Benefits of Using Reusable Shopping Bags

Immediate and Unexpected Benefits of Replacing Single Use Plastics with Reusables

We all have that space tucked away in our house reserved for unwanted plastic bags. Yes, they may come in handy, but there’s also a hesitation there to throw them away immediately after receiving them (The average person uses a plastic bag for only 12 minutes before discarding it).

Rather than collecting an abundance of single use plastic bags that are not only inconvenient, but harmful to the environment and costly, try using a reusable shopping bag. There are plenty of benefits to investing a reusable bag. Listed here are some of the most advantageous benefits to using a reusable shopping bag.

1. Save Money
Using reusable bags over plastic bags can save money in several areas – Including your own pocket.

Many stores are beginning to impose an extra charge for plastic bags. By bringing your own reusable bag, you are saving money each time you go to the grocery store, buy a new outfit, or run errands. Many stores, if they don’t charge for plastic, are offering an incentive for bringing your own bag. So either way you look at it, you’re saving money on each purchase.

2. Save Resources—And Therefore, Money

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable, use crude oil and natural gas to manufacture, and require even more fossil fuels to ship.

By using a reusable bag, you are not only reducing the amount of non-renewable resources necessary to produce plastic bags, but you’re also reducing the amount of money your community spends on clean up costs each year.

Regardless of how you dispose of plastic bags, they end up blowing onto the street, clogging waterways, and infiltrating other natural environments. Not only is this an eyesore, but it also costs money to clean up.

The state of California spends $25 million to send plastic bags to the landfill each year. And that doesn’t include the $8.5 million spent on removing plastic bags from the streets. By using reusable bags, you are reducing the amount of taxpayer money that goes into litter clean up, leaving room for other community funded projects.

3. De-clutter Your House and Save Space

Plastic bags take up a lot of room and often clutter your household, car, and workspace. Think about it: If you take home 5 grocery bags worth of food a week, that comes out to 260 bags a year. And that’s only on groceries. Those plastic bags end up cluttering your kitchen cabinets, your pantry, and your car; wasting space for other, more important things other than trash that we can’t seem to part with.

Though larger than a plastic grocery bag, reusable bags can fold up and end up taking up significantly less space than your guilty storage of plastic bags. And as opposed to the 20 to 50 plastic bags floating around your house, you’ll have maybe three or four reusable bags to take their place.

4. Durability and Reliability

Unlike the flimsy plastic bag you receive from retailers, reusable bags are durable and can carry more at a time. Go ahead, fill up that cotton or hard plastic bag to the brim—it won’t break. That means less trips to and from your car and more to be comfortably carried at a time.

Their durability also prevents them from ripping or tearing. Say goodbye to spilled groceries, multiple trips, and double bagging.

And because they are reliable, you can use them for multiple purposes. Personally, I use my reusable totes for lesson plans, groceries, beach bags, and even as a purse. There are infinite uses to these convenient and packable bags.

5. Peace of Mind

Not only will you create more space in your home, but you’ll have peace of mind. Plastic bags are one of the top ten most common objects found in oceans and on beaches. An estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used each year, and they’re ending up in oceans, soils, animals, and rivers.

Believe me, you’ll feel so much better once you stop accidentally collecting unnecessary plastic bags. Whether you’re aware of your consumption patterns or not, as you begin to see the waste disappear, you’ll feel it, and it feels great.

Will Innovation Solve The Plastic Problem?

Plastics are everywhere…

Think about your most essential daily activities. How many times do you come into contact with plastic before you even start your day?

Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Comb. Shampoo. Body wash. Loofa. Deodorant… okay I’m ready for a cup of coffee – hopefully you’re taking your own reusable cup to Starbucks.

Our biggest issue: Plastics have made so many aspects of our lives so convenient, it’s hard to imagine giving them up in hopes that it will be the difference that saves us from environmental catastrophe.

That’s why a key part of solving the plastic problem is finding innovative alternatives that support our expectations, but don’t trash our oceans. Rather than reinvent the wheel, eco-friendly alternatives seek to find sustainable solutions that fit our current needs without sacrificing convenience.

Plastic production has escalated from 15 million tons to 311 million tons in only fifty years and it’s estimated that 8 million tons of that find its way to the oceans each year. That’s enough plastic to cover every foot of every nation’s coastline with five grocery bags of plastic trash.

While innovation isn’t the only solution toward solving the plastic problem, it is certainly going to play an important role.

Learn more about the plastic problem and other ways we’re working to solve it here: Solving The Plastic Problem

Here’s where we are now and how much we might be able to expect innovation to help:

The Spectrum of Choices

Considering the fact that we rely on plastics for a wide range of uses in our daily lives, and that the aim of eco-friendly alternatives is to replace those uses, it is only appropriate that there is a diverse spectrum of products being offered. From caring for yourself, to eating and making your house a home, there’s a practical alternative for almost everything.

Personal Care

Bamboo toothbrush – one billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown out every year in the United States alone. That’s a lot of plastic! Bamboo is a becoming a popular alternative to plastic. It’s characteristics of being light, strong, and fast-growing make it a reasonable alternative to some plastic products.

Refill stations – some eco-entrepreneurs have expanded the retail landscape to include refill stations for soaps, shampoos, and other liquid necessities. BYOB (bring your own bottle) and prevent yourself from buying unnecessary containers every time you need more shampoo or body wash.

Feminine hygiene products – traditional tampons and pads contain plastic in both their packaging and the products themselves. This is harmful not only for the environment, but the individual too. There are a variety of organic and eco-friendly options out there now, including organic cotton tampons and menstrual pads, silicone menstrual cups, and reusable tampon applicators.

Dental floss – the majority of dental floss is made from nylon and plastic and packaged in an oversized plastic container. There are now some (not many…yet) alternatives that use organic, compostable alternatives such as silk, beeswax, and rice bran. If those don’t suit your needs, there are also traditional flosses being sold in cardboard boxes, eliminating plastic packaging waste.

Food

Reusable and biodegradable cups – rather than accepting that Starbucks latte in a traditional disposable cup lined with plastic, start bringing your own. It’s becoming just as convenient to bring a ceramic, glass, or bamboo cup. And there are now biodegradable alternatives as well.

Reusable and biodegradable bags – instead of grabbing a disposable plastic bag at the check-out counter, start bringing your own reusable tote, cotton or jute bags.

Reusable food storage – we all need viable options for storing food either on the go, for the fridge, or to preserve. There are now a variety of options to choose from to ditch traditional plastics such as reusable zip-top bags, reusable sandwich bags, silicone freezer bags, and even beeswax “cling wrap”.

