7 Ways to Reduce Your Use of Plastic in Daily Life

How to reduce the use of plastic in daily life? We live in an era where plastic products are nearly everywhere – it seems like you can’t do anything without them! Plastic is used in so many ways and we have become accustomed to its presence, but just because we’re used to something doesn’t mean that it’s not damaging our health and the environment we live in. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce your use of plastic in daily life – here are 7 suggestions for getting started today!

1) Carry your shopping bag

By bringing your reusable shopping bag with you, you can eliminate a lot of plastic bags. It also helps reduce waste and save money. Every year more than 500 billion non-biodegradable plastic bags are used worldwide. That’s 1 million per minute! Some cities, like San Francisco and Portland, OR already ban single-use plastics altogether.
It’s better for you, your health, and even your wallet. That’s why we highly recommend carrying your reusable shopping bag.

2) Say no to straws

Straws are handy when it comes to drinking smoothies and milkshakes, but they’re also a huge source of plastic waste. Consider investing in a reusable metal straw or a reusable glass straw. (Make sure you wash them thoroughly before and after each use.) In most restaurants, you can simply request no straw if it’s not already provided. If every person who orders an iced drink at Starbucks used their straw instead of taking one from their cup, that could eliminate three billion plastic straws per year!

3) Bring your water bottle

The average person uses approximately 150 plastic water bottles each year. Since bottled water is no healthier than tap water, you should save yourself a pretty penny and buy a reusable container instead. There are even collapsible options available! By bringing your bottle, you’ll reduce your use of single-use plastic by 90 percent and cut down on waste as well. It’s one simple way to be more eco-friendly, plus it will save you cash every month (it adds up!). Keep track of how many bottles you use each month and make sure that number continues dropping with each passing year. If all goes well, by 2020 you’ll be off the plastic for good!

4) Use containers with a lid

Not only are plastic containers difficult to recycle, but they’re also impossible for many developing countries. You can help reduce plastic waste by switching out single-use bags and containers for reusable options. At grocery stores, opt for unpackaged produce when possible. If you bring lunch or snacks to work, use glass jars or aluminum tins instead of plastic baggies. You can even cut down on plastics at home by using storage containers with lids, stainless steel water bottles, and a reusable coffee mug instead of paper cups. Choose cloth napkins over paper ones whenever possible and wash them (and other clothes) regularly—it will save you tons in dry cleaning costs! And always ditch straws—they’re one of our biggest sources of ocean plastic waste.

5) Packaging that you can keep

While you can use alternatives to plastic packaging, such as waxed paper or resealable bags and jars, they won’t last forever. Try to make sure that you have containers and utensils that don’t require extra pieces or wrappings—or at least ones that are easy for you to recycle. The key is making it convenient for yourself so that it becomes second nature. As a bonus, being able to look at how much plastic you’re using every day is a great way to visualize how your efforts are working (or not) daily. And if there are ways that you can reduce what you use, even more, go for it! After all, less plastic is always better than more.

6) Clean up after yourself

By now, you've probably heard how bad plastics are for our planet. But that's only part of why it's so important we cut back on using them. Did you know a shocking 91% of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their urine? This is because all kinds of plastics, even those marked BPA-free, release toxic chemicals into your food and drinks when they're heated or broken down by sunlight. As if that weren't bad enough, scientists have found traces of phthalates—hormone disruptors linked to reproductive problems—in roughly 90%+ plastic products worldwide.

7) Just don’t buy single-use items at all

Think twice before you buy something that’s packaged in plastic. Try to plan your shopping trips so you buy only what you need and avoid unnecessary single-use items like plastic wrap, straws, and paper plates. Many states have banned or placed restrictions on single-use plastics (like plastic bags), but it can still be hard to avoid them completely; if possible, make an effort to shop at stores that don’t use these kinds of plastics—or invest in a reusable bag or lunchbox set—and encourage others around you (including co-workers) to do the same.

Conclusion

Every year more than 500 billion non-biodegradable plastic bags are used worldwide. Some cities, like San Francisco and Portland, OR already ban single-use plastics altogether. By carrying your reusable shopping bag, you can eliminate a lot of plastic bags. You can help reduce plastic waste by switching out single-use bags and containers for reusable options. Try alternatives to plastic packaging, such as waxed paper or resealable bags and jars.

Make sure that you have containers and utensils that don't require extra pieces or wrappings. You can reduce how much plastic you use by cutting out unnecessary items like plastic wrap, straws, and paper plates. Many states have banned or placed restrictions on single-use plastics (like plastic bags) If possible, make an effort to shop at stores that don't use these kinds of plastics.