain! for more information.

42.    Use bar soap instead of liquid hand soap.

People sometimes worry that sharing a bar of soap is less sanitary than sharing a bottle of liquid soap. But think about it: the bar soap gets rinsed off every time you use it. The plastic pump? Not so much. Where do you think the most germs are accumulating?

43.    Give up shampoo in plastic bottles.

There are several plastic-free options.

44.    Baking soda is the best deodorant EVER.

Instead of deodorant in a plastic container, I use baking soda applied to dry underarms with a powder puff. It works better than any commercial deodorant I have ever used. Seriously. If you don’t think baking soda deo is your thing, you could try a Lush solid container-free deodorant. But honestly? Try the baking soda first. No kidding. I would use it even if I weren’t trying to cut down my plastic consumption.

45.    Use soap instead of canned shave cream.

There are shave soaps especially made for that purpose (Simmons, Williams) but I’ve found that any rich soap bar will do.

46.    Choose lotions and lip balms in plastic-free containers.

Recently, I discovered a new company called Organic Essence, which is packaging its body lotions in compostable cardboard jars and its lip balms in ingenious cardboard tubes that squeeze from the end. There are also lotion bars and lip balms and glosses that come in glass or metal containers. And I’ve also made my own homemade lotion, but now that Organic Essence is using responsible packaging, I’ll leave the lotion-making to them.

47.    Switch from a plastic razor to a second hand safety razor.

I found mine in an antique store. More on the razor and the blades here.

48.    Use less plastic tooth paste/powder, toothbrush, and floss.

49.    Coconut oil lube.

It really works, and its natural anti-fungal properties are particularly good for women.  But be aware the oil-based lubes don’t play well with latex.

50.   Choose toilet paper that’s not wrapped in plastic.

Seventh Generation recycled individually wrapped toilet paper can be ordered by the case through Amazon.com. It comes in a cardboard box without any plastic wrapping. Evergreen and Bumboosa are also plastic-free brands.

51.     Use plastic-free feminine hygiene products:

Choose washable cloth liners and pads. One great brand is Luna Pads, which are made with organic cotton. Or search for cloth + menstrual + pads on Etsy.com. Remember to ask the seller to ship with no plastic packaging.

Some women prefer the Diva Cup, which can be washed and reinserted.

52.    Look into plastic-free sunscreen options.

I have extremely fair skin, and therefore I do use sunscreen in a plastic tube during those times when my skin is going to be exposed. But keeping to the shade during the middle of the day and wearing longer sleeves and a hat when the sun is out helps me minimize the need for sunscreen. Several readers have offered other options. Check out my May 7, 2010 post and especially the comments for plastic-free sunscreen alternatives.

53.       Choose a plastic-free wooden hair brush.

Read about my new plastic-free wooden hairbrush with wooden bristles here.

Medication and Healthcare

54.    Find Do-It-Yourself alternatives for over-the-counter remedies.

Last winter, I tried making my own homemade cough syrup and looked into natural remedies for heartburn. Lately, I’ve been checking into herbs that can be used to promote sleep. I also learned to do acupressure to treat a headache.  Take a look at my favorite plastic-free cold remedies.

55.    Use handkerchiefs instead of paper tissue.

I’ve never seen a Kleenex box without any plastic window. More importantly, we can avoid all waste by opting for reusable hankies. Some people make their own out of old t-shirts and cloth diapers. I found lots of hankies at a thrift shop. Another ingenious idea is the HankyBook, which makes carrying a cloth hanky so much neater.

Travel

Before I get into plastic-free ways to travel, I want to state that I am aware of the huge environmental impact of travel in the first place. Air travel especially contributes to global warming. But this blog is about plastic and reducing plastic waste. If you choose to travel, there are steps you can take to minimize the waste that you generate.

56.    Bring your own water bottle — even on the plane!

Many people don’t know it’s actually fine to bring your own water on a plane. You just can’t bring water through airport security. So what do you do? Bring an empty water bottle through security and fill it up at the drinking fountain on the other side. It’s really okay. In fact, it’s what musician Jackson Browne does!

57.    Bring your own snacks.

Avoid plastic-packaged food. Bring your own sandwiches or containers of fruit, cut veggies, trail mix, or other snacks. But avoid liquid or semi-solid foods when flying.

58.    Bring your own utensils.

Why should traveling be any different than staying at home? If you’re remembering to bring your own utensils while at home, don’t forget them when you go away.

59.    Bring your own travel mug.

I’ve traveled to many different states in theU.S.and never had a problem getting my mug filled. In fact, most cafes these days will give a discount for bringing your own mug. And your mug can come in handy in hotels that provide plastic or Styrofoam cups in the room instead of real glasses.

60.    Don’t forget your headphones.

When flying, bring your own headphones. Most planes will offer you new headphones in plastic packaging, but you won’t need those if you come prepared with your own.

61.    Bring your own personal care products.

Skip the free travel size shampoos, soaps, and lotions offered by hotels. Just because they’re free doesn’t mean we should take them. What is the true cost of “free” when the environment is at stake? Instead, fill up your own reusable travel- size containers at home. If you’re not checking baggage, make sure they fit in your regulation zip lock bag (U.S.residents).

62.    Refuse the mini bar.

Mini bar snacks and drinks are incredibly expensive. And they all come in plastic packages or bottles. Find real food to eat. Do a little grocery shopping when you reach your destination and stock your hotel room with healthy snacks in less packaging. Even if you can’t avoid plastic entirely, you can resist single-serving sizes.

Plastic-Free Pet Care

63.    SwheatScoop cat litter is made from wheat and comes in a paper bag.

It’s also certified flushable. We feel okay about flushing our cats’ poop because they’ve tested negative for toxoplasma gondii and they are indoor-only cats.  If you live inCalifornia, you should not flush cat poop unless you know for sure it is free of the parasite toxoplasma gondii, which is harmful to sea otters.  Outdoor cats are susceptible because they pick it up from rodents.

64.    Choose pet toys/furniture made from natural materials instead of plastic.

  • Purrfect Play makes beautiful all-natural toys made from wool and catnip.
  • I’ve also found all natural wool, leather, coconut, and feather cat toys at my local pet shop recently.
  • But the best cat toys of all? Wine corks, hands down. The real ones, of course. I don’t let my cats play with plastic.
  • We found a bamboo/sisal scratching post instead of synthetic carpet
  • Cardboard cat scratchers are great
  • This natural wood/sisal over-door climber is very sturdy and doesn’t contain any synthetic chemicals that can off gas into our home our the bodies of our pets.
  • Our most economical cat climber? We cleared off most of the flat surfaces in our home (tops of book shelves, etc.) so that our cats could roam and climb to their hearts’ content.

65.    Avoid plastic bowls.

Did you know plastic food/water bowls cause pet acne?

66.    Buy secondhand pet supplies instead of new.

We found our cat litter boxes and plastic cat carrier boxes through Craigslist and from thrift stores. They are plastic. But they are not new plastic!

67.    Learn to make homemade pet food without much plastic.

We make our cat food from scratch instead of buying BPA-lined cans that come shrink-wrapped in plastic or dry pet food in bags lined with plastic. Our recipe does include a supplement powder that comes in a plastic bottle, but it lasts two months. Read more about our less plastic homemade cat food here.

Get it Fixed!

68.    When a plastic item breaks, try to repair it instead of buying a new one.

I’m trying to conserve as many of the tools and appliances that I already own instead of allowing them to become obsolete or chucking them when they break.

Buy it Used!

69.    Acquire necessary plastic items from second-hand stores, Freecycle, Craigslist or borrow. Car-sharing.

  • Tool-lending. I have no problem acquiring second-hand plastic. I think it’s always good to give things as many uses as possible before sending them to the landfill or recycling center. I also look for items made from recycled plastic, for the same reason. Here’s a partial list of plastic items I’ve acquired second hand since my plastic project began:
  • Plastic cat litter boxes and cat carriers via Freecycle and thrift shops
  • Computer monitor from Craigslist when my old one broke and couldn’t be repaired
  • Crock pot
  • Power strips via Freecycle
  • Laptop computer from secondhand electronics store

Say No to Plastic Packing Materials

70.    Request zero plastic packaging when ordering online.

I’m trying to buy fewer things in general, but vendors do sometimes send me products to review for this blog. When that happens, I include a message to the seller requesting zero plastic or Styrofoam packaging, including plastic tape. (See my packaging policy here.) When this doesn’t work, I’ve started to send back unwanted plastic packaging with a letter of explanation. And I send back unwanted plastic I receive unsolicited in the mail or on my doorstep.  Here are some examples of innovative zero waste packing materials:

Read more about plastic-free packaging materials here.

71.    Get off mailing lists to reduce plastic envelope windows.

I have switched to online billing, online statements, canceled subscriptions, and called to have my name removed from mailing lists. I want to save paper as well as plastic.

Reduce Plastic in the Office

72.    Avoid disposable plastic pens.

I use pencils as much as possible and for times when a pen is necessary, I have switched to a refillable fountain pen with a cartridge converter that allows me to refill the pen from a bottle of ink rather than buying new plastic cartridges.

Plastic-Free Entertainment/Electronics

73.    Look for secondhand electronics, games, and toys first.

There are so many useful products already in existence that have been gently used and need a good home.  Read about the awesome secondhand computer I bought when my old one wore out.

74.    Choose refurbished equipment from a certified e-steward.

Learn how you can do your part to combat “planned obsolescence.”

75.    Take care of what you have already.

Often we can avoid buying new stuff by keeping the stuff we do have in good condition.  I learned this lesson the hard way when I broke my laptop screen through a stupid accident that could have been easily avoided.

76.    Avoid buying CDs and DVDs.

They are made from polycarbonate plastic, after all. Instead, I download music when I want it and borrow DVDs from Netflix or the library.

77.    Learn how to recycle old disks you do end up with.

But keep in mind that recycling is no substitute to reducing what you buy in the first place.

78    Choose healthier electronics.

Try to find electronics secondhand rather than buying new plastic, but when you do have to buy new electronic gadgets, choose those that have the least packaging and toxic materials. For example, thinksound ear buds are PVC-free, made from wood, and come packaged with almost no plastic.

79.    Find DIY solutions for techno needs.

For example, I knitted a cover for my iPod instead of buying a plastic one, and I crocheted new headphone ear pads when the foam on my old headphones wore out.

Gift-Giving and Receiving

80.    Learn strategies for green gift-giving.

Give only what will be truly appreciated. Opt for experiences or services (like restaurant meals, tickets to events, your help with a task) over stuff.  Read my Guide: Green Gifts Don’t Have to Suck to learn more.

81.    Consider giving charitable gift cards.

But choose wisely and plastic-free.  Read my comparison of charitable gift cards here.

82.    Request plastic-free gifts for yourself.

It can be challenging to ask friends and family not to give you new plastic.  But it can be done in a kind way.  If you don’t need any new things, request a donation to your favorite charity, perhaps.

83.    Find ways to wrap gifts without plastic tape.

Here’s a method I discovered for myself. And use paper tape for other types of packaging needs. Of course, reusing gift bags, reusing wrapping paper, and wrapping presents in reusable cloth bags or furoshiki are the best options.

Holidays and Entertaining

84.    Bring your own beverage container & ustensils to parties and events.

If you’re not sure whether the host will offer real dishware or disposable plastic, discreetly bring your own.  Or be less discreet, depending on your relationship with the host.  I carry a little stainless steel wine glass (which is good for events where glass is not allowed) and bamboo utensils with me, just in case.

85.    Throw a Zero-Waste party.

Provide durable dishes, glasses, utensils.  Ask guests to bring their own dishes or at least cups.  Stock up on thrift store utensils and mugs (mixing and matching crazy mugs can be fun) especially for parties.  Request no plastic cling-wrap on potluck offerings.

86.    Re-think your Christmas tree.

Most artficial trees are made from toxic PVC.  Opt for a real, sustainably-grown and harvested tree, a live tree that can be planted, or an artificial tree made from natural materials.  There are “trees” made from recycled cardboard, wood, or even recycled glass bottles.

87.    Skip holiday plastic tchotkes.

Make your own plastic-free vegan Easter eggs.  Avoid Valentine’s Day and Halloween plastic crap.

No New Plastic Clothing

So much new clothing these days is made from synthetic materials with names like: polyester, acrylic, lycra, spandex, nylon. In other words, plastic fabric.

88.    Choose natural fibers.

When buying new clothes, I look for organic cotton, hemp, ethically-raised wool, and other natural fibers. I avoid conventional cotton because of pesticides used to grow it. Sometimes the best place to find these materials is online. One of my favorite sources is Hempest.com. Just be sure and request no plastic packaging when placing your order.

89.    Shop thrift stores.

Buying gently-used secondhand clothing and shoes is a good way to get the styles you want without buying new plastic — except of course for that inevitable tag hanger! It’s also a lot less expensive than buying new.

90.    Make your own clothes.

Um… as someone who is afraid of the sewing machine, I can’t really elaborate on this one. But I know a lot of you crafty crafters are up for it. Be sure and choose natural fabrics.

91.    Look for plastic-free shoes.

For example, Feelgoodz flip flops are made from natural rubber rather than plastic.

92.    Choose ethical underwear.

You may not be able to find underwear that is completely plastic-free, but look for styles/brands that contain a high percentage of natural fibers. I like PACT organic underwear because they are made from 95% organic cotton, are packaged in compostable bags, and support non-profit organizations.

Avoid unnecessary plastic around the house.

93.    Stop buying plastic water filter cartridges unless necessary.

We had our water tested to find out if we even needed to be filtering it in the first place. Turns out, our Oaklandwater is fine without a filter. So we can avoid plastic water filter cartridges from now on. For those who do need to filter their water, Brita has teamed up with Preserve to create a way to recycle the plastic cartridges. Here are the details: http://www.brita.com/us/support/filter-recycling/

94.    Buy CFL lightbulbs in a cardboard box with no plastic packaging.

I found GE CFLs at Ace Hardware in a 5-pack box. There isn’t even a plastic window!