Reusable straws – several campaigns have put their foot down when it comes to single-use plastic straws. But if you’re still yearning for that sweet sip of iced tea (or what ever your beverage of choice happens to be) through a straw, try purchasing straws made out of stainless steel, glass, or silicone that can be cleaned and reused.

Home Goods

Furniture – Much of the furniture in our households contains plastic or was packaged in plastic. Ecovative Design currently manufactures packaging from mycelium, the vegetative part of fungus, and farming by-products. They are in the process of expanding their business to include lamp shades, plant pots, and table tops.

Construction – Faux wood designs that were once only feasible with plastic molds, can now be created using Arboform, a thermoplastic deemed “liquid wood”. Made from wood by-products, this new innovation is being researched for toy production, golf tees, and even hi-fi speaker boxes.

Clothes and Fabrics – More and more we’re seeing clothes and fabrics made out of polyester, rayon, nylon, etc., that leave traces of microfibers on land and in the ocean. Up to 40% of these microfibers have the potential to reach rivers, lakes and oceans. Look for products made from natural materials, including cotton, silk, wool, linen, or hemp as an eco-friendly and, honestly, more durable and long-lasting option.

A wide variety of eco-alternative options are becoming more feasible and accessible as public scrutiny hones in on plastics. But how do these stack up in the grand scheme of our plastic problem?

Impact of Alternatives

Plastic is becoming such a significant problem environmentally because it accumulates at a faster rate than it can decompose or degrade. It takes plastic bottles 450 years or more to decompose, plastic bags up to 1,000 years, and styrofoam 1 million years.

Eco-friendly alternatives provide the same utility as plastics, but are able to biodegrade and decompose at a manageable rate. They are also usually less of a threat to human health.

Biodegradable plastics are made from organic materials, and as opposed to traditional plastics, biodegrade between 90 and 180 days when properly composted. On top of that, reusable alternatives displace plastics after every use.

Just by switching to a reusable water bottle, you can save 217 plastic water bottles in one year.

**Are Alternatives That Much Better?**

There is concern that eco-friendly alternatives may not be as beneficial to the environment as they are advertised.

Questioning the environmental impact of eco-alternatives vs traditional products is fair and healthy. Like peer reviewed studies in science, all innovations should be questioned, confirmed, and improved upon. Many individuals and organizations criticize the scalability and true environmental impact of “eco friendly” innovations.

As consumers trying to make the best decision, we have to consider the most credible information we have. Be wary of misinformation – some studies, reports, and information distributed come from sources with an agenda to support the plastics industry.

For example, in 2016, the American Chemistry Council released a study finding that alternative materials used for the same function of plastics would raise the environmental costs from $139 billion to $533 billion annually when consumption of natural water and emissions to air, land, and water are considered.

However, there are two main points we need to consider when assessing the validity of this information:

Motivation – the American Chemistry Council is an industry trade association whose mission is “to promote the interests of companies engaged in the business of chemistry” (Wikipedia).
Accuracy – studies like this tend to use the input variables to their advantage in order to provide a narrative that supports the goals of their stakeholders.

The study compares replacing plastic products such as plastic cups with alternatives made of aluminum or glass on a 1 to 1 basis. Glass and aluminum do require more energy input and natural resources than plastic. However, it is not realistic to replace single use products with reusable products on a 1 to 1 scale.

This study neglects a more realistic solution, where glass or aluminum cups are reused and each reusable cup displaces hundreds of single use plastic cups over time.

You can see a more accurate comparison of single use and reusable cups in this environmental impact evaluation, which calculates the breakeven point when replacing single use cups with reusable cups.

When compared fairly we find that many eco innovations are a better alternative. But how we use them is a critical variable. It’s not enough to just buy them with blind faith…

The Bottom Line

Do Your Due Diligence: Yes, we should be careful and not assume all innovations are an ultimate solution. Greenwashing is a valid concern and green products are not likely to magically solve the plastic problem (but they can play a big part).

Reduce: We need to be responsible about the way we use our alternatives. If you buy a reusable bag to replace plastic bags, or a reusable cup to replace disposable cups, treat it well and get as much use out of it as possible.

Support: Continue to support brands and industries that are actively working to innovate and solve environmental problems, not those who are trying to squeeze the last amount of profit they can out of an unsustainable industry.

Be Patient: Understand that we are still in the infancy stage of innovation. As eco-friendly alternatives gain more support from consumers, we’ll see better and more eco-friendly products.

Making a Difference

The best thing you can do to curb plastic pollution is stop using single use plastics.

When you can’t forego disposable goods completely, use the most sustainable alternative possible.

Benefits of using eco-friendly products:

1) Directly reduce the amount of plastic that is sent to the landfill or ends up in the natural environment.

2) Your support for responsible brands will fuel further innovation.

3) Your actions will help shift the cultural norm that merely accepts plastics as part of our daily lives despite their negative impact.

The Problem with Disposable Cups

WHAT ARE DISPOSABLE CUPS AND WHY ARE THEY SUCH A BIG PROBLEM?

Our love for coffee and other takeaway foods supports an enormous consumption of disposable cups around the world (billions every year).

It’s a growing environmental problem that deserves attention.

If you’re not 100% clear on why disposable cups are such a big problem, this post will help you understand what the issue is and why it’s important to understand it.

Why are disposable cups a problem?

We are producing and throwing away billions of disposable cups per year. Yes, billions.

It is estimated that in the US alone, we use over 50 billion coffee cups each year.

Both the production and disposal of cups have their negative impacts on our environment, contributing to global warming, pollution, and much more.

Production of Single Use Cups

The production of disposable cups relies heavily on natural resources. Over 20 million trees are cut down each year to produce single use paper cups.

The production of cups also requires quite a bit of energy input. Turning trees into paper and paper into usable cups requires a considerable amount of energy input – the source of which is almost exclusively fossil fuels.

It’s estimated that the production of every 4 paper cups results in one pound of CO2 emissions.

Unlike paper cups, plastic and styrofoam cups do not require the input of wood. However, both derivatives of oil, another finite resource with its own environmental impact.

There are a variety of issues contributing to the environmental impact of producing cups, but he biggest concerns are:

Natural Resource Use – Inputs for disposable cup production draw on finite natural resources.

Emissions – The energy used to produce the billions of cups per year results in greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

Disposal of Single Use Cups

Yes, it’s true – most single use cups can and should be recycled.

