Single-use plastics really bother me....because while they may be single use to us with an average usable lifespan of 15 minutes, they don’t go away for a very long time (try 500+ years).
And then they end up in places like this (“Whales ingest millions of plastic particles a day”) and this (“Plasticosis - new disease caused by plastic affecting seabirds”).
“With the amount of plastic grows the amount of plastic trash — currently 240 million metric tons per year, according to the World Bank. Barely five percent gets recycled, and the US tops the world at 287 pounds of plastic waste per person per year, according to a 2020 estimate.”
I’ve found 4 products I keep with me in my bag everyday that I use again and again, and are some quick wins.
It’s a small action we can take, and our intentions and actions matter.
The best water bottle out there to keep in your bag
I’ve tried tons of different water bottles but this one is my absolute favorite that I always go back to. It is light when empty, unlike the metal ones out there that are like a brick in your bag.
They hold a great amount of water and you can always refill.
And unlike the standard Nalgene, it has a narrow mouth, so it’s easy to drink from without pouring water on your face (a problem I always had with the standard Nalgene).
An added bonus is that they’re made out of recycled plastic.
Baggu Reusable Bag ($14)
I always have a couple of these in my bag with me. They have some great patterned designs, so it's always an extra delight to reach for them.
I always put the little pouch inside the bag whenever I’m using the bag so that I don’t lose track of it. And then as soon as I’m done unpacking the bag, I always immediately fold it up and back into the pouch and put it back in my bag for next time.
Making these 2 actions automatic has been clutch making this an effective and easy habit.
These produce bags are great! God knows we don’t need the 15 plastic produce bags we come home with after a grocery shop.
To ensure I have these when I need them, I put these inside the little baggu pouch that stores the baggu bag so they are there for when I do my food shopping, otherwise you’ll never remember them and if they are loose it is a mess in your bag.
Since they are made of a breathable mesh, you can just throw them in the fridge and your fruit and veg will last much longer than if they were in plastic bags. It’s a win-win.
Sorry this is really boring unless you have a dog....
For those of you who do have a dog, you know that having a dog means you need to use 2-3 poop bags a day, and it’s just painful to see the amount of plastic you go through. These are a great compostable poop bag option!
Don’t be fooled by a lot of the other green dog poop bags on the market, most of them including earth rated poop bags are just normal plastic bags that are green washed (earth rated does make a compostable version now, but those are mostly not what is sold).