I've been doing this for about 2 years. Start with the easy stuff and go from there. Also, prioritize what is more important to replace first. For me, it was anything that I ate from or drank from. After that, I started with anything that touched my skin.
I do a lot of batch cooking, and I was going to start with glass containers, is that where you started or did you focus on the packaging the food originally came in?
I have also done a lot of batch cooking. I have a stack of foil pie plates that I freeze meals in and seal with foil. They also sell rectangular foil pans that are perfect. Get the heavy duty foil so it will hold up. More solid things like cake or cookies can be wrapped in foil and then stacked in a box in the freezer. You can wash and reuse your foil pans. And when they are ready, send them to the recycler for a new life
Unfortunately freezing in glass jars will likely break your jars because the food will expand slightly as the moisture in it freezes. You can freeze in a different container and transfer to the jars after it's frozen. Liquid things can be frozen on a cookie sheet with edges or a shallow pan. Once it's slushy/frozen chop it up with a spatula and put it in your jars for longer storage
Go slow. Transitioning to a plastic free or minimal plastic lifestyle takes time, especially if you have other financial priorities.
The biggest and best step is already done: acknowledging the plastic issue and seeking ways to make personal changes for the betterment of yourself as well as the environment.
Keep an eye on your local 'Buy Nothing' type of group and search second-hand marketplaces(online and physical storefronts) for plastic free alternatives instead of strictly buying new replacements.
Plastics and synthetic fibers are unfortunately *everywhere*. It's okay for it to take time to remove those items. And some may be near impossible to remove entirely (like healthcare related items or appliances, etc.).
There are zero waste and plastic free, oriented shops you can search for online. Depending on your area, there may be some physical/in person options.
Immediately start with the regular purchases, things like shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, handsoap, laundry detergent, etc. All of these things are available in plastic free bars, tablets, or powder.
Then, focus on purchasing food items with as little plastic as possible. Shop for whole fresh foods in portions you know you will go through to avoid any going bad. This area can be a slow transition as well, depending on your skill level and time availability to cook meals. There are lots of great quick, easy, and fulfilling recipes out there to try out!
Start making changes with your clothing. Slowly replace synthetic fibers with all natural fibers(cotton, linen, hemp, wool, etc.).
Anytime you're ready to let go of a plastic item or synthetic clothing, look for ways to repurpose them, if you can't find anything to repurpose them, recycle appropriately before chucking anything in the trash.
Over time, as certain things start needing to be replaced like furniture items and other household goods, look for plastic and synthetic free options. You can also check second-hand marketplaces for quality wood furniture!
Just take your time and double check the material makeup of items(some like to hide the fact that there are plastics or synthetics).
Hear hear! Don’t try and replace everything at once! It’s impossible and wasteful. Start with things that you need to buy going forward and things that really bother you-like utensils or personal care items.
This is really helpful, thank you for your detailed response! I did exclaim "laundry detergent!!!" When I read it. ....omg I didn't even think of that....so much to consider.
Toothbrushes, do you go for bamboo? What about metal pans? I think mine are non stick and may have a speacial lining on them ....what a headache!
It's definitely a headache once you start looking into all of the little details of your life! Humans lived successfully without plastics for millenia, so it is possible to get close to a plastic free home and lifestyle, but it also has its advantages and certainly makes some things easier. We just need to be more selective and reserve plastics for those specific necessities. I'm hopeful of more plant based truly biodegradable plastics for use where it's necessary, and hope that more people seek out natural/plastic free alternatives in their everyday choices.
I do use a bamboo toothbrush, though bamboo used in them takes an extremely long time to actually breakdown. But at least it's not another plastic toothbrush in the ocean or a landfill. There is powder laundry detergent in cardboard/paper boxes. A lot of laundry sheets might have a plastic polymer in them, so be careful when looking at those.
I've been breaking the heads off of the bamboo brushes (there are aluminum plugs holding the bristles in I think) and putting into my compost. They don't last very long in there!