Less than 1% of the cups we produce are recycled.

Paper cups are difficult to recycle because the majority of them have a thin plastic lining to keep liquids from saturating the paper part of the cup. This plastic lining is difficult to separate and most recycling facilities are not equipped to do this type of recycling.

Plastic cups can be recycled, but it depends on the type of plastic used. It is not safe to assume that all disposable cups can be easily recycled.

Styrofoam cups can be recycled by some facilities but only a tiny fraction are reclaimed. Most go to the landfill or incinerator. When in the natural environment, styrofoam will break down into smaller and smaller pieces but will persist in natural environments for over 500 years.

The result of our inability to recycle is a staggering amount of refuse.

Use of Disposable Cups

The biggest issue with the use of disposable cups is that they are made to last for only one use.

A lot of energy goes into creating them and disposing of them just for one coffee or soda that lasts less than an hour.

There are also rising concerns about the health implications of using disposable cups, especially for hot liquids. Plastics and other ingredients used in cups may be ingested along with your drink.

Why are disposable cups a problem: Quick Summary

Production – The production of single use cups is resource intensive and has various peripheral environmental impacts.

Disposal – Less than 1% of the cups produced are recovered and recycled. The rest are sent to landfills, incinerated, or pollute the natural environment.

Use – The use of some types of disposable cups may have a negative impact on human health.

What is the scale of the problem?

If we only look at coffee cups, we can get a glimpse into the extent of our disposable cup addiction.

Coffee Cup Usage Around The World

US: 50 Billion per year
UK: 2.5 Billion per year (7 Million per day)
Aus: 1 Billion cups per year
Starbucks: 4 Billion per year

Do these numbers seem ridiculous? They should, because they are. Remember, these statistics are just based on coffee cup consumption. This doesn’t even consider all of the soda, smoothie, and water cup usage.

Why should you be concerned?

If you aren’t already a little concerned about what this means for us as humans, consider how this may impact you personally.

Health

Direct Impact
- Use of disposable cups may directly influence your physical health due to the plastic chemicals used in their production.
Indirect Impact
- Pollution from manufacturing will influence global air quality.
- Micro plastics can travel up through the food chain and into your diet.

Cost

Direct Impact
- Some governments are starting to issue a tax on disposable cups to curb this growing problem which will be passed on to the consumer. (The UK has issued a 5p tax on single use bags and is expected to expand to taxing single use cups)
- Some vendors such as Starbucks offer a discount for those who bring their own cup, helping you save money.
Indirect Impact
- The cost of dealing with the disposal of this tremendous source of waste is paid for with tax dollars.

Environment

Direct Impact
- Pollution from single use plastics is plaguing our natural environment, making our outdoor recreation less enjoyable.
Indirect Impact
- If this problem doesn’t fall on your generation to clean up, it will fall on your children’s.

What can you do about it?

The biggest impact you can have is to change your personal habit so you reduce our reliance on disposable cups. Vote with your wallet to show support for a more sustainable future.

Reduce your dependence on single use cups by bringing your own reusable alternative and/or taking your drinks to go less often.
Know what a meaningful alternative to disposable cups really is. Not all recyclable and biodegradable claims are authentic.
Support efforts to solve this problem by giving your business to companies actively seeking a solution.
Educate others about the issue.

Why Are Cloth Bags Better Than Plastic?

It’s becoming more and more common to see shoppers using their own cloth tote when they go shopping. Stores are beginning to pose the question, “Do you need a bag?” And many countries and companies around the world are looking to reduce their plastic use by taxing or banning plastic bags altogether.

When this happens, it leaves us with the option to either

a) pay the tax or added cost, or
b) invest in a reusable cloth bag.

But what makes cloth bags so much better than plastic?

Cloth bags are better than plastic bags for many reasons, but two of the biggest reasons are:

Cloth bags are reusable, decreasing the need to use more materials for single-use production, and
Cloth bags reduce plastic use and therefore plastic pollution

Reuse vs. Single Use

So what are we talking about when we say ‘cloth bags’?

Cloth bags refers to any reusable bag that is not made from HDPE plastic. This ranges from natural fiber totes, to recycled reusables, to backpacks and even upcycled DIY bags.

While yes, it technically takes much less energy and resources to produce an HDPE single use plastic bag than a reusable bag, those same resources are surmounted by the sheer magnitude of plastic bags necessary to keep up with their fleeting usefulness.

For example, we currently use 500 billion bags every year worldwide. And each one of those bags requires a significant amount of natural gas and crude oil to make. In the US alone, it takes twelve million tons of petroleum to meet the production of plastic bags for the country each year.

It also requires a significant amount of money and resources to clean up and dispose of these plastic bags. In 2004, the City of San Francisco estimated a price tag of $8.49 million per year in clean up and landfill costs for plastic bags each year.

The advantages of cloth bags are also compounded by their environmental impact. While yes, it may take up to 170 uses for a cotton bag to reach it’s “break even” number—the amount of times a bag must be used to balance it’s impact to manufacture—many reusable cloth bags are now being made from recycled materials, such as the Tern tote. These recycled, reusable totes are taking otherwise discarded plastic waste and producing long lasting, durable cloth bags that can be used for years to come.

What kinds of cloth bags can you choose from, and how environmentally friendly are they?

When it comes to reusable cloth totes, there are two main categories: natural and synthetic.

Natural fibers, such as jute, hemp, and cotton, are especially environmentally friendly when it comes to their ability to biodegrade after they’ve fulfilled their use. Jute and hemp are also economical to grow and cultivate, making them ideal plants to harvest for materials. Cotton utilizes large amounts of water to produce, making it a bit less economical compared to alternatives.

There are also many synthetic fiber bags to consider such as polypropylene, recycled PET, and polyester. Recycled bags, such as the Tern tote, are by far the most environmentally friendly and sustainable choice because they require less energy to produce, and they’re utilizing unnecessary plastic that would otherwise go to landfill. Additionally, polypropylene bags require only 14 uses before they become more eco-friendly than HDPE bags.

The breakeven usage number for recycled bags can be less than 2.

Reducing Plastic Pollution

Cloth bags, because of their reusable nature, help reduce the amount of single use plastic being used and inadvertently discarded into the environment.

It’s estimated that nearly 8 million pieces of plastic enter oceans every day.

One of the most impactful steps we can take as individuals is to reduce our use of single plastics and substituting disposable bags with reusable cloth bags is a great start.

