Easy Ways To Ditch Plastic For Good

Happy Tuesday everyone! Can you believe April will be over next week? Hopefully, you were all out enjoying the Spring weather over the weekend. This past Sunday, we celebrated Earth Day! This year’s campaign is to End Plastic Pollution. Each year, 300 million tons of plastic are produced to make bags, bottles, packages, and other items. Unfortunately, only about 10% of these plastic products are properly recycled. The other 90%? It ends up in landfills or thrown into the environment, leaching chemicals into our soil and water, thus endangering humans as well as our wildlife. It is even said that by 2050, there will be more plastic items in our oceans than there are fish (Source). Crazy (and scary), right? This year, I have made it a personal goal of mine to reduce the amount of plastic I am using, and I encourage you all to join me!

I know it can be a bit intimidating to begin your journey towards going plastic-free, but just remember that there is no right or wrong way to do it. It is also important for you to remember that every little change you are implementing makes a huge difference to our planet. Whether you are able to ditch 1 source of plastic or 20 sources, every little bit will make a positive impact. So, let’s get started! Below, I have compiled a list of the easiest ways you can ditch plastic for good. Hopefully, this will show you how simple it can be to cut out various forms of plastic in your daily life!

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Reusable water bottles

Plastic water bottles are one of the most common plastic items found in our oceans today. In 2016, 480 billion plastic bottles were sold worldwide. Say what?! However, there is an easy solution to this problem! If you are someone who is constantly drinking from plastic bottles, you can make a huge difference by switching to a reusable water bottle. Healthy Human makes a great reusable bottle! Their stainless steel bottles will keep your beverage cold for 24 hours, or hot for 12 hours. They come in endless colors, are BPA free, sweat proof, leak proof, and eco-friendly. Not to mention, they come in a variety of sizes so you can either pack yourself water for the day, pack an entire bottle of wine for a picnic, or even pack a beverage for the whole family to enjoy…all in one bottle!

How long until it’s gone: It takes 450 years for a plastic water bottle to decompose (Source).

Reusable straws

Say no to plastic straws! When eating out at a restaurant, you can always ask your waiter to forego the straw they will most likely give you with your beverage. However, if you are someone who needs to drink your Diet Coke with a straw, you can still do so while also protecting the environment! These stainless steel straws are FDA approved, BPA free, and environmentally friendly. You can use these for all of your beverages and throw them in the dishwasher to reuse them as many times as you want. Stash a few in your purse so you always have them available when needed!

How long until it’s gone: It takes 200 years for a plastic straw to decompose (Source).

Bring your own cups to coffee shops

Okay, I will admit, this one may be harder for you to implement, simply because you have to remember to do it each time you go out. If you enjoy getting your morning fuel from a coffee house, consider bringing your own tumbler or thermos and ask the barista to make the coffee in your own cup. If you order a coffee every day, think about how many cups (and straws) you may have used in your lifetime. It’s probably a crazy high number! So, once again, Healthy Human is making an appearance! Aside from their reusable bottles, they also make these great tumblers, which you can use to keep your beverages hot or cold while on the go. Perfect for coffee, soup, smoothies, or anything else you might drink each day.

Reusable shopping bags

I think this is definitely the first thing people implement when they are trying to reduce their plastic consumption. I have also noticed a huge decrease in the use of plastic bags over the last few years, which is awesome! If you haven’t yet switched over to reusable shopping bags, it’s so easy to do and actually ends up being more convenient for you. Instead of having to carry 15 plastic bags out of the grocery store, I can usually get away with carrying two large reusable bags. If you are looking for ones to purchase, these reusable shopping bags are great and are even made from recycled plastic. Just keep them in your car so you are always prepared when shopping.

How long until it’s gone: 10-20 years for a plastic bag to decompose (Source).

Reusable produce bags

To go along with your shopping bags, these reusable produce bags are great when shopping for or storing your produce items.

How long until it’s gone: 20-30 years for plastic food wrappers to decompose (Source).

Stop using plastic plates, utensils, and cups

Sounds easy right? Well…it is! Sometimes we all get caught up in the convenience of plastic plates, cups, and utensils. After all, if you are having a family picnic outside, it’s much easier to throw everything away once you’re finished. Not to mention, it can be a bit of an inconvenience sometimes to cart around your ceramic plates, glasses, and silverware. However, ditching the plastic when it comes to meal time will greatly reduce your family’s plastic consumption!

How long until it’s gone: 450 years for plastic utensils to decompose (Source).

Buy food without packaging

The next time you take a trip to your grocery store, take a look at how many food items come in packages. Especially in the produce section where, in my opinion, is totally unnecessary. Why do I need my carrots to be in a plastic bag? That’s right…I don’t! The easiest way you can possibly cut down on your plastic consumption is to simply stop buying food that comes in packages. You may need to get a bit creative and do some research if you want to find ways to buy ALL of your food package-free. However, you should be able to easily find package-free produce in your grocery store or local markets.

How long until it’s gone: 20-30 years for plastic food containers or packages to decompose (Source).

We have to remember that we only get one planet, and everything we do on this Earth will affect it in one way or another. Whether you’re a multi-millionaire living in New York City, or a fisherman living on the islands of Hawaii, there is one thing we all have in common: our home planet. There’s no right or wrong way to begin making a change…you just have to start!

So tell me, what changes are you implementing in your life to make Earth a better place?

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