If you do nothing else…

95.    Avoid the worst plastics: Polyvinyl Chloride (#3 PVC), Polystyrene (#6 PS), & Polycarbonate (#7 Other).

PVC is found in many, many products and causes a whole host of environmental problems. Read my post about the problems of PVC. PS contains styrene, which is toxic to the brain and nervous system. PC contains BPA.  Read more about BPA here. If you must use plastic, make sure it’s not #3, #6, or #7 polycarbonate. (Note: #7 is a catch-all for many types of plastic that doesn’t fit into the first six categories. Biodegradable plastic is also labeled #7. So when in doubt, ask.)

Well, that’s my list to date. Here are a couple of other lists:

Things I’ve given up (in no particular order):

  • Granola bars and energy bars. (I only eat cereal from bulk bins now instead of packaged bars.)
  • Pita bread. I did try making my own, but haven’t in a while and don’t know if I’ll try again.
  • All frozen foods. Even Stahlbush “biodegradable” frozen fruit and veggie packaging is made from petroleum-based plastic.
  • Pudding, applesauce, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. that is packaged in a plastic tub or cup.
  • Emergen-C packets.
  • Chewing gum. It’s made from plastic.
  • New plants in plastic containers and potting soil in plastic bags.
  • Garbage bags. We don’t line our cans with anything anymore.
  • Venus razor & disposable cartridges.
  • Crackers, chips, pretzels, cookies, and other snack foods unless they can be found in bulk bins.
  • Most processed foods.
  • Most household cleaners.
  • Hairspray, gel, dye, and other hair products except for this one, which I use very sparingly.
  • Most makeup. I wear makeup very infrequently, so most of the cosmetics I had before starting this project have not yet been used up.
  • Bottled water and all other bottled drinks.
  • Water filter cartridges
  • Prepared soy milk.
  • Canned foods. Almost all food and beverage cans are lined with a plastic that contains BPA.
  • Plastic-wrapped cheese. Several people have suggested that I have it sliced behind the deli counter and wrapped in paper. First, the large blocks of cheese are wrapped in plastic already. But more important, I am unable to find organic cheese that can be sliced and wrapped in paper. The few places that will do it use a paper that is actually lined with plastic. Occasionally I find cheese that is not wrapped in plastic and buy as much of it as I can.
  • Coffee drinks in disposable cups.
  • Take out foods in plastic or Styrofoam containers. If I don’t have my reusable container with me, I don’t buy it.
  • Commercial cat food. We make our own.
  • Plastic transit tickets (BART, bus, etc.) Switched to one Clipper Card.

Plastic I can’t, or am not yet willing to, avoid:

  • Prescription bottles (It’s against the law for pharmacies to refill them in CA)
  • Dental floss. Read more about my dental regimen and choice of floss.
  • Credit cards & Translink card.
  • Caps from various glass bottles and toothpaste tubes.
  • BalanceIT homemade cat food supplement bottles. (The plastic in this bottle is minimal compared to all the packaging waste we would generate by buying commercial pet food.)
  • Flea treatment vials. The fleas in this area are terrible, and even though our cats never go outside, they still end up with terrible flea infestations that natural remedies won’t solve.
  • Tyvek race numbers. (If I ever run again, that is!)
  • Plastic envelope windows. While I’ve managed to get off many mailing lists, there are a few that I can’t avoid.
  • Price tags and tag hangers from otherwise plastic-free items. However, reducing my purchases of new “stuff” reduces these as well.
  • Glass bottle and jar lids that contain an inside plastic lining. Metal lids are often lined with a plastic that contains BPA. However, I am not prepared to give up all foods in glass jars or bottles.
  • Printer ink cartridges. I get them refilled at Cartridge World, but the process is not entirely plastic-free, so I try to print only when absolutely necessary. Read more about various print cartridge options.
  • Straus ice cream in cardboard containers. The containers are lined with plastic. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

How many of these changes would you be willing to incorporate into your life?

 

255 Responses to Steps to a Plastic-free Life

  1. Nita says:
    October 25, 2007 at 10:03 am

    You are very inspiring Beth. In fact the things you do to avoid plastic are awesome. I am going to try…a little a time.

    Reply
  2. Siel says:
    October 25, 2007 at 10:43 am

    What do you do when you buy berries? I reuse plastic bags for this purpose, but I’m wondering if you’ve found an alternative –

    Reply
  3. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank says:
    October 25, 2007 at 10:55 am

    Siel, that’s a great question I forgot to answer. Right now, I just keep taking the same green plastic containers back to the farmer’s market and trading them for new ones. Same for cherry tomatoes. The vendors seem to be fine with me bringing back the used ones. In fact, I think I got the idea from Colin Beavan.

    Reply
  4. Britta says:
    October 25, 2007 at 11:30 am

    Loved this post! New ideas, plus thank you for the composter research. This helps a lot.

    Reply
  5. earthwoman says:
    October 25, 2007 at 12:28 pm

    I think this post is going to be really useful as I’m embarking on a journey of small changes.

    I’m surprised that you recommended opting for real cork stoppers in wine. I’ve been actively searching out screw tops because I thought there was something (can’t remember quite what) wrong with using real cork.

    Reply
  6. Rosa says:
    October 25, 2007 at 1:52 pm

    Thank you for this list! I am going to bookmark it.

    I have been wondering about the pill bottles. They seem sturdy – it’s too bad you can’t peel off the labels and give them back to the pharmacy to be washed and reused.

    Reply
  7. Rejin L says:
    October 25, 2007 at 2:25 pm

    Thanks for this info, Beth.
    I’ve been noticing in all the articles about cities banning plastic bags, peoples’ main objection is they need them for their trash. Only when we to stop generating so much trash, will we stop obsessing about what to put it in.
    I wonder if pharmacists would let people bring their own bottles back for refills. I bet they’d object to the idea of reusing them for someone else, but they are too sturdy for just one use.

    Reply
  8. Michelle says:
    October 25, 2007 at 5:51 pm

    Beth, thank you for this list!! It really is inspiring, and so full of info!! (I clicked on the toothbrushes, which led me to Stoneyfield farm, and now I can send my yogurt containers back to them!) Next time I have to get a prescription refilled, I’ll bring my bottle back and ask for a true refill.

    Reply
  9. Kat says:
    October 25, 2007 at 9:54 pm

    A possible alternative to Preserve toothbrushes (haven’t tried this yet): The Source toothbrush, at http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/

    I reuse plastic corks, lids and those lid wrappers as cat toys, when I can’t avoid them. They still end up in the trash after I fish them out from under the furniture for the fifth time, but it does mean no new plastic kitty toys. :)

    Reply
  10. Athena says:
    October 26, 2007 at 2:15 pm

    What do you use for garbage bags?

    I use canvas totes for my groceries but then stop using them when I need a new stash of garbage bags (the grocery bags work fine as I use a garbage chute in a condo building.)

    I can’t figure out a way around using those.

    Reply
  11. Cindy says:
    October 27, 2007 at 6:52 pm

    Love the list / your website. I have been trying to lower plastic / all trash. I have been making yogurt in a yogurt maker my mom found at a thrift store. I buy one container to use to make batches and then can use the batch to make more. It couldn’t be easier. The kids love it. The containers are glass with plastic lids. The yogurt doesn’t touch the plastic in the cooking process.
    Also, I bought stainless steel food containers for the kids lunches.
    I am very interested in the penguin soda maker!!!
    Still having a hard time figuring out the best items to use for the pets. Have 3 dogs and 2 cats and always have foster kittens.

    Cindy

    Reply
  12. MoneyChangesThings says:
    October 29, 2007 at 11:40 am

    I love microwave popcorn, and read you can just pop natural (organic) popcorn in a bag, so now I’ve eliminated the plastics in the single portion pkgs. Don’t know what the store-bought popcorn bag liners are but they look shiny, so maybe they’re plastic too.
    http://moneychangesthings.blogspot.com/2007/10/frugal-city-popcorn.html
    Great list – think of all the fossil fuel you are NOT consuming and all the CO2 emissions you are NOT responsible for. You’re practically an offset program all by yourself!
    what kind of shoes do you fancy? Not flip-flops, I’m guessing!

    Reply
  13. RecycleCindy says:
    October 30, 2007 at 10:28 am

    Wow what a big list. You’ve done so much here and great ideas for all of us. I’m into making recycled crafts. I crochet with plastic bags, vcr tape, cassette tapes, and other recycled materials into reusable bags, purses, grocery totes, water bottle holders, etc. Every little bit helps to reduce our plastic use and wastes.

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says:
    November 28, 2007 at 11:34 pm

    Hi Beth-

    I found your blog by accident when searching for environmentally friendly rubber gloves but I can’t seem to find any… Do you have any suggestions?

    Anyway, I am happy that I stumbled upon your blog as I recently bought some canvas shopping bags that say “Anti-Plastic” on them. And since I’m walking around proclaiming that I am “anti-plastic” I thought to myself that I better not be hypocritical and be stuffing my shopping bags full of plastic items so I would say that I am also doing about 85% of the items already listed on your list and I’m happy to find out that there are others as neurotic about eliminating plastic as me! :)

    T.

    Reply
  15. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank says:
    November 29, 2007 at 12:00 am

    Hi T. Welcome. I actually bought a pair of Casabella 100% natural latex gloves. I haven’t blogged about them yet because I haven’t actually tried them yet. Haven’t had a need to. (I guess they’d keep my hands from getting chapped, but I just don’t like the feeling of having my hands covered up while I’m working.)

    Of course, these would probably not be good for someone with a latex allergy, although they are lined with cotton. And they come in a plastic-free box. I’ll let you know how they work for me when I try them.

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says:
    November 29, 2007 at 11:59 pm

    Hi Beth-

    Thanks for the tip regarding the rubber gloves. I’ve actually used these gloves before and they work great! Are they biodegradable though? Well, I can’t seem to find any rubber gloves online that state that they are biodegradable and I’ve tried searching on everything I can think of so I guess I will go ahead and go with these! My other gloves have been patched so many times with electrical tape and I need a new pair! :)

    T.

    Reply
  17. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank says:
    November 30, 2007 at 12:02 am

    I think the gloves are more biodegradable than the electrical tape. Natural latex comes from rubber trees. They are not plastic.

    Reply
  18. sorrow11 says:
    December 1, 2007 at 5:00 pm

    What an awesome List! Thank you so much for this…what incredible ideas!
    Many many thanks!

    Reply
  19. George says:
    December 3, 2007 at 2:29 pm

    Beth – Thanks for your feedback on the Clean Air Gardening blog. I’m impressed by your list of ways to avoid plastic and plan to share it with several of my like-minded friends.

    What do you think is the most effective way to do away with plastic grocery bags? Some local businesses have installed recycling bins for the bags, but I’ve read that plastic bags can only be recycled a few times before they get thrown away. Other stores (such as Ikea and CostCo) have started charging per bag – that puts financial pressure on the consumer to use fewer bags. Do you know of any stores or city programs that offer discounted canvas bags?

    Reply
  20. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank says:
    December 4, 2007 at 2:02 am

    If you already have plastic grocery bags, you can get the most use out of them by first reusing them as many times as possible. Once they can no longer be used as bags, take them to a store recycling bin. They will most likely be recycled into lawn furniture or some other plastic item.

    Then, switch to reusable bags. If you can’t find inexpensive canvas bags, check Goodwill or your local Freecycle group. There are tons of reusable bags floating around in this world that have been given out as promotions. Many people have more than they can use and would be happy to pass some of them along.

    Don’t feel you have to stick to canvas. Be creative. I usually just use my backpack unless I’m doing a big shop. I’ve heard from people who bring boxes to shop and even one woman who brings a laundry basket. Whatever works for you.

    Reply
  21. mackenzie says:
    December 4, 2007 at 3:40 pm

    Holy smokes – what a fantastic list! You have things on here that I’m not sure I would have ever even considered, but now everywhere I look I’m swimming in plastic.

    Also love the way you are tracking your reduction over time. I think my footprint curve will look similar: you make the big changes first, and then it gets harder to give up conveniences…

    Reply
  22. freebagsmadam.nothanks says:
    December 5, 2007 at 8:16 am

    Great Blog!

    Over at http://www.abolishplasticbags.org.uk we’re trying to eliminate the plastic carrier bag, but as part of the process we’re hoping to raise more awareness of the wider plastic problem. So I’m sign posting people here!

    If you have time you might also like to check out http://www.plasticbagfree.com where there are video resources about how plastics are effecting the marine environment and wildlife.

    Good stuff!

    Reply
  23. Laurie in the garden says:
    December 12, 2007 at 12:42 pm

    I found your site from a link from a financial article in the Wall Street Journal. Good work!

    When I have to buy non-recyclable plastic items, I try to talk to someone; the store manager or the manufacturer (in this case Trader Joe’s muffins from Zen Bakery)about using better plastics that I can recycle.

    It’s hard to do it all at home; I have resistant family members! But we recycle more than we throw away!I also organically garden fruits and veggies, so compost happens around here.

    We all are a work in progress. I still drink from the plastic cups I get at Starbucks from cold drinks. I wash them by hand. They are NOT garbage.

    Reply
  24. Tanya says:
    December 13, 2007 at 3:29 pm

    Hi Beth-

    Haven’t logged on in a while but thanks for the info. about rubber gloves. And yes, rubber is probably better than the electrical tape but I was just trying to get as much use out of them as possible b4 buying a new pair! :) Also, I wanted to let you know I checked out Rainbow grocery last weekend, and that place is fantastic! :) I also re-read your list and you would be surprised at how easy hummus is to make, much more so than pita bread! :)

    T. (Tanya)

    Reply
  25. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank says:
    December 13, 2007 at 3:50 pm

    Hi Tanya. Feel free to email me directly. My email address is in my profile.

    I do know that hummus, in general, is easy to make. I’ve made it. But until you’ve tasted Haig’s Spicy Hummus, you haven’t had the supreme hummus experience. I’ve tried making it, but without a recipe, I just can’t make it taste the same!

