Discover an extensive collection of practical tips to help reduce single-use plastics in your home and embrace a more sustainable lifestyle.
Reducing single-use plastics at home is one of the best ways to help prevent plastic pollution, and it’s easy to get started with some basic lifestyle and purchasing adjustments.
Every year, more than 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans, with only a small portion being recycled.1 One million plastic bottles are purchased every minute worldwide, while up to five trillion plastic bags are used each year.2 All this plastic is harmful for the environment, wildlife, and even human health.
It’s not even plastic itself that is the main problem. Used in the right way, plastic can be a beneficial and useful material. The real problem is overconsumption and our throw-away society. Why are we using a material designed to last hundreds of years for bags and packaging that we throw away after a single use?
While this blog will recommend some plastic-free product swaps, remember that a sustainable lifestyle revolves around buying and consuming less and using what you already have, before buying new products. Don’t go replacing all your current household products with aesthetic zero-waste options, but wait until something is actually due for replacement.
Check out my guide about why plastics are bad for a detailed explanation, or keep reading for my top practical tips to reduce single-use plastic at home.
How to reduce single-use plastics at home
1. No more straws
Let’s start simple: plastic straws are an unnecessary and harmful single-use plastic. Many countries have already banned them, but even if yours has not, avoid buying plastic straws.
It’s best to stop using straws altogether (unless you rely on them for medical reasons), but if you still need an alternative, try reusable straws from metal or glass, or biodegradable ones from bamboo or paper.
2. Use a reusable shopping bag
Everyone’s favourite zero-waste hack: using a reusable tote bag to ditch the single-use plastic bags! Not only are reusable bags practical and durable, but you can also get creative with tonnes of cute options out there. Just don’t go buy a dozen different versions because that defeats the purpose of fighting overconsumption – 1 or 2 bags is more than enough.
If you find totes too bulky to carry around, you can also get foldable reusable shopping bags that fold down to the size of a wallet, and keep them in your purse. These are sometimes made of plastic fabric, but since it’s reusable, they’re still a sustainable option.
3. Try reusable produce bags
Similar to the tote bag, try bringing reusable produce bags made from cotton every time you go grocery shopping, so you don’t have to take the single-use bags from the shop anymore.
I personally have a cotton mesh bag for veggies and a full cotton bag for the bakery, and keep them always in my shopping tote.
4. Carry a stainless steel water bottle
Another classic: start bringing a reusable water bottle wherever you go, so you never have to buy a plastic water bottle from the shop again.
I would stay away from plastic reusable water bottles, as it still degrades over time and sheds microplastics into your water. Stainless steel bottles are the best in my opinion – hygienic, indestructible, and best of all, keeps your water cold all day long! I also keep a glass water bottle by my bed for morning water.
5. Bring a reusable coffee cup
If you’re a takeaway coffee person, get yourself a reusable coffee cup. Many coffee places now even give you a discount if you bring your own cup, and even if they don’t, you’ll save lots of waste by avoiding a single-use cup every day.
6. Swap to Beeswax wraps
Beeswax food wraps help you reduce waste in two ways: they reduce food waste by helping your leftovers or produce fresh for longer, and they reduce your reliance on plastic cling film. They work just like cling film, but are held together by beeswax.
Pro-tip: heat them in the microwave for 10 seconds to make them more sticky and create a better seal! They also come with really cute patterns to brighten up your kitchen. I personally use them most to seal half used metal cans or other open containers, but you can also use them to wrap half cut onions or other veggies and fruit.
7. Use glass food containers
In addition to the beeswax wraps, I love using glass food storage containers to keep food fresh longer and reduce cling film and Ziplock bags. I put half-cut onions and any fresh fruit or veggies in my glass containers and in the fridge, keeping them fresh for so much longer. They are also great for leftovers!
Definitely invest in glass containers with sealed lids over plastic reusable containers, as the plastic ones degrade overtime and shed microplastics in your food. Glass containers are also much easier to clean.
For glass storage jars for spices or pastas and rice, before you buy a cute matching mason jar set, try reusing glass jars from the food you buy!
8. Switch to silicone food bags
A last food storage hack is silicone food bags, which I mainly use instead of freezer zip-locks. They are reusable, durable, and don’t shed microplastics.
9. Try out loose-leaf tea
Unfortunately, many big brand teabags are made from plastic material, and shed microplastics. Loose-leaf tea using a infuser is an amazing alternative, not just to reduce your waste but also because it is so much better tasting!
