How much plastic is in your life?
If you answered, ‘a lot’, you're probably not far off. This adaptable material can be found in our gadgets, computers, clothing, and so much more. Plastic can be found in a variety of places, including in the packaging of everyday items. After all, it is an efficient method of keeping food and cosmetics clean and fresh.
Avoiding plastic can be difficult in our plastic-heavy environment. But it is getting easier to find alternatives to everyday products like plastic bottles and packaging, which is great news for our plastic-ridden planet.
The Best Eco-Friendly alternatives to Plastic
Do you want less plastic in your house and in the world? Here are some long-lasting plastic substitutes that are currently easily accessible.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel choices for reusable food and beverage storage have grown in recent years because of their durability and ease of cleaning. This strong metal can be used to replace single-use cups, kitchen storage, lunch boxes, and other items. For example carrying a collapsible tumbler can help you avoid disposables during your travel time.
Glass
Glass, while not biodegradable, is inert, cheap, and infinitely reusable. As many food items are wrapped in glass, upcycling glass jars into food storage is a free way to breathe new life into your food packaging. Jars of jam, honey, pickles, nut butters, and much more can be added to your no-waste toolset for bulk bin shopping. They can also be used to store leftovers and prepared drinks, or they can be painted and transformed into homemade gifts.
Platinum silicone
Food-grade platinum silicone is flexible and long-lasting because it is mostly composed of sand. It is also heat resistant, allowing you to boil, bake, and cook in these products without fear of denaturing. Look for silicone items that do not contain any plastic fillers.
Bamboo
Plastic can be replaced by this quickly expanding renewable resource in products like dinnerware and drinking straws. It is biodegradable, strong, and lightweight. The very first thing that we use everyday could be bamboo toothbrush instead of plastics.
Natural fibre cloth
Sustainable clothing made of organic cotton, wool, hemp, or bamboo won't lint up with plastic fibers. A versatile, secure, and compostable material for kids' toys, household containers, and more is felted or recycled wool.
Wood
Wood from sustainably managed forests can take the role of plastic in everyday home items like cleaning brushes, kitchen utensils, and cutting boards because it is a renewable resource. Plastic combs can be replaced with neem wood combs, that helps not only the environment, but your hair growth too.
Beeswax-coated cloth
Beeswax-coated fabric is simple to use and reusable, making it a popular alternative to plastic wrap and plastic bags.
Cardboard
If the cardboard is not covered in plastic film, you guessed it: it can be completely composted at home. To save waste, several businesses are increasingly packing their goods in plain cardboard. Additionally, you can use cardboard boxes in your home in place of storage bins.
Remember that everything you purchase has an impact on the environment. Glass, metal, and other materials take energy to manufacture and transport even though they are more durable than plastic. You must utilize these swaps repeatedly in order for them to make sense. Investing in things that are well-made and long-lasting can help you get the most usage out of anything you choose.
A few more plastic swaps you can easily adapt are coir cleaning brushes, buying cleaning liquids in your own containers, bamboo swabs, wooden pegs. These are simple yet impactful.