Anonymous wrote:Toothpaste Tablets
Stainless Steel to go containers/lids (not sure why but these are so hard to find on the east coast. Try Asian/Indian markets)
Stainless Steel Straws
Windowsill Herb Box


Habitually bringing food on the go to cut down on last-minute fast food cravings.

Shopping at Farmer's Market or CSA

Increasing consumption of Hard Cheese

Monthly visit to zero waste store

Ask your kid's school to host a zero waste talk with suggestions for actual products.

Compost

Spend time with others in Nature. This isn't a product, but it will help motivate you and them to make choices that are more sustainable.

I don't understand the hard cheese?

Anonymous wrote:Also, bars of soap, shampoo, conditioner instead of bottles.

And get your milk from South Mountain Creamery in glass bottles instead of buying plastic milk jugs.

I was doing this during the pandemic and then I decided it's less environmental because they have to drive the milk from far away when there is milk in a store nearby. I did like feeling good about the glass bottles though.

There’s so much unnecessary plastic all over the place. Decorations being wasteful for example.

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of bar shampoo and conditioner options. And bar soap, not those big plastic bottles of soap.

It's really hard to eliminate plastics and we still have a ton, but I just keep making changes slowly.

Also, we use way too much detergent, soap, and shampoo. Way too many products out there. I use shampoo and conditioner once a month, but wash my hair daily with water. Counters can be wiped down with water. Use bleach cleansers or bleach when you know or suspect bad microbes like E. coli or salmonella.

There are lots of bar shampoo and conditioner options. And bar soap, not those big plastic bottles of soap.

It's really hard to eliminate plastics and we still have a ton, but I just keep making changes slowly.

No produce bags ever. Just place in cart, wash thoroughly when home.

EAT AT HOME.

Definitely hard to not use plastic entirely.
When you are on the go, i just want to pack the sandwiches in a plastic bag or plastic container. Light and simple.
I don't want to carry around glass.
For camping, we pack in plastic to reduce weight. We also reuse the plastic bags often until there's a hole. The other household items plastics are hard to reduce. Like toothpaste, shampoo and laundry bottles.

And check out all the suggestions at myplasticfreelife.com. Beth Terry is the person who started it. Tons of great suggestions there, like buying a safety razor.

I also just made a commitment to myself that I wouldn’t ever buy a plastic bottled beverage again. It took a little self control at first, but I love having no part in all that single use waste.

Toothpaste Tablets
Stainless Steel to go containers/lids (not sure why but these are so hard to find on the east coast. Try Asian/Indian markets)
Stainless Steel Straws
Windowsill Herb Box


Habitually bringing food on the go to cut down on last-minute fast food cravings.

Shopping at Farmer's Market or CSA

Increasing consumption of Hard Cheese

Monthly visit to zero waste store

Ask your kid's school to host a zero waste talk with suggestions for actual products.

Compost

Spend time with others in Nature. This isn't a product, but it will help motivate you and them to make choices that are more sustainable.

Also, bars of soap, shampoo, conditioner instead of bottles.

And get your milk from South Mountain Creamery in glass bottles instead of buying plastic milk jugs.

Obviously, buy things in bulk and repack whenever possible, and/or buy with paper or no packaging.

I haven't bought or brought home any plastic bags I could avoid in over ten years. I reuse every plastic food bag I can't avoid to wrap something else:

Pasta/cereal/bread bags for lunchbox sandwiches. I make sure to open them carefully at the top (with scissors if necessary so they don't rip lengthwise). If I run out of those I wrap the sandwich in a cloth napkin.

Frozen fruit or veggies bags to pack up open bags of chicken or meat for refrigeration or to marinate stuff.

No plastic bags for produce at the store. If it's a loose item, I just put it in the bags I brought with me. I also carefully open any plastic netting (like from onions) instead of ripping it and cut off any paper tags. I then take them to the store to pack produce (they're so much better than plastic bags because you can just put them in the fridge as is and the produce can breathe).

Any plastic bag that enters the house in packaging or shipping is carefully opened at the top and reused as a trash bag.The Amazon style plastic shipping bags can be cut with scissors right above where the folded flap is sealed to get a virtually intact bag with very little loss of length.

Use glass tupperware instead of plastic. I always pack my lunch (may get take out two or three times a year tops at work and only because it's a social thing) and use silverware and a steel mug and bottle. If I eat out, I have a couple of glass containers in the trunk of the car in case I want to bring home any leftovers.

If you don't have reusable grocery bags, you can reuse paper ones over and over again with a little TLC. I have reused the same paper bags probably upwards of 50 times.

We haven't used disposable anything for parties at home for over a decade.

You only need a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush in contrast to what TV commercials show.

I give my piece of floss a quick rinse and reuse it until it breaks (you reuse your toothbrush, so what's the difference?)

I use a single so-called disposable razor blade for a couple of years (sharpen it with a knife's edge from time to time).

I wash my hear twice a week, three times if I've been sweating a lot. Generally don't use soap in the shower.

To avoid buying clothes and make them last longer, I wear torn/stained clothes at home since clothing pollution is such a disaster and much of it is plastics.

I wear shoes until they fall apart and then I recycle them.

And no, none of this is for lack of $$.

Regardless, it never seems to be enough...

Use paper bags or reusable bags at grocery store

Anonymous wrote:I buy as much as possible through Grove, so all my kitchen/laundry/cleaning products come in glass or reusable pouches - and as much of my toiletries as possible (this one is a lot harder). Beeswax wraps and compostable wax bags for lunches and leftovers. Mason jars and Pyrex containers for storing and freezing food.

NP. Has freezing in glass been ok for you? I just had a large glass mason jar of homemade baby food crack in the freezer.

I buy as much as possible through Grove, so all my kitchen/laundry/cleaning products come in glass or reusable pouches - and as much of my toiletries as possible (this one is a lot harder). Beeswax wraps and compostable wax bags for lunches and leftovers. Mason jars and Pyrex containers for storing and freezing food.