Ø The Best Eco-Friendly Alternatives for the Plastic in Your Life

Ø In our plastic-filled world, avoiding plastic can be pretty challenging. But finding alternatives
to common items like plastic bottles and plastic packaging is becoming increasingly easier—
and not a moment too soon for our plastic-choked plane Food
packaging. Cereals, crackers, snacks, and many teas and coffees come in plastic. Most
cheese, meat, and yogurt is packed in plastic, as are many condiments.

Ø Milk (including soy and nut milk) cartons. Waxed cardboard contains approximately 20%
plastic and 80% paper.

Ø Metal cans are often lined with plastic.

Ø Personal care products. In addition to coming in plastic bottles and tubes, many shampoos,
gels, creams, moisturizers, and make up contain synthetic polymers (read: plastic). Some
may also contain microbeads.

Ø Dental floss and disposable razors are also often made from plastic base materials.

Ø Synthetic fabrics. Polyester, nylon, rayon, and acrylic yarns and fabrics are all made from
plastic. When washed, these materials shed millions of microscopic plastic fibers that
eventually wind up in waterways.

Ø Baby wipes and diapers. From their inner layer to their waterproof outer cover, disposable
diapers are made from plastic. Super absorbent polymer makes up the absorbent inner core,
while the outer layer is usually a petroleum-based plastic or a plastic-treat
Chewing gum. Yes, even gum. One common ingredient included in the “gum base” listed
gum labels is polyvinyl acetate.

Ø Cigarette filters contain cellulose acetate, a form of plastic.

Ø Glues, including school glue and wood glue, contain polyvinyl acetate, a type of plastic. The
glues used to seal tea bags include polypropelyne , another plastic.

Ø Coffee cups. Even those that appear to be made from paper often have plastic in the lining.

Ø Best Alternatives to Plastic

Ø Stainless steel

Ø Tough and easy to clean, stainless steel options for reusable food and beverage storage have
multiplied in recent years. You can replace single-use cups, kitchen storage, lunch boxes, and
more with this durable metal.

Ø Glass

Ø While not biodegradable, glass is inert, inexpensive and infinitely recyclable. And since many
food items come packaged in glass, upcycling glass jars into food storage is a no-cost way to
give your food packaging new life. Jars from jam, honey, pickles, nut butters, and so much
more can be added to your no-waste toolkit for shopping from the bulk bins. They can also
be repurposed to store leftovers and homemade drinks, or decorated and turned into
homemade gifts.

Ø Platinum silicone

Ø Made primarily of sand, food grade platinum silicone is flexible and durable. It’s also heat
tolerant, so you can boil, bake, and cook in these products without danger of denaturing.
Look for silicone products without plastic fillers.

Ø Beeswax-coated cloth

Ø Used primarily as a replacement for plastic wrap and platic bags, beeswax-coated fabric is
easy to use and easy to clean. It also smells great.

Ø Natural fiber cloth

Ø Natural cloth can replace plastic bags. Sustainable clothing made from organic cotton, wool,
hemp, or bamboo won’t shed plastic fibers when washed. Felted or recycled wool is a
versatile, safe, and compostable material for children’s toys, household containers, and
more.

Ø Wood

Ø A renewable resource, wood from sustainably-managed forests can replace plastic in

household items like cleaning brushes, kitchen utensils, and cutting boards.
Ø Bamboo salad servers

Ø Bamboo

Ø This fast-growing renewable resource can replace plastic in items like tableware and drinking
straws. It is lightweight, durable, and compostable.

Ø Pottery and Other Ceramics

Ø Around for millennia, pottery and other fired ceramics offer a stable, waterproof alternative
that’s good for food storage and tableware. Look for non-toxic glazes.

Ø Paper

Ø In days gone by, many things were packaged in plain paper. And while better than plastic,
paper can’t be recycled infinitely because every time it’s reused, the fibres get shorter,
limiting its use. Luckily all paper except the glossy kind is safe to put in your home compost.

Ø What About Bio Plastics?

 Bioplastics are biodegradable or compostable plastics made from natural substances instead
of petrolem.

 Unfortunately, most bioplastics don’t break down in home composts, landfills, or loose in
the environment.

 Most require commercial composting facilities, which aren’t always available to the average
consumer.

 Bioplastics can also contaminate municipal recycling programs when people unknowingly
add them to their recycling.