A single bag of loose leaf tea is way better quality and lasts you much longer than a box of teabags. And a tea cup with built-in tea infuser are infinitely reusable (and super cute).
10. Carry a reusable cutlery travel set
This doesn’t apply to everyone, but if you find yourself often having to use single-use cutlery with take-away or while travelling, try a practical plastic-free, reusable, travel cutlery set.
11. Carry lunch in reusable containers
If you like bringing your own lunch with you, avoid disposable plastic lunch boxes and get a reusable one instead. They are often made from plastic, but try to find a silicone, bamboo, or at least BPA free version to prevent micro-plastics.
12. Save 100ml liquid bottles for travelling
One of my favourite travel hacks for flying is to save any 100ml or less liquid bottles from any beauty products you buy, and reuse them for when you are flying to comply with airport security. This picture is from my own collection that has served me for years!
This way, you don’t have to buy travel-sized toiletries every time you travel and you prevent single-use plastics. You can buy reusable travel bottle sets, but the most sustainable thing is what you already own!
Also, just keep the clear plastic bag airports give you to put your liquids in for security, so you can reuse it and pre-pack your liquids in it for a smoother airport process.
13.Get a stainless steel safety razor
I don’t need to tell you that disposable razors are super wasteful. But standard razors with exchangeable heads are also a source of plastic waste, since the heads contain plastic too and can’t be recycled.
The best switch to make is to invest in a stainless steel safety razor, where you only have to replace the metal blade. They are plastic-free, higher quality, more durable, save money, and give a much smoother shave than most 5 blade plastic razors.
14. Switch to reusable period pads
One of the favourite zero waste switches I ever made was switching to reusable period pads. Not only do they prevent so much waste compared to single-use pads, they also save you a lot of money (hygiene products are expensive!), are so much more comfortable and non-irritating (unlike most single-use pads), and are much healthier for your privates, since single-use pads often contain perfume and chemicals.
If you’re intimidated by reusable pads, trust me, they are so much more convenient than you might think. Just give them a quick rinse under the tap when changing them, and then throw them with your regularly laundry wash. Most brands also give you a leak-proof hygiene bag so you can change them easily on the go.
15. Ditch tampons for menstrual cups
If you’re more of a tampon than pads girlie, I also recommend menstrual cups! These are made from silicone and, as the name says, work like a cup rather than absorbing your period like tampons. Like reusable pads, they prevent so much waste, save lots of money, and are chemical and plastic-free.
Menstrual cups can take a bit more time to get used to and, in my experience, feel a little bit messier when emptying it if your flow is heavy, but once you get used to them, it is so worth it. Just follow the instructions that come with it and practice a few times at home to get the hang of it, and rinse it or wipe it down every time you have to empty it.
16. Try period pants
A final menstruation recommendation is period pants. I use these in combination with a cup or only on low flow days because while they can hold a lot, it is obviously more difficult to change them during the day when you’re out and about. But I love the sense of security they give, and they can save you from having to wear tampons or pads on lower flow days.
17. Switch to cloth reusable diapers
Parents have used reusable cloth diapers for centuries before the current disposable diapers were introduced. And I get why they are more convenient when you are already in the new-born trenches, but they do usually contain a lot of plastic, which is bad for both the environment and your baby.
There’s lots of reusable or partially reusable cloth diaper options out there now. And you don’t have to be drastic with it – why not try using cloth diapers at home and your normal disposable ones when you’re outside the house to start with?
18. Ditch wipes for reusable face cloths
If you use makeup wipes, consider switching to reusable face cloths. Most makeup wipes contain chemicals and plastic and are single-use. A cotton face cloth and some face wash do the job just as well and are kinder to your skin and the environment.
19. Use reusable cotton pads
Similar to the face cloths, try reusable cotton pads for removing makeup!
20. Switch to bamboo cotton swabs
Cotton swabs or buds, or Q-tips, are another unnecessary plastic polluter. A super simple switch is to buy plastic-free cotton buds made from bamboo, wood, or even paper, which are now widely available.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can try a reusable swab, but from my experience, I do not recommend them. They can’t be used for doing makeup, and as an ear-cleaner they are strangely very breakable.
I hope you’ve found these ideas helpful to reduce your single-use plastic waste! For more plastic-free living tips, check out our other posts about zero-waste shopping, plastic-free household products, or natural clothing.
Remember that it’s not about going completely plastic-free – that’s pretty much impossible, and it’s not the point. But removing as much single-use plastic as you can from your life goes a long way to creating a more sustainable world.
