Perhaps the most talked about aspect, and the starting point of living sustainably is the need to reduce the use of plastic. The environmental impact of plastic and the enormous damage caused to the planet by its unbridled consumption is well-documented. The country-wide ban on several single-use plastic items like plastic earbuds, shopping bags, straws, and others that kicked in on July 1 further reaffirms the urgency of giving up on plastic.
But while we are aware, the prospect of eliminating plastics and finding alternatives to everyday utility items can seem daunting to many of us, caught up as we are in the whirlwind of life!
“Where do I even start?”
“Do I just start throwing my plastic things away?”
“Where will I find affordable alternatives and how do I pick the right ones?”
“What if I make the wrong choices?”
Dealing with these questions can be tricky and challenging for the best-intentioned amongst us! Besides, in a world where we are constantly bombarded with jargon like zero-waste, organic, and sustainability, most of us are left perplexed. Add greenwashing and misleading claims by brands to this mix, and it is no surprise that taking the first steps towards a plastic-free lifestyle can seem intimidating. (If you have been worrying about greenwashing, know how to deal with it here.)
So what’s the best way in? Rather than making any sudden changes to your lifestyle, start with the simple ones. Since our lives center around our homes, this is a good place to start.
Rather than making any sudden changes to your lifestyle, start with the simple ones. Since our lives center around our homes, this is a good place to start.
As you go through our guide to making your home plastic-free, you might be surprised to find that you’re already doing some of these and are well on your journey to eliminating plastic from your everyday life!
In Totes We Trust!
Difficulty level: Easy
The first target, and the easiest to tackle, is your average polythene shoppers. From the neighborhood vegetable vendor to the supermarket, these are hard to avoid. And a simple cloth tote bag is the one-stop obvious solution!
Keep one by your door so you can grab it on the way out or leave a spare in your car! You can also deposit one of your totes with your local Kirana store or vegetable vendor and request all orders to be delivered in the assigned bag!
If you don’t already have one, you can explore different kinds of cotton and jute totes on marketplaces like Brown Living or from brands like Amala Earth, Ecoright, and more. The mind-boggling variety of tote bags available ranges from trendy totes with fun slogans to convenient ones with multiple pockets for ease of shopping.
Pro Tip: Besides ensuring your tote is always with you, do watch how you shop. Instead of opting for plastic-wrapped fruits and veggies from the supermarket, opt to pick fresh ones locally or from your nearest farmer’s market. To shop for grains and dry supplies, consider carrying some steel boxes from home and get them refilled. Explore organic stores like Adrish Zero Waste, Green Mantra, For Earth’s Sake, and Vnya. These zero-waste stores let you bring your containers to stock up on groceries, plastic-free!
Source: Brown Living
Make Room In The Bathroom
Difficulty Level: Easy
It is no secret that for most of us the bathroom is a haven, where many hours are spent, reading and thinking, and some of our best ideas come to us under the shower! And while we are mindful of the hygiene and ensure it is well taken care of, we don’t realise that it’s also one of the most plastic-dependent places in our home.
Toothbrushes, shampoo bottles, loofahs, single-use razors…the list goes on. Fortunately, swapping these out for sustainable alternatives is quite easy –
- Once your plastic toothbrush wears out, swap it for a bamboo one. These are biodegradable and can also be composted after use! You can even swap out your regular floss for bamboo floss. Check out brands like Ecosattva and Re Earth for these!
- Replace your plastic shampoo bottles and body wash with organic shampoo bars and soaps! They last a long time, don’t contain toxic chemicals, and very often, come in recyclable paper packaging. You can explore brands like The Switch Fix and Earthrythm to find natural shampoo bars for your hair type.
PS: When swapping, don’t throw those shampoo bottles away. Send them for recycling or pass them on to someone who may have a creative use for them! - Your synthetic loofah can be replaced with one made of dried gourd. Find these through local brands like Taal Mell, Greenfootprint, Back to roots, and more!
- Have a plastic-free menstrual routine by swapping out those single-use pads with either a menstrual cup or organic cotton pads. Commonly available, disposable sanitary napkins are 90% plastic and hence non-biodegradable. You can also opt for reusable cloth pads from brands like Bumpadum and Naari Pads! More guidance on adopting sustainable practices during your periods here.
Shift To Plastic-free Beauty Regimen
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
While making changes in your bathroom, you can also reassess your skincare and beauty products. Not only do a lot of these come in plastic packaging, but some of your products may even contain plastic like microbeads.
Here are ways to ensure your beauty regime is free of plastic interference:
- Adopt a minimal skincare/beauty routine, and before you buy more, use up the products you already have. Once it’s time to invest in products again, opt for natural and sustainable alternatives. Check out our guide on clean beauty here.
- Experiment with DIY. Homemade face packs, scrubs, and cleansers are not foreign to us, as the average Indian kitchen has all you need for your beauty routine. This is a great way to avoid overconsumption and packaging waste that may come with shopping for sheet masks and more.
- When you make swaps, try local brands that follow plastic-free production. For example, Asa’s mindfully created refill and recycle program allows customers to recycle the empties and get reward points in return. Bare Minimum’s natural skin care products come in recycled aluminium bottles which can be refilled and used for several years.
Source: Bare Minimum
Embrace Plastic-free Fashion
Difficulty Level: Moderate
It’s no secret that synthetic materials like polyester and nylon contribute to plastic pollution. When you discard these clothes, they often make their way to a landfill and have the same effect as other kinds of plastic waste. So the next time you shop, opt for sustainable alternatives like organic cotton or bamboo fibre clothing from local slow fashion brands like No Nasties, Lush Hues, Summerhouse, Something Sustainable and the like. These slow fashion essentials also last longer, helping you stay sustainable in the long term. With more influencers, celebrities, and fashion icons also shifting their attention towards sustainable fashion, the options for stylish and eco-friendly clothing are no longer limited. Check out this list of celebrity-style icons who are championing sustainable fashion!
