Drowning in
plastic, but not sure how to set yourself free?
Plastic
purgers say you can drastically reduce, if not eliminate, your plastic
consumption by changing a few daily habits.
اضافة اعلان
Here are
nine steps to get you started.
1. Carry a reusable bag
This is plastic-free-living 101.
Take a cloth
bag to the grocery store, farmers’ market, drugstore and anywhere else you may
be given a plastic bag.
2. Use plastic-free containers
Glass or
metal jars can be used to store grains, nuts, flour and other foods, as well as
laundry detergent, dish soap and body creams.
But don’t
automatically purge all of your plastic containers; that creates unnecessary
waste.
3. Pack a travel kit
Bamboo
cutlery and a nonplastic food tray, straw and water bottle will eliminate the
need for most single-use plastics while on the go. “Restaurants and vendors all
over the world are getting much more used to people bringing their own
containers,” said Jay Sinha, a founder of Life Without Plastic, an online
store.
4. Buy in bulk
To avoid
food packaging, shop the bulk aisle at the market and bring your own glass
containers.
Weigh the
jar beforehand to avoid being overcharged.
5. Buy used items
Some
household plastic is unavoidable, especially in modern appliances.
So until
they make an all-metal vacuum cleaner, Beth Terry, who writes the blog My
Plastic-Free Life, suggests buying secondhand, through Craigslist or at a
thrift shop.
“I’m not
buying new plastic,” she said. “I’m also avoiding the packaging.”
6. Recycle ‘good’ plastics
Clear
plastic bottles, bottles for shampoos, yogurt containers, toys and reusable
food containers have a higher probability of being recycled.
Disposable
cutlery, cling wrap and coffee cups and lids have very low probability.
7. Wear natural clothes
Synthetic
fibers from clothing “are an enormous plastic pollution problem,” said Sinha,
because they are a key contributor to microplastic pollution.
Choose
clothing made of fabrics like cotton, wool, hemp and silk.
8. Make your own
With so many
toiletries packaged in plastic, Chantal Plamondon, a founder of Life Without
Plastic, became a home chemist.
“We make our
own toothpaste out of baking soda, coconut oil and essential oils,” she said. “We
make body creams out of coconut or macadamia oil.”
9. Do without
If it’s
plastic or nothing, you can always choose nothing.
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