Category Archives: Alternatives

End War, Create Army Surplus

I read somewhere recently that the US Army is the biggest polluter in the world. That is quite a bummer. But I decided to think about the military industrial complex as a huge untapped resource. If some amazing change in … Continue reading

Posted in Alternatives, Environment, Plastic, Recreation, Society | 1 Comment

Cotton Swabs on Plastic Sticks

The majority of cotton swabs these days are made using plastic for the stick. The packaging is also usually plastic. If you are looking for a greener alternative, I saw some organic cotton swabs with paper sticks and cardboard packaging … Continue reading

Posted in Alternatives, Environment, Plastic, Plastic on the Beach | 2 Comments

My New Reusable Shopping Bags

I recently received two beautiful cotton batik reusable shopping bags from Wrapsacks.com. These bags fold and zip into a compact size. I like the way that the outside of the storage pouch doubles as a reinforced bottom for the bag. … Continue reading

Posted in Alternatives, Christmas, Environment, Fashion, Garbage, Plastic, PlasticLess Tips, Shopping | 11 Comments

Rethink the Food Processor

It doesn’t slice. It doesn’t dice. I use a knife for that. It crushes stuff and it will do so for the rest of my life without using one watt of electricity. Hey, I already wrote a post about my … Continue reading

Posted in Alternatives, Cooking, Food | Comments Off

Tool Libraries Reduce Plastic Waste

When I lived in Canada, I had the basic power tools required by the unwritten laws that men live by. There were already big box stores in my neck of the woods when I moved out on my own, so … Continue reading

Posted in Alternatives, Christmas, Environment, Father's Day, Gardening, Home and Garden, Inspiration, PlasticLess Tips, Society | 1 Comment

Live Better

Walmart is a phenomenal success story and it has a huge impact on the retail landscape wherever it spreads. The largest retail corporation in the world has a lot of detractors from various segments of society, some of which overlap. … Continue reading

Posted in Alternatives, Inspiration, PlasticLess Tips, Shopping, Society | 1 Comment

Christmas Gift Idea: Locally Made Wooden Toy Truck

A toy doesn’t have to be very complex to be good(Not to impugn the excellent design and craftsmanship pictured above). Basically it needs to have a shape and it needs to stay in one piece. Everything else is just detail. … Continue reading

Posted in Alternatives, Plastic, Toys | Comments Off

Review of Shark Razor Blades

I use a safety razor as a plastic-less alternative to disposable razors. When I first made the switch, a few people in America left comments about how they could not find razors packaged without plastic. Hopefully that has changed now … Continue reading

Posted in Alternatives, Shaving | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Plastic Crates = Less Plastic

Posted in Alternatives, Beverages, Bottled Water, Environment | Comments Off

Reusing Reusable Bags

I’m usually an enthusiastic cheerleader about reusable shopping bags. Disposable plastic shopping bags are one of the most obvious targets for plastic reduction. I was given pause when I read a thoughtful article complaining about the fact that businesses are … Continue reading

Posted in Alternatives, Environment, Fashion, Plastic, Shopping, Society | 3 Comments