Cloth bags are also multipurpose, which means that you could reduce your plastic use in many areas of your life. Many people associate cloth bags with grocery shopping, which is great. But, you can also use your tote as a bag for work, school, or a trip to the beach.There are many aspects of our lives where we can consciously cut down or eliminate our plastic use. One of the easiest and most impactful ways is to invest in a cloth bag. They’re economical, more sustainable, and might just give you the peace of mind that you’re preventing plastic pollution with every use.

How To Find the Best Reusable Grocery Bags for You

So you’ve decided to kick the plastic bag habit – great news!

But won’t ditching plastic shopping bags make life difficult? Will it really have a positive environmental impact?

Luckily, there are lots of reusable grocery bags that don’t cost the Earth – and help make your grocery trips a breeze. Today, we’ll review some of the most common types of reusable bags so that you can find the best reusable grocery bags for you.

Key Considerations: Choosing the Best Reusable Grocery Bags
Top Picks for Best Reusable Shopping Bags
What Will You Choose?

Key Considerations: Choosing the Best Reusable Grocery Bags

When making the switch from plastic shopping bags to reusable shopping bags, the main factors to look out for are convenience and sustainability. The best reusable grocery bag for you should meet your standards in both categories.

How convenient are the alternatives to plastic shopping bags?

You need a bag that does the job. Think about what you need a bag for – how much will it need to hold? Can it carry a heavy load? Does it match your personal style?

Consider how practical it is for you to use.

Large, bulky bags are fine if you always carry them in the car, but if it has to fit into your purse – or even your pocket – look for something lightweight that folds up small.

If it doesn’t fit your lifestyle, you’re less likely to use it. And that sort of defeats the purpose!

How eco-friendly are the alternatives to plastic shopping bags?

The more times you use your bag, the more eco-friendly it becomes. Each time you refuse a ‘free’ plastic bag you’re helping cut environmental pollution and plastic waste, so choose something durable.

A bag made from recycled, repurposed and/or recyclable material is a great choice, but beware!

Paper bags are often seen as a sustainable alternative to plastic, but they are likely to be used only once and then thrown away. Paper bags actually use more energy than plastic bags to manufacture and, although they can be recycled or composted, around 80 percent of all paper bags end up in landfill.

So what are the best reusable grocery bags that are convenient and eco-friendly?

Top Picks for Best Reusable Shopping Bags

There are three main types of reusable grocery bags: bags made from synthetic fibers, bags made from natural fibers, and bags made from recycled materials. Let’s review the pros and cons of each.

Synthetic Fabric Reusable Bags

synthetic reusable bags - best reusable grocery bags

Synthetic fabrics include any non-natural fabric, such as polyester or nylon. While these materials are often made from fossil fuels, synthetic reusable bags are still more sustainable than disposable plastic if you use them enough times.

Number of uses until break-even: You need to use a polyester bag around 35 times before it offsets the environmental costs of its production (and becomes more eco-friendly than a disposable plastic bag).

The key benefits of any synthetic fabric are its increased durability and strength compared to natural fabrics. You can count on a synthetic fabric like nylon or polyester to stand the test of time, meaning you may need to replace the bag less frequently. Synthetic fabrics are also highly elastic, which can give your bag a little stretch to squeeze in extra snacks.

The main drawback of synthetic fabric is that it’s still plastic-based, so synthetic bags are energy intensive to create and difficult to dispose of sustainably.

For a list of the best reusable grocery bags made from nylon and polyester that are actually sustainable, check out our article: “6 Best Reusable Nylon and Polyester Shopping Bags.“

Folding Reusable Bags

best reusable grocery bags - folding bag

One of the most common types of reusable grocery bags made from synthetics are these convenient folding bags. Usually made from lightweight woven polyester or nylon, these bags fold up small enough to fit in a jeans pocket or on a keychain.

Key Benefit: A bag you can always carry with you will prevent you from ever having to use plastic. There’s nothing worse than getting to the store and realizing you’ve left your reusable bags back at home.

Potential Drawback: Due to the thin material that makes them so compact, they’re not always the strongest or most long-lasting bags, but they are super-convenient for impromptu shopping trips.

Consider how many plastic bags you think you can displace by owning a compact reusable bag. If it’s over 50 per year, you’re in the clear – it’s probably a good investment.

If it’s less than 50, you might be better off reusing disposable bags. Jam 1-2 in your purse, car door, or backpack. Use those instead of the new ones from the store.

Natural Fiber Reusable Bags

natural fiber bags - best reusable grocery bags

The next most common type of reusable grocery bag on the market are bags made from natural fibers like cotton, hemp, calico, or jute.

Shopping bags made from natural materials look great and are usually eco-friendly.

Pros:

100% plastic-free
Washable
Durable
Versatile: You can use them as a book bag, beach tote or everyday purse.

Cons:

Not always socially responsible
Can require over 100 uses before becoming truly environmentally friendly
Usually too bulky to fit in your pocket

Learn More: Bag Types and Break Even Points

The main criticism about natural fiber totes is that they are marketed as being environmentally friendly while many of them are not. Cotton bags, for example, are resource intensive to produce. Therefore they are not as eco friendly as some other alternatives like recycled materials.

Number of uses until break-even: You need to use a cotton bag 173 times before it’s more eco-friendly than a disposable plastic bag. Some estimates are even higher.

For a list of the best reusable grocery bags made from natural fibers that are actually sustainable, check out our article: “8 Best Sustainable Reusable Bags Made of Natural Fibers“

String Bags

The string (or mesh) bag is a European classic – and one of the more popular bags made from cotton. Often seen in the markets of France, these knotted bags are very strong and durable. As well as grocery shopping, they make a rather practical beach tote – just don’t put your keys in there, as they’ll fall through the mesh!

A benefit of the string bag is that some use less material, can fold up smaller than fabric totes, and you get more style points.

Drawback: The same concerns apply to this bag as with other natural fiber totes.

If you’re serious about reducing your environmental impact, we recommend you choose one to two styles that work best for you and stick with it. If the conventional tote isn’t quite your style, the string tote is a good alternative.

Recycled Materials Reusable Bags

recycled bags = best reusable grocery bags

Finally, some of the best reusable bags are made from recycled materials. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

Recycled Fabric Reusable Bags

Products made from virgin materials, even if the materials are natural or eco-friendly, cost more to make from an environmental impact perspective. Since raw material production has a high environmental impact, you need to keep using these bags for a long period of time in order for them to become more environmentally friendly than disposable bags.

Totes made from recycled materials, on the other hand, can be more environmentally friendly than disposable bags even without high numbers of uses.

