How to Avoid Buying Plastic Packaging
Plastic packaging comes with almost everything you buy. While it comes with its convenience, it has had grave consequences for the planet. Plastic packaging generates untold amounts of waste for three reasons — it’s usually single use, nonbiodegradable and excessive. Socially conscious enterprises and policymakers have recognized this problem, but abolishing unsustainable packaging material will take time. In the meantime, follow these four tips to avoid it.
1. Embrace Reusables
Owning washable grocery tote bags made from recycled material, reusable tumblers, metal or wooden utensils, and refillable shampoo and conditioner containers can dramatically reduce your single-use plastic footprint. Although some of these eco-friendly alternatives may still be plastic, they’re reusable enough times to lessen environmental waste and remain recyclable upon reaching their end of life.
Look for local coffee shops that accept reusable cups. These green establishments strive to do their share in minimizing plastic waste, so support their products to keep them in business and encourage more to join the circular economy.
2. Buy Unpackaged Goods
Imported items generally have various layers of plastic packaging and packing materials, like bubble wrap. This approach protects them from damage, ensuring they’re still presentable when they reach the shelves. Food retailers have less financial incentive to refrain from using excessive packaging. They err on the side of caution because selling bruised fruits and vegetables will translate into losses. The good news is you can buy domestic to shop for seasonal fruits and veggies not covered in cling wrap.
Frequent farmers markets. Local food producers use minimal packaging — if any — since they sell directly to consumers, allowing you to fill your fridge and pantry while generating virtually zero waste.
Moreover, drink from the tap and stop buying bottled water. Although water bottles are easy to recycle, most end up as litter or in landfills and linger for hundreds of years. Considering Americans throw out 2.5 million of them hourly, consuming tap water for environmental reasons is a no-brainer. You can buy a high-quality filter to catch contaminants wastewater treatment facilities can’t remove.
Regarding other household items, buy them pre-loved, such as used appliances, furniture, furnishings, decorations and toys. Deal with local private sellers so you can pick them up since shipping them may involve plastic packaging.
3. Seek Sustainable Options
If you can’t source unpackaged goods, choose products containing renewable, biodegradable or compostable packaging material. Bioplastics — polymers derived from renewable biomass, like corn starch — are gaining steam.
Bamboo, cellulose, coconut husk, seaweed and sugarcane bagasse are promising plant-based materials. Shrimp shells and mushroom mycelium are emerging options. These green solutions suit various packaging applications, including dry food items, takeout containers and t-shirt bags.
4. Curb Your Consumption
Renewable, biodegradable and compostable packaging options remain the exception, not the rule. Shopping in moderation is the real key to living sustainably. Buying just enough items for your needs naturally minimizes your consumption of plastic-packaged goods and your household’s overall waste.
Take it a step further by shopping for supplies in bulk. Bundled items come with less packaging than individually sold ones, so stock up on essentials if you have adequate storage space to keep them safe and dry.
5. Shop In-Store When Possible
Online shopping has become the default for many people. Why make a trip to the store when you can have anything you want delivered, sometimes within two days? However, most companies ship products with an excessive amount of packaging materials.
If you order clothes online, they usually come in a plastic bag inside of a box taped closed. More fragile items come in bubble wrap surrounded by styrofoam and packing peanuts. You can avoid all of that extra garbage by purchasing the item in the store. Cutting yourself off from online shopping will also help reduce your spending, as you’ll have to really think about whether something is worth driving to the store.
Avoid Plastic Packaging at Every Turn
Although the days of plastic packaging are numbered, it will generate tons of waste before the entire world phases it out. As frustrating as it is to imagine, you can actively reduce demand for this unsustainable product with these practical tips and support the greener solutions that can permanently replace it.
