A Definitive Guide To Ditching Plastic

WATER BOTTLE

If you haven’t switched to a reusable water bottle yet, it’s time. The rising popularity of stainless steel bottles, not least because of their ability to keep our drinks cool for hours, means there are multiple options to choose from. We especially like the ones from Takeya because of their built-in straws. See our next tip for more musings on straws.

STRAWS

Plastic straws have kind of become enemy number one. Anyone remember when all the cafés replaced plastic straws with the compostable ones that disintegrated in your drink halfway through? While we admire the initiative, those weren’t great. It was a good jumping off point though, and companies have since engineered some really great alternatives to the plastic straw – like this metal one from PPC for only $3.

SHOPPING BAGS

Like the water bottle, if you’re still using single use plastic bags every time you buy food, make the switch now. Most grocery stores have reusable shopping bags available for purchase, so it’s a one time investment and a simple matter of remembering to bring them on your food runs. Or pick up a bag from local favorite aNY bag –a reusable bag MADE from weaving together single use plastic bags. Pretty meta in the non-Facebook way.

SOAP / BODY WASH

This is a very easy fix. Not only do bar soaps eliminate plastic, they also tend to contain fewer ingredients than body soaps or gels. Typically, they don’t need preservatives to keep them shelf-stable either, which means they don’t contain the parabens that we often find in the bottled versions. We’re long time fans of Alder New York, and their fragrance-free soap uses 1% glycolic acid and nourishing sea kelp to leave skin feeling refreshed, smooth, and hydrated. 

HAIRCARE

A similar hack with similar benefits. Shampoo and conditioner bars are generally healthier for your hair than their liquid counterparts because they’re made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, silicone, and synthetic fragrances. This means less damaging and less stripping your hair of its natural oils – an all too common trope with the stuff you find lining the pharmacy shelves. Ethique has one of the best selections of solid hair care out there, with vegan, fair trade options for fine, curly, oily, and dried-out locks.

SKINCARE ROUTINE

The beauty industry has taken advantage of the importance we place on skincare, and pressed upon us the need for cleansers, serums, toners, creams, moisturizers, exfoliators, sheet masks, and anything else they can package up in little plastic containers and sell to us. The truth is, it’s not that complicated. Industry vet Mike Indursky – former CEO of Bliss, CMO of Burt’s Bees – started No Kill favorite HEAR ME RAW in response to all the industry BS. The lineup offers a comprehensive 4-step skin care regimen that comes in glass containers with replaceable pods. 

DEODORANT

Deodorant is another plastic product we use every day without thinking twice. Every now and then, we hear about folks switching over to DIY deodorant recipes – baking soda + tea tree oil, for instance, or lemon juice.

These are viable options, but if they’re a little too granola for you, Native and Ecoroots also offer zero-plastic (and zero-chemical) options for keeping body odor at bay.

RAZORS

2 billion razors are thrown out every year. Change these numbers by using a safety razor. We recommend this rose gold one from Eco Roots – it offers a close shave, not to mention the vintage-y aesthetic feel it’ll lend to your shower routine (we’re suckers for that). Pair it with a package free shave soap and you have a match made in heaven.

FEMININE PRODUCTS

Over the span of a lifetime, the average menstruator throws out somewhere between 5 -15,000 pads and/or tampons. The waste is starting to wear down on us, and amid the great tampon shortage, a lot of people are making the switch to reusable products, like the diva cup or period underwear like these ones from Thinx. Your body, your choice (and while we’re here, we’d like to give a gigantic F YOU to SCOTUS). 

TOOTHBRUSH

You’ve probably seen the bamboo toothbrush pop up on your feed at some point. The beauty of bamboo, the cleaning power of natural bristles and the affordability – you can’t go wrong! Life Without Plastic offers a completely compostable bamboo toothbrush with bristles made from boar hair. Their boar bristles are ethically sourced as a by-product of the meat industry — if not used in this way, they would be discarded as waste.

TOOTHPASTE

Toothpaste doesn’t need to be complicated. If you choose not to use fluoride in your toothpaste, then it’s as easy as using baking soda on your toothbrush. You can also find tons of DIY toothpaste recipes online if you’re looking to add flavors or make a paste.
Like the deodorant dilemma, if you’re more comfortable getting it from the experts, Nelson Natural’s has perfected plastic-free toothpaste and offers a refill program as part of their dedication to sustainability.

FLOSS

Flossing is a habit we all have to get into, but nylon floss is super harmful to the planet (sea animals get stuck in the nylon and it’s nearly impossible for them to get free of it) and also is covered in perfuoroalkyl, which has been linked to cancer and heart disease. So it’s time everyone made the switch to silk floss. If you’re vegan and don’t like the idea of using silk floss, Dental Lace’s impressive inventory includes plant-based floss as well. You can find all the goods in their gorgeous sea glass inspired containers – fancy, we know.

MOUTHWASH

Fun fact: Listerine was created in 1879, and first used as a surgical antiseptic, then as a FLOOR CLEANER. Now we rinse our mouths with it. Ummm. There’s gotta be a better way. Oil pulling with coconut oil (we like Dr. Bronner’s Organic Fair Trade Coconut Oil) is a great alternative that claims to get rid of excess bacteria, promote gum health and also whiten the teeth. Mouthwash tablets are also a great option – Byhumankind offers an array of refillable flavors made from all natural, ethical ingredients. 

SARAN WRAP

Saran Wrap (cling film for our British friends) does a good job at keeping half-eaten foods fresh. Know what it doesn’t do a good job at? Decomposing – the material takes 450 years to break down.  Consider wrapping your leftovers in beeswax coated cloth instead – equally effective, this reusable Beeswrap one comes in a variety of prints, meaning it’s not only more sustainable than its sticky plastic counterpart, but also, way prettier.

SILICONE BAGS

Technically, most plastic zipper storage bags are recyclable. However, since they are considered a plastic film, they clog the machinery at city recycling facilities, meaning unless you’re willing to do the extra lifting, these bags aren’t getting recycled. Considering the average American family goes through 500+ of them a year, that’s a lot of garbage. Leak-proof and dishwasher / microwave / freezer safe, silicone bags are a legit substitute. You can find them at Zero Waste Outlet for 19.99 for a pack of 3.

FRENCH PRESS

For a good old fashioned cup of coffee, the best method to prevent waste is the French press. We like Bodum’s BRAZIL coffee maker, which has a reusable filter and easily washable pot and can make a small to larger amount of coffee, so extra coffee doesn’t go to waste.

STOVETOP ESPRESSO

More of an espresso drinker? The stovetop Bialetti Moka is a tried-and-true favorite – every Italian person we know swears by it. Like the French press, the Moka is zero-plastic and easy to use – fill the bottom with water, fill the middle with espresso grinds, and wait for the bubbles to sound.

COLD BREW

Right, it’s summer, and you probably want to drink iced coffee. Instead of ordering that single-use cup of cold brew at your local café on the regular, try investing in an at-home brew bundle. Sustainability hero Explorer Cold Brew (they offset their emissions and have eliminated virtually all plastic packaging) provides all the tools to craft the perfect coffee at home, complete with brewing instructions customizable to your caffeine needs. Also they have chai – just saying.