Plastic-free Endeavor

I’m going to start by being really honest: going plastic free is HARD. Truly difficult. It’s hard to find a machine or tool that doesn’t have some sort of plastic on it or in it, but this post is about what we CAN do while acknowledging being 100% plastic free is nearly impossible unless you have loads of time and money.

Most of us do not.

Also, I’m going to tell on myself before I dive in. I’ve been avoiding public spaces like stores for the last few months since I got the flu in early November. Flu has been particularly bad in Louisiana this season and I’m terrified of getting sick again. Yes, I am now vaccinated. Doesn’t stop the anxiety though. So, I’ve been ordering stuff to be delivered instead of risking exposure and it is a horribly wasteful means to get what is needed. Stores like Whole Foods pack everything with lots of plastic bags and use multiple bags despite none of them being full. Alas, it’s either get sick and be unable to care for my life and my home or risk exposure and I’ve been choosing self-protection over the environment lately. It is what it is.

Now that I’ve outed myself, let’s get on to what we all CAN do to help save the planet. Also, none of this is sponsored. I get nothing for saying the following things about these companies. If they want to sponsor me though, I’d gladly accept!

I’ll start with plastic garbage bags. We all need them to some degree. I currently have 1 box remaining of regular plastic trash bags that was given to me free and I’ll admit, I’m using them. However, I found a wonderful brand of non-plastic trash bags by a company called Hippo Saks. I used an entire box of their 13 gallon trash bags and never once did they leak or tear and trust me, I filled those suckers up full. They also make them in 45 gallon size for outside yard pickup and a few other sizes for cat boxes and such. I don’t know if they make dog poop size bags but that would be a great trade out for the non-biodegradable plastic dog poop bags widely available.

I haven’t tried any other brands of non-plastic trash bags because since these worked so well, I will be sticking with them for the foreseeable future once the box of plastic bags I have runs out.

Speaking of bags, we all know by now to bring our reusable totes to the grocery store, but did you also know you can purchase knitted produce bags? You can buy a pack to put all your fruits and veggies in at the store and there is even a tare weight noted on the bags so the cash register workers can reduce the weight by the bag weight so you aren’t paying more for your healthy foods. Just store them in your car with your grocery bags.

Next, let’s tackle cleaning products.

Laundry detergent and dishwashing detergents are massive plastic bottles that do not biodegrade. While there are many companies out there currently offering plastic-free or at least plastic-reduced options, here are my go-tos:

• Laundry soap: Dropps. They’ve worked well on my clothes, including my stinky running gear.
• Fabric softener: This smelly stuff is pretty much unnecessary but long ago I switched to using white vinegar in the rinse cycle. The smell rinses out, it helps keep clothes soft, and works to protect color fastness. The only issue is, buying vinegar in bulk is typically in plastic bottles. I’d love a place that would allow bringing gallon glass bottles for refills of vinegar somewhere. This would make for a great business idea. So my laundry isn’t perfectly plastic-free until large 2 gallon bottles of vinegar start being offered in glass or a bring your own bottle refill station.
• Alternative to dryer sheets: if you’re still using chemically laden dryer sheets, it’s time to change! Wool dryer balls reduce dry time and if you absolutely must make your clothes smell a particular way, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil(s) to the balls to distribute to your clothes. Please take heed of EOs that are dangerous for pets when doing so, since you don’t want to give your dog or cat an allergic reaction just for snuggling with you.
• Dishwashing soap: I’m switching to bar soap for my items that need hand washing. Currently using Dr Bronner’s. Wrapped in paper and good to the last speck. I also invested in some soap saver bags that allow you to put the small scraps of soap in and use it as a scrubby. I keep this in a silicone tray on my sink.
• Dishwasher detergent: Also Dropps. I have found occasional residue left on my dishes that washes off but I have a dishwasher that’s currently on its last legs in my rental, so I blame the machine, not the product. However, it does a great job cleaning. The packets dissolve completely and arrive in a cardboard box that can be recycled.
• Items for cleaning and scrubbing: I ordered a package of cleaning brushes made from bamboo, sisal, and coconut fibers for a biodegradable set of sturdy cleaning brushes. I’ve been using them for 5 months with no issues, though my main dish brush is nearing replacement. Good thing is, it will biodegrade instead of sitting in a landfill. The brand I got was from Ecozoi but several companies are selling similar sets.
• Cleaning solutions/sprays: This one irked me a bit. I ordered a blend of essential oils for cleaning and it arrived in a plastic bottle (Tohi Multi Purpose Cleaning Concentrate). Ugh! However, since it’s a concentrate, it will last a long time. Also, I won’t purchase that one again unless they change to a glass bottle. I add the appropriate amount of concentrate to my glass cleaning bottles (with their plastic spray nozzles- is there a better solution for this?) with whatever other ingredients needed for the particular spray I’m creating. I have one for All Purpose Cleaning, one for wood floors, and another for bathrooms. It smells lovely and works well but again, won’t purchase that one again without the switch to glass and may attempt to create my own essential oil cleaning blend for this purpose.
• For glass cleaning: you can’t go wrong with vinegar and water in a glass spray bottle.

On to personal care. This can be a difficult one but here’s what I’ve found so far.

