Hey, Green Junkie!
Hopefully, the holiday season fog has lifted, and you’re feeling rested and rejuvenated and are ready to tackle this new year.
As we think about our intentions/goals/resolutions for this year, I hope that living a little more green is on the top of your list.
And if it’s not, allow me to take away the overwhelm. I’m committed to bringing you all the green living goodness to this podcast all year long so you can feel fully prepared and confident in your green journey.
To kick that off, I’m sharing with you 23 ways to reduce plastic in 2022. While some of these tips will be obvious, this episode is packed with a lot of valuable information and probably several tips that you haven’t heard of before.
Here’s what to expect:
- Creative ways to reuse plastic in your home
- How to cut down on water bottles
- My favourite alternatives to plastic
- What to pack before you leave the house
- Alternatives to wrapping and cooking your food
- How to avoid dangerous toxins in your home
- Uplevel your beauty product game
- Reducing plastics in the newborn stage
You’ll discover that and so much more in this episode.
By the end of this episode, Green Junkie, you’ll be well on your way to using less plastic this year – and hopefully helping cross off that “become a green goddess” resolution on your 2022 list. 😉
If you love this podcast, be sure to leave a review and share a screenshot of this episode with your IG stories. Tag @greenjunkiepodcast so I can shout you out and publicly say thanks.
Thanks for listening and being here.
Your green bestie,
Xoxo Stephanie
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Sources
https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/how-to-reduce-plastic-use
https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/
https://www.factorydirectpromos.com/plastic-bag-bans/
https://www.ecoparent.ca/eco-home/teflon-really-so-bad
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/g35395337/best-eco-friendly-razors/
https://www.goodgirlgonegreen.com/diy-clay-mask/
Resources:
Hydro Flask water bottles and coffee mugs
Plastic-free skincare (Canada)
Listen Below
Episode 19 Transcript
0:07
Hi, Green Junkie, I'm your host, Stephanie Moram, and it's officially a new year. Today I'm going to be talking to you about fresh, creative ways to reduce the amount of plastic you use. It's one of those funny things that can be scary, but it can also be relatively easy. But reducing plastic is one of those things that becomes less of a chore and more of joy because you know that you're doing your part for the environment once you start the process. I
0:33
started this green living lifestyle because I realized it wasn't just about me; it was about my kids, my kids' kids and children around the world, and I knew there had to be a better way to use less plastic and show my children the process. You don't have to change everything right away; start making small changes here and there that will help you and your family enjoy this process. It's important not to rush; just throw every bit of plastic you have away. What you want to be doing is to use less where possible. And whenever you're buying food or any other items, choose plastic-free or less plastic options. If you love learning new ways to reduce your environmental impact, please subscribe to the Green Junkie Podcast on whatever platform you get your podcasts. That way, you will never miss another green-loving episode. Now let's get started using less plastic.
1:24
So number one, this will probably be a surprise, especially if you chew gum. Maybe you chew gum to freshen your breath, or you just like the flavour. But did you know that it contains plastic? Mind blown, right? Gum is made of synthetic rubber, which is plastic. So, if you love to chew gum, depending on why you chew gum, you could get some organic mints, and you can use mouthwash. But if you love to chew gum, there are a lot of alternatives out there that don't use plastic that is going to use better ingredients. So check the show notes. And I've got some other options just for you.
2:07
In the quest of living plastic-free or reducing the amount of plastic, because let's be honest, it's tough to live completely plastic-free, especially if you have a car seat that you put your children in. But ziplock bags always seem to be one of the hardest things to eliminate for most people. But what are some good alternatives if you want to ditch as much plastic as possible, and you want to give up those plastic bags once you're done with your plastic bag box? So just a side note, if you have a box of Ziploc bags or anything like that, use them. Don't just throw them out; just use them because you know the damage has already been done. You've already bought those plastic bags. So what can you do after you've used up that box or a plastic bag so that you can opt for reusable ones or cloth? There are some great cloth alternatives out there, like silicone. I know that silicone can be considered plastic, but it is better for the environment and the fact that you can keep reusing it over and over again.
3:08
Another thing you can do is try to make your bags last longer. So what I do is if I ever get a plastic bag from somebody, or whatever that is, I keep that plastic bag, and I try to reuse it over and over again. So I'm getting the maximum out of that plastic bag. So wash your bags, let them air dry and reuse them until eventually, they're no longer good anymore. And then the best thing you can do is use a combination of storage products that just don't involve plastic. So like I said, reuse all of the plastic bags you have washed and the plastic bags you get. But once they're gone, try to look for alternatives.