If you want to decrease your environmental impact as much as possible, do your due diligence before purchasing. Investing in a tote that is made from recycled or repurposed materials instead of virgin fabrics helps you become more eco-friendly even with your first use of the bag.

Cardboard Boxes

Chances are you’ve already experienced this at Costco.

It’s not glamorous, but using cardboard boxes to carry your shopping is much better than disposable plastic bags, as you get to give new life to something that would have been disposed of otherwise.

If you simply need to take your stuff from the shop to the car, and the car to the house, boxes will do the job just fine. Many stores and markets have them freely available, or you can save delivery boxes at home and take them with you. Reuse until they wear out then recycle them.

For bulk shoppers: Rather than buying a bulk reusable bag (usually made from vinyl) use cardboard boxes and recycle them when you’re done.

DIY Upcycled Bags

upcycled bag - best recycled grocery bags

For the ultimate eco-friendly shopping bag, make your own using repurposed material. You can make a bag from an old t-shirt, a pair of denims, a pillowcase or any unwanted fabric such as a pair of curtains or bath towel; there are even some no-sew tutorials online you can find on YouTube.

Benefits: Unique, very eco friendly, and affordable.

Drawbacks: Requires a minimal level of sewing ability and time investment

You can also buy upcycled bags if you aren’t up for making your own. We recommend you ask a few questions to find out where the material came from, as not all ‘upcycled’ products for sale are genuine.

Other Reusable Bags

Reusable bags - best reusable grocery bags

Finally, the most sustainable reusable bag for groceries is a bag you already own! Here are a few options.

Backpacks

If you have a backpack, why not take it shopping?

It’s probably not worth buying one specially for this need, since the materials and manufacturing process are not so eco-friendly, but a backpack is great for bringing heavy items home from the store. It also frees up your hands to carry extra bags – or allows you to cycle home.

Bike Panniers

Detachable panniers are a great alternative to disposable plastic bags. They are versatile and tough to forget if you’re taking your bike to the store…

Benefit: Biking + reusable bags is a double whammy!

Drawback: Only good for dedicated trips to the store.

You may need to also invest in a compact bag to carry with you for time when you’re already out and need to swing by the store to pick something up.

If you’re biking to the store less than twice per month, you might be better off just loading your groceries in a backpack and biking home. The more you use these alternatives the more eco-friendly they are, so keep that in mind when considering what is best for you and your goals.

What Will You Choose?

Start now by checking out some of the best sustainable reusable bags for groceries here:

Or, start building your plastic-free kitchen with sustainable Ziploc bag alternatives.

Whatever you pick, by choosing reusable bags over disposable plastic, you’re helping rid the world of plastic pollution – one shopping trip at a time.

What Are Reusable Bags Made of?

reusable grocery bag options - shopping bag material

When it comes to reusable grocery bags, there are so many options out there that it may seem a bit overwhelming. You have to consider which one is right for you: Do you need something small and compact so you can carry it with you everywhere? Or, do you need something large and durable for your big weekly grocery trips?

But you may also be thinking, “What is this bag actually made of?” Different reusable bags are made from different materials, and because of that, some are more environmentally friendly than others. So you may also be considering, “Is a cotton bag more sustainable than a polyester bag?” Or, “Is the hard plastic bag I want to purchase really that much better than a plastic grocery bag?”

Reusable bags, regardless of material, are going to create less of an environmental impact than the mass amounts of single use plastic bags that enter the environment everyday. But the difference in impact is actually quite surprising.

Regardless of type though, it’s always important to keep in mind that these bags are not meant to be single-use. The more times you use them, the more environmentally friendly they become.

We’ve compiled a list below of various fabrics and materials that are most commonly used to produce reusable bags. You’ll be able to determine which bags are made from what materials and the environmental impact of each type.

Table of Contents

Natural Fibers
Synthetic Fibers

Natural Fibers

Jute Bags

A great, natural option when it comes to eco-friendly reusable bags is a jute bag. Jute is one of the few alternatives to plastic that is completely biodegradable and has a relatively low environmental impact. Jute is an organic material that is mainly grown and cultivated in India and Bangladesh.

The plant requires little water to grow, can grow in and actually rehabilitate wasteland, and reduces large amounts of CO2 due to it’s carbon dioxide assimilation rate. It is also extremely durable and relatively cheap to buy. The only downside is that it’s not very water resistant in its natural form.

Cloth bags - reusable grocery bag plastic alternative

Cotton Bags

Another option is a traditional cotton bag. Cotton bags are a common reusable alternative to plastic bags. They are lightweight, packable, and can be come in handy for a variety of uses. They also have the potential to be 100% organic, and they’re biodegradable.

However, because cotton requires so many resources to grow and cultivate, they must be used at least 131 times in order to outweigh their environmental impact.

Hemp Bags

Hemp is also a good natural alternative. Hemp bags are much stronger than cotton, durable, and can be machine washed. The plants themselves require little water, and one acre of hemp can yield up to 6 tons of fiber.

The only disadvantage to hemp bags are their travel footprint. Hemp cannot be grown in most Western countries and therefore must be imported. However, compared to other reusable bags, hemp is a fantastic low impact, organic material.

Synthetic Fibers

Polypropylene (PP) Bags

Polypropylene bags, or PP bags, are the bags you see at grocery stores near the check out isle. They’re durable reusable plastic bags that are designed for multiple uses. They can be made from both non-woven and woven polypropylene and come in a variety of colors and sizes.

While these bags are not compostable or biodegradable, they are the most environmentally efficient bags compared to traditional HDPE grocery bags. With just 14 uses, PP bags become more eco-friendly than single-use plastic bags. They also have the potential to be made from recycled materials.

recycled grocery bags - reusable plastic alternative

Recycled PET Bags

Recycled PET bags, as opposed to PP bags, are exclusively made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or recycled water bottles and containers. These bags, while still made from plastic, utilize the unnecessary waste from plastic water bottles and produce a wholly recycled, more eco-friendly, and useful product.

PET bags pack down into their own tiny stuff sack and can be used for years. They’re strong, durable, and from a resource point of view, have the lowest environmental footprint because they make use of otherwise disposable waste.

Polyester

Many fashionable and colorful bags are made from polyester. Unfortunately, polyester is also made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and unlike recycled PET bags, virgin polyester requires nearly 70 million barrels of crude oil each year to produce.

But on the plus side, each bag only creates 89 grams of greenhouse gas emissions, which is the equivalent to seven single use HDPE bags. Polyester bags are also wrinkle resistant, water resistant, and can be easily folded down to bring with you everywhere.

