For July, we joined hundreds of million people around the world to go plastic-free. Our goal was to avoid all plastic for #plasticfreejuly. During the whole month, we shared our tips with our Instagram community to help them ditch plastic too. These are our 31 easy ways to go plastic-free. Hopefully, they will help you reduce your plastic consumption and help you on your way to going low waste.
The main reason we wanted to avoid all plastic, apart from being a fun challenge for us, was to offset our carbon footprint from all the traveling we do. We love to travel, but it is one of the most polluting activities ever! Especially when you take the plane.
When we travel, we try to do it in a sustainable and eco-friendly way, but even with that, it never feels like it’s enough. So this challenge was a good one to start implementing good habits we can sustain in the future, at home, or during our travels! Of course, our goal is to reduce waste as much as possible, but the journey is long, so we started with what we could!
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Table of Contents
9 ways to go plastic-free in the bathroom
We’ve broken down our plastic-free tips into different areas in the house and in life to help you see where you can make the biggest impact. Let’s start with plastic-free swaps you can make in the bathroom.
1. Switch to a safety razor to reduce plastic consumption
Ditch those disposable razors that can’t be recycled, and instead, switch to a safety razor. For centuries, since the 1700s actually, we have been using a perfectly good method of shaving, until the big corporations came along and created the disposable razor we know today.
In fact, the EPA estimated that in the 1990’s we threw away about two billion disposable razors. Since then, that number has now grown to over 2 billion razors ending up in landfill each year. That’s about one million pounds of plastic waste.
So if you’re looking for an easy way to go plastic-free, switch to a safety razor. They cost much less, are more sturdy, and last longer. All you have to do is replace the blade, which is recyclable, and so it creates much less waste.
If you’re not ready to make the switch, you can always recycle your razor blades through programs like Terracycle. It’s not the best way to reduce plastic, but it is helpful in reducing waste in landfills!
2. Use soap bars instead of plastic bottles of soap for an easy zero waste swap
Another simple solution. The old soap bars have been replaced with shower gels in plastic bottles. Those gels are full of chemicals, cost a lot more, and you need more gel to get the same amount of clean. So why not switch to natural soap bars?
The soap bars are made without chemicals to rub on your largest organ (your skin). They’re travel-friendly, and best of all, no plastic! This is a very easy zero waste swap you can do to help the environment a little more.
3. Switch to shampoo bars to create a zero waste bathroom
For the same reasons we switched to soap bars, we also made the switch to shampoo bars. We love the ones from Lush and from Ethique and use them to stay sustainable and eco-friendly as we travel! But we also use them at home. One bar lasts more than 80 washes and replaces about 2-3 plastic bottles of shampoo. So make the switch now for an easy way to go plastic-free!
4. Make your own makeup remover wipes for a plastic-free bathroom
No, we’re not talking a crazy DIY tutorial on how to make makeup remover wipes. We actually just cut up one of Derek’s old t-shirts into small pieces (about the size of your hand). I use those to remove my makeup when I wear some. Since our long-term trip, I can’t be bothered to wear makeup anymore.
I just put some makeup remover liquid on the piece of old t-shirt and voilà! You can also use coconut oil on your hands to remove your makeup if your skin is not too sensitive. Or, you can even buy some washable face pads. But why buy something when you can make it yourself?! We’re all about going zero waste on a budget!
5. Reduce the plastic in the feminine products you use for a waste free period
We’re not here to shame anyone. Periods are stressful enough. But another way to have a zero waste period is to use feminine hygiene products that use the least amount of plastic possible. You have a ton of options available today, from tampons with no applicator to paper applicators.
You also have a ton of choices when it comes to menstrual cups and period panties. This is the best way to have a waste free period. But we know that every woman’s flow is different, so use what works for you. My favorites are by Canadian brand Mme L’ovary.
If you’re looking for a fully plastic-free option, take this quiz to see what menstrual cup works best for you!
6. Make your own cosmetics for a plastic-free bathroom
Again, no big DIY here, but since we’re trying ways to go plastic-free, we figured we might as well try to make our own cosmetics. Again, it’s a great way to reduce the number of chemicals we use on our skin, and we can have some fun customizing them. It’s another way to reduce your waste as well!
Our two favorites are making a coffee body scrub and this whipped shea butter we use as a lotion and a hair mask.
If not, there are a ton of plastic-free options when it comes to skincare and cosmetics that you can get, if the DIY option is not your thing!