3:45
Number three, the next time you're offered bottled water, just say no thank you. I do it all the time. Would you like some water? No, I'm good, thanks. More than 35 gallons of bottled water are consumed here. That's around 270 bottles per person. And that amount is only going up bottled water. Yes, it's more convenient. But it does have its downsides too, which could be bad for health and bad for the environment. So next time, bring your reusable water bottle, whether that stainless steel or glass. The reality is that filtered tap water is often a better choice compared to bottled water. So a lot of the time, the bottled water that we're buying is just tap water. Maybe you knew that; perhaps you didn't. But if you bring your water with you and your water bottle, it'll be better for you and better for the planet.
4:38
On bringing your bottles with you, opt to get your travel mug when you go out for the tea and coffee. Let's reduce our plastic in 2022 by bringing our mugs for our beverages, whether coffee or tea. It'll help break your disposable cup habit and make an impact on the environment. My favourite mug is a Hydroflask. It's a great option. It ships globally, you can get it everywhere, and they have different colours. They're super trendy; I have two that I use all the time. I don't know how long I've had them for. But I've had them for a pretty long time. I will say at least five years, so grab your travel mug when you're heading out to the coffee shop. So you don't have to take a disposable cup. And those disposable cups. Yes, they look like they're made of paper, but the lining is plastic, and they cannot be recycled in regular recycling. So be sure to get your reusable mug.
5:41
And let's say no to plastic bags. So we talked about Ziploc bags; let's talk about grocery bags and shopping bags. Let's say no to those in 2020 and prepare your reusable shopping bag made with cotton; you can get different materials. And the good thing about plastic bags is that you can also get produce bags made of cotton and stuff like that. So it's not just for your groceries. So say no, as I said. Say no to plastic bags in 2022 and have your bag with you. If you're thinking I always forget it – well, leave a couple of bags in different places. So have one in your car. So when you stop, you always have one in your car, maybe have one at the door. So you remember to take it when you leave or have one in your purse or a bag that you use when you leave the house; you always have one with you. Also, check out the show notes because there's this cool interactive plastic bag ban map that I'm going to link, and it shows you all the different areas where plastic bags are banned.
6:39
Plastic straws. So switching up plastic straws can be easy. There are great alternatives like glass or stainless steel, and then you can just bring it with you when you leave the house, or if you want to use a straw at home, you have one available for you. So ditch the one-use disposable plastic straws and start using pretty straws and straws that are better for the planet. And I know there's a lot of people out there that do need plastic straws because of the way they bend and the way they need to drink their beverage. I don't know if this will be an option, but I found disposable plastic straws made of cane sugar. And to me, they bend very similarly to plastic. So that can be an option for those like me, I really cannot use metal, and I cannot use glass. I need to have something that bends more to be an option and the cane sugar ones.
7:33
Are you a bread lover. Most people love fresh bread, right? So if you shop at the farmers market, a local bakery or a natural food store, try to opt for bread that comes in paper packaging that doesn't have that ridiculous plastic. I don't even know what it is. It's like a window on their bags. Or maybe bring your bag with you or grab a cloth bag, perhaps an old plastic bag that you have around the house and put your bread directly in there. And then you don't even have to take that brown bag. Again. Not all bakeries have that option, but it could be an option. Bread can be more expensive than, say, the store-bought stuff. But if you can afford it – bring your bag, or you can get it in a brown paper bag using way less plastic.
8:23
One of my all-time favourite products is beeswax wraps. I love them. So they're a wax cloth that has been a staple for, oh gosh – what seems like forever. So use beeswax to store your food. Beeswax is usually made of organic cotton, beeswax tree resin and jojoba oil. So you can switch out the plastic wrap that you would typically use to cover leftovers in the fridge. I grab a beeswax wrap that I have, and what's great about it is it just moulds to whatever you need. So, you know if you have a bowl of a specific size, the heat from your hands will set that beeswax wrap around whatever bowl or cup or whatever you need to wrap and also just a reminder if you do own beeswax wraps when you wash them, try not to use hot water because the beeswax will start melting off of the cloth. Hence, you're better off using gentle soap and cold water when washing your beeswax wipes. My favourite beeswax wrap is called a Vigo. I couldn't find them pretty much anywhere. And I also linked in the show notes if you wanted to grab your own.