Pro Tip: Educate yourself! Be ready to question brands and read labels to identify if your ‘organic’ cotton shirt, for example, is 100% organic or mixed with synthetics. We know labels can get confusing, so here’s an extensive guide that’ll tell you what to look for.
Source: The Summer House
Choose Plastic-free Alternatives For Your Kids
Difficulty Level: Moderate
If there are infants or toddlers in the house, this one’s for you! Your little munchkins may be the least consuming member of the household, but some aspects of baby care contribute heavily to plastic pollution. Besides, plastic can be harmful to your toddlers’ health, so here are a few things to consider:
- Diapers, much like sanitary pads are plastic polluters. These single-use disposables aren’t just harmful to the environment but can also be harsh on your baby’s skin. You can swap these out instead for reusable cloth diapers that are long-lasting and skin-safe. You’ll find plenty online, through brands like Bumpadum, Superbottoms, and Amala Earth.
- Go old-school and invest in a few plastic-free toys for your little ones. Made from materials like wood and crochet, these are safer options, considering children put everything in their mouths. Additionally, these toys last longer and can be passed on or saved for the next! Check out our curated pick of brands of non-toxic toys for your kids here.
- If you have older children at home, educating them about the cons of plastic can give them perspective about your ways. To involve them and pique their interest in a sustainable lifestyle, read our guide on raising planet-loving kids here.
Learn From Grandma’s kitchen!
Difficulty Level: Easy
Sustainable hacks have always been, often by default, intrinsic to our parent’s and grandparents’ lifestyles! Here are a few you can pick up and adapt, even in your modern home –
- Ditch plastic water bottles and shift to reusable steel, glass, or even copper bottles and jugs. These are healthier and safer bets compared to plastic water bottles, and a good place to start. Assign one to each family member, and encourage them to carry their bottles when stepping out of the house so that they can stay hydrated without resorting to packaged water.
- You can go bold and invest in a good ol’ earthen matka from a local potter. It prevents the need to stock up on extra water bottles and also makes the water naturally alkaline!
- Next, you could look at slowly swapping the utensils you use. Some non-stick pans and cookware may come with a Teflon coating that is a toxic form of plastic. Instead opt for cast iron, steel, or aluminium kitchen essentials!
- No matter how much you try, some plastic containers may make it into your home. Reuse these containers as far as possible for storing odds and ends. Though food-grade plastic is considered safe, it is best to avoid direct contact with food with plastic if you can help it. You could also find creative uses for these jars and containers, such as growing microgreens!
- Once those plastic containers wear out, swap for steel tins, ceramic pickle jars, and wooden spice boxes. Besides being safe, they’d also add aesthetic charm to your kitchen! Look up the brand Ellementry for some elegant options.
Source: Ellementry
Here are a few more ways to stay plastic-free in the kitchen –
- Swap your single-use plastic wraps and aluminium foils with reusable beeswax wraps. These are biodegradable and also microwave safe! You’ll find these eco-friendly food wraps through brands like Urban Creative and Bombus Beeswraps.
- Replace plastic garbage bags with compostable bags. Also, segregate your waste, so it can be managed effectively. For your dry waste, you can simply line the bin with old newspapers. For organic and wet waste, you’ll find compostable bags at Origami Good Karma.
- Smaller swaps, like opting for loose tea leaves instead of tea bags, coffee bottles over sachets, and fresh milk over packaged milk are all mindful ways to avoid extra plastic waste in the kitchen!
House Proud and Plastic-Free
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
A longer-term shift is to move to plastic-free seating and decor. Now, this may seem like a major step, so do it gradually while being mindful of your budget, space, and other constraints. If you don’t see yourself changing the home setting anytime soon, you can keep this in mind if and when you do decide to re-decorate.
Plastic chairs and stools are cheaper, but remember the rattan/cane ones from our childhood homes? If you can’t find them online, just head to a local furniture market. You will be surprised at the variety of unique wooden, rattan, and wrought iron alternatives to plastic furniture. A lot of these can also be thrifted! Read our guide on thrifting home furniture here.
You can also explore a wide range of sustainable home decor items from plastic-free marketplaces like Brown Living. This is especially useful for new homeowners who may be shopping before they make the shift!
Besides getting rid of plastic from your home, it’s also crucial to be able to responsibly use and dispose of the plastic products you already have. So here are a few bonus tips to help you get there!
BONUS: Managing Unwanted Plastic
Difficulty level: Easy to Moderate
Repurpose and Upcycle: Upcycle empty bottles and jars into planters or make decorative items by filling them with twinkly lights! Save plastic wrapping papers or bubble wrap that comes your way and mindfully reuse it later.
Recycle: For all the unavoidable plastic waste, recycling is a great solution. This is why segregating your waste can help. You can also go a step ahead and ask your society/ neighbourhood to tie up with a recycler.
Refuse: Simply let all your near and dear ones know of your plastic-free rule. Request them to refrain from gifting or buying you such products as this will save you from dealing with unwanted waste later!
Get more upcycling inspiration here!
So, if you’re all set to go plastic-free, make the most of Plastic-Free July and set yourself up for a 30-day swapping challenge at home! Involve your family too, and turn it into a fun family bonding activity!
On a parting note, here is a tip – Always think low waste. Start by being conscious of your usage of plastic, and slowly you’ll build a space that’s uncluttered, unique, and truly sustainable.
Check out our many guides and blogs for more ideas, inspirations, and recommendations of go-to brands to help you in your journey!
