Not buying anything that involves plastic is almost impossible. I try not to agonize when I do and choose eco-friendly alternatives when I can. To do otherwise would paralyze me. Perfection is the enemy of the good.
Easy ways to be eco-friendly and limit your plastic use.
Today bulldozers push and bury trash over what used to be a wetland gem where I loved to go birding. Now toothbrushes and plastic bottles live where herons, yellowlegs and snipe used to wade.
I read once that every toothbrush you’ve ever owned still exists in a landfill. Yikes! That short sentence and that lost wetland pushed me to look into eco-friendly products and cut down on plastic.
I started slowly so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed. Here’s what I’ve found to use room-by-room. I’m not promoting specific brands but occasionally will share my favorites.
Bathroom
Try tooth powder and toothpaste that comes in a glass jar. I did not enjoy toothpaste tabs that left toothpaste stuck in my teeth like some bizarre candy. Note: Most powders don’t have fluoride.
I discovered flossers that can be composted (commercial/city programs). I love these exponentially more than string floss - I even keep them in my car.
Bar soap in non-plastic packaging - perfect for the shower and sink. I like foaming hand soap so I use tabs that dissolve in a glass or metal pump container.
“Baby” Wipes - I love them. I found biodegradable/compostable wipes (although they still use plastic packaging that isn’t recyclable in my area).
Never flush wipes if you value your plumbing and your bank account.
Q-tips without plastic are easy to find. The packaging often involves some type of plastic so I check that it can be recycled.
Bamboo toothbrushes biodegrade and can be composted through city programs. I found some that already have toothpaste on them that I use for plane travel and road trips.
Old style razors use no plastic. You have to be a little more careful than a safety razor but the shave is the same.
Shaving cream soap works great so does a nice creamy bar soap. I really want a shaving brush - looks fancy. Some cities accept aerosol shaving cream cans for recycling if you love your foam.
Pamper your bum and your planet with bamboo or recycled toilet paper. The company I use, Who Gives a Crap, delivers without plastic packaging.
Bar shampoo works just fine for me and I have a lot of hair.
I cannot say the same for bar conditioner at least for my hair.
Items I’m still looking for…
Hair styling products
Make up
Sunscreen
Lotion
Antiperspirant
Do you have suggestions for the bathroom? Let me know
Kitchen
Cloth napkins have been a staple of mine for years.
Finding eco-friendly garbage bags that don’t rip if you put a Kleenex in them took me a while. We use paper grocery bags for recycling and these for garbage.
Say goodbye to those plastic sponge tube wands things (I call them bachelor wands). This eco-friendly scrubber sits in a ceramic bowl on a springy plate. Add dish soap to the dish and push down to soap up the scrubber. Or just pump soap on it.
Food Storage. Reuse food containers, choose glass over plastic, buy reusable storage bags. You’ll find a host of ways to store stuff without adding more plastic to the world. Thanks, Annie, for the suggestion.
Swedish cloths with cute bird prints for the win (they can be tossed in my city compost, too).
Eco-friendly Dishwasher pods work great and also ship to my house without any plastic packaging. I use Dropps brand.
Try bamboo or recycled-paper paper towels. The company I use (Who Gives a Crap) delivers without plastic packaging.
Reusable shopping bags are everywhere. I especially like bags I’ve picked up when traveling. A handy souvenir.
Items I’m still looking for…
Dish soap - I love my Dawn
Do you have suggestions for the Kitchen? Let me know
Cleaning
Get your floor clean with a refillable spray mop filled with your eco-friendly cleaner of choice. I like these better than Swiffers which create a lot of waste. (Note, the mop is plastic and the microfiber pads aren’t eco-friendly. This is one of those moments I give myself some grace.)
There are a lot of Cleaning Sprays that come as concentrates or tabs that you mix with water in your own bottles. They seem fine. The exception is shower cleaner - I haven’t found anything that beats the scrubbing bubbles and occasional spray with bleach.
Got stinky laundry? Toss a cup of White vinegar in the wash. Then recycle that plastic jug.
Eco-friendly Toilet Cleaning Sheets prove easy peasy. Drop in a sheet, watch it dissolve and swish away. Pro tip: Spray some household cleaner on your toilet brush before putting it back in its holder.
These eco-friendly laundry detergent pods clean just as well as traditional options. These ship to my house without any plastic packaging. I just found a eco-friendly oxi-cleaner without plastic packaging, too.
Window Cleaning just needs water and a couple drops of dish soap. Voila. If you want a ready-made spray it is easy to find eco-friendly concentrates or tabs that dissolve in water. Cotton flour sack drying towels work great for drying.
Items I’m still looking for…
A cleaning spray I really love
Do you have suggestions for the bathroom? Let me know
Misc.
Recycle in Your Car - Add a small bin to your car for recyclable paper, cans and bottles.
Refill Stores - Some cities have stores where you can refill your own containers with detergents, cleaning solutions and more. Many also sell other eco-friendly products like bar shampoo.
Lawn Bags - Ditch plastic and opt for paper. Better yet, leave fall leaves as ground cover for insects.
A note on reusable versus eco-friendly versus your sanity. We must give ourselves some, okay a lot of, grace. For example: microfiber cloths are reusable but the material itself isn’t eco-friendly. Plastic milk jugs can be recycled… but are they? Electric cars are great… but electricity doesn’t magically grow on trees. Microfleece jackets are cozy and vegan but the fabric uses petrochemicals.
Some people can go all in: 100% no-plastic and eco-friendly-green to the core. I am not that person. I do the best I can and try to do a little bit better every day, week or year. Every little bit helps.
“We all do better when we all do better". Paul Wellstone
Bird-friendly Coffee - this is levels above so-called shade grown coffee . Learn more about bird-friendly coffee here…..
Metal Water Bottles and Coffee Tumbler - yes, they have some plastic in the cap but they beat the pants off single-use. They keep your water cold and coffee hot and you can decorate them with bird stickers.