9:37
Next up, it's cookware. Most of you have heard of Teflon. I hate Teflon. I don't use Teflon. There's a lot of problems with Teflon. You could do a really quick Google search and find all the reasons why Teflon is horrible. But I'll just give you a quick little recap of why I personally don't like Teflon. I feel that it's unsafe. It's made with a chemical called PFOA. It is suspected carcinogenic. It is a hormone disruptor. And it's a reproductive toxin. It is super persistent in our environment, like really, really stubborn. And what that means is that when it enters our environment, it doesn't leave. Think of what that is doing to our drinking water, our farmland, soil, seafood; it's just, it's not a great chemical. Like most people call it the forever chemical because it just doesn't leave, it is just like, the worst thing on the planet, in my opinion. So what can you do instead? You could get stainless steel, ceramic cookware; I love cast iron and cast iron. So I'm cooking with my cast iron. So I'm avoiding toxic chemicals and, you know, Teflon off-gases. So I'm removing that by using cast iron. So that could be another way to reduce the toxins that you're exposed to is just to get rid of the Teflon.
11:08
Let's talk about personal care and cleaning products in bulk. So how can you reduce your plastic by buying food, personal care and cleaning products in bulk? Plastic containers seem like they're taking over supermarkets; everything isn't disposable. As an alternative to buying individually wrapped plastics, more and more places offer bulk. I'mfortunatey, I have a refill/bulk station at my store. And not only do they have food, but they have cleaning products, shampoo, and tons of things. So I'm lucky that I have that option. It's not available everywhere I get it. But if you have the opportunity, buying these products in bulk and refill stations will reduce the amount of plastic you purchase. I know it's not easy because, you know, I do buy stuff that's still in plastic; I'm going, being honest, I'm not perfect. But wherever I can reduce the amount of food packaging I'm bringing home, I do it by buying in bulk.
12:13
Let's talk about ice cubes and popsicle moulds. I know it's not summer, so you're probably not overthinking about ice cubes and popsicle moulds, but most of them are made of plastic, but there is an alternative out there. I don't know if you've ever seen stainless steel ones,s but they are super cool. They're a little more expensive, but they last a lot longer because they are made of stainless steel.
12:37
Speaking of stainless steel, let's talk about food storage. So we talked about plastic bags before about ziplock bags for storage. But what about all the other plastic containers that you might have that you've had for forever? Or maybe you're thinking about replacing some of your storage containers? Well, have you thought about opting for stainless steel or glass instead? Not only will the planet appreciate you buying less plastic, but it's also better for your health because many plastic containers, especially when they're heated, can release harmful substances. So number one thing is when you are using plastic, you want to avoid heating it at all costs. You can bring your glass or stainless steel container for takeout when dining out. So you can ask the restaurant, hey, if I get my container, can you put my food in it. Or if you're eating out and you have way too much food on your plate, instead of grabbing a styrofoam container or whatever container that restaurant might offer, have a stainless steel container with you or something along those lines that you can put your food in. So you're reducing the amount of plastic or Styrofoam that you are bringing home with you. When you start using eco-friendly products, you can get your family and friends, and workers to do the same by setting this example. So people see you out and about, and you have containers that you're putting your leftovers in, or you're doing takeout, and you're using your containers, that's going to have a positive impact, and maybe others will start doing the same.
14:07
Again. Let's talk about ice cream. I know for many of you it',s you know, still the winter months, but everyone likes to get ice cream, right. So how do you reduce plastic when it comes to ice cream? Go for the cone. Always go for the cone because when you get that container, not only you're getting the container that you're putting the ice cream in, but you're also getting a plastic spoon. I always have a wooden spoon with me when I leave the house if we're getting ice cream, just in case my kids don't want a cone. So that reduces my plastic. But not everyone's carrying a wooden spoon with them when they're going for ice cream. Let's be honest. So go for the cone and reduce your plastic by getting your ice cream, not in a container. And I think ice cream tastes better in a cone anyway, so go for the cone for sure.