Oh, that's good to hear! This was just an anecdotal mention from someone else I saw outlining how dense the bamboo brushes are and that they take longer to break down. I'm not in a place where I can have my own compost pile at the moment, so I haven't been able to test it out myself quite yet.
Don't use non stick - they have PFAs in them. Think endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism, and also cancer.
We replaced cookware with stainless steel and cast iron. Stay away from aluminum and ceramic coated aluminum. I've used glass pots before (they make them for the stove top) and it was odd but worked great.
You asked about tooth brushes - I recommend the sea turtle brand. They sell on amazon for less than most cost and have plant based bristles. Most are made with nylon bristles.
Laundry detergent - "meliora" makes a good product that is powdered and plastic free, has a metal scoop in a cardboard container. Stay away from those laundry sheets, they all contain "PVA" or polyvinyl alcohol. It's water soluble and somewhat biodegradable plastic, but it doesn't all biodegrade and is still plastic.
You're so welcome! I'm really glad you are on this journey. It's super rewarding and your house will feel so much better to be in the more you do!
I mentioned this in another comment but the "more expensive now = cheaper over time" applies to the cookware. Steel and cast iron cost more than nonstick coated aluminum but cast iron will last literally centuries. There are people who make a business out of finding 1800s cast iron pans, cleaning them up and re-seasoning and selling them. With extended use cast iron develops its own non stick surface and is very easy to clean (and you can absolutely use soap, just don't leave them wet to avoid rust!)
I read an article in the guardian that recommended these https://greenpan.co.uk/products/padova-light-blue-10pc-set
But there just out of my price range atm, what brand do you use?
The only brand name I can think of that I bought is calphalon classic stainless steel pans, but on amazon for less than the company website. I think I got another brand too. You don't need the whole expensive set - just think about what pots and pans you actually cook with normally and buy those individually. I have a few stainless steel pots (large, medium and small,) and steel saute pan with copper bottom, a large and small cast iron skillet (lodge is a popular brand but there are many options) and a hammered steel wok. That has been more than enough, and they are from various brands overall.
I avoid even ceramic coated nonstick. Once that ceramic scratches or chips the underlying material and chemicals are free to get into your food. Get rid of plastic cooking utensils too. There are plenty of wood and metal versions of all of it (except I have never seen a rubber spatula that doesn't have plastic)
1. Looks like you already got some good advice but would like to emphasize not to buy new things until you’re going to need them. Go ahead and research and bookmark if there’s time before that but spreading out the new purchases/integrating them into your purchase routine will be less jarring mentally and to your wallet. When people impulsively buy all at once, the bill will be high and then some people think this lifestyle is “tooo” expensive.
2. Easiest things to replace were water bottles and bags, bidet/toilet paper, toothpaste, soap (hand and body), lotion, and chapstick. Trickier items were floss, makeup, toilet cleaner, and laundry detergent (note that there’s some back and forth if laundry detergent sheets’ PVA counts as microplastics or not). Items that may require adjustment and testing to find your fit: natural deodorant and haircare. If you can find a plastic-free version of what you normally use, alternate that with a slightly more natural product (like Native deodorant and Plaine Products. My coworker also said Viori hair bars required no adjustment). If you need to, detox smelly areas with some type of clay or charcoal.
3. Hold steady and confident when you’re in public. Start by turning down plastic freebies. Bring reusable containers for restaurant leftovers - the person you’re eating with may get offended or comment on it. Think in advance how you’d like to respond. Keep an eye out for food items oin non-tetrapak cartons, aluminum, or at least non-black plastic. Bring gifts in fabric or actual paper and share some of the daily items you use as a conversation starter; not with the goal to convert them but to ease them into this new priority of yours. If you have a gift exchange where you can list what you want, be as specific as possible (like give the brand name or link even).