7. Make your own deodorant for a plastic-free bathroom
Just like with cosmetics, deodorants are full of chemicals and they’re sold in this plastic packaging that we can’t really reuse… unless you make your own deodorant!
So instead of buying a new deodorant stick, we made our own. It’s a super easy DIY so it’s worth trying for you too! You can even save your old deodorant dispenser and refill it with your new DIY deodorant for the ultimate zero waste beauty regiment.
8. Switch to a bamboo toothbrush to go plastic-free in the bathroom
Simple enough! Those plastic toothbrushes we’ve been using forever are not recyclable. They just accumulate in our landfills. Think about every single toothbrush you’ve ever used since you were a kid. They’re all still on this earth.
But not our bamboo toothbrushes. Just pull out the bristles, or chop the top off, and you can compost the rest! Such an easy way to go plastic-free!
9. Switch to a natural loofah sponge for an easy plastic-free bathroom swap
Another easy and healthy plastic-free swap you can make. Instead of using those plastic loofah sponges, opt for the natural ones. They’re a healthier option for your skin and for the planet. The best part is that they come from plants, so you can just compost them when you’re done with them!
13 ways to go plastic-free in the kitchen
Here are 13 ways you can reduce plastic in the kitchen. If you’re looking to push things a little further, we have an article to help you go zero waste (or low waste) in the kitchen.
1. Stop buying junk food to go zero waste in the kitchen
Most of the junk food sold in stores is wrapped in so much plastic. On top of being bad for your health, these foods are bad for the environment. So regardless of if it’s plastic-free July or not, skip on the chips, cookies, etc. And if that’s too hard, just reduce the amount as much as you can! Or just make your own cookies and chips. Both are quite easy to do!
2. Say no to plastic wrap to preserve food without plastic
There are so many ways to go plastic-free when you store your food. You can use towels, reusable containers (think old tubs of yogurt or ice cream), mason jars, beeswax paper, aluminum foil, silicon bags, or even silicon lids. Plastic wrap can be avoided so easily, so just stop buying it and you’ll see that you have so many ways of storing food that don’t require it!
3. Avoid plastic produce bags
We’re going to be super honest here. We don’t get why these plastic bags exist in the first place. We especially don’t get why they have to only be used once. So our tip here is simple.
You can use a paper bag, you can get one of those mesh produce bags to avoid these plastic produce bags fully. And if you do use them, you can reuse them over and over again so that they don’t end up in landfills after two minutes of use. Another easy thing you can do is to reuse other plastic bags, like the ones sliced bread comes in. They are perfect for produce!
Whenever you can, make sure the bag you have isn’t used once, regardless of if it’s paper or plastic. The best option, however, is to avoid bags altogether. You’re going to wash whatever produce you buy anyway, so why use a bag at all?!
4. Bring your own container to buy meat and fish
We’re vegetarians, so this is an easy one for us. But if you do eat meat or fish, you know that usually, they’re on a styrofoam plate, and wrapped in plastic. So much packaging for a product that is already causing so much harm to the environment. Instead, bring your own container to your butcher or fishmonger and ask them to place your cut in there.
5. Buy fish from sustainable sources
We had no idea that close to 50% of the great plastic ocean patch is actually made up of fishing gear (like nets) that come from commercial fishing operations.
One of the ways to help reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans is to buy fish from sustainable sources. Certain countries like the United States and Canada have certifications for sustainable fisheries. Make sure you get your fish from there. If not, ask your fishmonger if the fish they have comes from sustainable sources. If it doesn’t either encourage them to make the switch or just find a new fishmonger.
But to be honest, the best way to make a real impact is to stop eating fish altogether. Our waters are already filled with microplastics that are eaten by these fish. And by 2050, it’s estimated that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. So let’s help our planet out and let the fish live freely where they belong!
6. Buy in bulk to avoid plastic in the kitchen
We had no idea how much we would fall in love with buying in bulk. It’s probably the most fun way to go plastic-free. From flours to spices, pasta, cookies, chips, candy, grains, yeasts, nuts and everything in between. You can get pretty much anything in bulk!
It’s a great way to go plastic-free. Plus, you only need to get as much as you need, which means you end up wasting less. And on top of it all, you get to use those large ice cream and yogurt containers.
