Ways to Reduce Plastic Use

Not only are plastics terrible for the environment, but they can be detrimental to our health too. We've seen the evidence and we know what needs to happen - it's time to cut out plastic from our day-to-day! But where do you even start? Take a look at these genius tips that will help you limit your plastic consumption while keeping life easy and stress free.

Plastic contains a variety of chemicals that can be hazardous to health as well as animals, so why put ourselves and the environment at risk? Reducing plastic use can help reduce the amount of waste in landfills, prevent toxins from leaching into our water supply, and keep us healthy.

Start by saying no to single-use plastics such as grocery bags, straws and cutlery. Replace these items with reusable versions that will last much longer, saving you money and reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Here are some easy steps you can take today to start cutting down on your plastic use:

1. Carry a reusable water bottle or coffee mug made of sustainable material like glass, porcelain or stainless steel with you wherever you go - no more buying disposable plastic bottles!

Here are a few of my faves from Amazon that I keep around the house.

2. Bring your own reusable cloth grocery bags to the store - and don't forget your produce bags!

3. Make sure you have plenty of reusable containers for food storage. Save glass jars and use them to store food and liquids.

In addition to the jars I save, I highly recommend these glass jars for soups, broths and liquids. I get them in various sizes and use them to store legumes, dry pastas, snacks and cereal. I love that they are clear see through and come with labels to keep things nicely organized.

4. Invest in a few sets of reusable straws - they come in all sorts of fun colors and styles!

Check out these reusable straws! Stay away from plastic or silicone all together. I didn't include paper as they are not reusable, but if you must use single use straws make sure they are made from biodegradable materials and don't have Mylar or plastic woven into the design.

5. Try to buy items with minimal plastic packaging or opt for bulk goods - this will reduce the amount of plastic you're bringing into your home.

6. Install a water filter to ensure you have access to clean filtered water rather than buying filtered water plastic bottles.

While it's on the expensive side when compared to the filter pitchers, they filter out a lot more toxins that the pitcher filers can't do. We have city water that does meet the minimum standards so we needed something that provided us cleaner water. It was relatively easy to install and it saves us soo much money on buying water in plastic bottles. We fill up 16 oz glass bottles and keep them in the fridge for cold on the go water.

7. Reduce takeaway by cooking healthy meals at home or order from restaurants that use eco-friendly packaging.

8. Use plates and cups made out of sustainable or biodegradable materials like ceramic, glass, porcelain or steel. If you must use disposable plates and cups, make sure they are made from biodegradable materials like non-coated paper or bamboo.

I have a big Latino family, so for those big family gatherings when the amount of tableware just won't stretch to serve 20+ people, I opt for biodegradable disposable plates and cutlery. Here are my Amazon go to buys.

9. Buy toys and gifts made from sustainable materials like wood, bamboo, natural cloth instead of plastic materials.

10. Get creative and use sustainable and eco-friendly decorations for birthdays, parties and celebrations - skip balloons and Mylar products please!

Look for ways to make or reuse party decorations. If you must buys new decorations to set the festive mood of a party, I recommend buying decorations made from biodegradable materials. Steer away from coated paper products (used to make paper products water resistant) as the chemical coating used often includes a thin layer of plastic and other harmful chemicals.

Making these small changes can make a huge difference in the amount of plastic we use, and help us to live healthier, more eco-friendly lives. So go ahead and give reducing your plastic use a try - you won't regret it!

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