How to get rid of your plastic

Plastic has a bad reputation and, frankly, it is somewhat deserved. Sure, plastics were vital in the development of our modern world but, since the 1950s, their presence has only increased to overwhelming proportions. With increasing health concerns and environmental pressures the want to get rid of them seems justified. The good news is that reducing our plastic consumption is accessible to everyone. Today, I want to explain some elements of my plan to purge plastic from my life to hopefully inspire you to do the same. You will see that sustainability is more at reach than you thought. With that, let‘s begin!

Out of sight, out of mind

Before reducing your plastic intake, you should understand how and why we do it in the first place. In a word, we consume to satisfy our needs and our desires. We need to realize that consumption is not the only option and, in truth, should maybe be a last resort. The 3Rs of sustainable consumption are a good guide here: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. “Reduce“. Self-explanatory. The best waste is the one you don‘t make. Reeling in your desires will reduce your need to consume and thus your consumption. This is possibly the best remedy to waste but sadly not accessible to all. Taking some time before buying anything to reflect on if you really need it can help. Keep in mind that it is not only normal to have desires but legitimate to seek to fulfill them. Don‘t bring you down if you indulge from time to time. You just need to do it correctly.

Again and again and again

This is where the second R - “Reuse“ - comes in. In my mind, this is your best option. By opting for options you can keep for longer you will reduce what you need to throw away daily. Let me show some examples taken from my own journey.

Cooking (and food in general) is a great factor in plastic waste. For my part, my first task was to give up plastic bottles entirely. This was easy enough - stainless steel bottles are a great option here. In this way, you have a vessel you can drink from over and over again instead of throwing it away each time. In the same way, avoid individual plastic wrappings like the plague. Bring your bags in groceries (fortunately an option becoming more commonplace). Use glass containers as much as you can instead of plastic bags and containers. I also tried paper bags and beeswax wraps and was pleasantly surprised by them.

The second big source of plastic waste is our cleaning and beauty assets. Almost everything is available with plastic here. One easy step is to use bar soap instead of liquid soap. Solid toothpaste exists and is better than you think. Sadly, even a bamboo toothbrush has some plastic (the bristles). Still better than fully plastic toothbrushes. For cleaning, you would be surprised how many things can be cleaned properly with only white vinegar and baking powder. Baking powder is an excellent deodorant, which is a plus.

On a general note, you should also avoid overspecialized objects. Having more things inevitably leads to more waste. You would be surprised what you can do with a few things. In my mind, this is quite an enjoyable puzzle.

Roll up your sleeves

Reusable alternatives you can buy are great but let‘s not forget about alternatives you can make yourself! The DIY (Do It Yourself) movement is one of our best weapons against waste and demands a lot less skill than you might expect. Consider that cooking your meal is in a way some sort of DIY and WILL reduce your waste! DIY can go a lot farther including sewing your own clothes and building your own furniture. It can be an extremely rewarding hobby. If you don‘t feel confident, remember that mistakes are not only acceptable but required to learn. With enough time, you can learn to do anything. You should also reach out to people you know who have the skills you seek. Say you know a carpenter, you should reach out to that person to help you make your next table for example.

Another aspect that we should learn to do more often is to repair what we have instead of replacing it. Every time you think about throwing something away, you should consider what you could do to still use it - even if it is not for the same use! A broken chair can become a bench. A desk could become a nightstand. A pierced tire might become a cool flower pot (almost anything can be used as a flower pot). There‘s even an artistic movement building around using broken things. By reusing broken things you can uniquely express yourself. Your imagination is the only limit here.

Recycle

The final R is “Recycle“. I suppose I don‘t need to explain how it works but I have to say that this should be your last resort. Yes, recycling is better than throwing away but recycling can still produce waste. Not everything we put in the recycling bin can or will be recycled. What will be recycled will not be reused entirely, there‘s always lost. What‘s more, we need to consider the chemical processes used and their impact on the environment and our energy consumption. Don‘t get me wrong, I know that recycling centers do amazing work to salvage what‘s possible. Still, the process has limitations you should be aware of. In that way, the 3Rs are in order of priority: reduce, reuse (and repair) and recycle.

Constant vigil

All the tips above are great but, in my mind, the most important step stays mental. Reducing your plastic consumption and waste demands constant evaluation and re-evaluation. Every single purchase you make should have answered these questions:

1. Do I need it and will I use it regularly?
2. Is there an alternative I already have access to (including an older one from somewhere else)?
3. How much waste will I produce here?

Sometimes, waste is almost inevitable. These questions should filter out the most problematic cases. In the end, reducing plastic consumption is an opportunity to reach toward a cleaner, more sustainable world. Don‘t be fooled: every small change MAKES a difference. Embrace alternatives, rethink your habits and reduce!