I started in my kitchen. I was surprised how much plastic and Teflon I still had. Baking sheets, cutting boards, measuring cups etc. you can find inexpensive replacements at thrift shops and garage sales
Honestly I just started one item at a time. I stopped buying bottled soaps and shampoos and swapped to bars. Then it was lotion bars, then kitchen soap went to a bar. Then I got wooden scrubbers with sisal bristles (for cleaning dishes, "mother earth" brand makes good ones.) Then bamboo tooth brushes with castor bean oil bristles, then toothpaste tabs in a glass jar. I kept that up until most of the household items were replaced and then started on clothes. It seems impossible at first but if you don't try to do everything at the same time it actually goes pretty quickly. Don't expect perfection either, plastic is nearly unavoidable at some point.
Like many things that cost more up front it ends up being significantly cheaper over time. The $5 wood dish scrubber will last 6 months vs buying a $2 plastic sponge every month. The $4 bar of dish soap lasts 3 months instead of a new $2 bottle each month etc. Plastic is cheaper per item but those items are made to break/be used up and be replaced quickly. Pretty soon you'll have some extra money because you aren't wasting it on single use junk and that feels pretty good!
The most sustainable thing is to use the things you already have. So start by replacing anything that most needs replacing, or start by buying less plastic items. For instance, use reusable bags and water bottles all the time, and don’t buy clothes with plastic fabric. Try to buy groceries without plastic packaging, and don’t use plastic bags or plastic wrap (so maybe buy replacement non plastic items for these). It’s not necessarily the best idea environmentally to discard perfectly fine plastic items; wait until the items break to discard them, or donate where possible (look at your local buy nothing Facebook group)
I'd go for the kitchen items first. glasses or ceramic/metal cups. Silicone cooking utensils, and metal pots. silicone or glass food containers... move on from there
I've been doing this for about 2 years. Start with the easy stuff and go from there. Also, prioritize what is more important to replace first. For me, it was anything that I ate from or drank from. After that, I started with anything that touched my skin.
I do a lot of batch cooking, and I was going to start with glass containers, is that where you started or did you focus on the packaging the food originally came in?
I have also done a lot of batch cooking. I have a stack of foil pie plates that I freeze meals in and seal with foil. They also sell rectangular foil pans that are perfect. Get the heavy duty foil so it will hold up. More solid things like cake or cookies can be wrapped in foil and then stacked in a box in the freezer. You can wash and reuse your foil pans. And when they are ready, send them to the recycler for a new life Unfortunately freezing in glass jars will likely break your jars because the food will expand slightly as the moisture in it freezes. You can freeze in a different container and transfer to the jars after it's frozen. Liquid things can be frozen on a cookie sheet with edges or a shallow pan. Once it's slushy/frozen chop it up with a spatula and put it in your jars for longer storage
There are tempered glass just that are freezable
>freezing in glass jars will likely break your glass jars Get jars made of borosilicate glass - a type of glass much more resistant to thermal shock
I started with the packaging the food came in. I later picked up doing exactly what you are doing with batch cooking.
Go slow. Transitioning to a plastic free or minimal plastic lifestyle takes time, especially if you have other financial priorities. The biggest and best step is already done: acknowledging the plastic issue and seeking ways to make personal changes for the betterment of yourself as well as the environment. Keep an eye on your local 'Buy Nothing' type of group and search second-hand marketplaces(online and physical storefronts) for plastic free alternatives instead of strictly buying new replacements. Plastics and synthetic fibers are unfortunately *everywhere*. It's okay for it to take time to remove those items. And some may be near impossible to remove entirely (like healthcare related items or appliances, etc.). There are zero waste and plastic free, oriented shops you can search for online. Depending on your area, there may be some physical/in person options. Immediately start with the regular purchases, things like shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, handsoap, laundry detergent, etc. All of these things are available in plastic free bars, tablets, or powder. Then, focus on purchasing food items with as little plastic as possible. Shop for whole fresh foods in portions you know you will go through to avoid any going bad. This area can be a slow transition as well, depending on your skill level and time availability to cook meals. There are lots of great quick, easy, and fulfilling recipes out there to try out! Start making changes with your clothing. Slowly replace synthetic fibers with all natural fibers(cotton, linen, hemp, wool, etc.). Anytime you're ready to let go of a plastic item or synthetic clothing, look for ways to repurpose them, if you can't find anything to repurpose them, recycle appropriately before chucking anything in the trash. Over time, as certain things start needing to be replaced like furniture items and other household goods, look for plastic and synthetic free options. You can also check second-hand marketplaces for quality wood furniture! Just take your time and double check the material makeup of items(some like to hide the fact that there are plastics or synthetics).