Nylon

Nylon bags are another easily packable reusable bag option. However, nylon is made from petrochemicals and thermoplastic—it actually requires more twice as much energy to produce than cotton and more crude oil to produce than polyester.

On the plus side though, nylon is extremely durable and long lasting. Therefore, if you invest in a nylon bag, you can use it for many years. There are also more and more recycling programs being established for nylon as well as more eco-friendly closed loop companies such as Econyl.

There are many options to choose from, but that doesn’t mean that choosing a reusable bag has to be confusing. As stated before, the more times you use a bag, the more environmentally friendly it becomes; so it’s important to find a bag that suits your personal needs.

Why We Should NOT Use Plastic Bags

WHAT’S WRONG WITH PLASTIC BAGS?

You’ve probably seen and heard a lot about plastic lately, especially disposable plastic bags. We’ve been using them since the 1960’s, so why are plastic bags suddenly the bad guys?

Plastic use has become an epidemic: more than one trillion plastic bags are manufactured every year and they take up to a thousand years to disintegrate. What happens to all those discarded plastic bags and what harm do they cause?

Top three reasons to ditch the plastic

There are three main problems with plastic bags: they cause environmental harm, have a negative impact on our health and they cost money.

Environmental harm of plastics

You see them everywhere you go. Discarded plastic bags blow around in streets, parks and fields and float on lakes, rivers and shorelines causing an unsightly mess in the local neighborhood.

As well as looking ugly, plastic bags cause major environmental disasters. In 1989 and 1998 Bangladesh suffered catastrophic floods that submerged two thirds of the country. A major cause of the flooding was plastic bags clogging up the water and sewage systems.

Wildlife is also suffering the consequences of our discarded plastic bags in their environment. Plastic bags cause the deaths of more than one million sea birds every year and an estimated 100,000 dolphins, sharks, turtles and whales are killed by suffocating on or ingesting plastic bags.

Worse still, instead of decomposing, plastic breaks down into ever smaller pieces. It’s estimated that every square mile of ocean contains around 46,000 pieces of floating plastic, and 44 percent of all seabird species, 22 percent of cetaceans, all sea turtle species and a growing list of fish species have been documented with plastic in or around their bodies.

But it’s not only the disposal of plastic bags that’s a problem. Approximately 8 – 10 percent of the total oil supply is used to make plastic, with an estimated 12 million barrels of oil a year used to manufacture plastic bags used in the US. This industry creates greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, and contributes to global climate change.

Health impacts of plastics

Since we humans also live in the environment, our health is impacted by the environmental damage caused by plastic bags.

Incidents such as the Bangladesh floods have a major impact on human health, increasing the incidence of water-borne diseases and destroying crops, homes and infrastructure.

The small plastic particles that are accumulating in marine life are polluting our food chain. Plastic bags are a source of dioxin, an endocrine disruptor, which causes gender mutations in fish and in the animals that eat fish, like seals and polar bears. When we eat fish and seafood, we also absorb these plastic chemicals, some of which have been found to alter hormones or have other human health effects.

Costs of plastics

When they are handed out ‘free of charge’, retailers build the cost of plastic bags into their profit margins – so consumers are really paying for them anyway! A growing number of countries and cities have introduced a ‘plastic bag tax’, so it often costs a few cents extra to buy a bag, but this is an insignificant sum compared with the social and environmental costs.

The manufacture of plastic bags depletes the global supply of oil and hastens the onset of global warming, which threatens the sustainability of life on this planet – that’s a pretty big price to pay!

The global cost of removing all the discarded plastic bags from the environment is almost incalculable. In 2004, the City of San Francisco estimated the cost of clean-up and landfill for the 50 million bags used annually in that city alone as $8.49 million/year, or 17 cents per bag.

The cost of habitat loss due to our use of disposable plastic bags is also immeasurable. From areas of land and ocean used for oil extraction and refining, to landfill sites to dispose of our waste and the pollution of ocean environments, useful habitat for flora and fauna is being destroyed daily. The cost of losing species forever is largely unknown, but the value of nature’s ‘ecosystem services’, such as the pollination of crops and carbon sinks, has been estimated at between $2 trillion and $6 trillion.

No matter why you do it – do it!

The consequences of using plastic bags reach far beyond what we experience in our daily lives. Whether you do it for yourself or others, for your local environment or global ecosystems, for wildlife or for future generations, stop using plastic bags.

There are lots of great alternatives – see how you can change the world by changing your bag: Best Alternatives

How to reduce the use of plastic bags

Do you live in an area where plastic bags are taxed or banned?

More than 20 U.S. states and 150+ cities and counties have already banned plastic bags, and a growing number of countries around the world are also banning or taxing their use.

Why is this happening and how can you respond?

Why are plastic bags being banned or taxed?

Around 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide every year, but the average bag is used for just 12 minutes before being thrown away and only one in 200 is recycled. The billions of bags that end up as litter are harmful to wildlife, the natural environment and human health, as well as being very costly to clean up.

To find out more about the damage that plastic bags cause, read our article about the pitfalls of disposable plastic bags.

How can you cut your use of plastic bags?

There are a number of different strategies you can employ to cut down on the number of plastic bags you use and minimize their environmental impact. Which is the most effective?

We’ve ranked the ways of reducing your impact according to the hierarchy of ‘Refuse, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle’.

#1 Refuse plastic, take your own reusable bags

In the U.S., the average family accumulates 15 plastic bags on each trip to the grocery store. If they shop weekly, that’s 780 bags a year! (and some estimates are higher!)

Cut out plastic bags entirely by taking your own reusable shopping bags instead. There’s plenty of choice available; check out the top 8 alternatives here.

Choosing reusable bags can have the most impact of all – but be sure to select the most eco-friendly bag you can find that suits your needs.

#2 Refuse plastic, choose paper bags

Forgotten your reusable bag? If you have the option, choose paper bags rather than plastic to carry home your groceries. Although they take more energy to produce, paper bags can be easily recycled or composted, so they’re much less harmful to the environment after they have served their purpose.

Make sure to dispose of your paper bags carefully though; around 80 percent of all paper bags end up in landfill.

#3 Reuse your ‘single use’ plastic bags

They might be designed to be used just once, but there’s plenty of life left in most plastic bags after you’ve emptied out the groceries. If you find you have accumulated a few plastic bags, simply take them with you next time you visit the store and keep using them until they are no longer fit for the job.