15:00
Let's talk about toothpaste. So raise your hand if your toothpaste comes in a plastic tube. That's probably most of you that are listening to the podcast right now. So put your hands down and say hello to Nelson Naturals. They are a crush and brush, toothpaste, tablet. There are other brands out there that are little tablets. All you do is take the pill you put in your mouth, crush it, and then you brush; hence the crushing brus; they usually come in a glass container. So you're reducing your plastic also, specifically Nelson naturals, they come with a metal top, again, reducing the amount of plastic, and they are mess-free. They're portable, and they're just perfect. I love them. I love them. They're easy to use, they're easy to travel with. So say goodbye to those plastic tubes and say hello to toothpaste tabs.
15:50
Let's talk about cleaning products. So we're all cleaning our house, right? We're all, you know, weekly tidying up and making sure that things are cleaner in our place, right? So one major step in living a greener, more healthy lifestyle is to be more aware of the daily products we're using and consuming. It's important to me specifically and probably many of you to choose organic and toxin-free products. And the best part is that you can make your own it doesn't have to be complicated. Get a glass bottle that you can keep reusing over and over again. Then what I do is I do one-fourth vinegar and the rest water, and then I'll add some essential oils so that it smells NICER in the house. And that's all you need. That's all you need. And when I get my vinegar, I go a step further. I have a refill station near my house to get vinegar in bulk. So I bring my containers, and I refill them with vinegar. So I'm also reducing my plastic that way as well. If you're like Stephanie, I am not making my products for whatever reason. It's not what I want to do. That's cool. There are other ways to reduce your plastic and find concentrated cleaning products. Most cleaning products you buy already pre-made most of their water, so you're buying water. So if you get a concentrate, and you only have to put a capped total into a bottle and the rest, you add water, then you're buying fewer plastic bottles, right?
17:14
Second, there are companies out there that make these cool like kind of like tablets, and you drop the tab into your bottle. And then all you do is add water, and you're using less plastic most of the time, and often they're using compostable packaging. So those are a couple of options if you don't want to make your products.
17:30
Next up, let's talk about disposable razors because they end up in landfills a lot every single year. Alternatively, you can explore replaceable blades instead of removing your razor altogether. I have a safety razor. I love it. I love it. I love it, and they're not hard to use; it's a great option to look into because they're often made with 100% metal, mine's completely stainless steel, and there's no plastic on it. And all I have to do is buy the little blade and change it out when it's dull, which means the only thing you're throwing away is that tiny little blade.
18:06
Now for all the ladies out there, let's talk about plastic-free feminine hygiene products. We don't have to go the plastic route; we do not. So say goodbye to plastic, perfumes and chlorine and say hello to natural, reusable organic products. So if you're going the disposable route because you don't want to use reusable. There's a great company called Nature Care. They're disposable products, but they're 100% certified organic unbleached cotton, they're made with no plastic, and there's usually no applicators as well. So that's a great option if you're going the disposable route. Suppose you're looking for reusable. Some companies offer reusable, washable menstrual pads and liners called Glad Rags. So you can use those. But then there's another excellent option, period underwear. My two favourites are Rebel and Aisle. They're great alternatives. Then you just wear those instead of using disposable pads or tampons, or even liners; you just use the underwear. So these are some great options to reducing the amount of plastic you are bringing into your house and exposing your body to.
19:19
So speaking of your body, much of the plastic polluting the oceans is microplastics, tiny chunks that are next to impossible to filter out. These plastics can come from more oversized items breaking down, but they are also commonly added to consumer products like face wash and toothpaste. These tiny beads go down the drain, eventually flowing to our rivers, lakes and oceans. Awesome. They can be mistaken for food by fish and sea turtles – a dish that isn't really for them. These tiny little beads are intended to exfoliate. Still, many of them can't be filtered from treatment facilities, so they just end up In our water, right? So there are many non-biodegradable options to avoid. So, go to the show notes, where there are a couple of alternative options to using these products that contain microplastics. One of my favourite companies is cold Wildcraft. They're based in Canada. They're awesome. And then another company is called Josh Rosebrook, another great skincare company that is reducing the amount of plastic that they are also bringing into the world with their products.