 Scientists and manufacturers generally describe bioplastics in the following ways:

  Non biodegradable. These bioplastics aren’t easily broken down by organisms. Like anything
(even conventional plastic), they will eventually degrade after many years.

 Partially bio-based, “durable” plastics that are not compostable. Microrganisms can break
these down, but the process generally takes longer than 3-6 months.

 Biodegradable, compostable plastics that need commercial facilities to decompose. While

some newer bioplastics carry the claim that they will break down in a home compost, these
are not yet the norm.

Ø Natural Alternative Packaging

Many companies are working on fully compostable (in some cases edible!) packaging. Here are some
examples already on the market.

Ø Mushroom packaging. A combination of agricultural waste and mycelium (mushroom) root,

this home compostable product is “grown” on a hemp-flour mixture, and then dried to halt
the growth process. It’s most commonly used to replace Styrofoam packaging.

Ø Banana Leaves. In Thailand, where the plastic problem is reaching crisis proportions, one
supermarket has opted to go plastic-free in favour of banana leaf-and-bamboo packaging.
And while banana leaves may only be practical where they’re readily available, this does
reinforce the idea of using local, compostable materials.

Ø How to Break the Plastic Habit

There are many easy swaps we can all make that will help begin to cut plastic pollution. As more of
us demand non-plastic options from the companies we buy from, the amount of plastic being
mindlessly produced and tossed will finally begin to decline. Start with some manageable first steps
that can cut down your plastic use significantly.

Ø Use plastic-free beverage containers. A long-lasting water bottle means you never need to
buy a bottled drink or use a plastic straw. Bringing your own reusable cup to your favorite
coffee shop means you can skip the cup, lid and straw.

Ø Ditch the plastic bags. A staggering trillion plastic bags are used every year. Bring your own
shopping bag, and help show others we can buy produce without plastic with reusable
 produce bags. Bring your own containers when shopping the bulk bins so you don’t need the
plastic ones typically provided (and unfortunately used by most shoppers.)

Ø Switch to non-liquid soaps. Liquid soaps, shampoos, and detergents have added enormous
amounts of plastic waste to the environment. Look for bar soap and a shampoo bar for the
bathroom, and opt for powders packed in recyclable containers for the laundry and kitchen.

Ø 25 Plastic Products to Replace Now

Ø Single-use plastic shopping bags: Reusable bags (to replace single-use plastic bags) or
baskets.

Ø Items packed in plastic: When possible, opt for unpackaged or choose glass or metal
packaging.

Ø Plastic bulk aisle bags: Reusable cloth bags or containers from home.

Ø Eating Out

Ø Disposable cups: Dine in or takeaway in stainless steel or glass reusable cups.

Ø Disposable straws: Reusable straws in glass, stainless steel, bamboo, or silicone.

Ø Plastic lunch baggies: Reusable lunch box or beeswax wraps.

Ø In the Kitchen

Ø Food storage containers and bags: Silicone bags, metal or glass containers.
Ø Liquid dish soap: Use a powder for the dishwasher and a bar for handwashing. If you prefer
liquid soap, you can make your own from a soap bar.

Ø Cleaners in plastic bottles: Make your own cleaners with ingredients packaged in glass,
metal, or cardboard. Use baking soda or a kitchen stone for tough cleaning jobs

Ø Disposable tableware: Skip disposables and use metal or bamboo plates and cutlery.

Ø Plastic cutting boards and utensils: Bamboo cutting board, wooden or bamboo spoons

Ø Plastic plates and cups for young kids: Bamboo bowls and metal cups.

Ø Liquid soap: Bar soaps

Ø Lotion in plastic bottles: Lotion bar or oil in glass bottle

Ø Plastic toothbrushes: Bamboo toothbrushes.

Ø Liquid shampoo in plastic bottles: Shampoo bar or ‘no-poo’ method.

Ø In the Home

Ø Plastic trash bags: Reuse paper bags, line with newspaper, or skip the bag.

Ø Laundry detergent in plastic bottles: Try soap nuts or powdered laundry detergent

Ø Polyester carpet: Choose wool, cotton, or jute.

Ø Fabric softener or dryer sheets: Use dryer balls

Ø Clothing, bedding, towels: Choose organic cotton, wool, bamboo, or hemp; If you do wash
synthetic fabric, wash infrequently in full loads, in cold water on slow spin cycles, and
consider purchasing a bag that can capture fibers and keep them out of waste water.