28 Easy Ways to Reduce Plastic In Your Life

Did you know?

Americans discard 14.4 million tons of plastic a year and recycle only about 13%.

It takes 24 gallons of water to make 1 pound of plastic.

It takes 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture the 102 billion plastic bags that Americans use annually.

Known as the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, a plastic island twice the size of Texas swirls through the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Estrogen mimickers which cause health issues like breast cancer, testicular cancer, early puberty, zinc deficiency, miscarriages, 
sterility are found in most plastic items we use every day.

But never fear! There are plenty of ways to reduce plastic in your life. Even adding a few of these into your daily life will snowball effect into a great impact.

1. Completely nix plastic water bottles from your life. Not only do they create great amounts of water waste and plastic waste, but harmful chemicals in the plastic then leeches into the water you consume each time you eat or drink from a plastic container. Use glass or stainless-steel bottles instead.
2. Use ceramic cups and dishes instead of disposable.
3. Avoid single use straws and stirrers.
4. Use traditional coffee makers instead of single-use coffee pods.
5. Switch from plastic grocery bags to canvas, cotton, or hemp bags.
6. Get your make-up in glass and tin containers from suppliers like these.
7. Be mindful of plastics in children’s and pet toys and buy estrogen-mimic-free toys.
8. If you do collect plastic bags every now and then, reuse them.
9. Make your own all-natural cleaners with household items like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and store them in glass containers— it’s better for your health and the environment!
10. Buy shampoos and soaps in bar form.
11. Avoid microbeads in your face wash and other beauty products. These tiny microbeads are causing huge issues in bodies of water and wildlife.
12. Buy in bulk so that you eliminate plastic packaging.
13. And then store your items in glass containers at home.
14. Or purchase food in glass containers when possible.
15. Better yet, try growing your own food at home!
16. Make fresh-squeezed juice instead of store bought. It’s much healthier, too!
17. Give up gum. You’re chewing on plastic.
18. Buy laundry detergent (and anything else you can) in cardboard containers.
19. Ban disposable razors from your home and instead use razors with replaceable blades.
20. Bring your own garment bags to the dry cleaner.
21. Wrap food in aluminum foil or put in glass leftover containers instead of plastic wrap.
22. Burn candles (soy or beeswax, not paraffin) or incense instead of buying air fresheners in plastic holders.
23. At least consider reusable cloth diapers. The EPA estimates that 7.6 billion pounds of disposable diapers are discarded in the US each year.
24. When you do use plastic containers (because let’s face it– we all do), repurpose them.
25. Or return your plastic containers to farmer’s markets or stores when you can.
26. Know how to recycle when you need to.
27. Recycle your electronics at places like Target or Green Mouse Recycling.
28. Become educated on the harms of plastic by watching the following documentaries.
    • Tapped
    • Addicted to Plastic
    • The Plastic Cow
    • Plasticized
    • Garbage Island
    • The Disappearing Male

How do you reduce plastic in your life?