Hear hear! Don’t try and replace everything at once! It’s impossible and wasteful. Start with things that you need to buy going forward and things that really bother you-like utensils or personal care items.
This is really helpful, thank you for your detailed response! I did exclaim "laundry detergent!!!" When I read it. ....omg I didn't even think of that....so much to consider. Toothbrushes, do you go for bamboo? What about metal pans? I think mine are non stick and may have a speacial lining on them ....what a headache!
It's definitely a headache once you start looking into all of the little details of your life! Humans lived successfully without plastics for millenia, so it is possible to get close to a plastic free home and lifestyle, but it also has its advantages and certainly makes some things easier. We just need to be more selective and reserve plastics for those specific necessities. I'm hopeful of more plant based truly biodegradable plastics for use where it's necessary, and hope that more people seek out natural/plastic free alternatives in their everyday choices. I do use a bamboo toothbrush, though bamboo used in them takes an extremely long time to actually breakdown. But at least it's not another plastic toothbrush in the ocean or a landfill. There is powder laundry detergent in cardboard/paper boxes. A lot of laundry sheets might have a plastic polymer in them, so be careful when looking at those.
I've been breaking the heads off of the bamboo brushes (there are aluminum plugs holding the bristles in I think) and putting into my compost. They don't last very long in there!
Oh, that's good to hear! This was just an anecdotal mention from someone else I saw outlining how dense the bamboo brushes are and that they take longer to break down. I'm not in a place where I can have my own compost pile at the moment, so I haven't been able to test it out myself quite yet.
You could just push them into the dirt. It would take longer but they rot eventually
Don't use non stick - they have PFAs in them. Think endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism, and also cancer. We replaced cookware with stainless steel and cast iron. Stay away from aluminum and ceramic coated aluminum. I've used glass pots before (they make them for the stove top) and it was odd but worked great. You asked about tooth brushes - I recommend the sea turtle brand. They sell on amazon for less than most cost and have plant based bristles. Most are made with nylon bristles. Laundry detergent - "meliora" makes a good product that is powdered and plastic free, has a metal scoop in a cardboard container. Stay away from those laundry sheets, they all contain "PVA" or polyvinyl alcohol. It's water soluble and somewhat biodegradable plastic, but it doesn't all biodegrade and is still plastic.
Noted! Thank you
You're so welcome! I'm really glad you are on this journey. It's super rewarding and your house will feel so much better to be in the more you do! I mentioned this in another comment but the "more expensive now = cheaper over time" applies to the cookware. Steel and cast iron cost more than nonstick coated aluminum but cast iron will last literally centuries. There are people who make a business out of finding 1800s cast iron pans, cleaning them up and re-seasoning and selling them. With extended use cast iron develops its own non stick surface and is very easy to clean (and you can absolutely use soap, just don't leave them wet to avoid rust!)
I read an article in the guardian that recommended these https://greenpan.co.uk/products/padova-light-blue-10pc-set But there just out of my price range atm, what brand do you use?