7. Buy from the source, when you can
There’s no denying it – plastic is convenient. It keeps a lot of ingredients fresher longer. But we prefer using the plastic we already have instead of contributing to adding more plastic to landfills. That’s why we reuse all the plastic containers and bags we already have by buying things directly from the source.
Instead of buying a new plastic bag of sliced bread, we go to our baker and reuse a paper or plastic bag we have to take our bread home. The same goes for our bagels and our cheese. We prefer supporting our local bakers and cheesemakers, and they are happy to let us reuse our containers and bags.
8. Make your own milk to go plastic-free in the kitchen
We gave up dairy years ago and had switched to buying non-dairy milk. But then, we started paying attention to the ingredients inside these kinds of milk and realized that they were actually full of chemicals.
The truth is, making nut milk or oat milk is easy. It just requires nuts, water, a slight sweetener, like maple syrup or dates and a nut milk bag. So we started making our own milk. Much better and easier. Here is our go-to recipe for cashew milk. And best of all, we make a cheese out of the nut powder! Triple win – we get delicious milk, cheese and we don’t use plastic!
9. Avoid plastic water bottles
There is no longer an excuse to buy plastic water bottles. In most western countries, tap water is perfectly fine to drink. And when we travel, we always use a water filtration system, like our trusty Lifestraw Go. It makes any water safe to drink.
So all you have to do to save millions of plastic water bottles from ending up in landfills is to invest in a reusable water bottle or a filtration system like the Lifestraw Go. Voilà! It’s that easy!
10. Switch from plastic bottles to aluminum cans
Another easy way to go plastic-free is to buy aluminum cans instead of plastic bottles, whenever you have the chance. Either for soda or beer, even when it comes to food!
Recycling cans takes a lot less energy, they can be melted down and turned into new cans super quickly and can be infinitely recycled. It’s another easy way to go plastic-free.
11. Switch from the plastic sponge to a natural one
We love simple solutions when we think about ways to go plastic-free, especially when there are perfectly good alternatives out there.
Often, you make the switch and never realize it! That’s why we love using coconut kitchen sponges instead of the plastic ones. They get the job done just as well, and when you’re done using them, you just throw them in the compost!
There are also a ton of other sponges available that are made without plastic and that can be composted after they are used up. They don’t end up in landfills like all those plastic sponges.
12. Switch to wooden cleaning brushes
Same thing with these wooden brushes! With so many natural options available that can be recycled or composted, we can totally avoid buying plastic and creating endless waste!
13. Don’t use a straw or switch to metal or bamboo straws
We have to be honest with you here. We don’t use straws. We just don’t see the point if you’re not a child. But we know a lot of people still like to drink with them. That’s why we recommend getting a reusable straw, like one made of bamboo, metal or even glass.
6 ways to go plastic-free at home
Here are a bunch of other ways you can reduce plastic use at home. They’re easy switches and changes you can make to go low waste in your life.
1. Make your own cleaning products
We’re proud to say that we’ve been doing this for a long time. We know that vinegar, baking soda, and lemons can kill pretty much anything! No need to spray harmful chemicals in your home. Just make your own cleaning products with simple ingredients you have in your pantry!
2. Buy things that are made of natural materials
Think about all the things in your home that are made out of plastic without you knowing about it – from lamps to tables, chairs, carpets, and even artwork. Whenever you can, look for items that are made of natural materials like wood, metal, cotton, etc. At least those items are easier to repair, and when they are discarded, they can decompose in nature.
3. Use dryer balls instead of sheets
We love these wool dryer balls. They reduce the amount of time needed to dry your things, which is a great way to use less energy. Made of wool, they’re also more natural and you create less waste.
Another great alternative to dryer balls is using used aluminum foil. The foil paper is actually washable and reusable. So you can easily throw it in the dishwasher to clean and disinfect it. Then, bunch it up into a ball and throw it in the dryer with your wet clothes for a cheap and zero waste option.
4. Refill your laundry detergent instead of buying new containers
A lot of bulk stores allow you to refill your laundry detergent. When you can, go for this option. You can reuse your old laundry detergent container over and over again!
5. Avoid buying online to reduce plastic use
This is a tricky one. Often, to go zero waste or plastic-free, you need to buy certain things. If you can, we encourage you to look in local shops to find these alternatives. If you can’t, then, you can buy online.
The reason we try to avoid buying online is because often, they use excessive amounts of plastic packaging and wrapping. Not to mention the carbon emissions used to get the item from one place to the next.