    Reply
  26. Anonymous says:
    January 4, 2008 at 10:18 am

    Thanks Beth for an amazing wealth of information!
    Now I see that recycling, particularly for plastics, really isn’t! So much for my feeling good about 99% of my trash going into the the blue bin every week here in LA for recycling….a detergent bottle does not really get made into another detergent bottle!
    I look around the house, particularly the kitchen, and wonder how we” ever do so many things such as margarine without plastic!
    I’ll do my best to not buy it in the first place from now on!
    Best regards,
    John
    Los Angeles

    Reply
  27. I love the kids I have... says:
    January 5, 2008 at 8:56 am

    RE: Feminine hygiene products

    I hated everything about having a period. Last year I found out about a medical procedure called Novasure (endometrial ablation). Quick outpatient procedure. Covered by my insurance b/c of anemia caused by heavy bleeding. Still need other birthcontrol just in case but NO MORE PERIODS. Everything else is the same, the only difference is the lack of bleeding. I’m not suggesting that someone should go to this extreme to stop buying feminine products but for me it was a solution for multiple issues.

    While it is still possible to get pregnant it is very unlikely. I happen to be done having babies.

    Reply
  28. Anonymous says:
    January 23, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    So much to think about. I have just started reducing plastics in my home. I am so thankful for all your information. I have a lot more to think about. I have bought the kids stainless steel water bottles and bowls for lunches. I will have to take it one step at a time. Thank you!

    Reply
  29. allisonlindsay says:
    January 24, 2008 at 2:48 pm

    Beth: Thanks for visiting me at Living Small. Inspiring list; keep it up!

    Reply
  30. lemm says:
    January 25, 2008 at 8:34 am

    thanks beth for your interesting and creative blog.it looks much better than mine but we must think alike as far as the ecology is concerned http://www.lemming5.blogspot.com

    Reply
  31. nell says:
    January 30, 2008 at 6:07 am

    Just discovered this blog following links from “The Nag”. Great to see all the ideas and makes me realise just how much plastic surrounds me every day. Have long tried to recycle where I can but it’s not always easy – some great ideas here. My gripe is how hard it is to buy decent looking, useful, recycled products at sensible (rather than extortionate) prices. Regularly carry spare bags for shopping – reminds me of the old days when nobody went shopping without their shopping bag and the supermarkets charged for each bag used. Good to see some supermarkets here in the UK returning to this idea, even if it does mean more profit for them in the meantime.

    Reply
  32. racheblue @ bAd says:
    January 30, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    Wow – this is an awesome list full of great ideas and solutions to problems I’ve been thinking about for a while.
    I am SOOOOO impressed and inspired that you have made all those changes – good on ya!
    I will be joining you o your anti-plastic mission! :D
    Cheers,
    Rache / Ecomonkey

    Reply
  33. N. & J. says:
    February 11, 2008 at 10:16 am

    Wow, that is a lot of great ideas! I have to admit I was a little leery of embarking on a more eco friendly lifestyle after reading about No Impact Man and others that are going without electricty etc. I admire their resolve and beliefs but I don’t really think I could do that, at least not anytime soon. But your ideas are things that I could and will do. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  34. Kiba says:
    February 27, 2008 at 11:52 am

    Furoshiki cloths are a nice alternative to paper/plastic gift wrap. Furoshiki are a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that can be used to wrap gifts, carry groceries, lunches, etc. And since it’s all tied with knots you don’t have to worry about tape or glue.

    I wrapped a Christmas gift for one of my nephews this way. I just used a nice bit of cloth I had laying around and cut it down to size.

    Reply
  35. Tracey says:
    February 28, 2008 at 6:51 am

    HARDCORE!!!!
    Amazing.
    How do you put your garbage out without plastic bags. I put the permanent plastic inner bin of a waste basket out once instead of bagging the waste, hoping that they’d just toss it in the truck, but they threw the whole thing out instead. Now I use two galvanized garbage cans, but haven’t gotten around bagging our garbage in shopping bags (we don’t get them new at the store, generally, but they drift to us from the world…)

    “I’m using the Bronner’s to wash the dishes, but I think I may have ruined it with too much lemon juice. (Does the lemon juice cancel out the soap?) So next time I’ll just add a few drops of a citrus essential oil and see if it works better.”

    The lemon juice won’t cancel out the soap, but you are better off adding drops of essential oil to soaps and housecleaning mixtures. Citrus essential oils are inexpensive. My favourite, Daisy Organic Essentials, is in CA there. Make sure you buy “cold pressed” citrus essential oils, as otherwise it’s likely to have been solvent extracted! Try 5% dilution of 25 drops to 250 ml (1 cup-ish) for cleaning strengtyh, less if you just want the scent.

    “Switched to compressed natural cellulose sponges for cleaning dishes (instead of synthetic) and other natural scrubbers and brushes.” Natural sea sponges are not environmentally friendly because they are scraped off the bottom of the sea, killing everything. It’s good to see natural cellulose things being made! My sponge alternative is simply to cut up a loofah (the cell structure of the squash plant “marrow”) into cross sections.

    I’m going to do a household assessment based on your changes. Unfortunately, our household emits lots of plastic because our 3 tenants aren’t part of my boycott. And they try to recycle everything, even though I’ve got the recycling calendar/poster everywhere. I guess it just FEELS better if you put your styrofoam in the recycle bin, even if deep down you suspect it’s just going to contaminate the recycling stream…

    Love & RRRevolution, Tracey

    Reply
  36. Sandra says:
    February 28, 2008 at 11:32 am

    Very impressive, Beth. Your blog has completely re-inspired my quest for being green. I have to admit, I had fallen off of the bandwagon since college and haven’t even been trying to recycle since I got married and had a child. I look at my greener friends with envy and wonder where they find the time! I have made very small changes however and have taught my family to conserve, but deep down, I know that I haven’t been doing enough. Since reading your blog last night, I am determined to adopt this cause and bring more awareness as well! Thank you for waking me up!!!

    Reply
  37. Rachel says:
    February 28, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    Could you take your prescription bottles with you to the pharmacy and ask them to refill them? Then they could just put a new label over the old one.

    Reply
  38. gaea says:
    February 29, 2008 at 6:04 am

    I love the ideas you’ve listed! Most of them are so practical that they cut across geographies.

    Looking forward to more inspiring ideas…

    Reply
  39. CrAzYoNe1 says:
    February 29, 2008 at 8:47 pm

    Oh my goodness, you are insane! (In a good way of course.) I’ve been trying to cut down on my waste lately in attempt to be more “green.” Hopefully I’ll be able to remember some of this and take it to heart. I’ll never be able to do as much as you, but I guess you never know, do you. Oh, and I never realized how many things have plastic in them and how harmful plastic actually is…I don’t quite know how I didn’t realize this.
    Thanks for you’re awesome blog!

    Reply
  40. Cindy says:
    February 29, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    I just took a quick look here, but you have lots of good information! You have lots of good ideas and links for stuff I could use. I plan to come back later when I have time to really check it out better. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  41. chosenpath says:
    March 2, 2008 at 6:45 am

    Thanks for the helpful suggestions. They are great and I intend to pass them on to friends and family- a digestible chunk at a time!

    The urban composting is an especially good one. This will be a family project this Spring.

    Sibyl

    Reply
  42. Rebecca says:
    March 2, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    This is fantastic. I have learned from this and admire your efforts. I did not know they make shampoo bars, I will look for them at the natural food store. Thanks

    Reply
  43. IceMel says:
    March 7, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    I’ve given up tupperware for wide-mouth mason jars. They clean easily and use space well in the frig and cabinets

    Reply
  44. Elizabeth Obsesses says:
    March 8, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    Hi Beth -I’m a Beth too. I’m out here on the East Coast, and have been trying to get my friends to reduce their plastic use, too.

    I’ve converted 3 of my friends in the past year to swear off grocery bags (one completely, two reduce their use).

    I love your website, and will be back often for more suggestions.

    Reply
  45. ingrid says:
    March 11, 2008 at 5:25 am

    Beth,

    I stopped using shampoo and conditioner from plastic bottles a little while ago and I’m starting to get used to it. I use a bar called ‘Castille’ from a company based out of Canada (Olivier). The stuff works great and it’s all-natural too!

    Reply
  46. Arun says:
    March 12, 2008 at 3:26 am

    It is great to know that you are trying hard to wipe out this plastic menace. I found your tips on how to avoid plastics has been a useful one. To be frank i am a person who tries to avoid plastics whenever i can.

    regards

    simple way of life

    Reply
  47. liz says:
    March 12, 2008 at 7:19 am

    This is a really thorough list, and gives me some good ideas. Thanks!

    You might try making your own energy bars if you miss them. I made some last week (recipe here) that I’m living off of at the moment. I just throw them in my own reusable containers if I need some easily transportable food.

    Reply
  48. TAB Photographic says:
    March 12, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    Beth. Ms. Beth Fakeplaticfish…

    Your blog, should be sent around the world. your thoughts shared and more! You know what Beth, I think you should go on the today show and share with the world… Why? Because Beth, it’s quite obvious that you rock!

    Shine on,
    ~Tim

    Reply
  49. Allie says:
    March 14, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    Do you have a good plastic-free way of freezing food? I use my CSA veggies to bake and cook up meals to stick in the deep freeze for meals over the winter. I’m not sure of a good way to keep food from getting freezer burn without using plastic. Have you thought of anything?

    Thanks! Your list is wonderful!

    Reply
  50. Daria says:
    March 19, 2008 at 10:52 am

    BTW, half vinegar and half water works great as deodorant as well…

    Reply
  51. Anonymous says:
    March 24, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    Nothing to add, just wow and you rock! Thank you so much for your pragmatism, persistence, and passion.

    Best,
    April, Sarasota, FL
    http://www.scopexcel.org

    Reply
  52. Anonymous says:
    March 30, 2008 at 10:29 am

    I attended your presentation at Wells Fargo on march 28th. I was shocked to say the least. I felt totally cheated by the “recycle” branding/marketing placed around plastics. Plastics appear to be more sinister than anything out there! I found your “what I’ve done” list so helpful. I’m speaking to all friends about plastics, starting to try and influence those closests to me, and spread from there. My lifestyle is changing, so big thanks for the inspiration and sharing the knowledge. John Hester.

    Reply
  53. The Minimalist says:
    April 6, 2008 at 8:50 am

    Lifelessplastic said on her site that she buys her cheese at the deli counter and asks them to wrap it in butcher paper. My husband and I are going to try to incorporate this as a habit.

    Reply
  54. Anonymous says:
    April 7, 2008 at 6:02 am

    Hi Beth. I just got organic produce bags from ecobags.com and they’re great. They’re washable, scrunchable and allow me to keep my produce off of the icky (who knows when it was last washed) scales at the store! (p.s., I struggled with signing in and retyped it twice so the anonymous is synonymous with “not enough caffeine yet today!”)

    Reply
  55. Anonymous says:
    April 10, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    Hi I love all of your awesome tips and Ideas. My husband and I have been slowly making changes in our lives. Going greener and recycling as much as possible. Today I got rid of all of our toxic plastics and I was appalled to learn how many foods (for babies) are packed in toxic plastic. Anyway. Thanks for such a great site. We are going to be using many of your ideas and tips.

    Billena

    Reply
  56. Cheap Like Me says:
    April 16, 2008 at 10:19 am

    This is awesome! I am thinking about doing a plastic-waste “inquiry” on my blog in May (because I can’t commit to Crunchy Chicken’s 100%-or-nothing May challenge). We usually toss about 5 lbs of trash a week … but I am very curious what makes up that trash. I *love* your chart at the top of your home page.

    Reply
  57. Emily says:
    April 18, 2008 at 4:58 am

    Hiya Beth so glad to have found your page. I’ve recently gone on the NO plastic band wagon and it’s hard.

    I wanted to share with you a product at Ikea called GEMAK. They’re little steel tins with lids and rubber rings. It’s great for storing dry food like cereal. They’re small so it’s a handy way to carry snacks, especially for children, without the heaviness of glass.
    http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20093456

    Reply
  58. Tamara says:
    April 18, 2008 at 6:21 pm

    I loved the list. I have two caveats I think, as a health educator, bear clarification:

    1. Olive oil for lube – please remind people that olive oil, and other oil-based lube solutions can break down latex (so not compatible with condoms, dental dams). Avanti makes condoms (that are more expensive) that are compatible with oil, but they are plastic (polyurethane). I hear they break more though (http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/1997/03/connett.html).
    2. I wouldn’t agree that it is ok to reuse plastic containers for food, even if you don’t heat them, from a public health perspective. Phthalates and bispenol-A are making headlines lately, but there are so many chemicals that leach from plastic at room temperature. There aren’t really “safe” plastics for food contact.
    3. I would add #7 polycarbonate to your list of plastics to absolutely avoid. It will probably be phased out but meanwhile best to avoid because of bisphenol-A (hormone disrupting chemical).
    Love your blog! Will suggest it to people at my workshop on plastics for earth day. Tamara

    Reply
  59. katherine h says:
    April 25, 2008 at 5:38 pm

    Dear Beth – after “Blue Vinyl” I am even more convinced we need to keep working at reducing our use – regarding your prescription delemma – find out if your pharmacy will dispense in a “bubble card” – they use them in nursing homes for the residents.. the bubble is made of plastic but surrounded by a cardboard card- it might be LESS plastic than the bottle and cap route… but state laws are different- let me know what you think

    Reply
  60. Veronique from Paris says:
    April 26, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    thank you Beth for the great work you did with this list !
    it is SO inspirational that I’ve decided to try news things AT ONCE.
    thanks to the internet I can order practically anything and have it deliverd in Paris, France where I live and work – we do not find exactly the same products here in Europe, but for things such as Brita Filters (they led me to your blog) it is not too bad.
    keep going, what you do is really important.
    cheers
    Véronique

    Reply
  61. Reenita's Blog says:
    April 29, 2008 at 12:21 pm

    Beth,

    On the subject of plastic bags being replaced by reusable bags, as a mother, I ask, how do I get my kids to do it?

    My kids checked out “Gorilla in the Greenhouse”, a new animated kids’ show about plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean. Since then they have been shouting out against the use of plastic bags because as my son says,

    “It’s all about the Gyre, mom!”

    Parents should check this out:

    http://www.greengorilla.com . It is also on You Tube.

    Reply
  62. mori says:
    May 1, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    Dear Beth, I have a nasty disease and immune-system-suppressing medication, so must drink safe water. After giving up plastic bottled water I went to Brita water in a metal bottle. Now I want to do the right thing with the Brita filter. What is the right thing? Also, what about an old and non-functional iron? Thanks, Mori.

