We need to break our dependence on oil, no doubt about that. One real culprit of our oil addiction is plastic. It's everywhere -- from single use packaging, to toys, to household objects. Estimates put the percent of world consumption of oil that goes toward plastic at about eight percent. That doesn't seem like much until you consider the fact that the world demand for oil is about 86 million barrels of oil a day.
Plastic also never goes away, it is merely down-cycled or degrades, and a lot of it ends up in the ocean. So if you want to start making a dent in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, read on for tips and tricks on living an (almost) plastic-free lifestyle.
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![Learn To Cook]()
What does cooking have to do with plastic? Everything.
If you can cook a quick meal, that means no more plastic bags of plastic containers with takeout food, plastic-wrapped forks and knives, and mini plastic packets of soy sauce. It means no more plastic trays of microwave meals too.
If you are looking for guidance, the Not Eating Out in New York blog or the book “The Art of Eating In” by Cathy Erway can give you some great guidance.
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![Forget About Plastic Water Bottles]()
If you’re reading this, you probably already know that this is one of the most worthless types of plastic out there. Until more towns start banning water bottles, we just need to get creative on how to cut them out of our lives.
Most say the best way to stop using water bottles is to buy your own reusable bottle. But what about when you run out of water? There’s an app for that, of course. TapIt let’s you look up restaurants and cafes near you that will fill up your water bottle for you. Right now it’s only in NYC, but the team wants to expand across the US. There’s a similar one coming to Vancouver. In any case, it can't hurt to walk in a place and ask.
What if you’re caught out without your trusty steel water bottle? It’s happened to all of us. That’s where the increasingly rare water fountain comes in. Encourage - no, demand – that public places like train stations, concert and sports venues, and especially parks install more water fountains so people don’t feel the need to shell out for a silly water bottle every time they’re caught without their own.
Finally, it’s important to do what you can to protect tap water. When you’ve got places with tap water that can be lit on fire, you know water bottle consumption is filling the gap. Take action against polluting industries like coal burning and fracking so that you can fill up your glass over and over without fear.
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![Make Your Own Food Products]()
This is a bit different from cooking. Easier, in fact. With some basic knowledge and a food processor, you can make almost everything you find sold in the store.
Peanut butter, mayonnaise, ketchup, pesto, salsa and guacamole, icing, or really any condiment at all is a cinch to make. If you’re feeling more ambitious, you can try tomato sauce, jam, or pickling. After all, canning is what all the cool kids are doing these days.
For every thing you learn how to make yourself, you avoid purchasing a plastic-packaged equivalent, saving yourself money in the process. You’ll also know what is going into those food products, instead of the indecipherable ingredients on some processed foods.
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![Go Vintage And Hand-Made]()
I don’t know why you would need another reason to peruse Etsy or a flea market, but here it is: people did quite well without plastic for a long time, and it shows in vintage goods.
Try the endearing mason jar for all of your drinking cup, food storage, and even hand soap dispenser needs. Snatch up old porcelain and metal hooks for your home, adorable kids toys that are free of the Made In China stamp on the bottom, and lovely worn frames.
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![Say No To Freebies]()
Take a moment and count up everything you got “free” today. It gets foisted upon us from every direction, and then we are left to figure out what to do with it. Every time you take a free plastic toy with your meal, a free pharma pen, or a free travel-size shampoo bottle, it's one more piece of plastic floating around in the world.
Decrease demand for items like these with a "No Thanks!"
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![Carry A Reusable Bag]()
We all know by now that plastic bags are wreaking havoc on the ocean and environment. Like water bottles, until they get fully banned or taxed, you’ll have to forge ahead in your own no-plastic-bag campaign.
Remember, reusable bags aren’t just for the grocery store; they’re for clothes shopping, the pharmacy, the liquor or wine shop, or carrying out the wrapped-up leftovers from your favorite restaurant. There are even reusable bags just for produce and bulk shopping.
With all these opportunities for stealthy cashiers to slip you a plastic bag, it pays to be prepared. Dump the bulky grocery reusable bags and keep a little fold-up one with you in your purse, briefcase, or European carryall. You’ll feel like a magician unfurling it and triumphantly declaring “I have my own bag, thanks!”
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![Know The Recycling Rules]()
Even the most hard-core, zero-waste advocates find themselves with plastic from time to time.
That’s when it pays to know what your local recycling municipality will take. I used to throw everything that looked plastic into the bin, thinking it would be sorted out in the end.
Boy, was I wrong. Putting an unacceptable piece in there can ruin the whole batch, causing it all to get thrown out. Check out the number on the bottom, or get a comprehensive guide from your city or town that will tell you what items are ok. (Drink cups? Container lids? Toys?)
Better yet, turn a scrutinizing eye on what you buy in the first place. Knowing that straw isn’t recyclable might spur you to sip your smoothie instead.
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