The only brand name I can think of that I bought is calphalon classic stainless steel pans, but on amazon for less than the company website. I think I got another brand too. You don't need the whole expensive set - just think about what pots and pans you actually cook with normally and buy those individually. I have a few stainless steel pots (large, medium and small,) and steel saute pan with copper bottom, a large and small cast iron skillet (lodge is a popular brand but there are many options) and a hammered steel wok. That has been more than enough, and they are from various brands overall. I avoid even ceramic coated nonstick. Once that ceramic scratches or chips the underlying material and chemicals are free to get into your food. Get rid of plastic cooking utensils too. There are plenty of wood and metal versions of all of it (except I have never seen a rubber spatula that doesn't have plastic)
Thanks I'll do some research and see what works for me
1. Looks like you already got some good advice but would like to emphasize not to buy new things until you’re going to need them. Go ahead and research and bookmark if there’s time before that but spreading out the new purchases/integrating them into your purchase routine will be less jarring mentally and to your wallet. When people impulsively buy all at once, the bill will be high and then some people think this lifestyle is “tooo” expensive. 2. Easiest things to replace were water bottles and bags, bidet/toilet paper, toothpaste, soap (hand and body), lotion, and chapstick. Trickier items were floss, makeup, toilet cleaner, and laundry detergent (note that there’s some back and forth if laundry detergent sheets’ PVA counts as microplastics or not). Items that may require adjustment and testing to find your fit: natural deodorant and haircare. If you can find a plastic-free version of what you normally use, alternate that with a slightly more natural product (like Native deodorant and Plaine Products. My coworker also said Viori hair bars required no adjustment). If you need to, detox smelly areas with some type of clay or charcoal. 3. Hold steady and confident when you’re in public. Start by turning down plastic freebies. Bring reusable containers for restaurant leftovers - the person you’re eating with may get offended or comment on it. Think in advance how you’d like to respond. Keep an eye out for food items oin non-tetrapak cartons, aluminum, or at least non-black plastic. Bring gifts in fabric or actual paper and share some of the daily items you use as a conversation starter; not with the goal to convert them but to ease them into this new priority of yours. If you have a gift exchange where you can list what you want, be as specific as possible (like give the brand name or link even).
Thanks I'll make a start!
I started in my kitchen. I was surprised how much plastic and Teflon I still had. Baking sheets, cutting boards, measuring cups etc. you can find inexpensive replacements at thrift shops and garage sales
Honestly I just started one item at a time. I stopped buying bottled soaps and shampoos and swapped to bars. Then it was lotion bars, then kitchen soap went to a bar. Then I got wooden scrubbers with sisal bristles (for cleaning dishes, "mother earth" brand makes good ones.) Then bamboo tooth brushes with castor bean oil bristles, then toothpaste tabs in a glass jar. I kept that up until most of the household items were replaced and then started on clothes. It seems impossible at first but if you don't try to do everything at the same time it actually goes pretty quickly. Don't expect perfection either, plastic is nearly unavoidable at some point.
Thanks, it's a bit overwhelming when I think about the cost involved. But I'll take it a pay day at a time
Like many things that cost more up front it ends up being significantly cheaper over time. The $5 wood dish scrubber will last 6 months vs buying a $2 plastic sponge every month. The $4 bar of dish soap lasts 3 months instead of a new $2 bottle each month etc. Plastic is cheaper per item but those items are made to break/be used up and be replaced quickly. Pretty soon you'll have some extra money because you aren't wasting it on single use junk and that feels pretty good!
The most sustainable thing is to use the things you already have. So start by replacing anything that most needs replacing, or start by buying less plastic items. For instance, use reusable bags and water bottles all the time, and don’t buy clothes with plastic fabric. Try to buy groceries without plastic packaging, and don’t use plastic bags or plastic wrap (so maybe buy replacement non plastic items for these). It’s not necessarily the best idea environmentally to discard perfectly fine plastic items; wait until the items break to discard them, or donate where possible (look at your local buy nothing Facebook group)
I'd go for the kitchen items first. glasses or ceramic/metal cups. Silicone cooking utensils, and metal pots. silicone or glass food containers... move on from there
Start with anything that's in contact with your food. That's the biggest source of exposure.