Eco Living
A Room-by-Room Guide to Reducing Plastics in Your Home
Follow this seven-step zone-by-zone guide to get you started on a plastic-free home that you can be proud of
Plastics are by nature cheap, lightweight and durable, which makes them useful materials in all sorts of contexts. But the very qualities that make most plastics useful to us are also the qualities that make plastics big contaminants in the natural environment and, indirectly, to our health. Their lightweight quality makes them buoyant and able to float along waterways and their durability means they don’t decompose, they simply disintegrate into smaller and smaller pieces that end up in oceans, bushland, the food chain and eventually our food supply. Of course, the inexpensive nature of plastic also means that over the past few decades the material has made its way into almost every corner of our homes.
Whether you are thinking about plastic shopping bags, mountains of kids’ toys or the packaging from a sofa you bought, it can be difficult to remove plastics entirely from your home. However, it is possible to make a good start by following these seven tips for each zone of your house to rid it of as much plastic as possible.
Whether you are thinking about plastic shopping bags, mountains of kids’ toys or the packaging from a sofa you bought, it can be difficult to remove plastics entirely from your home. However, it is possible to make a good start by following these seven tips for each zone of your house to rid it of as much plastic as possible.
2. When you buy food, take your own containers
So much food is packed in soft plastics that are difficult (although not impossible) to recycle, end up in landfill and, in extreme cases, can leach phthalates into food. Much of this packaging can be avoided by shopping in person at bulk stores. Different to ‘buying in bulk’, a bulk food store allows you to fill your own containers. Not only does this let you reuse your own glass or stainless-steel containers, you can purchase the exact amount you need, thereby avoiding waste and saving you money.
So much food is packed in soft plastics that are difficult (although not impossible) to recycle, end up in landfill and, in extreme cases, can leach phthalates into food. Much of this packaging can be avoided by shopping in person at bulk stores. Different to ‘buying in bulk’, a bulk food store allows you to fill your own containers. Not only does this let you reuse your own glass or stainless-steel containers, you can purchase the exact amount you need, thereby avoiding waste and saving you money.
3. Eliminate single-use plastics from the kitchen
Many single-use plastics that we have become accustomed to (such as coffee pods, straws and cling wrap) have reusable alternatives. Try these simple swaps:
DIY Project: Easy Eco-Friendly Beeswax Food Wraps
Many single-use plastics that we have become accustomed to (such as coffee pods, straws and cling wrap) have reusable alternatives. Try these simple swaps:
- Ditch the coffee pod and return to the coffee press or stovetop espresso maker.
- Use loose-leaf tea in a pot to avoid the plastics in some tea-bag packaging.
- Replace plastic straws with reusable stainless steel ones.
- Buy a set of reusable produce bags to keep with your green shopping bags.
- Take your own drink bottle, cutlery and keep cup when heading out to avoid the unnecessary disposable plastics involved when ordering takeaway.
DIY Project: Easy Eco-Friendly Beeswax Food Wraps
4. In the living room, embrace minimalism
Minimalism isn’t just about clean, white surfaces. It also involves taking a mindful approach to the things you acquire. Closely examine the items that come into your home and simply say no to them if they involve too much plastic or plastic packaging.
Minimalism isn’t just about clean, white surfaces. It also involves taking a mindful approach to the things you acquire. Closely examine the items that come into your home and simply say no to them if they involve too much plastic or plastic packaging.
5. Buy secondhand
Although there is a certain thrill to be had when ‘unboxing’ your new sofa or stereo system, there is a lot of plastic left in the living room once you are done. You can avoid this by using the secondhand economy.
Whether you raid antiques stores, visit the Salvos or buy secondhand from Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace, there are quality items available that come without packaging.
Although there is a certain thrill to be had when ‘unboxing’ your new sofa or stereo system, there is a lot of plastic left in the living room once you are done. You can avoid this by using the secondhand economy.
Whether you raid antiques stores, visit the Salvos or buy secondhand from Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace, there are quality items available that come without packaging.
6. In the bathroom, ditch the disposables
There are a few single-use plastics that are a problem in the bathroom, too. Here are a few more switches you can make to make your bathroom plastic-free.
There are a few single-use plastics that are a problem in the bathroom, too. Here are a few more switches you can make to make your bathroom plastic-free.
- Plastic toothbrushes can be replaced with bamboo ones (TerraCycle can help you responsibly get rid of the plastic ones you already have).
- Good quality body and hair-care products can be purchased from most bulk stores, where you can reuse old containers and avoid buying new ones. Alternatively, opt for bars of soap instead of packaged liquid soap, and ditch your liquid shampoo in favour of shampoo bars (it’s not just good for your hair but also easier to clean the residue off your shower).
- Some exfoliants contain micro-beads of plastic. Make sure yours uses a natural material to give the same effect.
- For women, pads and tampons can be replaced with menstrual cups, washable pads and period underwear.
7. Go natural in the laundry
Some laundry products also contain micro-beads of plastic. You may choose to make some of your own cleaning and laundry products using commonly available ingredients (borax, soap flakes and the like), but this isn’t essential.
Laundry and cleaning items can also be purchased using your own reusable containers from bulk stores. However, there is mounting evidence to suggest that microfibres of plastic from synthetic fabrics (such as polar fleece) have found their way into waterways and oceans. To avoid this, try to purchase clothes and textiles with natural fibres (such as cotton, bamboo and wool) and wash synthetic garments as infrequently as possible.
Tell us
How have you reduced your plastic use at home? Tell us your tips in the Comments below, share this story with those you live with, and join the conversation.
More
Need some expert advice to devise an environmentally friendly home-organisation system? Find a professional organiser in your area who can guide you
Some laundry products also contain micro-beads of plastic. You may choose to make some of your own cleaning and laundry products using commonly available ingredients (borax, soap flakes and the like), but this isn’t essential.
Laundry and cleaning items can also be purchased using your own reusable containers from bulk stores. However, there is mounting evidence to suggest that microfibres of plastic from synthetic fabrics (such as polar fleece) have found their way into waterways and oceans. To avoid this, try to purchase clothes and textiles with natural fibres (such as cotton, bamboo and wool) and wash synthetic garments as infrequently as possible.
Tell us
How have you reduced your plastic use at home? Tell us your tips in the Comments below, share this story with those you live with, and join the conversation.
More
Need some expert advice to devise an environmentally friendly home-organisation system? Find a professional organiser in your area who can guide you
While it’s common to think about plastics as being recyclable, they are actually only able to be down-cycled. This means that they are transformed into a lower grade of plastic that, still, eventually ends up as landfill. In the kitchen, glass and stainless steel are a much better choice for food and drink storage. As materials, they are truly recyclable, meaning they can be turned into the same product an indefinite number of times without degrading.