    Reply
  63. klimp11 says:
    May 7, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    Just stumble on your site. Loved the bit on the safety razor. I switched to a straight razor for the same reason. Keep up the great work, one person can make huge difference

    Reply
  64. Anonymous says:
    May 29, 2008 at 11:15 pm

    My comment is simple.
    If you go to a beach take a large bag and rubber gloves to pick up as much plastic as it will fill. Just as a thank you to the ocean for looking after the biodiversity within it (animals starve if they try to ingest plastic). I was at Marros on a little tiny beach and could have filled 50 said bags, but the walk through the fields to get to the beach for one middle aged woman is too much. Please be one of the other 49 bag ladies (even if you are a fella) on any beach as it all ends up somewhere and a lot of it was bottles and lids (probably for drinks). Bless you. Bexy

    Reply
  65. Anonymous says:
    June 14, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    This is so cool!
    Thought I’d add an idea: we use the ISI seltzer bottles. They have a bit of plastic (a tube and gasket) so don’t know if that’d pass muster for others. Use Torani syrups for flavoring (Cheaper at BevMo; plastic cap). Haven’t decided if the little metal canisters of CO2 are recyclable though.
    Thanks for the list!

    Reply
  66. OhGoddess says:
    July 29, 2008 at 2:14 pm

    Awesome, thanks for sharing your list! I’m trying, really am, but you have some great ideas on your list that I haven’t seen before. The biggest glaring fact I’ve found? That it’s EASY to make so many of these changes!! They have not inconvenienced me in any way. I’ve not given up much, just traded an old habit for a newer, better one.

    Except for the water pitcher filters. I haven’t given those up yet, and here’s why.

    Reply
  67. Anonymous says:
    August 1, 2008 at 2:19 am

    Beth,

    I will steal your ideas. Your zeal inspires me. I’ve been on a personal campaign against plastic for the past year. I’m over it!

    Mark

    Reply
  68. Laura Jean Karr says:
    August 17, 2008 at 4:34 pm

    I am so glad that I found your blog. What you are doing is just fantastic.

    We are starting to get as plastic free as we can in out home and your list was very, very helpful.

    Thank you,
    Laura

    Reply
  69. Christine in DC says:
    September 5, 2008 at 10:50 am

    WOW, I’m in awe! Way to go! I’m NOwhere near as dedicated as you, clearly, but I’ve in the past year managed to only use reusable grocery bags. At first, it was hard–mainly because I’d forget or got attitude from the checkout people. But, gradually, it got easier. I think what made me stop that bad habit was simply counting how many of those stupid bags I had…and then imagining how many more I’d already recycled or (gulp) thrown away. Thanks for the tips–I’m going to try to start another good habit!

    Reply
  70. Anonymous says:
    September 28, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    Plastic wrapped cheese? Have it sliced in the deli and paper wrapped.

    Reply
  71. cathy says:
    October 10, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    Really like your blog. Will definitely use some of your tips. Would you be willing to put me on your blog roll?
    Thanks and please let me know, I will put you on mine. I added your blog to my ‘local resources’ guides.
    http://www.greenecoservices.com/ca-eco-green-sustainable-blogs-and-websites/
    Thanks
    Cathy
    http://www.greenecoservices.com/

    Reply
  72. Anonymous says:
    October 25, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    i am from Vancouver, Washington…and go to Clark College. Sheesh! I can’t believe that they put everything into a big plastic bag in the bookstore…and the cafeteria is all plastic disposable utensils and styrofoam! help! i joined the Club for Social Action. i wrote to our college president, Bob Knight, and gave him lots of info on Stalk Market, TaterWare, and other replacements that are way better. He sounded amiable, but i got an email asking ME to tell him “How does the cost compare to traditional utensils?”
    How do I know? Please do email me anything to tell him how much it costs…and how much it costs NOT to switch. (tons tossed!)
    keypoland105@hotmail.com

    Reply
  73. Ya Chun says:
    October 29, 2008 at 11:59 am

    Beth-
    What a wonderful, comprehensive list.

    Last time I knew Tom’s of Maine toothpaste was in an aluminum tube (claimed to be recyclable) after cutting off the plastic tip.

    Also, Aveda is accepting plastic bottle caps. (I know i said in another comment)

    Anita
    greenupchallenge.blogspot.com

    Reply
  74. jonathan's people says:
    November 13, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Hey guys!
    If you are searching for a place to drop off your plastic bags (the kind from grocery stores) then please go to this site- It will give you a list of all locations in your area where you can drop them off.
    http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/01.0/
    -Dillon (greenhome.com)

    Reply
  75. Talia says:
    January 20, 2009 at 10:03 am

    My first time checking out your site. Totally awesome! My partner and I are mostly plastic free… but there’s one thing I can’t seem to work out a non plastic alternative for, and that’s how to keep my produce crisp and fresh in the fridge. I have tried those cloth produce bags that you moisten but have had disappointing results. Perhaps I’m not using them properly? This is one thing I would really like to eliminate from my kitchen so any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much and keep up the amazing work you’re doing! It’s so important!

    Reply
  76. Anonymous says:
    February 9, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    I read in a packaging industry magazine that (a study showed) chemicals from printing ink permeated some containers. I keep that in mind when purchasing products.

    My husband and I continually to make changes that are environmentally friendly. He likes soda and sparkling water, so I bought a SodaClub soda maker. Their bottles are free of BPA. One carbonate canister in the size we got makes about 110 liters of carbonated beverage. We love it! When you need new canisters, they send you a box with new ones and a return shipping label to send your empty ones back and they reuse them!

    Jill

    Reply
  77. Anonymous says:
    May 24, 2009 at 7:01 am

    Great list. I can’t wait to implement your ideas. I wanted to mention an alternative to the brita water filters. I got a Berkey water filter about 6 months ago, and it is awesome. http://www.berkeywater-filter.com
    It has saved me tons of money in filters and the water tastes much better. We have the metal one. It is about the size of one of those big coffee makers you see at gatherings. Please, check it out!

    Reply
  78. Martin says:
    May 27, 2009 at 4:48 am

    I have been on mission to reduce my plastic usage at home, but realize at work at the water cooler we go through an amazing amount of plastic cups. I work in a research environment and sometimes difficult as we cannot drink in the lab where we spend most of our time, so many researchers go straight from the lab to grab a drink. The few of us that have our own cups have to go out of their way to our study area/desk and back again once finished to return our cup, for some people this is on a different floor. Many people have complained when there are no cups available and are resistant to the idea of bring their own. Do you have any ideas?

    Reply
  79. Fake Plastic Fish says:
    May 28, 2009 at 9:43 am

    Hi Martin. Can you keep a shelf next to the water cooler where you each store a reusable mug with your name on it? I don’t know how your work environment is set up, but it seems like this would be the most convenient choice.

    Reply
  80. HorseJumper12341 says:
    June 26, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    Thank you for writing this post!! I have been looking for and trying to think of ways to save/cut back on my plastic use for a long time. My mom and I are crazy about not using plastic bags, especially!! Thanks again!! :)

    Reply
  81. Anonymous says:
    June 29, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    "I'd stopped using most produce bags long before beginning this project because they always seemed unnecessary."

    Me Too, But it drives the crocery clerks crazy sometimes. Why must 2 apples be in a plastic bag? I have no idea either. How about corn on the cob. I had a clerk verbally spank me because the corn got the belt wet.

    Stores need to educate employees!

    Reply
  82. GreenDigitalist says:
    July 4, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    Thanks for the re-inspiration and the work. I would love to look at your graph in a little more detail: are the spikes at the holidays? no response necc, but maybe a post?

    I am going to start linking to your blog, plus this is posted at: Answerbag – http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7007352

    Reply
  83. Fake Plastic Fish says:
    July 5, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    Hi GreenDigitalist. I loved your thorough response to the kitty litter question on the Answer Bag. There really is no perfect solution, is there? We flush our cat's biodegradable corn litter because they have tested neg for toxoplasma gondii and are indoor cats. But if you have outdoor cats, you're not supposed to flush. And you're right that flushing is a waste a good clean water. If only we could install a grey water system, but we are renters.

    Anyway, you have inspired me to take a look at the graph (with is just a screen shot of an Excel graph) and figure out a way to allow people to see the details. Maybe there's a way to embed a Google spreadsheet.

    The spikes might be related to holidays but also there were a few unusually heavy items — a broken computer monitor, for instance, and a polar fleece blanket that my kitties chewed (actually ate) up.

    Reply
  84. Anonymous says:
    July 17, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    You mentioned to buy CFL lightbulbs but it should be known that CFL lightbulds usually contain mercury which is terrible for the factory workers that put together the bulbs and when a CFL breaks it can be a health issue.

    Not sure if these are facts but this is want I have herd.

    Reply
  85. nerdstar says:
    August 22, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    Awesome site. Great resources and ideas. Try 41pounds.org for getting rid of junkmail.

    Reply
  86. Anonymous says:
    September 9, 2009 at 11:38 am

    what about breast implants when you get a MRI,is it the same as a plastic bag in the microwave…there plastic

    Reply
  87. hbTurner says:
    October 5, 2009 at 5:00 am

    In response to # 36 comment-why do we have to have everything scented. Even using essetial oils I just don’t get it.
    Why isn’t a home just smelling of “air” enough.
    I do wish there would be a better campaign about all the artificial fragrances**they are pertoleum or other noxious chemiclas and are terrible for us not counting the plastic cartridges and little fans.**
    I use lemon juice in laundry and a lot of vinegar but never use anything with even a natural based fragrance if I can find it. I get strage looks trying to find handsoap, why do I want some fragrance, even one Imight like, on my hands while I eat? If I want fragrance I go find a flower.

    Reply
  88. patricia says:
    October 7, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    Love your list of tips.
    I am hooked up to a county rural water system in California. Due to the Calif. clean water act, I am required to buy bottled drinking water from a local company. (Actually I was given a long list of companies to choose from). If I do not sign up for water delivery, my household water will be turned off. All of the companies on the aforementioned list use big plastic # 7 bottles. They all told me there are no alternatives. I have two crock dispensers which I pour the water into the minute I receive it. My thinking is the less time in the plastic the better. I don’t know what else to do.

    Reply
  89. admin says:
    October 7, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    Patricia, I wish I had a solution for you. I agree that you need to get the water out of the #7 container as soon as possible. Is your county working on getting your water cleaned up? Is this a temporary situation or will it be ongoing forever? Can you install a whole house filtration system? I know that’s really expensive. But unfortunately, chemicals get into our bodies not just through our mouths but through our skin. Is it safe to shower in your toxic water?

    I would be interested in learning more about what’s going on for you.

    Reply
  90. Sarajane Snyder says:
    October 12, 2009 at 11:52 am

    Thank you for the comprehensive and well-tended site!

    I found your site while doing a little research for a VERY grassroots campaign to decrease the amount of plastic bags handed out at the NYC greenmarkets. I currently work at an organic farmstand where we charge 5¢ per plastic bag as an “encouragement” for customers to bring their own bags (BYOB!) each time. As of this week, we’ll be the first stand at the Union Square Greenmarket to switch to vegetable-based compostable bags (brand name Biobag) and we’ll be charging customers the price of the bags– 5, 10 or 15¢ for small, med, and large bags. We estimate distributing 1500+ bags each market, and we’re small fry compared to some stands. We would love to get out of the bag-peddling business and have all customers bring their own. It’s amazing to see the wide span of reactions from our customers: some thank us with a touching sincerity, others are irritated but understanding, others are just confused, and still others are enraged and quite reactive.

    I appreciate your list of “how I avoid plastic” because it is gets down to the dirty details of how plastic pervades our lives, and by association, how much of our lives are spent shopping and consuming in a culture that seems to rely completely on plastics. It’s kind of like the ant phenomenon: when you look down and you see an ant on your leg, and then one on your–no, two on your shoe, oh and then there’s a whole bunch on the sidewalk, and then you spy the crack where there’s a river of ants emerging. Plastics (and one-use, throw-away ‘stuff’) is right in front of you, and as you widen your vision, you see it everywhere multiplied by the thousands. How many disposable chopsticks does it take to make a forest?

    Having worked and shopped at various farmers markets in baltimore, sanfrancisco, and new york, I see them as a very very important trend in shopping culture. The trend has to do with sustainability, person-to-person interactions, freshness, local economies, community & communication. One of the side-benefits of farmers’ markets is the reduced packaging and marketing of foods. You can buy meat & cheese simply wrapped in paper, you can buy eggs and milk and return the containers to the farmstand each week, you can bring your own bags for everything else. At the greenmarkets in nyc (where there is no city-wide composting as in san fran) there is a growing interest in customers being able to bring their compostables to the market to be used on the farms where the food was grown or used in local composting productions.

    FInally I’ll just give a shout-out to the country of Ireland, who imposed a national plastic bag tax in 2002 and thereby reduced plastic bag use by about 90%. There is much information about this at a great and helpful website: http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id=20

    Thanks thanks thanks!

    Reply
  91. Beth Terry says:
    October 15, 2009 at 11:00 am

    Hi Serina. I think I fixed the problem. Please try it now. It’s a matter of transferring from Blogger to WordPress.

    Reply
  92. Serina says:
    October 15, 2009 at 10:41 am

    It seems like the links on this page aren’t working. Keeps coming up with an error page. I’d love to read more if you can fix it! Thanks!!

    Reply
  93. Serina says:
    October 15, 2009 at 11:28 am

    Thanks Beth! Works great. FYI, I’m a college teacher in psychology and I’m assigning my classes a paper on the effects of plastic on people’s psychology. All you plastic-free bloggers inspired me! lol

    Reply
  94. John at Cell Phone Recycling says:
    November 5, 2009 at 12:57 am

    Wow! thanks for sharing this information. I commend you for the things you’ve given up. you serve as our inspiration now. keep up the good work.

    Reply
  95. Mary says:
    November 7, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Beth,
    What do you recommend we clean our toilets with?

    I hate cleaning the toilets because I hate using bleach because I don’t know what else to clean them with.

