We all know the evils of plastic (contributes to climate change, damages marine ecosystems, harmful to our health) and we’ve all heard the call… Go plastic free, opt for sustainable products, aim for zero waste. Nevertheless, since July is “Plastic Free” month, we thought we would take this opportunity to remind us all of ways to use less plastic.
In the kitchen, eliminate plastic food storage -- fill glass containers with dried pasta, beans, or brown sugar, store leftovers in compostable bags, and keep loose tea in stainless steel jars. Bees wrap is a natural option to plastic wrap and there are foils made of recycled aluminum and parchment paper is compostable. Start your day right with Evergreen Capsules’ reusable stainless steel coffee pods that are compatible with Nespresso machines. Whip up gourmet meals with wood or stainless-steel kitchen utensils. And when it’s time to clean those dirty pans and pots, use bamboo and sisal brushes that are 100% biodegradable. For on-the-go meals, consider reusable utensils, metal straws and refillable water bottles. At the grocery store shop bulk bins and bring your own cloth or mesh tote bags.
Beautifully designed refillable glass bottles for bath wash, soaps, and hair products can make any bathroom look and feel like a spa. Consider using a bar of soap with a ceramic or marble soap dish. Ditch your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one and replace your plastic razor with a stainless-steel one.
When it comes to home furnishings and accessories, plastic fibers can be found in everything from mattresses to rugs. According to the Market Metrics Mastery “the global eco-friendly and organic mattress market is experiencing rapid growth due to increasing consumer awareness about the benefits of using natural and sustainable products.” Look for natural materials such as organic cotton, linen and bamboo.
Forget the plastic bins – use rattan or wicker baskets to organize the kids’ toys (and go retro with wooden trains and blocks). When it comes to laundry detergent, natural products packaged in glass or aluminum dispensers are eco-friendly, but the reality is that they don’t always clean as well, as SK’s Green Team can attest to, yet – these products are getting better all the time. Wool dryer balls are an alternative to the colorful plastic ones and to disposable dryer sheets.
For our projects, we try to purchase products from companies that are environmentally responsible, use sustainable materials, and minimal and recycled packaging. And we receive a lot of packages. Did you know there are plant-based non-toxic compostable packing peanuts? One of our colleagues ate one to prove it!
When designing a home, we create built-in soap dispensers in the kitchen, bathrooms and powder rooms to make it more convenient to go zero-waste. These dispensers can be refilled at your favorite local zero-waste store such as Re_grocery or Santa Monica’s Sun Moon Rain.
We enjoy taking on the challenge of reducing our plastic waste and are always on the lookout for better ways. We’d love to hear your ideas for a Plastic Free July, please share in the comments section.
