8 Things You Must Try to Help Lessen Plastic Usage

While soaking up the sun surrounded by the soothing sound of the crashing waves on the beach, no one wants to think about how the ocean is quickly filling up with plastic but unfortunately, that’s the harsh reality of our situation today. There are millions of tons of waste floating around in the water and most of it is plastic.

Not only does plastic spread easily, but it also takes forever to degrade, ending up in lands and oceans where it wreaks havoc on wildlife and marine life alike. To date, at least 700 species of marine animals have been entangled by plastic or have mistaken it for food. Either way, the sad end for the animals is often suffocation or starvation. Moreover, plastic often ends up in our food. The good news is, reducing your plastic footprint is surprisingly easy and pain-free. Here are 8 small ways that you can reduce your plastic use in major ways.

1- Say No to Plastic Straws
Next time you order a drink, whether it’s your iced coffee or your cold soda, think about whether you really need a straw. Plastic straws are bad news for the ocean, as anyone who’s seen a suffocated sea turtle can attest. But if you have a preference or a need for them, choose alternatives to plastic straws that are either reusable or biodegradable, such as bamboo, glass, stainless steel, and paper straws. You can even find straws made of hay and pasta.

2- Ditch Plastic Shopping Bags
Do your groceries really need to be held in plastic to make it home safely from the grocery store? Plastic shopping bags are another unnecessary form of single-use plastic that can be easily replaced by better, eco-friendly alternatives. So, the next time you go shopping, swap the plastic shopping bag for a reusable one and if you’re committed to the cause, you can also invest in separate reusable bags for your fruits and vegetables.

The only problem with using reusable bags is that most people forget to bring them when we’re headed to the store. If, like many of us, you’re always rushing to get to the store that you forget to bring your reusable bag, consider buying a foldaway one that you can keep in your car or carry in your normal bag at all times.

3- Drink Your Coffee From a Reusable Cup
Studies show that over 500 billion single-use coffee cups are discarded each year around the world. These cups range from 100% plastic cups to plastic-lined ones topped with plastic lids. By drinking your coffee from a reusable cup or mug, you can help reduce this number by several hundred cups every year. Plus, some coffee shops will even give you a discount for bringing your own cup.

4- Stop Drinking Bottled Water
Plastic water bottles are some of the most frequently found items on beaches and in oceans around the world. Moreover, the plastic lids are commonly found in the stomachs of seabirds. Not only do disposable water bottles add to plastic pollution, but also the production of bottled water requires a massive amount of fossil fuels which consequently contributes to environmental deterioration. Consider switching from plastic bottles to BPA-free reusable water bottles. This will not only help the environment, but it’ll also save you some money over time.

5- Swap Soap Bottles for Bars
Switching from liquid body wash and shampoo bottles to soap and shampoo bars can help reduce your plastic usage. However, soap bars can come with one disadvantage and it’s that they can sometimes be made with animal or plant fats that require a resource-intensive manufacturing process. If possible, opt for eco-friendly brands, they can typically be found in farmer’s markets as well as many grocery stores.

6- Cut Out Plastic Cutlery
Not only is plastic cutlery made of plastic, but it usually comes wrapped in even more plastic! While it can be hard to plan for every time you’re going to be ordering takeout, just like with straws, consider carrying a spoon and a fork, or a spork, in your bag whenever you leave the house. Additionally, when having food delivered to your home, opt out of receiving plastic cutlery.

7- Throw Plastic-Free Parties

Let’s be honest, no party really needs all those red plastic cups. Whether you’re throwing a birthday party or a baby shower, you can greatly reduce your plastic usage by simply using real tableware. If you’re worried that you don’t have enough, just ask your friends to bring extras. People usually care more about the food than they do about the plates not matching. The downside to this is obviously the cleanup; however, the good that you’re doing for the planet is well worth the effort. 

8- Buy Your Food in Bulk
Nearly half of all the trash in landfills is composed of food containers and buying in bulk can help reduce that amount significantly. So instead of picking up that small jar of peanut butter, spring for the five-pound jar. By doing so with various products such as noodles, rice, and beans, you’ll be saving money, taking fewer trips to the grocery store, and reducing plastic waste.

Additional Tip: Get Better at Recycling

Recycling is an obvious step that many of us are already doing, but apparently, we’re not doing a great job at it. As studies report, less than 14% of recyclable plastic is actually recycled. If you want to do better but are confused about what should and shouldn’t go in the recycling bin, simply check the number on the bottom of the container. Most beverage and liquid cleaner bottles will be marked 1 PET, which is commonly accepted by most recycling companies. Containers marked 2 HDPE and 5 PP are also recyclable in some areas.

Reducing plastic waste on a global scale starts with individual action. As small as these changes may be, little changes can lead to bigger transformations over time. So whether you reduce your plastic footprint in 1 way or 8, you’ll be taking positive steps to help the planet. The most important thing is to change something today.