Plastic is a real scourge on our planet.
Whether in your food, your hygiene products, your phone, your car, your computer:plastic has become ubiquitous.
Plastic litter pollutes our beaches, landfills, rivers and oceans.
Besides, most plastics are made from petroleum!
Luckily, here are 16 simple things you can do to reduce your plastic waste right now:
Do you really need a straw to sip your drink?
One of the easiest things you can do to reduce your plastic waste is to refuse the straws that come with cold drinks.
Tell the waiter or waitress that it is not necessary.
If you are a fan of restaurants with a drive-thru (McDrive type), straws are systematically included in the order.
So, don't forget to specify when you don't want it.
The alternative
If drinking without a straw seems really impossible to you, did you know that there are reusable straws (available in glass or steel)?
When a server sees that you have brought your own reusable straw, they will no longer offer you a plastic straw.
To buy some now, we recommend this reusable stainless steel straw.
Did you know that 1 million plastic bags are used every minute?
And did you know that it takes 1,000 years for a single plastic bag to degrade?
If you already use reusable shopping bags, you're on the right track.
On the other hand, if you still use plastic bags, it's really time to change your habits.
The alternative
The investment is minimal:by buying reusable bags, you contribute to the reduction of plastic in recycling centers.
But beware:do not buy nylon or polyester bags. These synthetics are made from plastic!
Cotton bags are ideal.
To buy some now, we recommend this organic cotton bag.
Do you know that when you chew gum, you also chew plastic?
Initially, chewing gum was made from chicle — a natural gum extracted from a South American plant.
But scientists have discovered that chewing gum can be made from a synthetic gum:polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate.
Therefore, most chewing gum contains plastic!
But that's not all:in addition, polyvinyl acetate is made from vinyl acetate.
This chemical is known to cause tumors in lab rats.
Although it is possible to recycle chewing gum, the best is really to give it up completely (not to mention the plastic packaging).
The alternative
Click here to discover our homemade chewing gum recipe.
When buying detergent or dishwasher detergent, choose products that come in cardboard packaging rather than those sold in plastic bottles.
Why ? Because cardboard packaging is much easier to recycle than plastic.
In addition, the possibilities of recycling cardboard into another product are much more numerous than those of plastic.
Nowadays, more and more supermarkets (like Biocoop) have a section where you can buy your food in bulk:rice, pasta, starches, nuts, cereals, muesli, etc.
On the other hand, do not use plastic bags to buy these foods! Instead, use the paper bags that are available to you.
And if you use your own bags, supermarkets deduct the weight of the container you put the bulk food in. You just have to talk to an employee before filling them out.
If you use cotton bags, be aware that the weight is printed on the bag so the cashier can deduce it.
To discover: Buying in Bulk, A Virtuous Gesture for the Wallet (and the Planet).
When you can, choose glass containers instead of plastic ones.
These include products such as tomato sauce, compote, honey, etc.
In addition, you can reuse these jars as containers for your food, instead of recycling them.
For example, you can take them with you to the supermarket to buy bulk food.
You can also use these jars to store your leftovers.
If you still buy food in plastic boxes, wash the boxes and keep them:they are ideal for storing your food.
Did you know that every year bottled water produces 1.5 million tons of plastic waste?
To produce all these bottles, it takes 177 million liters of oil!
The alternative
Instead of contributing to this huge source of plastic waste, use reusable bottles that you can fill with tap water. We recommend this one.
In France, we are lucky to have very good quality tap water. So no reason to buy plastic water bottles!
For those who are not so lucky, you can buy a water filter like this. So your water is safe and you significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Click here to discover our article on water filters.
Do you often order takeout?
Or do you often ask that we put the leftovers of your meal in a take-out box?
Why not use your own container (doggy-bag)?
Here is another easy and ecological gesture that drastically reduces your plastic waste.
Try to have your own container handy (in your car or purse).
This way, you can ask the waiter to put your dish in it, instead of using a plastic box.
Most restaurants do this without a problem.
