One part of becoming more intentional is considering sustainability: being thoughtful about what you purchase and the impact of its packaging on the environment.
A step in the right direction is reducing plastic waste. Some plastics are recyclable, but the ones that aren’t are good items to replace with more Earth-friendly options. Consider the following changes.
Grocery
Buying in bulk
Single-use plastic packaging creates a lot of waste. Consider buying in bulk and storing in reusable containers.
Grocery totes
For a more sustainable approach, use canvas totes instead of plastic grocery bags. They hold up over time and many come with insulated options.
Produce mesh bags
Replace the plastic produce bags from the store with washable mesh or muslin bags. They are also great for storing produce in the fridge.
Food storage
Wax paper or glass storage
Instead of plastic wrap or zipper baggies, wrap food in wax paper (which is biodegradable) or store in glass containers.
Reusable lunch containers
Reusable bento- and bowl-style lunch containers are a good alternative to disposable plastic ones.
Reusable food pouches
Food pouches are very handy for kids, but they are wasteful. Reusable pouches are more cost-effective and eliminate single-use plastic waste.
Home goods
Hand soap refills
Single-use hand soap is mostly water and uses a lot of plastic. Consider refilling glass containers with bulk hand soap or try hand soap tablets (just add water).
Concentrated laundry detergent
Boxed laundry detergent is more environmentally-friendly than liquid soap; but if you prefer the latter, look for concentrated soaps that use less water and plastic.
Paper-wrapped toilet paper
Look for toilet paper packaged in paper instead of single-use plastic. Some of these Earth-friendly options include bamboo paper or toilet paper made from recycled paper.
Feature image by Anthropologie
Kristi says
We just started using Tru Earth Laundry sheets! They work great and it’s small biodegradable packaging!
Stephanie says
I will check them out!