Every year, Americans use 1 BILLION plastic grocery bags! The number is huge, but even more troublesome…one bag takes 1,000 years to decompose!! Luckily, if it makes it to the ocean, it will only take about 100 years. But what a joke! There it has potential to severely harm and/or kill our wildlife!! And when the plastic breaks down in the ocean, it releases toxic chemicals that are then breathed into the gill of the fish we eat for dinner. This is only one example of how we are impacted. So this problem DIRECTLY effects us. And it’s DIRECTLY caused by us. So what do we do?
In today’s society, there are so many things happening that we truly can not control (think: social media, violence, television, kids at school). But what we CAN control is our home and what goes on inside those four (maybe more) walls. Here are some simple switches we can make (and links!) to reduce plastic bags in our home.
Glass Tupperware – We use these daily for packing lunches for both us and the kids. These work better than plastic containers (or baggies) because a) they don’t stain and b) the food is easily reheated in these containers.
Here’s the link for the 1 cup, perfect size for toddlers and kids
Here’s the link for our adult meal-sized
Reusable Sandwich Bags – We are hoping to incorporate these ASAP because the kids have been LOVING pb&j’s lately. Bonus- these are dishwasher safe so they’re easy to clean. Link found here.
Reusable Grocery Bags – Hello, this is something everyone can use. In fact, some cities (Ie. Austin and Seattle) have banned plastic grocery bags or certain grocery stores (ie. Aldi and Lidl) charge you for Bags. Instead, bring your own. This one from Norwex utilizes BacLock Technology that stops the growth of mild, mildew, or bacteria in your Bags. Use this link.
Reusable Produce Bags – You know the green and clear ones. A different one for each bulk veggie or fruit. No thanks. Try these from Norwex. They are light and have holes, so you can just throw them in the fridge when you get home and the veggies will get the breathing air they need to prevent condensation and molding. Use my link here.
Biodegradable Trash Bags – It can be really hard to replace plastic trash bags, but we CAN choose better. These bags are biodegradable, the twist ties are biodegradable, and the box is recyclable. Win, win, win. Click for link.
The big takeaway here is a small change can make a difference. The little adjustments I encourage here are items we use every single day, so imagine how fast the result will multiply out in our homes alone! Good not only for the environment, but by using reusable products, you will save money in the long run, too. No more sitting back and waiting for other’s to take action. What will you do today to reduce plastic in your home?
Amber Launstein 