How to Break Up With Plastic and Not Go Crawling Back: Plastic Swaps & Reuse Tips

Summary

This article is about using less plastic.

Plastic. We have such a love-hate relationship with it. But if you want to break up with plastic (or at least not see each other so much!), this post is for you. Disclaimer: I personally think it’s not practical to never use plastic. There is just so much product wrapped in it or made with it. BUT we can avoid it in many cases and think creatively about repurposing and responsibly recycling.

If you’re ready to say, “Plastic, I’m just not that into you”, read on, my friend!

You Can Do SO MUCH Better: How to Break Up With Plastic

Before I begin to tell you how to break up with plastic, just know I’m learning how to do this better myself. I still use plastic items, either because there might not be any other option, I really love a certain product cased in plastic, or I simply forget.

Breaking up with plastic is more about lessening our dependence on it. If we all did even a little of this, that could be a lot of plastic we collectively avoid!

And as time goes in, our options will improve. There are companies trying to figure this stuff out, from compostable plastics to other plant-based solutions to finding much savvier ways to keep this stuff out of the landfills and oceans.

In the meantime, if you’re an everyday citizen, just looking for some tips that are actually realistic, I’ve compiled some of mine below.

This post is all about how to break up with plastic, at least some of the time.

Why Break Up With Plastic?

According to the Ocean Conservancy, “more than a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the ocean every single minute.” This is heartbreaking, knowing how sea life like dolphins, turtles, whales, seals, and seabirds can get trapped in plastic and even die.

Then there’s the whole issue of microplastics, teeny tiny plastic particles that seem to be all over the place. Harvard Medicine says microplastics can be found anywhere from cosmetics to rain to table salt. WHAT.

Ingesting these microplastics is not good for us or the creatures we share the earth with. So, while we can’t eliminate all plastic at the moment, we can definitely try to use less, especially single-use plastic items.

Unless Your Name’s Methuselah, You Probably Will Never See Your Plastics Biodegrade

Plastic and Styrofoam are here to literally stay if we continue on this path of just using all the plastic and then dumping it and hoping someone will recycle it.

Check out the World Economic Forum’s chart on how long it takes common plastics and other items to biodegrade. Warning: It’s depressing.

Now, it’s not completely our faults! Not that I’m into blaming others for my problems, I will do it today! Major corporations, the oil industry, and the government need to step the heck up BIG TIME. Will they? 🤔

There are some companies, though, that are going above and beyond and making INCREDIBLE strides for the environment and our health. Shellworks is a brand that makes plant-based plastic call Vivomer™. This product is amazing. It’s very similar to plastic, but can be home composted and is made without toxic materials. I highly encourage you to check out their site! They even list brands you can shop that use their plant-based packaging. I’m impressed.

Ways to Show Plastic the Door

Buy Stuff in Glass Instead

• Many beauty products come in glass jars. And they’re good products! Here are some of my favorites:
  • Moisturizer: Farmstead Apothecary comes in a beautiful amber glass jar with an aluminum lid.
  • Moisturizer and eye cream: I use Naeli SPF moisturizer and eye cream.
  • Face serums: Axiology is one of my favorite natural, earth-friendly makeup brands and they have these new face serums I want to try!
  • Hair serums: Vegamour is such an awesome product! I also love their shampoo and conditioner, but those do come in plastic, unfortunately. However, Vegamour has noticeably strengthened and thickened my hair, which gives me less need to use supplemental products that come in more plastics!

• Yogurt in glass jars: My favorite is dairy-free Oui yogurt in a glass jar with a foil lid!

• Vitamins in glass jars (Consult your doc first when choosing your supplements! I am not a doc!):
  • Probiotics: Bioma
  • Vitamins B12 & D3

• Soap in glass jars: Blueland jars only have a plastic pump that can be recycled back through Blueland. You just drop the dissoluble tabs in the glass jar, fill with warm water, and wash those grimy hands!

• Sodas in glass bottles or cans: When you choose cans, make sure you choose the ones in paper boxes and not with the plastic rings. BUT if you do have those plastic rings, cut them up so that critters can’t get caught in them. You can also make your own soda with this handy-dandy kitchen appliance.

• Juices in jars or cans instead of plastic

• Dairy-free milks in glass jars or paper cartons: The paper cartons have those pesky plastic tops, but you can now recycle those through Ridwell.

Choose Makeup in Compostable Packaging

• Makeup sticks for eyes, lips, and cheeks: Try Axiology! They are an awesome brand with so many color options, all in compostable paper! I love their Tinted Dews and Lip Balms.