    Reply
  96. Beth Terry says:
    November 9, 2009 at 11:50 am

    Hi Mary. I use baking soda to clean the toilet. I wrote a whole post about baking soda uses last week. It is here:

    http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/11/baking-soda-so-many-uses-so-little-money-and-plastic/

    Reply
  97. Karin says:
    December 2, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    Excellent list — very well thought out! We recently made the choice to purchase a Foodsaver vacuum sealer. The upside is that we can purchase more food on sale and purchase in larger quanties during the season (like from farmer’s markets) in order to freeze the food. Plus we will be doing a larger garden next year and preserving food. Vacuum-sealed food lasts longer in the fridge and freezer and you can avoid most freezer burn. The downside is that the storage bags are all plastic of course and are not biodegradable. But they can be reused a number of times. Foodsaver does sell plastic reusable containers for vacuum sealing, but we have not purchased those (plus it’s more plastic). We are trying to make some good decisions about what to freeze and what to can so that we are not using so much plastic. I would like to see Foodsaver develop a storage bag that is biodegradable or at least manufacter them from recycled plastic. Tough choices!

    Reply
  98. Mary says:
    December 2, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    I have a vacuum sealer also and I use canning jars. No plastic bag to throw away. Plus the vacuum sealer work better on jars than the plastic bags.

    Reply
  99. Karin says:
    December 3, 2009 at 7:54 am

    Mary, thank you for your tip!

    Reply

  100. Pingback: Hello, Goodbye: Getting Ready for Life After Plastic « Old Recipe for a New World

  101. Patty says:
    January 25, 2010 at 8:49 am

    Saturday morning cartoons this week turned into me watching ‘Addicted to Plastic’ by Ian Connacher on the Sundance channel. Happy to see more and more ways things are being recycled and a little more motivated to reduce my consumption. Hoping to find out more what my city is doing and petition for additional changes.

    Reply

  102. Pingback: Let the Battle Begin « A Green Spell

  103. Namaste_Heather says:
    January 26, 2010 at 6:37 am

    Thank you so much for such an extensive post. Our family has been working on a lot of these things, but you’ve given some great tips for things we are not yet doing. I plan to come back often for more tips!

    Reply
  105. Patty says:
    January 27, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    Once you open your eyes…there is so much to see…
    http://reelthing.us/bagit.htm (http://www.vimeo.com/5645718)

    Reply
  106. Christina says:
    January 27, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    Regarding the SodaStream for carbonated water, did you look at any other options? I’ve seen homemade contraptions for using a big tank of CO2, and I’m wondering if a soda fountain style machine might use the larger tanks as well. This is my big ecological sin, carbonated water, which I choose because it keeps me off soda and juice (I can use a little bit of homemade juice for flavor), so I definitely want to find a way to reduce the bottle consumption. (Though of course I recycle them all.)

    Reply
  107. Christina says:
    January 27, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    I also wanted to say that dried milk powder is a good alternative, especially if glass bottles are not an option. Straus Creamery is a good glass bottle dairy, but it sounds like you’re in the SF bay area where they’re local. Dried milk is a way better product than I remember growing up, or at least the Organic Valley that I’m using is. It takes energy to turn the milk into powder, but I figure it’s mostly if not totally balanced by the reduced refrigeration and the transportation reduction caused by not shipping water.

    Reply

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  111. Lina says:
    February 18, 2010 at 9:24 am

    Hi – this is a great post, thanks so much. I like your points on the bulk buying and not getting more plastic bags to carry them home in, its something I hadn’t thought about. I wonder if you have any suggestions on storing large quantities of bulk food without plastic? I want to just go ahead and get 25 or 50 lbs of flour for example, but all the options I see for storing that amount of flour are plastic. Any ideas? Thanks again.

    Reply
  112. Tamara Meske says:
    February 21, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    Lina, I am having the same issue with buying bulk but all the large containers are plastic! After spending several hours researching today, I’ve found some glass containers with metal (or glass) lids up to 5 gallon size. Probably not large enough for a 50lb bag of flour, but two would probably do it. I’m also looking into buying a grain mill so I can store the whole grains instead of the flour, which I think will keep longer and be a little less messy to store in a non-sealed container (I intend to line the tops of the grains with herbs to keep the bugs out.)

    Reply
  113. tinabeans says:
    February 23, 2010 at 10:01 pm

    One of the most interesting things I learned recently was that the little exfoliating beads inside many mainstream brands of facial cleanser are actually little beads of plastic. Every time you wash your face with one of these, the tiny beads of plastic go down the drain and eventually into bodies of water. These are especially harmful to aquatic/marine life because small critters like plankton (the foundation of many marine ecosystems) will ingest them and die. They do not biodegrade and they are impossible to clean/remove from the wild. So next time you choose a face wash, go for a biodegradable exfoliant like ground up apricot stone.

    Who knew that sometimes the most insidious forms of harm comes in the tiniest packages!

    Reply
  114. Jaylah says:
    February 28, 2010 at 5:41 am

    About those cat toys. All of your suggestions are excellent, but I used to have three cats (all at once, I’m owned by a dog now) and once I started making this toy for them, they turned up their noses at all other toys.

    Take a sheet of regular paper. (No, don’t grab a couple of fresh sheets out of your printer…use the letters that come in junk mail for this.) Tear each in half. Place them in a sink or basin of water until they’re soaked through. Take each half sheet out and wad it up as tightly as you can. They should end up around an inch in diameter. Place them on a tray or counter and let them *thoroughly* dry. Toss them on the floor and watch your cats chase them. Since you’ve wet the paper and then let them dry, they don’t come uncrumpled, but a cat can easily hook a paw or claw or tooth in them. One of my cats was almost always to be found with one in her mouth.

    We named these toys “Moggy balls.” My middle cat was named “Mogai” but we always called her Moggy. (Which is, perhaps, appropriate as the Brits refer to a cat as a “moggy.”) I usually made a dozen or so of these at a time when the last batch seemed to have all disappeared. Then I’d find them under the couch, under the dresser, under the fridge. Some days, instead of making more, I’d do a “moggy ball hunt” and would usually manage to find a dozen under various furniture.

    If your cats like catnip, you can sprinkle some finely shredded fresh or dried catnip on the papers after wetting but before you crumple them up. The shreds will become embedded in the crumpled up paper.

    Reply
  115. shaune says:
    March 1, 2010 at 6:01 am

    Yea Beth! I’m so glad to have watched you on the news. I’ve been on an anti-plastic campaign for years and years! As a teacher, I give my students tokens for being plastic free for school snacks. I encourage them to bring their snacks in reusable containers, wax paper, or just “au Natural”. It is really difficult to change habits, but we have our best hope with the youth.

    Reply
  116. Isabelle says:
    March 1, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    I just saw you on abc this morning… luckily I happen to glance at the tv being a unusually very busy morning, I stopped in my tracks to hear your words on the plastic problem. I thought it was only me and a few others that thought like you. Every day I throw plastic out (I live with roommates) my stomach turns because I know it’s bad and feel so overwelmed with all the plastic going out to the oceans into mothers natures creatures. I sort it out but many containers are not recycleable. I have a list in my head of things. I use my toothbrush till nothing left to the brush, etc.. I always get on the roommates not buy so much food items with plastic but it seems impossible. I wish it was illegal to use pastic with food items and make comany’s go back to glass jars. I’m going to try harder, never giving up. Thank you and I love you website

    Reply
  117. Isabelle says:
    March 1, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    Great List of Ideas!!!

    I just saw you on abc this morning… luckily I happen to glance at the tv being a unusually very busy morning, I stopped in my tracks to hear your words on the plastic problem. I thought it was only me and a few others that thought like you. Every day I throw plastic out (I live with roommates) my stomach turns because I know it’s bad and feel so overwhelmed with all the plastic going out to the oceans into mothers natures creatures. I sort it out but many containers are not recyclable. I have a list in my head of things. I use my toothbrush till nothing left to the brush, etc.. I always get on the roommates not buy so much food items with plastic but it seems impossible. I wish it was illegal to use plastic with food items and make company’s go back to glass jars. I’m going to try harder, never giving up. Thank you and I love you website
    please save this one and delete the other,,ty!

    Reply
  118. Jessie Krebs says:
    March 2, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    Hi Beth, thank you so much for doing this! I have a recommendation for flea control that has worked faithfully for me for years with my two cats in several different homes around the country. It’s Diatomatious Earth-ground up seashells basically. You can buy it online or at garden stores since people also use it around gardens to control pests. It was also used once-upon-a-time to filter pool water in swimming pools. It works by slicing open hard shelled small insects as they crawl by it, causing them to quickly dehydrate and die. So it is also extremely effective on ants, crimson crawlers, and a host of other hard shelled larvae and “pests”. It’s also ridiculously easy to use though you should take care not to breath it in-like most pest-control products. It is comprised of very sharp shards on a microscopic level so you want to keep it out of your lungs as much as possible. I just sprinkle a very small amount (say a 1/2 cup or so for an entire 1500 square foot home) on the floor of each room that has carpet or any flooring with cracks/holes in it like old wooden floors or anyplace else I have pests like the cupboards or around the exterior wall/foundation of the house. This is where flea larvae and mites and such live when they are in developmental stages. For every adult flea you see there are thousands of larvae that are in it’s vicinity that in a couple weeks will be ready to graduate to adulthood. So sprinkle around the Diatomatious earth and gently rub/brush it into every nook and cranny you can find. Then just wipe/vacuum/sweep (wear a dust mask for extra safety) up the excess and you’re done. Just one dose will last you years if it’s inside since no matter how well you clean there will always be some left deep down. I never even put flea collars on my cats after that since I knew if they brought in a flea it would die soon and any eggs it laid would simply die as well. I never had a problem with fleas or ticks on them again. You can in bad infestations dust the animal and their bedding after a good washing too. I’ve even used food-grade Diatomatious Earth in my food (like bulk apricots, oatmeal or raisins) to make sure it won’t be infested with anything like moths, beetles/whatever, The “Earth” has no taste-just a fine white powder that cleans out your insides too! It’s a great feeling to eliminate pests with such an earth-friendly product that works so well. Happy pest and pesticide-free living! Jessie

    Reply
  119. Jessie Krebs says:
    March 2, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    OK, just saw some other things I may be able to help with. First the microwave popcorn dilemma! Find yourself a good size glass/porcelain bowl with a glass/porcelain lid at your local thrift store-pour in a little safflower oil and some organic popcorn and pop it in for a few minutes until the popping slows and you’re done. Add a few sprays of Braggs amino acids/tamari and some Nutritional yeast plus any other herbs/spices you like and enjoy.

    For bulk food storage, I was having the same problem, Flour beetles were in one of my bulk 25 lb bag of oats when I ordered it from the store. Determined not to lose all of it to the infestation I sifted out all the bugs, put the remaining oats in washed pillowcases I got from the thrift store for 25 to 75 cents apiece with liberal amounts of food grade Diatomatious Earth sprinkled in and fed a piece of line/rope through the top of the pillowcase to tie it off. That was last summer and the oats show no sign of infestation and taste fine! As long as you’re storing them in a dry area (I have bought metal trash cans which I then put the bean/rice/oat filled pillowcases in) the pillowcases make great ready-made bags for bulk storage.

    And lastly, more cat toys. Especially if you know someone in catnip growing areas (my relatives in Michigan are my main source) have them cut and dry large quantities and send it/give it to you in a brown paper bag. I had male cats that despite being neutered would still spray on occasion. However they won’t spray “happy places” or places that smell like catnip. Once they find a place they like to spray they will seem to keep targeting it over and over no matter how well you clean. So I would take a small rag, like a 4″ X 4″ section of old t-shirt or jean material, or even an old sock (depending on how animated your cat gets with catnip!), fill the center with a tablespoon or so of dried catnip, then fold up the sides and tie a sliploop around it with a long piece of string and hang it a few inches off the floor in the area they were spraying (or just where ever you want their play area to be). They would never spray there again. So after hanging several around the house as they tried new places, they gave up and only did it outside, and always enjoyed batting the toy around regardless.

    Thanks again for this site-it’[s awesome to connect/hear about fellow plastic-free fighters and learn more we can do!

    Reply
  120. GREG says:
    March 6, 2010 at 4:48 pm

    It is so nice to find someone who thinks like me. My co-workers think I am crazy, bringing home things to recycle. Anyway I don’t buy plastic trash bags but I take trash home from a local restaurant, recycle what I can then use their used trash bags for what little garbage I have left. I do have three cats and will try your idea of making homemade cat food, I hate the waste their cans and plastic coated bags of dry food and litter make. I won’t buy the scoopalbe kind because the plastic buckets with metal handles are not recylcable. I live on the shore of Lake Ontario and it saddens me how much plastic waste washes up on my little spec of beach. Thanks for all you are doing. greg ps, I wish plastic water bottles could be outlawed.

    Reply
  121. Ruth says:
    March 15, 2010 at 10:57 am

    Since Klean Kanteen has switched to plastic lids, have you found any truly plastic-free water bottles? Or do you know of anywhere I could get an old-school Klean Kanteen (with stainless steel lid)?

    Thanks for all you do!

    Reply

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  123. clare says:
    March 21, 2010 at 2:18 am

    I’ve been reading a lot of blogs about plastic reduction lately and I think yours is my favorite, you seem to have almost everything covered (which is probably why your blog keeps popping up in my google searches). a few things I want to mention:
    -as far as antacids go, baking soda can be used for this as well. I was going to suggest chalk because it’s made of the same chemical as tums, but apparently (according to this site: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091109164730AAxvfrk) it has plastic in it! who knew? needless to say it’s not good for you. and who would want to eat chalk anyway?
    -for your ice cream cravings (if you still can’t overcome them), have you considered making your own? it’s a very simple process and there are plenty of ice cream makers you can get (I’m sure you can find one in a yard sale or thrift store as well). I made ice cream in my tenth grade chemistry class in (of course) a plastic ziploc bag.
    -you mentioned butter wrappers in your cat food article. I was going to recommend foil-wrapped butter, but I’m not entirely sure it would be recyclable, since it might be more like foil paper. while wax paper isn’t recyclable, it is compostable from what I’ve read, and can also be used for baking purposes, so it may be the better option. do you compost your butter wrappers? I know that, in my area at least, you can get wax paper wrapped blocks of butter with no outer box, the equivalent of 4 sticks worth, so that saves a lot of packaging. the brand I’ve seen is called hampton dairy (I live on long island).
    -about deodorant, for people who are not ready to let go of commercial deodorant, you can buy glass bottled roll-on anti-perspirants and/or deodorant from several companies. it’s not a plastic-free solution since they do have a plastic cap and the roller is plastic, probably the label too, but at least the container would be recyclable (and possibly reusable?). but the ones I’ve seen in my online searches are made by nivea, fa, dr. hauschka, lavera and weleda. I haven’t had any experience with these brands, but I used to have a mitchum roll-on in a glass bottle and I loved it (it’s long since been discontinued, unfortunately). some people seem to complain about the weight of the bottle, but the one I had was very light.

