i was cleaning out my pantry and refrigerator earlier this morning and it occurred to me that we use a lot of disposable products - paper/plastic plates, cups, forks and napkins, paper towels, paper bags, and so forth.
if we forsake convenience for a moment and consider the alternatives, we could slowly impact our environment in a good way.
rather than using paper/plastic plates and bowls, use real plates and bowls.
rather than using plastic utensils, use real utensils.
rather than using paper towels, use dish towels.
rather than using paper napkins, use cloth napkins.
rather than using paper and plastic grocery bags, use the lux from tom bihn or other reusable grocery bags. we can also use these bags when shopping for clothes and other things - not just groceries.
rather than using plastic produce bags at the grocery store, use reusable produce bags.
rather buying water in disposable water bottles, fill a reusable polycarbonate bottle with water. i can do this at least at the start of the day. as the day goes by and i need more water, if i am not in a place where i can drink the tap water or get filtered watered, i have to buy water in a disposable bottle.
when going to starbucks or your favorite coffee house, take an insulated cup with you that you can wash and reuse.
when eating out, take along a reusable container to take home leftover, specially if you eat small and dine at places with large portions.
we have to take a practical approach, and this is different for each of us. i think the key is to adopt practices we feel we can follow long term and make them into a habit. we may forget the reusable grocery bags in the car the first few times after we start using them, but they'll become habit soon enough.
i keep a stack of reusable grocery bags in the back of my car. it just occurred to me that i still use plastic produce bags, so i've ordered these reusable produce bags.
what are some habits you've adopted that help the environment?
what products have you used that you can recommend?
if we forsake convenience for a moment and consider the alternatives, we could slowly impact our environment in a good way.
rather than using paper/plastic plates and bowls, use real plates and bowls.
rather than using plastic utensils, use real utensils.
rather than using paper towels, use dish towels.
rather than using paper napkins, use cloth napkins.
rather than using paper and plastic grocery bags, use the lux from tom bihn or other reusable grocery bags. we can also use these bags when shopping for clothes and other things - not just groceries.
rather than using plastic produce bags at the grocery store, use reusable produce bags.
rather buying water in disposable water bottles, fill a reusable polycarbonate bottle with water. i can do this at least at the start of the day. as the day goes by and i need more water, if i am not in a place where i can drink the tap water or get filtered watered, i have to buy water in a disposable bottle.
when going to starbucks or your favorite coffee house, take an insulated cup with you that you can wash and reuse.
when eating out, take along a reusable container to take home leftover, specially if you eat small and dine at places with large portions.
we have to take a practical approach, and this is different for each of us. i think the key is to adopt practices we feel we can follow long term and make them into a habit. we may forget the reusable grocery bags in the car the first few times after we start using them, but they'll become habit soon enough.
i keep a stack of reusable grocery bags in the back of my car. it just occurred to me that i still use plastic produce bags, so i've ordered these reusable produce bags.
what are some habits you've adopted that help the environment?
what products have you used that you can recommend?
When you do get take-out, take recyclables home with you, like burrito foil or plastic containers. Decline bags everywhere! Composting is incredible for reducing your trash, if you have a yard/patio/balcony that makes it possible (or if your city has yard-waste pickup). Make your own coffee at home/work and carry it in a reusable mug, take a reusable mug to the coffee shop, or switch from coffee to tea b/c it's easy to make tea at work if you have a faucet, mug, & microwave. Buy some inexpensive dishes & utensils (Ikea!) & stick them in the office kitchen -- it was the only way I could get people to stop using styrofoam like it was going out of style. In public restrooms, dry your hands on your pants or by running them through your hair. Just use less stuff. Cotton clothes are awful for the environment b/c of all the pesticides, so buy nice stuff that will last, not lots of cheap stuff. (Works with bags too!) Fewer cosmetic products, with all their plastic packaging. Don't buy bottled beverages. Squeeze your own OJ, and don't get trended into buying a couple of bottles of wine a week when you wouldn't dream of buying bottles of soda or bottled water!
, but they meet my needs.
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