• Oliver Flynn: This is a new company I discovered while I was in New York. That makes me sound fancy, right? They have compostable lip balms and lotion bars with lovely scents and natural ingredients.

• Woosh Beauty paper board makeup palettes: Another New York brand I actually discovered in Kansas City, they pride themselves on clean, cruelty-free products. Plus, their makeup and makeup bags are really nice and so were the sales ladies! They also have a fragrance palette that one of my friends is gaga over.

• Skip makeup with glitter. Glitter is a big microplastics culprit.

Try New Cleaning Methods

Just so you know, I’m not perfect with this, so there’s no way I’m asking for perfection from you! But, I’ve found some methods that are more eco-friendly, less plastic-y, and even easier. Also, always look for cruelty-free products, which tells brands we want respect for animals, too.

• Tushy toilet brush: Okay, this has changed my life. MY LIFE. I was using the disposable Scrubbing Bubbles because the thought of a grisly toilet brush full of nastiness sitting around just grossed me out completely. But I hated throwing those cleaning pads in the trash. Tushy has a very similar product! But, the DISPOSABLE, single-use cleaning pads are coconut husks that naturally biodegrade. Just drop in the garbage when done, sanitize the cleaning wand, then return to its holder. Less nasty and better for the environment.

• Dishwasher tabs from Blueland: They don’t have that stinkin’ plastic film like other pods.

• Shampoo bars: I use this brand sometimes and really like the way the shampoo and conditioner bars lather.

• Bamboo toothbrush: Some people who use manual toothbrushes have switched to the bamboo version. Even if you’re attached to your motorized toothbrush, bamboo toothbrushes can be good scrubbing tools for small areas. When you’re done, just bury them in your garden!

• Use baking soda to shine up sinks, clean grout, and help remove some stains. This can help cut down on plastic cleaning bottles and keep things more natural.

• Switch to laundry sheets to forever say no to bulky plastic laundry detergent bottles. OR use natural laundry tabs from Blueland.

• Use compostable trash bags, instead of the traditional plastic ones. They literally fall apart after a while. You can even bury them in your garden.

• Use old washcloths, socks, tea towels, t-shirts, and cloth napkins as cleaning rags. Microfiber cloths contain plastic-based particles…something I found out AFTER I bought a bunch of them!

• Try toothpaste tablets. My dad seems to enjoy them…which I guess makes your decision, right? 🤣

Related Posts

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Get in the Habit of Using Reusable Containers

• Bring your stainless steel straw to restaurants. And, if possible, try to ask for no straws and plastic cutlery with carryout orders. I forget a lot, so I myself need to work on this!

• Bring leftover containers to restaurants. This helps you avoid Styrofoam packaging, which is also notorious like plastic.

• Bring cloth shopping bags to the grocery store, wine store, and even hardware store. You can get the bags with separate compartments for multiple beverage bottles.

• Skip the plastic produce bags at the grocery store and bring reusable ones.

• Use tea towels, scarves, and cloth napkins as gift wrap with compostable jute or burlap ribbons instead of classic papery wrap. Save gift bags and use them over and over again.

• Bring an extra bag for souvenirs when you go on a trip. Now, buying a ton of junk isn’t very eco-friendly, but we’re all realistic here and we just might buy a little something as a memory or a gift for a friend. Bringing your own bag helps you avoid another bag purchase in addition to your souvenirs!

• Use reusable coffee pods! These are so easy and I alternate between compostable pods and these stainless steel washable K-cup pods.

• Refill the travel bottles! Mini shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitizer, and lotion bottles don’t need to be used once and tossed. Refill for trips, your purse, or backpack.

• Try rechargeable razors or a permanent hair removable system versus disposable shavers. I understand this can be an investment, so if you can’t afford pricier hair removal products or services, you can recycle your plastic razors through Terracyle. They have a free razor program.

Alter Food Habits

• At the coffee shop: Opt for the in-house ceramic coffee mug versus the disposable to-go cup. Or bring your own coffee mug.

• Buy less pre-packaged fruits and vegetables in plastic. Maybe it’s something you can prep instead.

• Bring your own water bottle, especially on road trips. You can do the same with brewing your own coffee and packing it to-go in a travel mug.

• Ask you favorite restaurants to switch from plastic forks, spoons, and knives to compostable cutlery. It’s out there and maybe they’ll try it!

• Eat at restaurants that use carryout containers that are compostable. Also, support restaurants that compost their waste.