• Make your own of as many products as you need as possible. It takes less time than going to the store and costs a fraction less. I always laugh at people paying $20 for a sugar scrub. Simply melt coconut oil or the moisturizer of your choice, add sugar, add EO for fragrance and you’re done.
• Things I make for myself: face cream (can be tailored for acne prone skin, sensitive skin, etc). My skin has never been nicer since making this switch though it took a little playing with ingredients. Lotion. It’s so easy to blend your own lotions and create your own scents. All I use is lotion I make myself. Same goes for lip balm and shaving cream. The ingredients are all organic, sourced as ethically as possible, and they’re generally good grade too so if your little ones get into them, it doesn’t mean an immediate trip to the emergency room.
• One further note: I don’t make it but I’ve seen folks discussing dry skin and eczema, especially in this dry season. Calendula oil has been a lifesaver for me regarding itchy skin. I was literally scratching until I was bleeding. No longer. I buy a large glass bottle of organic calendula mixed with olive oil and use it both preventatively and if I have a flare up. It’s gentle and virtually fragrance free and doesn’t cost a fortune. I’ve been using it for 2 years now and I have zero signs of dermatitis.
• Mouthwash: I had to get off that Listerine wagon! Those big plastic bottles full of dyes are ghastly. So I made the switch to Georganics mouthwash tablets. Far more economical, they come in a glass bottle with a metal lid, and the one bottle I bought contains 720 tablets and takes up about 1/4 of the space of a big traditional mouthwash bottle that will only last a few months. No colored dyes in Georganics either and the taste is lovely and mild.
• Toothpaste: I’ve been waiting for Bite Toothpaste Bits to come out with their fluoride formula. We can go back and forth on this but, when not ingested, flouride plays a part in dental health. I don’t drink fluoridated water and I’m not swallowing my toothpaste, so I’m ok with using a fluoridated toothpaste. In the meantime, I’m using up my old stockpile of traditional toothpaste in its plastic tubes. Hopefully I can make the switch soon.
• Soap: just like my dishes, I’m switching back to bar soap. Still Dr Bronner’s. I’ve used the liquid for ages but I’m okay with making the switch back to bar to get rid of the plastic bottles.
• Shampoo and conditioner: There are a number of companies releasing bar shampoo and conditioners now. My personal favorite is Ethique. They are a New Zealand company and the products I’ve tried are great. The shampoo suds up well and the conditioner leave my mass of hair silky soft.
• Shaving: As I already said, I make my own shaving cream (stored in glass bottles) and in the last few months, I made the switch to a Leaf razor. While the initial investment can be steep, the overall replacement of blades is inexpensive. When I calculated my costs between those subscription companies with their plastic handles and plastic cartridges versus Leaf, I’m saving a good bit of money every year on a daily task. It’s a win-win. I’ve used my Leaf for about 4 months now and I still have a nearly full box of replacement blades (I change mine weekly), so it’ll likely be a full year or more until I have to order again.
• Deodorant: Alas. This one hasn’t panned out yet. I’ve been using homemade and store bought aluminum free deodorants for a long time but never found anything that really worked, especially for an athlete. Until Native. I love their deodorant and I love the scents. I don’t love the plastic tubes. They’ve already indicated looking into non-plastic options and I hope they take the entire company in that direction. Their deodorant holds up to Louisiana in August, if that tells you anything. Also, no horrible itching and burning irritation like I found with some other natural deodorants.
• Toothbrush and flosser: This is more difficult. I use a Waterpik combo and it’s all plastic. I’d love if Waterpik offered non-plastic toothbrush head replacements. Just an idea. I’m not switching back to a manual though.
• Hair brushes and styling: Brushes are easy. I have bamboo handles with boar bristles. They work great and you can get them at Sally’s. As for styling, someone direct me to a plastic free blow dryer and straightener that doesn’t cost a fortune, please.
• Toilet paper and facial tissues: I’ve switched to Who Gives a Crap. They use bamboo instead of tree paper and it’s pleasant to use. The packaging is mostly plastic free, though the tissues still have that bit of plastic around the opening.

Dining options:

• Straws: We’ve all heard the hullabaloo about plastic straws. There are many options out there now to replace them- bamboo, paper, hemp, metal, and glass to name a few. Carry them with you and use as needed. For those who yell about disabled folks needing straws, can you really make the argument that not a SINGLE one of the options other than plastic will work? That seems far fetched. There is an alternative and it’s up to you to find it. If not, you are as capable as other to carry around what you specifically need.
• Plastic utensils: you can now carry with you metal or bamboo options for takeout scenarios. Harder I think is to train restaurants to ask if plastic utensils are needed for an order, instead of adding them by rote.
• Disposable plates/bowls/cups: Lots of options here. At home, use regular ceramic or glass. It isn’t as easy, but it’s better. On the go, you can carry an empty water bottle in your car. They come in many materials. Please please please remember that glass containers are NOT permitted on the streets of Louisiana. Paper or metal cups are highly preferred but if need be, I will give you a plastic reusable go-cup because my dog has to walk those streets where the idiot college boys toss their beer bottles (Parents, teach your kids better!).

I could go on and on about additional replacements for plastic items in the home. Many of us are familiar with the new silicone-based zipper bags for sandwiches and food storage and glass dishes with lids to replace plastic food storage options. Also, let’s all start supporting companies using plastic alternatives for balloons.

Some thing we need to consider as we make these changes is, if we are removing plastic from our homes that is perfectly serviceable and tossing it in the landfill to replace it with more eco-friendly options, we are simply adding to the problem. My recommendation is to use what you have until it stops being of use or breaks or runs out. Then make the switch. Simply tossing Tupperware into the trash to replace it with glass doesn’t change that now you’ve added plastic to the landfill.

Reducing the plastic in our lives isn’t easy and there isn’t just one solution. If we work together and share ideas though, we can certainly improve the world we live in.