News Flash

18 things that you can do to reduce plastic:

1. Bring Your Own Shopping Bag
   • If necessary, choose paper bags.
2. Purchase Secondhand
3. Buy Loose & in Bulk 
   • Buy items you can purchase often in bulk with little to no packaging. Look for sustainable packaging options like glass or cardboard. 
4. Use Cloth Diapers 
   • 7.6 billion pounds of diapers are discarded in the U.S. each year!
5. Stop Buying Bottled Water
   
6. Ditch Straws
   • If needed, use paper or metal alternatives.
7. Make Your Own Cleaning Products
   • Use nontoxic ingredients to improve indoor air quality and eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottle cleaners. 
8. Skip Products with Microbeads 
   • These beads pass through water treatment plants and cause harm to animals.
9. Use Reusable Containers 
   • Skip plastic baggies or wrap. Use green durable alternatives such as glass jars, cloth produce bags, or beeswax wrap. 
10. Recycle! 
11. Cook Like a Natural 
    • If you cook with less processed food, you'll reduce packaging waste. 
12. Shave Smart
    • Eliminate plastic disposal razors. Use razors with replaceable blades. 
13. Keep a Zero-Waste Kit
    • When planning a day out, pack your travel mug, metal container, jar for leftovers, napkin, and real utensils.
14. Use Natural Sponges
    • Use cotton rags or cellulose sponges like loofah, hemp, or bamboo
15. Skip K-cups!
    • Grind your own coffee or have it ground at the store. 
16. Shop at a Farmers Market 
    • Buy fresh, local, unpackaged produce! 
17. Don't Trash It! Compost it! 
    • Composting reduces plastic garbage bags and lowers CO2 emissions. Compost helps grow unpackaged food. 
18. Refuse Stuff
    • Tell your server you don't want a straw or brought your own cutlery or takeout container.