• If you can’t quit your coffee, get compostable coffee pods. Under the BPI certification, they can be composted at commercial locations. (Even the bags they come in are compostable!) This is great news for those of us who use a compost pickup service.

• Use your coffee pod twice! I learned this tip from Dr. Jane Goodall, who used her coffee grinds for two cups instead of one. Especially if you’re only there for the sugary, oat milky yumminess anyway, this is a good way to waste less.

Be a Trendsetter in Fashion

• Shop vegan clothing. Kind to animals is kind to all. Now, this isn’t an easy feat to find vegan clothing brands. Even one of my favorite online shops just closed due to high tariffs and competing with the larger, less eco-friendly companies. But, if you find a brand you like, please support them and let me know who they are in the comments!

• Choose natural clothing like cotton. Polyester sheds microplastics. Ugh, those microplastics again.

• Wear your clothes longer. Mend them if you can. When they wear out, recycle them through a place like Trashie. You can even recycle your underwear there. Just please, oh, please wash them first!

• Repurpose worn out, soft shirts and pants to use as pajamas, when they’re no longer appropriate for the public!

• Buy less clothing in general. If you work from home, you can especially do this! I believe in you!

• Get secondhand items from online stores or neighborhood swaps, like The Buy Nothing Project.
  • Try ThredUp: My friend buys her whole wardrobe there and it’s always super cute stuff. You can sell clothes and accessories there, too. You won’t get a lot of money, but it is a little extra spending cash!

• Try compostable underwear. This is on my list! (Not that you really wanted to know that.)

• Rent a fancy dress or outfit instead of buying something new to just wear once. Rent the Runway is a popular choice for many fashionistas!

• When your phone case finally falls apart, switch to a compostable phone case.

• Air dry your hair more: This will put less wear-and-tear on your hairdryer, meaning you won’t have to buy another one for probably a long time. PLUS, you’ll use less electricity. And your hair will be healthier!

• Try biodegradable, plastic-free ponytail holders: I want these!

• Hey mamas and papas, this one’s for you: Bring back cloth diapers. Now, I say this as someone who doesn’t have my own kids who also would probably barf if I had to clean a cloth diaper (hence, why it’s best I don’t have my own kids), but my mom used cloth diapers and I turned out…well…okay🤣 According to the World Economic Forum, it takes 450 YEARS for a plastic diaper to decompose in the ocean. So your great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great will be able to enjoy the ocean without those diapers. Yay???

Get Ridwell

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A post shared by Kat Stano | Sustainable Lifestyle (@katstanolifestyle)

I’ve recently discovered Ridwell, a mail-in recycling service that recycles LOTS of plastic that usually goes straight to the landfill.

And it’s ROCKED MY WORLD.

They also have drop-off locations in select cities!

But since my city isn’t in the mix yet, I use their bag service, which is easy-peasy. They attach a shipping label so all you have to do is fill up the bag, take to USPS or schedule a pickup.

I do their Multi-Use Plastic, Plastic Film, Wine Cork, Prescription Bottle, and Bottle Cap programs.

They give clear examples as to what goes in each bag, plus you can message them with any questions or use their Sortwell app to see if something can be included. Sometimes the app isn’t 100% correct, so if you’re unsure, just email with a screenshot of your plastic item.

There are different subscriptions. I pay for a new bag when I’ve mailed a full one in. That’s about 12 bucks.

Here are some common items they recycle:

• Chip bags
• Candy wrappers
• Foil seals on condiment containers
• Bread bags
• Amazon shipping mailers
• Grocery bags
• Bubble wrap
• Resealable food bags, like the ones dog treats come in
• Frozen food bags
• Fresh food bags
• Energy bar wrappers
• Potting soil bags
• Produce netting
• Air pillows
• Produce bags
• Cereal bags
• Sandwich bags
• Dry cleaning bags
• Newspaper bags

Ridwell has recycling partners who take these plastics and turn them into building materials and artificial stone.

This isn’t an excuse to keep buying plastic all willy-nilly, but an amazing resource to have because it’s practically impossible to avoid all plastic. It’s everywhere.

Conclusion: How to Break Up With Plastic

“One day, this will all seem like
a long time ago.
So savor the moment.”

Jonathan Clyde

You may think your little part doesn’t make a difference. But it does! If we all did just, ya know, SOMETHING it would be a major impact. So please don’t give up on your breakup with plastic! Let’s work together, share tips and tricks, and believe we can be there for Mother Earth just like she’s been there for us.

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