#4 Repurpose your plastic bags

Alternatively, find new uses for your plastic bags: Use them to line the trash can, to pick up after your dog, or even use them as lightweight packaging material in place of bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Each time you reuse a plastic bag – even if it’s for a different purpose – you’re reducing its environmental impact.

#5 Recycle plastic bags

It’s unavoidable; sometimes we all end up with a few plastic bags. When they’ve been used and reused and they’re at the end of their life, the only remaining option is to recycle them.

Most curbside recycling collection systems can’t handle plastic bags, so you might need to take them to a drop-off recycling location instead. Most large grocery chains, home improvement stores and retailers have plastic bag recycling collection bins, so take them back there to make sure they are processed correctly and don’t end up in landfill.

Refuse plastic – choose your alternative

The best option is always to choose a reusable bag. Make sure you take your time and choose a good bag that will last you. The more times you can use it the more environmentally friendly it will be.

And remember, if you don’t have your reusable bag with you and you need to use plastic bags, you can minimize the environmental impact by reusing, repurposing and recycling them.

25 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Use

Ways To Reduce Your Plastic Use

We are beginning to see more and more media coverage on the impact of plastics on the environment. And once you begin to look around, there seems to be plastic everywhere you look: your bathroom, your grocery store, your favorite restaurant.

It can be overwhelming to try to think of a plastic free world.

However, there are many steps you can take to start to reduce your plastic use in many areas. This is a list of 25 different ways you can reduce plastic use in your everyday life.

Glass, Ceramic, and Other Alternative Materials

Use a reusable water bottle. In the United States alone, Americans used 50 billion plastic water bottles. The demand for plastic water bottles in the US requires about 17 million barrels of oil and enough energy to power 190,000 homes. There are numerous benefits to using a reusable water bottle, instead of purchasing a disposable one every time.
Invest in a reusable shopping bag. There are many options out there for reusable bags, so it’s easy to find one that suits your needs. Using a reusable shopping bag made of cotton, jute, linen, or even durable plastic eliminates the need for disposable plastic bags at the grocery store, at your favorite retailer, and even when eating out.
Use reusable a coffee cup. While many coffee cups seem to be made out of paper, they are actually lined in plastic in order to properly hold that frothy cappuccino. Start bringing your own coffee cup to your favorite coffee shop on the way to work, or request a ceramic cup if dining in, to reduce the amount of to-go coffee cups making their way to the landfill each day.
Use mesh produce bags. Its seems like it’s nearly impossible to avoid plastic in the produce aisle. Fruits and veggies are actually coming pre-cut and pre-packaged these days! An easy way to reduce your plastic use on your next grocery trip is to buy whole fruits and vegetables and carry them in a reusable mesh produce bag.
Line small trash bins with paper bags. Instead of small plastic bags, use paper grocery bags to line your bins if you happen to have them.
Use matches or refillable lighters. Disposable plastic lighters are a major source of unnecessary waste that ends up in landfills, on beaches, and hardly ever recycled. Start using matches instead, or invest in a refillable lighter to avoid throwing away your next dud Bic.

At the Grocery Store

Return plastic packages back to grocer. When it comes to berries, tomatoes, and other certain fruits and veggies, they’re almost always packaged in small plastic containers. Ask your local grocer if it’s possible to return these packages so they can be recycled or reused.
Buy dried goods in bulk. Another way to reduce your plastic use in the grocery store is to buy dried goods in the bulk section. The bulk section is not only more eco-friendly, but also cheaper. Instead of buying rice, nuts, and cereal in plastic, bring your own reusable container to the bulk section and save some money while your at it!
Buy eggs in cardboard containers, not Styrofoam. Eggs are now being sold in Styrofoam cartons instead of cardboard. If you have the choice between the two, always choose cardboard. Styrofoam is not biodegradable and stays in the environment for up to one million years.
Avoid chewing gum. Chewing gum is actually made of synthetic rubber, which is a fancy word for plastic. While chewing gum used to be made from a certain tree sap, it’s now made with fillers, emulsifiers, and polyvinyl acetate, a thermoplastic. Ditch the gum for a mint or other alternatives to avoid chewing on plastic next time!
Buy fresh, not frozen. Buying frozen foods and produce uses a lot of unnecessary plastic packaging. Even the frozen pizza boxes that seem to be made of cardboard are actually lined with plastic. By avoiding the frozen foods section and buying fresh, you are cutting out the plastic packaging used to preserve such options.
Buy local. Always buy local when possible. Start shopping at your local farmers market, soap shop, or grocer. Not only are you directly supporting those in your community, you are more often than not avoiding unnecessary plastic packaging with their products and reducing the transportation cost of goods.

Take Out, Dining Out, and Storing Food

Bring your own container. Going out to eat? Bring your own container with you to store possible leftovers. Over 120,000 of plastic and foam take out containers combined were found in beach cleanups last year. Prepare beforehand and bring your own next time you go out to eat.
Avoid plastic cutlery when eating out. If you know you are heading straight home with your carry out, decline the option for plastic cutlery and use your own. Or, if you eat on the go frequently, invest in reusable cutlery to carry with you.
Stop using plastic straws. A simple and easy way to reduce your plastic use is to say no to plastic straws when dining out. Many companies are beginning to make this transition themselves, including Starbucks and McDonalds. If you’re one to hesitate to give up that sweet satisfaction of sipping up that delicious drink, consider investing in a metal or durable plastic straw that is reusable.
Use glass food storage containers. We all know it’s easy to get carried away with plastic Tupperware (and somehow you can never find the proper fitting lid to any of them!) So next time you are looking to purchase storage containers for your leftovers, try buying glass containers. They’re both better for your health (BPA free) and better for the environment.