When you need to light something (a candle, your stove, a campfire, etc.), use matches instead of disposable lighters.
Disposable lighters are inexpensive, but take years to degrade (some have even been found in the stomachs of dead birds!).
The alternative
If you can't part with the lighter, at least use a metal lighter that you can refill:it reduces your plastic waste.
To buy some now, we recommend this refillable metal lighter.
Frozen foods come in handy, but they are often wrapped in plastic.
Admittedly, frozen foods packaged in cardboard seem to be more environmentally friendly.
But in reality, they are just as problematic.
Indeed, the cardboard in which they are packed is covered with a plastic wrap.
For many people, not buying these foods can seem difficult. But you have to think about all the benefits of this "sacrifice" for the planet.
Besides the ecological benefits, you eat less processed foods and you avoid the chemicals of plastic packaging.
Say goodbye to plastic cutlery and plates.
No more plastic forks, knives, spoons and even chopsticks.
The alternative
It's easy:when you bring your bowl to work, don't forget to bring your own cutlery.
Likewise, if your favorite restaurant only offers plastic cutlery, consider bringing your own cutlery as well.
This is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your fork :-)
If you really need cutlery, the solution is to use biodegradable cutlery. We recommend those made of birch wood which are compostable.
Do you like fresh produce from the market?
I always love cherry tomatoes and berries (raspberries, blackberries, etc.).
But many of these fruits and vegetables are sold in plastic trays.
The alternative
Instead of throwing away these trays, take them with you to the market when you go shopping.
This way, you can ask the merchant to reuse your tray.
By the way, you can also take them to your supermarket and ask for them to be reused.
If you have a baby between 0 and 2 years old, it is important to think about their carbon footprint.
Indeed, do you know that the production of disposable diapers in France is 3 billion per year?
Every second, this represents 95 diapers used on French babies.
In total, it is estimated that disposable diapers represent 351,000 tonnes of waste per year, or 40% of household waste from a household with a child between 0 and 2 years old.
The alternative
Fortunately, there is a much more environmentally friendly alternative:cotton cloth diapers.
It's a small investment to start with, but these nappies can save you a lot of money in the long run — and significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
To buy now, we recommend these washable diapers.
Stop buying fruit juice in plastic bottles.
The alternative
Instead, make your own juice at home or just eat some fresh fruit.
It reduces your carbon footprint and is much better for your health.
Indeed, most fruit juices are produced from concentrate.
Therefore, they have fewer vitamins and antioxidants than homemade fruit juice or fresh fruit.
If you really need to buy juice, choose a glass bottle rather than a plastic one.
Why ? Because glass is more easily recyclable than plastic.
To do the cleaning, of course, you need household products.
But think of all those plastic bottles you buy in a year to do your cleaning:tile cleaner, window cleaner, toilet cleaner, dishwashing liquid, etc.
The alternative
With a few simple basic ingredients, you can use your own homemade cleansers.
It's not only more environmentally friendly, but it's also much cheaper for you.
Here are some of our easy homemade recipes (click on the link):
- Homemade multipurpose cleaner
- Homemade window cleaner
- Homemade floor cleaner
- Homemade toilet cleaner
Do you bring your bowl to work?
Here's a tip to reduce your carbon footprint.
The alternative
Avoid using disposable plastic bags for your sandwiches.
Instead, put your sandwich in a reusable box, tea towel, or sandwich bag like this.
And, instead of buying fruit salad in plastic containers, just buy fresh fruit.
If you eat yogurt, choose the format in large pots.
This way you can prepare smaller portions in reusable boxes (small jars, reusable boxes, etc.).
Some manufacturers highlight the fact that the plastics used for their packaging are recycled.
But the truth is more nuanced.
In fact, unfortunately it is not possible to make a plastic bottle from another plastic bottle.
Indeed, it can simply be recycled into another form of plastic, which is called rigid plastic.
However, rigid plastic cannot be recycled!
So, it is better to pay attention to the "greenwashing" that multinationals know how to use to make us believe that their products are ecological!
