While plastic has made human life comfortable and convenient in many ways, it has grown over the years into a big menace threatening environmental health in a serious way. We have come to a point when we must really review and reform our approach and attitude to using plastics in order to minimize an impending danger that awaits the world. Here are some practical ways to reduce plastic use at home.
What this topic is important?
Plastic use at homes is a major contributor to the overall plastic use in the world today. Minimizing plastic use can best start in our homes. If every household takes this issue seriously and puts in place some strict policies with regard to the use of plastic, we can take a major step towards bringing down the consumption of plastic in the wide world around us.
Tips to reduce plastic use at home
- Do not use plastic straws even if you have to sip your favorite drink in a restaurant. If you feel straw is a must for you, buy a reusable stainless steel straw or a glass made one.
- For carrying products home, use reusable product bag. Make your own product bag or buy the ones that can be used many times. Do not forget to wash them often.
- Desist from using gum. They are made of synthetic rubber namely plastic.
- Buy the goods packed in boxes rather than bottles. Some items like laundry detergents come in cardboard boxes which can be recycled easily than plastic bottles.
- When you buy cereals and rice, buy them from bulk bins and fill them in a bag or container that can be reused. In this way, you save money as well as unnecessary packaging.
- When you order for beverages, prefer reusable bottle or mug even when you order them from a roadside tea shop.
- Matches are preferable than disposable plastic lighters. It is also a good idea to invest in refillable metal lighters.
- It is good to stay away from buying processed foods as they are packed in plastic. Even those that look like cardboard can have a thin coating of plastic on it. The other advantage is that you will be depending lesser on processed foods that are not healthy.
- Never use plasticware at home. Ask restaurants not to pack the foods in plastic-based material.
- Make use of cloth diapers in place of disposable diapers that will be thrown into the garbage after one use. This will help your baby to reduce its carbon footprint as it grows.
- Do not buy juice in plastic bottles. Instead, squeeze your own fresh juice. Fresh juice is healthier and better for the environment.
- Explore ways to make your own cleaning products. In this way, you can reduce the toxicity of the products and also rule out the need for accumulating the plastic bottles that come to you containing the cleaning products.
- Pack lunch in reusable bags and containers. Do not buy fruits that come in single-use cups. Instead, go for fresh fruits and vegetables.