    I probably have more to add but I can’t remember anything else at the moment. I was wondering if it’s a faux pas to comment on older posts? because as I read them I can’t help but want to share my input (a behavoir aquired from years of posting on forums). anyway, thanks for posting this, it’s a very thorough and helpful guide. I really admire your dedication.

    Reply
    • Beth Terry says:
      March 21, 2010 at 2:27 am

      Thanks for your comment! It’s definitely fine to comment on older posts. I see all comments that come through, and also new people are always discovering the older posts and leaving their thoughts.

      That said, keep in mind that older posts are, well, old. So the information might not be current. I try to add updates as I get new information or make changes. For example, we are not using butter in the cat food anymore.

      That’s really interesting about chalk. I was astounded to learn that chewing gum was made from plastic. I’ll have to look up your link. I don’t use baking soda for antacid because of the high sodium content.

      Reply
  124. claire says:
    March 22, 2010 at 2:47 pm

    yes, I did notice that you regularly post updates, so I’ll definitely try to read all the posts on a certain topic before commenting. as far as chalk goes, the site was a yahoo answers page and the question seems to have been deleted. they offered a source for their answer but I can’t check it now. I haven’t been able to find any evidence to substantiate their claim, however I did find this site (http://www.enotes.com/how-products-encyclopedia/chalk) which says:
    “Although great care is taken to eliminate contaminants when chalk is manufactured, some impurities inherent to the mineral remain. Chief among these are silica, alumina, iron, phosphorus, and sulfur. In less significant, amounts, manganese, copper, titanium, sodium oxide, potassium oxide, fluorine, arsenic, and strontium may also occur.”
    and I don’t see any plastics on that list. so it’s possible someone was just making stuff up. but I probably still wouldn’t use chalk considering it’s not made for ingestion.
    you could maybe try a calcium supplement in a glass bottle (plastic cap) for an antacid such as: (http://www.igreenwarehouse.com/Minerals-Calcium-500-mg-with-Mag-nesium-Vitamin-D-180-tablets-TWINLAB-212383), but you might want to ask a doctor or someone who knows about stomach chemistry whether it would be as effective.
    I’m not surprised at all by chewing gum, considering people always talk about how it can’t be digested (though I don’t know how true that is). before chewing gum, people used to use spruce tree sap, but who knows how that would taste. the only practical purpose to actually chewing gum is to stimulate saliva flow, so it’s not a horrible thing to have to give up. I’ve already given up candy for dental reasons (though I’ve heard things like chips might actually be worse for your teeth, they don’t give me the screaming pain that candy does), but I have a chocolate addiction and tend to sneak pieces of it into things like ice cream to justify eating it. but I’m glad I’ve given up on candy because I realize how much plastic packaging is used to wrap it, plus any step toward eating healthier is a plus.

    Reply
    • mairsydoats says:
      June 8, 2011 at 2:52 am

      Good heavens, don’t ingest chalkboard chalk – but percipitated chalk, which is pure calcium carbonate, is okay to ingest, and is used in toothpastes. I can’t speak for whether or not one would want to use it for an antacid, but when I run out of my current toothpaste, I’ll make my own using it. I hate the taste of baking soda. Blech.

      Reply
  125. josefina gurrola says:
    April 2, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    Hi Beth, looking at how much you’ve reduced plastic consumtion over the past 2.5 years is overwhelming. It’s hard to imagine myself having that success at eliminating plastic while visualizing all the Sam’s Club/Cosco type packaging my family of five goes through, but it’s a mountain worth climbing.

    I admire your ethics, persistence, endurance and graceful wittiness :o )

    Reply

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  127. MrBuss says:
    April 13, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    Love the intent, but the creation of baking soda is an extremely ecological-damaging process.. I would stop recommending using it in so many places considering how the chemicals are created to form baking soda.

    Reply

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  129. Con says:
    May 2, 2010 at 10:43 am

    I would like to add to the list: If you are a parent, use pencil crayons instead of felt pens/markers which are little plastic tubes that cannot be recycled when they run out. Thanks and love your blog

    Reply
  130. Heather says:
    May 23, 2010 at 5:54 pm

    Such a hugely helpful post, thank you! Another line of bags I’ve found on the east coast at WF are http://www.sustainablebite.com I love them b/c they are washable and can keep the produce after I’ve gotten it. Not to mention, they’re cute!

    Reply

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  132. Lynn Fang says:
    May 26, 2010 at 3:30 pm

    Phenomenal post! I will be referring to this page many times in the future! Thank you!

    Reply

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  134. Anon.e.mouse says:
    June 8, 2010 at 4:28 pm

    Hate to point out the obvious, but lots of mineral waters come in recyclable/recycled glass containers, don’t hate on all bottled water, I can’t go through life without my Gerolsteiner

    Reply

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  136. Danish girl says:
    June 14, 2010 at 3:18 am

    Hi Beth,
    another way to wash your hair is to use Rhassoul powder. It’s basically mineral soil that works well for the whole body and hair as well. I am using it for more than 3 years now and am extremely happy with it. The no poo method wouldn’t work for me, because the baking soda and vinegar would irritate my skin extremely much, even at low concentrations and I don’t have any of these problems with the Rhassoul powder. I never saw it in bulk, but I buy huge packages of it (5 Kilos), which basically lasts forever.
    Maybe you can include that in your list? It made my hair very soft and shiny and my skin likes the soil, too. And now I only have to wash my hair 1-2 times a week (with normal shampoo almost every day).

    Keep on going with the good work!

    Reply
  137. Mary says:
    June 14, 2010 at 8:17 am

    Danish girl,
    where do you get your Rhassoul powder and do you use it to both wash your hair hair and your body? How do you prepare it? Do you use it in powder form directly on a wash cloth or puff?

    Reply
  138. Leanne says:
    June 14, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    Hi Beth – Can you possibly make a PDF/text/easy read version of this? Then I could send it around my email list of people, and around Facebook as an attachment for people :-)

    Its an awesome post, and deserves to be stuck on everyone’s fridge. hey – maybe a one page version? :-)

    That would be excellent. Up to you though.

    Reply

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  140. Beth Terry says:
    June 14, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    Hi Leanne. I just added Email and Print buttons. Thanks for the suggestion!

    Reply
  141. Alexandra says:
    June 14, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    Thanks for this great list!

    Reply
  142. Kat says:
    June 20, 2010 at 9:00 am

    Please add a cautionary to your advice:

    #45 Olive oil lube!
    At least one doctor thinks it’s a healthy alternative to synthetic personal lubricants.

    Oil based lubricants have two problems – 1. They deteriorate latex. They are NOT safe if you are using latex condoms to protect against sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy. (They also deteriorate some other rubbers so using with non-plastic, non-silicone adult toys is just damaging an expensive product). There are condoms made of polyisoprene or polyurethane which are latex free and safe to use with oil based lubricants, but they are made from plastics.

    2. Oil clogs pores and smothers cells. You must use soap and water thoroughly to wash away oil from your skin. Using oil based products on the genitals can trap bacteria and encourage acne and infections such as urinary tract infections.

    Using olive oil as a personal lubricant is excellent for massage, but should only be used for sexual penetration if you do not need a latex condom and wash up with soap and water afterward to discourage infection.

    An alternative to use with latex products – Look for all natural or organic lubricants. At least there’s no chemicals or petroleum used in the actual product. Some advertise entirely recyclable packaging. Find out the life of your lube and buy in bulk. If your lube has a long shelf life (and most do), then you can usually find large quantity containers online or ask to order it from your local adult store.

    Reply
  143. Chris Chambers says:
    June 20, 2010 at 10:50 am

    Great website!

    Here’s my cruisade:

    There is a lot of dyes, and wasted paper, and probably plastic as well in our Junk mail!!! Every year in the USA, every household gets approximately 40 lbs of junk mail, 90% of which never gets opened. There are ways to reduce junkmail. Here in Canada, simply affixing a letter to our postal worker, and a ‘no junk mail’ sign on the mailbox, we are taken off the Canada Post Admail mailing list, AND they reduce the number of copies of these ads that are produced. Its a consumer choice program. It reduced my junkmail to almost none whatsoever in about 5 days. Maybe there is a similar program in the USA? I have been canvassing my home town, telling people about the program door-to-door, and have saved an estimated 5000 lbs of paper this year.

    Reply

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  145. angi says:
    June 22, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    Thanks for this awesome guide and website! We’ve been doing some small things (bringing our own bags, carrying water bottles, bringing our own containers to restaurants) but this list has given me so many more ideas!

    I just want to chime in about a fun kitty toy we accidentally discovered. I had some pairs of socks with holes in them that I was about to throw away. Instead, I tried rolling them up into little sock balls and it turns out our kitty loves chasing them around the house! :)

    Reply
    • Beth Terry says:
      June 22, 2010 at 5:31 pm

      Hi Angi. My husband Michael actually made them some toys with old socks, too. I should add that to the list. He added catnip and put little bells inside and sewed them up. The cats love them.

      Reply
  146. Ecobabe says:
    June 24, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    I’m impressed with your dedication! Just fyi, though — almost every link I tried on this page produced a Page Not Found error. In the interest of helping others live a more plastic-free life, it would be great if you could update the links to make the info more accessible!

    Reply
    • Beth Terry says:
      June 24, 2010 at 12:21 pm

      Ecobabe, thanks for letting me know! Something has gone wrong with WordPress. I am working on fixing it right now. I hope this issue has not been going on for very long. :-(

      Reply
    • Beth Terry says:
      June 24, 2010 at 1:07 pm

      Okay, I went through and made sure all the links worked. Sorry about that. I transferred from one blog platform to another a while back and sometimes the links get messed up.

      Reply
  147. Calen says:
    June 26, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    I recently found your website and am overwhelmed by all the little things that use plastic! I ended up making a checklist of nearly everything on this page so I could start removing plastic from my life as well!

    Reply
  148. Serina says:
    June 26, 2010 at 4:30 pm

    Here on my ranch we used to spray poisons to kill weeds and pests. Not only is that bad for the environment, but the sprays always come in plastic containers. When I saw your site, I started trying to live a plastic free (or at least reduced) life, but weeds and bugs were still a big issue. I researched alternative methods and discovered that there are certain animals which are excellent weeders and bug eaters and amazingly are 100% plastic free! Flip Flop Ranch now has goats and geese for the weeds, ducks for mosquitoes and flies and soon we’ll have guinea hens for the mice, snakes and the bugs the ducks missed. And no plastic or poisons will be used!

    Reply
    • Beth Terry says:
      June 27, 2010 at 12:30 am

      Serina, thank you for letting me know about what you are doing on the ranch to avoid pesticides and plastic. Your ranch therapy program looks fantastic, too!

      Reply

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  150. Fern Hotels says:
    July 2, 2010 at 12:48 am

    This is another great article! It is inspiring to see such resolve in terms of refusing to use plastics! We hope you can keep this going and in the process inspire all to use lesser of what they already do…. It takes one to start walking and pretty soon, we could have a hundred running! Good luck on all your endeavors!
    And share your views about the green ideas we share on our blog!
    http://www.fernecotel.wordpress.com

    Reply

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  152. Jon says:
    July 13, 2010 at 5:09 am

    if you really want to reduce your waste.. go vegan..then go raw vegan and eat fruit and some veggies. if you do some research you will find it is much healthier. I laugh that you cant give up your prescription drugs. those are toxic and kill you. thats not medicine. just eat a healthy diet and you wont need those chemicals that stop your body from trying to heal its sick self. I dont even have to try to reduce my plastic because i dont eat junk that comes in plastic. go raw go vegan or stay a sicko. ciao

    Reply

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  154. Dawn says:
    July 21, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Hey again!
    Just a heads up. Thanks to your inspiration I have decided to write a post scheduled for next Monday about taking more exotic pets and getting them plastic free. Soon I’ll also be writing about what I will do to try to reduce my daughter’s plastic consumption and eventually my own. :) Thanks for being such an inspiration!

    Reply
  155. Beth Terry says:
    July 25, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    Dawn, please let us know when your posts are up!

    Reply

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  159. Melissa says:
    July 31, 2010 at 4:57 pm

    as to plants, most small garden centers will take back the black plastic grow-pots and either reuse them themselves, return them to the grower, or sell them for a small fee to customers. So, they can be reused until they break.

    Reply
  160. Beth Terry says:
    August 2, 2010 at 10:14 am

    Mary, if you’re talking about the kind of water cooler with a hard plastic container, then I wouldn’t use it. That container is made from polycarbonate, which contains BPA. The Brita containers, while plastic, are at least BPA-free.

    Reply
  161. Mary says:
    August 2, 2010 at 3:59 am

    Beth,
    Do you recommend that we get rid of our water coolers? I have an old one that I would like to use to pour my Brita filtered water into it because the Brita pitcher uses a lot of space on my counter.

    Reply
  162. Brad MacInnis says:
    August 3, 2010 at 10:55 am

    I just wanted to address two of the items that you mentioned you could not let go of. 1-You mentioned the envelope windows but many companies now use windows made out of cornstarches and other things. If the ones who are mailing to you are not using this option you could nag them to switch over

    2-you mentioned toothpaste tube caps, have you tried homemade toothpaste instead? I’ve been using a homemade recipe for quite some time now and I don’t have cavities or anything else. The recipe I use is one part salt, one part glycerin(a natural hand moisturizer), one part soap flakes (sodium tallowate), three parts baking soda and just a drop of water to help the consistency of it. That way there is no need for the caps and you save money that I’m sure you can find better ways to spend

    Reply
    • Beth Terry says:
      August 3, 2010 at 11:10 am

      Hi Brad. Have you found glycerin that doesn’t come in a plastic bottle? I’ve looked for it and haven’t found it.

