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Steps to a plastic-free life
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21. Use compressed natural cellulose sponges are often sold without any plastic packaging because they don’t need to be kept moist; they expand when wet.
22. Wash clothes with homemade laundry soap and stain removers. erseed
23. Try switching to a reusable pad for mops.
24. Use natural rubber gloves.
25. Switch to bar soap instead of liquid soap. People sometimes worry that sharing a bar of soap is less sanitary than sharing a bottle of liquid soap. But think about it: the bar soap gets rinsed off every time you use it. The plastic pump? Not so much. Where do you think the most germs are accumulating?
26. Give up shampoo in plastic bottles. There are several plastic-free options. Try hair salves and pomades in metal tins or glass jars.
27. Color hair with henna purchased without plastic packaging.
28. Baking soda is the best deodorant EVER. Instead of deodorant in a plastic container, I use baking soda mixed with a few drops of tea tree oil applied to dry underarms with a reusable cotton round. It works better than any commercial deodorant I have ever used. Seriously.
29. Choose toilet paper that's not wrapped in plastic.
30. Look into plastic-free sunscreen options.
31. Explore plastic-free hair accessories and tools.
32. Keep your own reusable foodware at the office.
33. Carry lunches in reusable stainless containers or cloth bags.
34. Choose reusable cloth sandwich/snack bags over plastic baggies.
35. Choose glass or stainless steel food storage containers and reuse what you already have. I save nearly all glass jars and bottles for purchasing bulk foods and for storing leftovers in the refrigerator or even the freezer. When we run out of jars, we store leftovers in bowls with saucers on top instead of plastic wrap. Bowls with saucers are great for stacking.
36. Try natural beeswax coated cloth wraps instead of plastic cling film.
37. Choose a glass blender. Avoid the high-speed blenders that come with a plastic pitcher. Those containers contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
38. Avoid non-stick cookware. Cookware coated with Teflon or other resins give off toxic perfluorochemic
39. Choose stainless steel ice cube trays and Popsicle molds.
40. Make your own homemade yogurt without a yogurt maker! It’s easier than you might think, using only a Thermos, a pot, a thermometer, some milk, and some yogurt from a previous batch.
41. Make your own soy or nut milk . Make your own condiments.
42. Bring your own personal care products. Skip the free travel size shampoos, soaps, and lotions offered by hotels. Just because they’re free doesn’t mean we should take them. What is the true cost of “free” when the environment is at stake? Instead, fill up your own reusable travel- size containers at home.
43. Refuse the mini bar.
44. Avoid buying new plastic clothing. So much new clothing these days is made from synthetic materials with names like: polyester, acrylic, lycra, spandex, nylon. In other words, plastic fabric. And all synthetic fabrics create microfiber pollution when laundered.
45. Bring your own beverage container to parties and events.
46. Throw a zero waste party. Here’s an example. Provide durable dishes, glasses, utensils.
47. Re-think your Christmas tree. Most artificial trees are made from toxic PVC. Opt for a real, sustainably-grown and harvested tree, a live tree that can be planted, or an artificial tree made from natural materials. There are “trees” made from recycled cardboard, wood, or even recycled glass bottles.
48. Skip holiday plastic tchotchkes . Make your own plastic-free vegan Easter eggs. Avoid Valentine’s Day and Halloween plastic crap. Say no to fake plastic wishbones.
49. Learn strategies for green gift giving. Give only what will be truly appreciated. Opt for experiences or services (like restaurant meals, tickets to events).
50. Avoid the worst types of plastic. If you do nothing else, try to steer clear of Polyvinyl Chloride (#3 PVC), Polystyrene (#6 PS), & Polycarbonate (#7 Other). PVC is found in many, many products and causes a whole host of environmental problems. Read my post about the problems of PVC. PS contains styrene, which is toxic to the brain and nervous system. PC contains BPA. Read more about BPA here. If you must use plastic, make sure it’s not #3, #6, or #7 polycarbonate. (Note: #7 is a catch-all for many types of plastic that doesn’t fit into the first six categories. Biodegradable plastic is also labeled #7. So when in doubt, ask.)

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