Ecofriendly Tips of 2018:

How to Avoid Plastic Packaging in Everyday Products

by The House of Pillows Editorial Writers

Have you ever had that feeling at the grocery store? That feeling of what-is-up-with-all-the-plastic-packaging feeling? Our team has, and we need to talk about it with the world.

We wanted to share with you what we do when we’re lost in the supermarket searching for SOMETHING that is plastic-free.

As you may already know, this month is #PlasticFreeJuly. While we’re all behind giving the #PlasticFree movement a whole month to its own, we feel like we need to spread it out, and attempt the #PlasticFreeYear. Wouldn’t you agree?

In this posts you’ll find 5 alternatives to your everyday plastic-packaged products.

1/ Plastic Water Bottles vs. Glass Water Bottle

So, let’s say you’re parched and you’re without your trusty little water bottle you usually always carry around with you. You head to the store: plastic bottles everywhere!

Nowadays, most grocery stores have at least a small selection of glass water bottles. The good thing about glass water bottles, is that not only are they recyclable, you can also re-use them!

If you don’t see a glass water bottle with a non-plastic cap, don’t worry, it’s still better than buying a 100% plastic bottle. Just remember to recycle the cap separately when you end up discarding the glass water bottle in the recycling bin!

2/ Plastic Produce Bags vs. Paper Bags vs. No Bag at All

If you’re like us and always have those little cotton produce bags when you do your shopping, you know how devastating it feels the day you forget them… But don’t worry, no one is perfect!

What we usually do, is that we skip the bag all together if there is no paper bag options for produce. It’s fairly easy for fruits such as bananas, melons, lemons, and other fruit that have “thick skin”. You can just place those stickers on them and go!

Something that our team usually finds laying around every grocery store is empty cardboard crates in which the fruit originally was delivered in. In that case you can just put all your veggies and fruit in crate, stick the barcode stickers on the side of the box!

3/ Plastic Straws vs. Paper Straws vs. No Straws at all

By now, you’ve probably heard it a million times: stop sucking. Most of the time, plastic straws serve very little purpose besides making your drink look “pretty”.

If you go to a café, restaurant, bar or club, ask them to skip the straw. If you’re ordering a drink that actually needs a straw, ask them if they have paper ones. If they don’t, ask them why and whether they would consider stop using plastic straws in their drinks someday soon. In a non-judgemental way, speak to them about why you are trying to avoid plastic, and why they should, too.

4/ Packaged Lunches To-Go vs. DIY Lunches To-Go

Taking your personally prepared lunch with you to work is a healthy, eco, and economical way to eat lunch while not home. However, some days, we’re just too tired by the time we get home, and end up not preparing our lunch for the next day…

If this happens to you, we have a few easy tips and tricks that we like to do to eat healthy & skip the plastic packaging that usually comes in pre-made lunches to-go.

If you have a kitchen at work, then just pop over to the grocery store, and pick-up a few ingredients to make a healthy salad or sandwich.  We find that things like avocado, cherry tomatoes, canned chickpeas or other veggies, and grains like coucous that can be cooked just by pouring over some hot water and letting it set, are a very simple & eco way to make a healthy lunch at work!

If you don’t have a kitchen at work, then go over to the local bakery, and ask for a sandwich without the wrapper or plastic packaging.

5/ Snacks wrapped in Plastic vs. Snacks wrapped in Paper vs. Non-wrapped Snacks

Nowadays, it seems there is an unlimited number of choices in the snack section. They range from unhealthy to moderately healthy, and they almost all contain plastic packaging. Even when you buy something wrapped in a small cardboard box, there is almost uncertainly a plastic wrapper inside of it.

So what is there to do? Swear off snacks all together? You don’t need to be extreme to find more eco alternatives. In some stores, you’ll find healthier protein or cereal bars wrapped in paper packaging, but just make sure the packaging is actually plastic-free. Somethings that look like paper from the outside are sometimes covered in a plastic film.

Besides seeking out more sustainably packaged goodies when you’re in need of a little dose of sugar, don’t forget the best source of sugar: fruit. Fruit is quick and easy to grab, usually much cheaper than packaged snacks, and plastic-free!

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