      Yes, I have noticed that some envelopes come with compostable windows these days. Also, some are glassine, which is a paper product. I am off most mailing lists at this point, but every month, the occasional window envelope arrives with some random thing that I probably won’t receive again.

      Thanks for your comments!

      Reply
  163. Brad MacInnis says:
    August 3, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    re:glycerin in plastic bottles
    touche

    I hadn’t even noticed but I’ll have to look at that

    Reply

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  165. Bhavana says:
    August 27, 2010 at 12:56 pm

    Dear Beth,

    Could you please help out with ideas about storing popcorn? I live in Chennai, India and our coastal city’s humidity is always, ALWAYS above 50%. So, a lot of things(grains, crackers, cookies etc) that could be stored in a plain steel container out on the kitchen shelf needs to be stored in the refrigerator….necessitating frequent buying also. No buying in bulk as it either goes bad quickly/you get worms in them! (Eg:whole wheat/maize that I buy- to be ground in a mill)

    While I have found a my own solutions to that, popcorn, tapioca/banana/corn chips that I buy fm a local shop-they get made fresh everyday, and the owner is glad to give them out in my own container – these things CANT be stored in a steel/glass container, and just kept on the shelf. They become moist overnight. AIRTIGHT containers are also not great in this weather. And ofcourse, cold popcorn or chips fm the fridge doesnt sound /taste great.

    I have a toddler and these natural snacks are what Im limiting him to(no cookies at all as they all come in plastic and have unidentifiable ingredients listed.He gets enough sugar from fruits) So at the moment I reuse plastic bags and tightly twist the opened end and clip a clothclip. And such reuse can last 3-4times before the plastic cover gets permanent creases and I know its breaking down. Also I can storestuff like this for about 3 days max before the popcorn goes limp.

    Any ideas please? I dont have an oven/nor do I want to buy more plastic/energy consuming appliances. Im tempted to bake my own bread, etc, but the heat that a running oven gives out is daunting.

    Please help.

    Reply
  166. Angela says:
    August 30, 2010 at 10:50 am

    Amazing list. Trying to reduce my plastic use, too. Will bookmark your blog :D Thanks a lot for sharing!

    Reply

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  168. R says:
    September 6, 2010 at 8:33 am

    At first I thought your article was going to be a bunch of kooky tree hugger stuff. But as I read, it was pleasantly surprised your ideas were in alignment with my philosophy. Thanks for the ideas.

    Reply
  169. Karen Martin Sampson says:
    September 8, 2010 at 10:08 am

    This is a great blog! My husband and I already implement a lot of these things but you have lots of ideas we haven’t considered…but will from now on! Thanks!

    Reply
  170. Beth Terry says:
    September 15, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    Hi Mary. I do know about Ecoforms plant pots. They are made from vegetable-based sources instead of plastic: http://ecoforms.com/

    Reply
  171. Jacqueline says:
    September 15, 2010 at 10:36 am

    Wow…I love your website!! Reading about what you can do to reduce plastic in your life made me realize actually how MUCH plastic we are exposed to in our daily life. Thank you for all your wonderful information I will work to apply your suggestions in reducing plastic. I will continue to check your site for guidance!!
    Thank You :)

    Reply
  172. Mary says:
    September 15, 2010 at 11:40 am

    Hi Beth,

    Do you have any information on your website about plastic flower pots? I want to buy some to grow vegestables in, but I’m not sure the plastic ones are safe to eat out of. The pots I’ve seen at the store lately appear to be very cheaply made and break easily. I did manage to purchase a bucket from a yard sale made from copper and a smaller one made of galvanized steel, whicha are very expensive new?

    What is your advice regarding flower pots for growing food in? Thanks, Mary

    Reply
  173. MamaBee says:
    September 19, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    Wow, this is fantastic! Your blog is inspiring – I’m glad I found it today. We recently pronounced that we would buy no new plastic dishes, food storage containers or toys. We’re not heavy consumers by any stretch; still, I cringe every time I toss a bit of plastic packaging. You seem to live with such integrity when it comes to plastic – I’m challenged to redouble my efforts! Thanks for the reminders of what we can be doing (I can vouch for the “no-poo” lifestyle) and the new ideas. I never thought about bringing my own containers to the butcher shop!

    Reply
  174. apw says:
    September 21, 2010 at 5:33 am

    Thanks for the tips! I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on a non-plastic lunchbox, so I made a bento from wood. I posted instructions online if others are interested: http://www.instructables.com/id/Bento-Lunch-Box/

    Reply

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  178. Jessica says:
    October 23, 2010 at 9:30 am

    For the longest time I looked forward to getting out of my folks’ place (and God bless them for putting me up – and putting up with me – for so long!), get out on my own, and be able to run my own household as GREEEEEEEEEN as I could possibly make it.

    Instead, I got married. So it’s technically not MY household. It’s both of ours. And we have a roommate. And as much as I love my husband, and we both really like our roommate…well, let’s just say they’re not nearly as passionate about being green as I am. I would LOVE to get rid of as much plastic from the house as possible – but I’m finding that, when I’m the only one doing it, it’s REEEEEAAAALLLLLY hard to keep up with all the waste the other two generate. (Not to mention the excess water they consume just taking showers, running the laundry multiple times a day, running the dishwasher when it’d be more effective simply to hand-wash, running the tap full-blast and continually when they do hand-wash the dishes, leaving all the lights and the tv on, running the dryer when we live in a DESERT and it would actually be faster to simply hang-dry the clothes… BTW, did I mention we live in a DESERT?? And all our water and electricity needs to be imported in?? And they insist on keeping the thermostat around 74 degrees! I know 120 degrees is miserable, but can’t we at least keep the thermostat at 80, keep our utility bill down, and minimize our carbon footprint just a little??)

    *sigh* Boys.
    :)

    Anyway, I’m happy to find your site here, and I hope to find some wonderful tips and advice that I can use around the house. Maybe I can get the boys in on it, too.

    *crossing fingers*

    Reply

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  183. Rebekah says:
    November 30, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    Beth, I noticed that Tyvek race numbers are listed on your list of items not given up yet. I assume you may already know how Tyvek can be recycled, but unless you are keeping them all for scrapbooks, you may want to know where to send Tyvek for recycling at DuPont (the company that makes it). This also applies to Tyvek envelopes (like FedEx paks), wristbands you get at clubs or paid events, etc.

    Methods vary depending on the volume you’re sending in, but basically you can just flip one Tyvek evelope inside out, stuff everything else inside of it, and mail it in. See this link for the address and what to do if you use this for work or have a larger volume.
    http://www2.dupont.com/Tyvek_Envelopes/en_US/tech_info/tech_environ.html

    Reply
  184. Laurie says:
    December 2, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    I work at a nursery and would like to suggest that gardeners find a small nursery that will recycle their used plastic pots. The nursery where I work re-uses pots again and again until they eventually crack. Some of the pots are still growing things after several decades. We highly encourage customers to return pots for recycling, especially large pots because they are quite expensive for us to buy.

    Prior to the use of plastic pots, nurseries sold plants bare root during the winter, balled and burlap (B & B), in wooden boxes(larger trees), and in metal cans. Metal cans were typically cut off and not reused. Plants can still be purchased bare root during the winter. Find a small nursery where the plants are sold in bins filled with damp sawdust instead of the big box stores where the plants are already wrapped in plastic. Many plants are now available in biodegradable pots that can be planted along with the plant, although I usually remove the pot when planting. Larger trees can be purchased in wooden boxes.

    I’d suggest that instead of purchasing smaller plants, like vegetables and flowers, in pony packs (these are not easily recycled and have a short life even if recycled), gardeners buy seeds and grow plants themselves. Seeds can be started in wooden flats, terracotta pots, or a variety of other containers. Wooden popsicle sticks can be used as labels. Use a pencil to prevent fading. Larger plants can grow in terracotta pots, wooden containers, or a variety of other containers.

    Potting mix can be purchased in bulk. For smaller amounts, check to see if a local nursery that stocks bulk mix will sell you a bucket or box of it. Fertilizer, especially organic varieties, is often available in cardboard boxes. Hoses are available in rubber, even recycled tires. And hoses can and should be repaired when they break or split.

    Reply
  185. Mary says:
    December 2, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    Thank you, Laurie for all the excellent information and for letting us know that we can return the plastic pots to the nursery. I’ve always thought I’d be insulting them by returning garbage to them.

    I won’t think that way anymore though.

    Reply

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  188. Tori says:
    December 30, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    As far as the reappearing prescription bottle inquiry goes, I know here in Charlotte, NC the Humane Society will take the used bottles to help with distributing the animals “new” medications to their furever homes. Not sure if they all do, I’m sure some animal rescue groups could use them for this purpose too… Just an idea.

    Reply

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  190. Natalie Diebolt says:
    January 4, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    I’ve noticed that you’ve mentioned the kitty litter box as something you use. Have you considered training your cat/s to use the toilet? It can be done and saves you time and materials to maintain a healthy kitty and human environment. http://www.wikihow.com/Toilet-Train-Your-Cat

    Reply
  191. Maggie says:
    January 7, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    Hello, I’m not sure if someone suggested this as there are many comments, but diatomaceous earth is supposed to be a natural flea killer. I have no idea what goes into getting this product or the production process, but it can come in a paper bag. It also works as a wormer for cats, dogs, and horses. People can eat it too. It is a sedimentary rock that was once algae, and the product is 100% with no additives or other things in it. I give it to my horse instead of using a chemical wormer.

    Reply

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  194. Teya says:
    January 24, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Apparently kids are 60% more BPA contaminated that adults, it’s all in pop can inner coating and in gum too. That’s our focus this month :)

    Reply

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  199. Lisa says:
    February 20, 2011 at 9:24 am

    I didn’t read through all the comments, so maybe this is covered. (If so, don’t post this.)

    Any suggestions on the plastics in eyewear? Do you know of any no-plastic alternatives in sunglasses? For regular glasses, do they still sell metal frames with glass lenses? I know they are usually made out of plastic to cut down on the weight.

    How do contact lenses compare? They’re much smaller than plastic eyeglass lenses, but do they require more resources to make them? I’d love to see some links. And here’s a post with a number of places to recycle old eyeglasses.
    http://greenopolis.com/goblog/green-groove/5-ways-recycle-eyeglasses

    Reply
  200. amy says:
    March 15, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    this is a fantastic list and resource… but gosh it is such a lot of work isn’t it! what a shame more companies don’t cotton on and start making plastic free a more readily free alternative! here in australia it is not easy to find food sold in bins (which means you’d have to give up so many foods) and not every place has a farmer’s market either… it’s a real shame as plastic freaks me out and i’ve been trying to reduce it in our lives, but it is so hard when alternatives are sometimes impossible to find….

    Reply
  201. Niki says:
    March 16, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    THANK YOU!! For this amazing list, I can’t imagine how long it took you to amass all this info. I am going to try my best to use as many of these options as I can. One of my first steps was a Diva Cup, and ladies, it’s not as bad as one might imagine, and also very budget friendly!

    Near the top of my wish list is take out food containers. Living in a small town, I have no doubt that I could drop off some containers for them to prepare my order in, but I wish there were more suitable options for say, a burger. Especially because one of them still uses styrofoam for all the burgers. How bad are tin foil wrappers??

    I have a question regarding the wheat cat litter. Is it still beneficial when you take into account the tractors & combines & chemicals involved in plowing, planting, fertilizing and harvesting the wheat? If I’m not mistaken, agriculture accounts for a significant amount of air poillution. Also, given the global food situation, I don’t feel right about letting our pets poop in it. But maybe there are other factors I’m not considering.

    Thank you again! I’ll keep reading.

    Reply
    • Beth Terry says:
      March 16, 2011 at 10:07 pm

      Hi Niki. Truth is, when it comes to cat poop, there is no perfect solution. Clay litter has environmental impact as well. We don’t let them outside because of the havoc they wreak on bird populations. Cats are complicated. :-)

      Reply
  202. Rebekah says:
    March 21, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    For cats, the only really eco-friendly alternatives are either letting your cats poop outside (I wouldnt dream of it- outdoor cats’ lifespans average 3 years, indoor cats’ 18!) or toilet training them. Yes, you actually can train (some cats- best to start when they’re young!) cats to do their duty squatting on a toilet seat instead of using a litter box. It takes time, patience, and a kit you can find in several styles online. Good luck!
    Mine are in the process, but until that is completed, I use one of the litters that is made from recycled paper (it’s in pellet form). It doesn’t work the same as traditional clumping litter, so you just have to adjust; only scoop out the bits of poop that are left, don’t scoop all the way to the bottom. The pee flows to the bottom and gets absorbed by pellets down there, which will hold the odor unless you scoop all the way to the bottom and disturb it. You can flush the poop that’s scooped (the little bit of litter that goes with it is paper, so it’s just like our toilet paper going down the drain) and empty the box completely every few days or once a week, depending on usage and preference.
    My cats didn’t understand the wheat or corn litters (which also bugged me on principle a bit to) because they thought it was edible and tried to eat it! Since cats are easily stressed and don’t accept change well, be sure to mix any new litter in with their old and gradually change the amounts so the change is gradual rather than sudden. The only exception is small kittens, as they are a bit better about adapting to changes.

    Reply

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  205. Cristiane says:
    March 30, 2011 at 10:46 am

    Beth, congratulations, your blog and your initiative are wonderful.
    There are few people in the world that concerns about the environment like you and try to do something to change.

    Cristiane from Brazil

    Reply

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  211. Jan Steinman says:
    April 9, 2011 at 5:42 pm

    I think it’s important to make the most out of plastics that already exist.

    We sell at the local farmers’ market, and we only offer plastic bags that have been already used at least once.

    I bought a plastic welding kit from Harbor Freight tools. I can repair many plastic things that break now. They aren’t necessarily pretty afterward, but they still function!

    Any plastic containers that we do end up with somehow get re-used until they are no longer re-useful.

    Reply
  212. James Marshall says:
    April 17, 2011 at 6:38 am

    Dear Beth,

    Have you developed that recipe for ketchup you mentioned? If so, I would dearly love to have it. Here in Costa Rica, we can no longer afford ketchup or mayonnaise, and the mustard is terrible.

    Also, we have just formed a new expat newsletter here oriented toward sharing ideas for sustainable living. Would it be okay to include material from your site, of course with proper credit?

