How to do reuse at home
Tired of all the waste at home?
In today’s fast-paced consumer society, there’s a lot of single-use waste that comes into our homes. But there are concrete steps we can take to reduce it and change how we consume.
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Bringing reusable bags is the first step, but have you thought about:
Bringing reusable bags for your produce, or not even bothering with bags for things like bananas, citrus and avocados.
Purchasing dairy products from companies that use refillable containers on deposit where you can return empty containers at the store or market.
Buying products like dry goods and nuts in bulk with your own bags or containers.
Support companies that are using reuse and refill systems and minimizing unnecessary packaging.
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There are so many reusable, washable lunchbox, tote, bags, and container solutions out there that we’re not going to list them all here.
Bringing your own water bottle just makes sense environmentally and economically.
And drinking out of your own to-go coffee or smoothie cup is such a better experience than drinking out of disposables.
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If you look under your sink and check out your counter spray, window cleaner, dish soap, etc., they all have one thing in common: Water is their main ingredient. The current corporate model for delivering cleaning products is about shipping water in plastic bottles all over the country. That’s crazy, right? And we can do so much better.
One option is to make your own cleaning products from simple household items like vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice.
If you don’t have time to DIY, you can subscribe to one of the many new cleaning product services that sell you one set of bottles, and then tablets of cleaner, which you mix with water at home.
Also, new companies like Algramo and Loop are selling your favorite brand-name cleaning products in reusable, refillable containers that you can send back for washing and refilling.
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Just like with cleaning products, for most personal care products – the main ingredient is water. And we go through even more plastic containers by cleaning our bodies than our homes. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some ways to keep clean and fresh and cut down on unnecessary waste:
Make your own personal care products. There are so many resources online for how to do this.
If you don’t want to DIY, subscribe to a personal care product service where you can send back empty containers to be washed and refilled. (Hot tip: Upstream followers get 20% off at Plaine Products with code Upstream20!).
Use toothpaste tablets instead of toothpaste in plastic tubes.
Use a reusable straight razor (they last forever) instead of throw-away plastic razors and up your eco-friendly shaving game.
Use shampoo and conditioning bars instead of more water in plastic.
Try plastic-free deodorants with safer ingredients and less packaging.
Loop is also selling some of your favorite brand-name personal care products in reusable, refillable containers that you can send back for washing and refilling.
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While this is only just beginning, some companies are now starting to offer a reusable package option that you can select.
Companies like Repack and Limeloop are partnering with some of your favorite apparel brands. Choose reuse, and your order will arrive in a reusable package. When you take your clothing out, you flip the label around and put the bag back in the mailbox instead of in the trash, so the company can use it again for the next customer. Each of their lightweight, waterproof pouches can be reused as many as 2,000 times, with cleaning and repairs along the way, replacing as many boxes or plastic bags.
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We’ve only got one planet and with 8 billion people and growing, we can’t provide a decent standard of living based for everyone on a “one-way throw-away” model.
We have to figure out ways to get what we want and need without all the waste.
Part of that means asking whether we really want or need what we’re about to purchase. Enjoy the things you want in life, but try not to fall into the trap of empty consumerism to fill empty spaces that are better filled with good company, great experiences and gratitude for the marvel of being alive on this planet.