This last year has been the start of my journey to make my home more environmentally friendly. It's so important now more than ever to be more conscience of the products we buy and the waste we produce. Did you know that the average American person produces 220 pounds of plastic alone each year? We can help to reduce that number by making easy and sustainable swaps for every day items. Here are five easy swaps that I tried in 2019 that worked for me and my family. I hope you try some of these out too!
Say "No" to Plastic at the Grocery Store
Whenever I'm out shopping for groceries, I usually always have my reusable totes with me, or I reuse my old plastic ones. When I don't, I always ask for my items to be bagged in paper! I've also stopped using produce bags to bag my perishable fruits and veggies. You can swap the plastic with mesh or cotton produce bags, or even DIY your own out of old fabric or t-shirts!
Use Reusable Water Bottles/Coffee Cups
This is the one thing on my list I still have a hard time doing! I try to remember to bring my own coffee mug when stopping by Starbucks to save a paper or plastic cup. Also, try bringing along an insulated water bottle with you wherever you go. It's a great way to not only reduce the use of plastic bottles, it's a good way to keep your body hydrated!
Ditch the Plastic Straws
Reusable straws also greatly reduce the amount of plastic we use every day. There are plenty of different types depending of your preference. They come in metal, silicone, glass, and collapsible.
Switch to Bamboo Toothbrushes
Instead of buying plastic toothbrushes every few months, we made the switch to bamboo toothbrushes. They're completely recyclable and work just as well. We've been using these, which come in both adult and children's sizes.
Stop Buying Plastic Food Storage
I've stopped purchasing plastic food storage for my household. Tupperware stains and breaks down over time. I've made the switch to glass and metal containers for food storage and leftovers. You can also save other containers like glass pasta or jam jars!