We know that this isn’t always an option, so instead, opt to have all your pieces delivered in the same package. It will be so much better for the environment!
6. Avoid buying new things. Get them refurbished or secondhand instead
Before we buy anything new, we have a process that we follow. First, we check at home to see if there’s anything we can use to replace what we’re looking to buy. We also ask our friends and family, in case they have what we need or know someone who does.
Then, we check on secondhand sales sites like Kijiji and eBay to see if there’s anything used that’s available for us to purchase instead. Then, we hit up the thrift stores – there are a ton of things we’ve found in excellent condition. We also check websites where they sell refurbished goods.
Often, a lot of big brands have refurbished goods that they sell, that come from their factories, and still have a great warranty on them. In fact, the laptop I’m writing this on was refurbished!
The truth is that anything new is packaged in plastic before getting to the store. And a lot of things now contain plastic in them. Also, we’re using resources at a crazy fast pace and discarding things without a second thought. A great way to go plastic-free and to reduce your carbon footprint is simply to stop buying new things!
3 more ways to go plastic-free
1. Bring your own container and cutlery for takeout
Whether it’s at home or while we’re traveling, we always bring our own cutlery and containers with us. It’s surprising to see how many restaurants are ok with us getting our take-away in our own containers. Often, they are so happy to oblige and fill up what we’ve brought them.
Another option is to wash and reuse a container that you have gotten from that time you forgot your own. I had a plastic container that I got from one restaurant at lunch, and I ended up reusing it for months in many different restaurants around town!
2. Bring your own mug or bottle to avoid plastic
This is another simple solution. When you get coffee, smoothies, or water, always bring you own mug or bottle. A lot of places around town have started offering a small discount to those who do, to encourage this great behavior! It’s such a small step, but that goes a long way!
3. Bring your own bag
One of the easiest things you can cut out is plastic bags. When you go to the groceries when you go shopping for goods, whenever, just bring your own bag. We often have a backpack with us, so it’s easy to do, and they have so many reusable bags available. Just make sure you always use it!
We know a lot of people say that they reuse their grocery bags as garbage bags after, but those stay forever in landfills too. Instead, we’ve opted for compostable plastic bags that are plant-based, so that we can reduce our footprint there too!
6 tips to help you get into the right mindset to go plastic-free
1. Don’t be too hard on yourself when going plastic-free
We said it before, but everything around us is made to be more convenient with plastic. It’s around us so much that we don’t even notice that it’s there. So don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead, take everything as a lesson on how to improve the process. As they say “We don’t need a handful of people doing plastic-free perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” So know that every little thing you do is helping!
2. Take it one step at a time
We have been trying to go zero-waste as much as possible, so although plastic-free was a challenge, it could have been a lot worse! So if cutting out all plastic seems too hard, instead, try cutting out the big 4 – plastic bags, straws, cups, and water bottles. Once you’ve figured out a system for refusing those, move on to single-use plastic. Give yourself time to figure out how to replace those items and move on to other tough pieces!
3. Observe and learn how to go plastic-free
It takes time to go completely plastic-free. So take the time to observe where you’re getting most of the plastic from. Check out different places (grocery stores, shops, etc.) to see how you can avoid plastics.
Read about how you can reduce plastic and about the environmental impacts we’re having on our planet. Often, we find that with knowledge, we get more tools to stop our urges to buy things, or we learn about plastic is affecting our planet and our health.
4. Talk about it with others
Often, we find that when we talk to others about this, we end up learning so much about different alternatives to plastic, about stores that are zero-waste or ethical. It also helps us understand how other people are trying to save the environment. It’s an encouraging way to know that so many people are doing their part and that we’re not alone in our journey.
5. Share your knowledge and tricks
Sharing is caring after all! So share what you’ve learned, promote companies that are doing good for the planet. Nicely educate others when you see them using useless and avoidable plastics.
6. Always be prepared
One of the best ways to avoid plastic is to always be prepared. Have spare containers, bottles, and bags on you (keep them in the car, in your reusable grocery bag, whatever), so that you’re never caught off-guard. Once these things become a habit, almost second nature, you’ll see how easy it is to avoid plastic altogether!
We really hoped that these tips will help you reduce how much plastic you buy. Like we said, if we get a ton of people doing little things to reduce their plastic consumption, it will make a huge impact globally!
Let us know what ways you’ve found to go plastic-free. Give us your tips in the comments. Together, we can create a whole new list!
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