    I’ll tell you one thing: You would absolutely die here. You could never possibly believe the amounts of plastic used here – everything, but everything, is in cheap plastic bags. They have clogged up all the rivers here, and there are vast accumulations of plastic floating in the ocean, too.

    Thanks for your very nice site. James

    Reply

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  215. Nora says:
    April 28, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    Love the list! I have been making my own laundry soap out of handmade or scrounged soap combined with washing soda and borax, which not only ditches the plastic jug, but the petroleum-based detergent as well. It’s way cheaper, too!

    Here’s my recipe- http://paradisecityhomestead.blogspot.com/2010/12/diy-laundry-soap.html

    Reply
  216. Laura says:
    May 6, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    Just an fyi Tom’s of Maine has recently switched to a plastic “laminate” tube. Their website says that they were getting lots of complaints about the aluminum tube cracking and leaking toothpaste, and this new tube is more user friendy (I’ve used their toothpaste for years and never had an issue – maybe the complaints were due to operator error). I wrote them an e-mail saying I’m not buying their toothpaste anymore as long as it comes in a plastic tube… I was seriously pissed about this yesterday. Hopefully enough people will give them negative feedback that they’ll switch back to the aluminum tube soon.

    Reply
  217. Nicole D says:
    May 20, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    I’m moving into a new apartment and need to purchase a shower curtain. I notice you don’t mention shower curtains in your list. Any advice on materials that are natural and non-plastic and also do well in a moist environment? I’ve seen people use cotton but it seems like in a humid climate this would require a lot of washing (read: unneccessary extra energy/water use) to keep from getting mold build up. If I owned my own home I’d definitely use a glass and metal shower door but since I don’t have that option I’m looking for shower curtain advice.

    On the same topic I will be replacing the old, disgusting shower head currently installed in our shower. Is it possible to get one without plastic?? I know they come in mostly metal but it seems like the holes where the water comes out are always plastic and I’m sure most of them must have a plastic ring seal where it connects to the water line. If anyone has any advice for plastic free options or at least maybe recycled plastic I’d appreciate it!!

    Reply
    • Nicole D says:
      May 23, 2011 at 3:59 pm

      UPDATE: I found a shower curtain made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. It was at KMart of all places! It didn’t even come in a plastic package and included it’s own hangers (also 100% recycled bottles). It did come on a plastic hanger which probably wasn’t recycled but I think it will work nicely for my needs. I realize this isn’t plastic free but since I wasn’t able to find anything that wasn’t plastic (everything, everywhere I went was polyester or polyester blend) I feel better about it being 100% post-consumer recycled. That’s a rare thing to find.

      I still don’t know what to do about the shower head, I’m probably going to have to make that concession and then hope that it lasts me a long time (and I’ll be taking it with me when I leave this apartment).

      Reply
  218. Nan Sea Love says:
    June 1, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    i LOVE this blog! Back in the early 70s before the first Earth Day i had a handout that gave many of these suggestions. But a former housemate of mine RECYCLED my treasured last copy!

    i am currently updating a poster i made in the 80s with suggestions for living green and would love to use some of your suggestions if that is okay with you? i will be happy to include a link to your website. ♥

    Reply
    • BethTerry says:
      June 1, 2011 at 3:25 pm

      Nan, please do use some of these suggestions. A link back to the web site is much appreciated, as I constantly update this list as I discover new plastic-free alternatives. I’d love to see your poster when it’s done. Will it be something you can post online and let people download?

      Reply
      • Nan Sea Love says:
        June 1, 2011 at 4:23 pm

        i am not sure yet how i will distribute it Beth. The last time i did it i had it on 100% post consumer waste paper. But the most economical way i can have it printed is through my cafepress store, i chose them because they offer 100% organic tee shirts and are print on demand which is a good environmental choice as it means less stuff is printed. But they do not have recycled paper nor soy inks as an alternative choice yet. Since the art will be highly detailed i still want to offer it as a recycled paper soy inks poster. However your suggestion is a good idea, i will see if i have the technical skills to have a less detailed one available to download online for free. ♥

        Reply
  219. April says:
    June 4, 2011 at 5:15 pm

    Wow, this is quite amazing!

    I am wondering, however, what type of computer you use? You didn’t mention any electronics in the “Plastics I can’t avoid” list…so I’m wondering if your keys, monitor, etc are plastic? Or do you have an aluminum mac?

    Reply
  220. Natalie says:
    June 5, 2011 at 5:01 am

    What a great website! I’ve found it a few weeks ago and I am still digging into old articles and browsing all the resources. I especially like the list on how to store produce in your fridge. Now, there is something I have not found an answer for and I thought maybe someone could point me in the right direction: I am looking for a plastic-free salad spinner. My grandma used to have one in stainless steel (or aluminum?) that you need to take outside and shake with all your might. I would not mind, as long as there is no plastic. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Claudia says:
      June 19, 2011 at 8:46 pm

      Maybe you could use a dishtowel. Put the washed salad in a dishtowel and shake it above your sink. For me it works really well.

      Reply
  221. BC says:
    June 27, 2011 at 5:40 am

    Hey just a question, I work on an organic farm and we sell a ton of lettuce, any suggestions on getting it to consumers with out it wilting?

    Reply
  222. Virginia says:
    July 13, 2011 at 10:39 am

    Congratulations for such a fantastic page !.. To be honest I’ve myself started a “new life” about a year ago after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and finding out that a lot of things that are in our daily life can be hormone disruptors and would have had an impact in me having the illness made me very sad and angry. Its not easy and its not cheap either to make the changes but I’ve started so far little by little. I do live in Europe which makes it more easy to become plastic-free, according to my experience. I do eat only organic fruits, vegetables and meats. At the market and supermarkets you can get preservative veggies instead in a can in bottle jars very easily. The organic markets where I buy don’t use plastic bags but paper bags for groceries, besides that, everybody here brings they’re own bags to the markets…

    I also change all my cosmetics and threw away almost US$ 400 in expensive brands which they all have very bad things, overall, I avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Parabens (Methyl, Ethyl, Buthyl and Isobutyl), Phtalates, Musks, Artificial Fragances, Methylisothiazolione (MIT), Mineral Oils, Paraffin and Petrolatum, Proplylene Glycol and Acrylamide. I changed for hair and face products certified by BIDH which is a German institution which certifies for natural products. I use organic deodorant and baking soda (no aluminum!). Toothpaste I use Weleda ones which don’t come in plastic containers.

    For cleaning products I use natural things as you do: white vinegar, baking soda, lemon, essential oils. I trew away all sprays from my house and old cleaning products. For washing use certified natural products as well.

    Finally I got rid of the teflon pans and bought very nice Mauviel PTFE & PFOA-free skyllets for cooking. I do also carry my own non-plastic bottle of water every day. To be honest, life is going very crazy !!!

    There is still long way ahead of me, but you have done a fantastic job!

    Reply
  223. sharron says:
    July 15, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Why do you care about the use of plastic & its impact on the planet when you aren’t vegan? How can you care for the planet without caring for its inhabitants? I was enjoying reading this until your advice about packaging when going to the ‘butchers’. Disappointed with the hypocricy

    Reply
    • BethTerry says:
      July 18, 2011 at 5:17 am

      Hi Sharron. I hope you will come back and read my response to your comment. First, this list is for everyone… carnivores, vegetarians, and vegans. If someone is going to buy meat, better that they do it without plastic. Second, please don’t assume that because I give advice about how to buy meat without plastic that I eat meat myself. In fact, I don’t. But my cats do. Cats are obligate carnivores and do not thrive on a plant-based diet. So we bring a stainless steel pot to the butcher shop to buy meat for them. Third, please stick around and get what you can from this blog. It’s sad to me when people are quick to accuse others of hypocrisy and make assumptions about their lifestyle before checking in first. Let’s have conversation instead of accusations.

      Reply
  224. Sam Snide says:
    September 6, 2011 at 4:53 am

    While I generally share the sentiments about plastic, I do find a few somewhat concerning bits of advice. While it is generally the best to avoid it when possible, some of your alternatives actually have a bigger negative impact on the environment:

    1. Steel containers are an environmental nightmare: http://envimpact.org/node/154
    2. Paper as packaging material (e.g. for bread storage, toilet paper, etc.) is equally harmful to the environment: http://envimpact.org/paperorplastic
    3. Aluminium toothpaste containers are way worse in their overall impact on the environment than plastic.
    4. Having locally available items like toilet paper shipped to you by Amazon to avoid plastic packaging is environmental insanity.
    5. Unless supplied in bulk and filled at the store, buying milk (or for that matter any beverage) in glass containers is also counter productive, due to the weight of glass and the additional energy requirements for transport.
    6. Bringing your own bottles on a plane….. really? Flying is about the worst thing you can do to the environment…. so you really think saving that one plastic bottle is going to make it OK?

    Reply
    • BethTerry says:
      September 10, 2011 at 12:58 am

      Hi Sam. thanks for your thoughtful comment. It is true that all products, no matter what material they are made from, have an environmental impact. That’s why I like to emphasize reducing our consumption overall. Choose products with less packaging of all kinds (like naked soap and shampoo bars, for example.) Ask ourselves if we really need something in the first place. Look for secondhand goods instead of buying new stuff. But plastic does have some special concerns. Here are my answers to your specific points:

      1) Steel does require more energy to produce than plastic. But it’s a healthier choice for food. Plastics contain hormone-disrupting additives that can and do leach into our foods. Many “food-safe” plastic containers contain antibacterial chemicals like triclosan which are not disclosed on the label. In fact, the chemicals added to plastics are never disclosed for proprietary reasons, so there is no way to make a truly informed decision about their safety. A good steel container will last for many, many years without leaching toxic chemicals during its life. The key is to only buy what you actually need or find secondhand items and use them for a long time.
      2) The paper wrapping on a loaf of bread or roll of toilet paper will biodegrade. That plastic wrapper will only break down into smaller and smaller pieces and possibly leach chemicals into the environment. What’s more, the paper wrapping on a roll of Seventh Generation toilet paper is as thin as tissue paper, a tiny amount of paper compared to the toilet paper itself. There are people who choose washable “family cloth” instead of toilet paper, but I’m not willing to go that far. Bravo to those who are.
      3) I agree with you on aluminum toothpaste tubes, and I posted a blog recently about alternative toothpaste options. I’ll update this page with the link to this new post: http://myplasticfreelife.com/2011/08/searching-for-the-perfect-all-natural-plastic-free-toothpaste-or-powder-or-soap-or/
      4) The toilet paper that is delivered by Amazon comes in a 48-roll case, the same size that would be delivered to a store, and it lasts many months. I suppose I could order the case through a store, but then I’d have to travel to the store to pick it up. And the cardboard box can be reused multiple times and then it will biodegrade. That plastic wrapper won’t.
      5) While it’s true that glass is heavier than plastic, once again, it’s not healthy to consume foods and beverages packaged in plastic.
      6) Flying is an absolute environmental nightmare. I don’t claim that bringing my own bottle negates the environmental impact of flying. What I am saying is that we should be as mindful of packaging waste on a plane as we are during the rest of our lives. There’s no reason to drink bottled water or eat packaged meals on a plane if we wouldn’t do it at other times.

      Reply
    • kanishka says:
      November 22, 2011 at 3:11 am

      @sam

      i like the fact that you are challenging conventional environmental wisdom. good to keep questioning, looking for better solutions, deeper answers

      btw, on the glass, i bike my glass bottled milk and yogurt home direct from the dairy! though i don’t know how many people are so fortunate to have such an awesome dairy as brookford farm near me.

      kanishka

      Reply
  225. Beth Partin says:
    November 10, 2011 at 6:23 pm

    Beth, the link for the Take Out Without card isn’t working.

    Reply
  226. BethTerry says:
    November 10, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    Beth, thanks for letting me know. I just fixed it.

    Reply
  227. bukiety ślubne says:
    December 27, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    hey, I’m an advocate of the most minimalist, I really do not have to have everything:) I live in the EU, plastic? It’s a big problem but you will not find in our stores plastic bags chee other packages, it is good progress. The EU is a strong emphasis on protecting the environment. Hug:)

    Reply
  228. kanishka says:
    January 1, 2012 at 7:47 am

    more natural latex gloves on market, not girlie – http://www.ifyoucare.com/product/fsc-certified-household-gloves-fsc-c005046 . i feel like the ones i own (blue) are from a third company i can’t remember right now.

    Reply
  229. Lisa says:
    January 10, 2012 at 5:55 pm

    Just wanted to say that as kids we used to use the little pizza box saver things (when they were round – I think most are triangle shaped now?) to use as side tables and stools in our Barbie doll house.

    Reply
  230. randy says:
    January 16, 2012 at 5:53 pm

    I was pretty smug when I started reading this, but see I have a ways to go before I have done all I can do. Thank you for setting me straight! Plastic in gum…ug!

    Reply
    • BethTerry says:
      January 16, 2012 at 7:36 pm

      Randy, I was smug in the beginning of this journey as well, and now that I’ve come this far, I realize there is a ton I still don’t know and many more steps I could be taking. It’s all a learning process. I hope you’ll share any ideas you have that may not be listed here.

      Reply
  231. Toni Samoranski says:
    January 17, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    Have you found an alternative for storage containers? Like, large ones that would normally store, Christmas decorations, etc.?

    Reply
  232. Toni Samoranski says:
    January 17, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    And also, what about lotion/moisturizer containers?

    Reply
    • BethTerry says:
      January 17, 2012 at 5:17 pm

      Hi Toni. I don’t think there is a direct substitute for those big plastic containers, and in fact I still use one that I bought before I started this project. Nowadays, I would either store things in a repurposed cardboard box or I would find a container secondhand instead of buying a new one. I also store some things in big repurposed suitcases that I found secondhand.

      As for lotion, some of the best/simplest moisturizers are plain organic olive oil or coconut oil. Organic Essence makes a lotion in a compostable cardboard container. And there are also solid lotion bars you can buy that come in metal tins or even naked. Check Etsy.com.

      Reply
      • Toni Samoranski says:
        January 17, 2012 at 6:19 pm

        Great, thank you so much for your help. This is an absolutely wonderful article, so helpful. I will definitely be passing this along to some friends and family.

        Reply

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