Home Goods, Cleaners, and Toiletries

Buy boxes, not bottles. Many household items, like detergent and cleaning products are offered in both plastic bottles and cardboard boxes. Choose the boxed option! Or, if you’d like to transition to more eco-friendly products overall, start making your own! Other eco-friendly options include shampoo bars and plastic-free toothpaste.
Seek out refill stations. It is becoming more and more common to find refill stations for common household products and soaps. Try to find a refill station near you for soap, detergent, and other hygiene products and skip the next plastic bottle purchase.
Avoid plastic clothes hangers and hampers. Another item we don’t normally think about is the plastic hanger. Try using wire hangers or even wooden hangers next time you run out. You can also find hampers made of various other materials including metal, cotton, wood, and wicker.
Avoid clothing made of synthetic materials. While we’re on the topic of wardrobe options, try to avoid clothing made of synthetic fibers. Material such as lycra, polyester, nylon, and spandex actually contain polymers (plastic) and chemicals that eventually enter the environment and ocean when discarded. Look for clothing made of natural materials instead, such as cotton, linen, and wool.
Stop using disposable razors. The EPA has estimated that 2 billion disposable razors are bought and used each year. Instead of disposable razors, purchase reusable razors with disposable heads, or a safety razor.
Buy sustainable toothbrushes. Another bathroom product people usually glance over is their toothbrush. Most common use toothbrushes are made of plastic and thrown away. Try to recycle your plastic toothbrushes and purchase a more eco-friendly alternative, such as wooden or bamboo toothbrushes.
Use cloth diapers. Instead of using disposable diapers, which contribute to 5. millions tons of waste each year, try using cloth diapers.
Use sustainable menstrual products. Conventional pads and tampons are now commonly made with plastic and synthetic fibers, instead of the cotton they used to be made with. This is not only harmful for the environment, but also uncomfortable and toxic for the body. There are many natural options out there for women that are both eco-friendly and better for your body, including silicone menstrual cups and organic cotton pads and tampons.
Avoid microbeads. Microbeads are actually just small (less than 1 millimeter) pieces of plastic that are added to common hygiene products. While many countries are in the process of banning them due to their easy access to lakes, rivers, and oceans, it is best to avoid those that continue to linger.

This list is a comprehensive list meant to provide a variety of options to easily eliminate unnecessary plastics from your life. There are also many books available that provide a more in-depth look at how you can create a plastic-free lifestyle. Some great options include Life Without Plastic by Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha, Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson, and Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too by Beth Terry.

Regardless of if you find two or three of these achievable this year, all of these, or kick start your research into a plastic free life, realize that reducing your plastic use is not only achievable, but can be easy in manageable steps. Once you begin to eliminate plastics from your life, you’ll begin to see other ways to reduce your impact on the environment; slowly lifting the burden of plastic pollution one item at a time.

Reducing our Consumption of Plastics

Turning off the faucet…

Plastic production has increased twenty-fold over the last 50 years – Over 300 million tons of plastic is being produced every year. And it’s adding up. Eight million metric tons of that enters the ocean each year.

Our dependency on plastics for their convenience and versatility has grown exponentially. And it is projected to grow still. However, without proper facilities to dispose of all this waste, our exceeding consumption of plastics is guaranteed to create irreparable damage to the oceans, the earth, and possibly our own population.

There’s been very little action at the global or state level, though, to resolve this problem. So what can you do about it personally? Well, one way to directly counteract the plastic problem is to stop it from the source by reducing your consumption of plastics.

How do my Individual Actions as a Consumer Help?

By using less plastic, even on the individual level, it means that less plastic is being purchased and used. Less plastic being used means that less plastic needs to be made, and therefore more plastic is being prevented from entering the environment to begin with.

For example, if just one individual starts using a reusable water bottle, an average of 217 plastic water bottles will be saved over the course of one year. Just one individual’s actions have the potential to prevent 217 plastic water bottles from entering landfills and the natural environment.

Not only that, but a reduction in plastic consumption on the individual level has the power to affect the overall demand for plastic products.

All the time, companies are looking to find ways to better cater to consumer needs. One of the most tangible examples of this can be seen in our current food market. The sales growth of organic food has doubled in a matter of four years. Reacting to the demand, more and more food retailers such as Walmart, Costco, and Kroger have made organic food more prevalent and accessible to consumers in their stores.

By choosing not to purchase and use unnecessary plastic items like single-use water bottles, traditional plastic toothbrushes, or say, plastic straws, the demand for such products decreases, which, in turn, decreases production and supply.

As the individual begins to consume less, the manufacture of plastics begins to decrease and there’s potential for massive change on a cultural level.

The less plastic we use in our daily lives, the easier it will be to shift our culture from a single-use frame of mind.

We are already seeing this shift in grocery stores as more and more people are taking action against plastics. Earlier this year, Amsterdam created one of the first plastic-free grocery aisles in direct response to consumers’ demand for less plastic.

How big of a difference will this make though? Can an individual’s actions really add up?

The answer is: Yes.

Just ‘one’ Person

As we go through the day, most people don’t think about exactly how much plastic they consume. It’s just one coffee cup in the morning, one plastic bag of groceries, one night out that required a take-out container. But these things add up, and at the individual level, we consume a lot of plastic.

— The average person in North America or Western Europe consumes 220 kg of plastic per year.

— In the U.S. alone, the average person produces more than 2.5 kg of waste every day.

— Purchasing coffee on the go? One to-go coffee per day creates about 10.5 kg of waste in one year.

— From grocery stores, to clothing stores, to restaurant take-out, plastic bags are used for everything.

— The average person uses 300 single-use plastic bags per year in the U.S.

These numbers add up quickly. But fortunately, that also means that simple changes can make significant changes. So what can you do as an individual to consume less plastic?

Invest in…

A reusable water bottle. By using a reusable water bottle, one individual can save 217 plastic water bottles per year.

A reusable tote. Single use plastic bags have become an overwhelming problem globally. Opt for using a reusable tote at the grocery store or choose paper instead of plastic.

A reusable coffee mug. Reduce the amount of disposable cups you use by simply bringing your own.

Avoid…

Plastic straws. Americans use 500 straws every day. Reduce plastic consumption by merely choosing to drink your beverage without a straw.

Liquid soap. Start using bar soap rather than liquid body soap. Some retailers even carry bar shampoo.

Packaged produce. Retailers have begun selling produce packaged in plastic. Buy whole, fresh produce instead to avoid plastic packaging.

Opt for…

Products sold in alternative packaging. On average, 31 kg of plastic packaging waste is produced per person per year in the EU. Try to buy goods sold in glass or paper packaging or bulk foods filled in your own containers.

How Should I go About Reducing my Consumption of Plastic?

There are so many ways to reduce your consumption of plastic in your daily life. Easier said than done though, right? Where do you start?

1) As famously quoted by folk singer and social activist Pete Seeger, “The first step in solving a problem is recognizing that there is one.” One of the most important steps to reducing your plastic consumption is to be aware of how much you consume.

2) Ditch the plastic you can, whenever you can. We are confronted with unnecessary plastics all the time. Once you start to recognize them, it’s easy to opt out or find a different option.

3) Which brings us to the last – finding alternatives. Invest in alternative options like reusable bottles, cups, and bags. Experiment with eco-alternatives, such as bamboo toothbrushes or bar shampoo.