The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating mass of plastic debris twice the size of Texas, is just one of the many reasons that the world can benefit from every single small action we can take to reduce plastic consumption.
Here are five easy ways you can cut back on plastic starting today:
- Carry and use cloth or string bags. Keep a couple of these in your purse, your glove compartment, your briefcase, and get in the habit of using them instead of plastic grocery bags.
- Switch from liquid laundry detergent in plastic bottles to powdered detergent in cardboard boxes and check out these alternatives to liquid fabric softener.
- Instead of buying bottled water, carry a stainless steel water bottle and refill it with tap water.
- Buy whole food, local food, and bulk food to cut back on unnecessary packaging. Grow a garden, join a CSA, or shop at a local farmers market instead of buying prewashed veggies in plastic bags — reduces your carbon footprint too!
- Refill your empty Windex bottles with homemade glass cleaner (made from equal parts tap water and vinegar sold in glass bottles).
This post is part of SustainaBee’s Blog Carnival, Small Actions to Change the World.
Related Posts:
Green Accountabilibuddies A-Tissue!!! The 100 Mile Blog Diet I’d Like to Teach the World Not to Buy Coke in Plastic Bottles Local Food
November 21st, 2008 at 7:22 am
I am surprised to realize that nobody mentions a very simple way to reduce plastic use: go back to soap bars. There seems to be an ever increasing demand for liquid soaps that come in plastic bottles. I refuse to buy them! I know the bottles are pretty, liquid soap can smell much nicer and does not leave a residue like traditional soap bars, but I cannot oversee the increased environmental costs of such product, when soap bars do the same job: cleaning my hands.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:58 am
Bar soap is a great idea for people,dishes and laundry. You can even find shampoo in bar form.