20:34
So we're almost done. We are at number 19. We talked about refill stations and bulk stations; how you can use what you know to refill to get food and different products, we can also do it for conditioners and shampoos. So a couple of options to reduce the amount of plastic is to go to a refill station or bulk station and get your shampoo and conditioner. Bring your containers, so you're not buying plastic. Another option to green up your self-care is to use a bar. You avoid complex chemicals sometimes found in other products and black plastic packaging. If you use one bottle per month, that is a dozen plastic bottles headed to your local landfill like that; a lot of plastic bottles a year, like a lot. If you switch to bars, you will not have anything to wrap up or squeeze from, you know, just good old shampoo. So you just lather it in your hand,s and then you wash your hair and rinse. So those are two good options, either using your shampoo and conditioner bars or using a refill station.
21:37
Let's talk about hair ties and accessories. All beat-up plastic hairbrushes can serve you well for many years. Same with hair ties, which you can use over and over again. But when you're trying to reduce your plastics assumption, these products are not it. Likewise, if you already have hair ties and elastics and they're functioning, and they're made of plastic, keep using them. Always use what you already have. But if you are looking to get new elastics because the ones you have are broken, they're not working; they're ripped. Well, you can opt for plastic-free products, so many people don't realize that your hair ties are made of plastic. They're made of polyester and synthetic rubber that will stay in the environment forever. So there's a great company out there called us. Their hair ties are made of organic cotton and natural rubber. So those are the hair elastics that I use. Of course, I have other hair elastics that haven't broken. I've had them for many years, but I needed to get new hair elastics for my daughters, so I opted for these.
22:40
Next up, let's talk about disposable and cloth diapers—number 21. Disposable diapers are typically made from paper from trees and petroleum. Disposable diapers tend to be made with chemicals and dyes, and fragrances that can be toxic for your little one. But cloth diapers often use sustainable plant fibres like bamboo hemp, organic cotton. Also, cloth diapers only require a single investment, saving you 40% compared to disposable diapers; reusable diapers and washable baby wipes can help you be earth-friendly and health-conscious. I loved it when I had my daughter and my son. I used cloth diapers and cloth wipes. All I did for the wipes was I took a cloth, I would get it wet, then I had a foaming soap, and I would spray the foaming, so you know, on the cloth and wipe their butts. So I never had to buy any wipes for them. But there are many people out there who don't want to buy cloth diapers, and I get it – I do get it. There are companies out there that are doing better. One is called Eco by Natty. This is the brand that I used when my kids were in daycare. And they hated the cloth pull-ups like hated them. So I switch to this company. And they're made with organic cotton. And just you know there's no harmful fragrances and chemicals in them. So that's an option for you. It's listed in the show notes.
24:09
Next up, repair things when they break. So instead of going out and buying something new, repair it often, we can avoid buying new stuff just by keeping the things we have in good condition, right. So when a plastic item you own breaks or any item for that matter, try to repair it instead of buying something new.
24:29
And lastly, this might be something that most of you aren't doing. It's 2022. And most of our spam mail comes in the form of virtual mail now, right? But we still may get spam mail with the plastic windows, and you're unloaded unknowingly throwing them away for their ultimate landfill demise. So what I do is I get something that has a little window. It can't be recycled with paper. Well, it shouldn't. So I just cut off the little plastic window, put it in the garbage, and then recycle the paper? But how can we save paper? You can opt-out of this junk mail. So that's what I would suggest doing. Suppose you're getting unnecessary envelopes of junk mail, just opt-out. And if you are getting mail, companies have not realized that they need to stop with little plastic windows, just cut the plastic window off and put it in the trash and recycle the paper. Single-use plastic items account for more than 40% of plastic waste. And each year, about 8.8 million tonnes of plastic trash flows into the ocean.
25:39
Solving this plastic problem is more simple than you think. Remember that whatever positive contribution you make to the planet is better than sitting and doing nothing and hoping for the best. I hope that at least one of these plastic reducing tips can help you live a little more green in 2022. For more inspiration on living a greener plastic-free lifestyle, I have a couple of episodes that you can listen to number seven green grocery shopping: number six sustainable bathroom tips and Episode Two, five simple ways to reduce your waste. You can stay connected with me on Instagram at Green Junkie Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Green Junkie podcast on the platform you're listening to. For direct access to me, your green living expert, click the link in the show notes where you can ask me questions and get a customized plan to live a greener life. If you're curious about zero waste, living, sustainable fashion, or wondering how to read food and cleaning and product labels, I've got you covered. Hop on a one-on-one call with me or ask me your questions via email. If it's not your thing, we can have a Voxer conversation. I will be your personal Green Google, and you can pick my brain. Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next Tuesday, Green Junkie
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