You can make your own vinegar-- it's a little time-consuming but dirt cheap and easy. They even make inexpensive pH testing kits if you need it to be a certain acidity for canning.
Plastic Packaging: Thirty Ways I'm Using Less and Why
Photo: Woodley Wonder Works
It's everywhere, isn't it? And once you become more aware of the problem and commit to using less, one walk down any aisle of the grocery store is nearly enough to make you pass out. It's simply overwhelming. At our house, we still have quite a ways to go, but have taken a number of initial steps to start making an initial impact. Wanna know how we're doing it?
First, with a great deal of inspiration from Beth Terry. This Wise Bread reader is seriously taking on the plastic reduction issue to an extreme level. Her site is also where I first saw a video of the Pacific Gyre and its effects on marine life. I can't tell you how much of an impact this made on me. I felt physically ill and weak in the knees. I was immediately both motivated about making a difference and paralyzed with a feeling of helplessness. How much of a difference could I even make? In the end, I obviously decided doing nothing was not an option. There are many more things we need to do, but this list represents how we're starting out.
I considered combining some of the similar items into a single category due to the length of this post. I want the article to make a positive impact, after all. The more I thought about it however, I decided that artistically having a list which might be a bit overwhelming to the readers was, after all, the point. This is an overwhelming problem in every sense of the word. Additionally, having a list like this represents more accurately the process a person goes through when they start looking around their house and seeing that reusable grocery and produce bags are literally just a drop in the bucket of the overall plastic problem. So, without further ado . . .
Frozen vegetables.
I only buy the ones in the cardboard boxes with the wax covering. The ones in plastic bags are a thing of the past. Frozen fruit is another story. I haven't found the most affordable local fresh source yet, and I have yet to see them in boxes.
Coffee beans.
We are exploring the bulk bin options where you can empty the loose beans into sealable paper bags. The only option we've found in our area is more than double the cost of what we are currently paying. So unfortunately, we'll have to continue to explore for a while.
Produce bags.
It took me a while to find an uber affordable option for these. Making the transition to reusable produce totes requires WAY more bags than you need when switching only to fabric shopping bags. My solution? These little four for a buck numbers I found at Dollar Tree. Score!
Cloth shopping bags.
For large trips, I have the fold up cheapies from various stores. But those unexpected stops I always found myself unprepared for? I now have a specially designed one that fits easily into my purse. Here's a review article with a few options.
Pesto.
The bulk stores in my area only have pesto in plastic jars with plastic tops. The most affordable brand I've found so far that also has responsible packaging? Classico. Glass jars, metal tops and no plastic shrink wrap sleeve. Their pesto is fantastic, and the jars are actually miniature Atlas canning jars with the measuring lines on the side. Since they are the narrower mouth jars that fit on the base of your blender, this makes them great for grinding red peppers, peanuts and more. So not only do have a great tool for the lazy gourmet, you have an easily repurposed container as well.
Corn starch.
The price on the cardboard boxes is definitely comparable to the large plastic container at my local Sam's Club, so I'm making the switch as soon as the batch is used up.
Toilet paper.
I actually have Fake Plastic Fish to thank for this one. Beth Terry was the one to alert me to the fact that the cardboard cases of Seventh Generation toilet paper arrive with virtually no plastic packaging whatsoever. The packing tape is the only bit of plastic you'll see. All the rolls are wrapped in recycled tissue paper. It's a huge case that lasts a long time too.
Bread bags.
This one's sort of a fifty-fifty approach. On one hand, I am trying to bake more in order to reduce plastic packaging. Most of the types of bread that I would normally buy don't come in the cases where you can put them in paper or fabric bags, at least at the stores where I shop. (Although that's a great option, if you live near a store that offers that.) On the other hand, I haven't found a source of non mesh fabric bags for bulk bins that would afford me to stock up on the large number I feel I would need to make the transition. So for the bread bags (and other similar ones) that I do end up bringing home, I've decided to make them into my temporary bulk bin solution. If I can finally find time to take up sewing again, then that would be a great solution as well.
Save A Lot.
There happens to be one of these stores very close to my house. It's dirt cheap place to shop, and at least with regards to produce, they have a reasonable selection of loose items that don't come in plastic bags or containers. A few produce items I buy there regularly include cilantro, sweet potatoes, cabbage, bananas, tomatoes, onions and Spanish potatoes.
Tabasco.
Compared to other hot sauce brands that come in plastic jars, this stuff comes in a glass bottle. The top is plastic though.
Lime juice.
Whole foods carries the Santa Cruz organic kind. It comes in a glass jar with a metal lid and no plastic sleeve around the top. Bonus? The price is definitely comparable to the plastic bottles we'd been buying. We go through a fair bit of lime juice on a regular basis, so buying fresh limes to squeeze our own isn't really feasible given our schedule.
Popcorn.
By checking the snack aisle at my local warehouse store, I found popcorn in a paper bag instead of plastic wrap.
Rice.
I still have to use up the supply I have, but I recently discovered the Asian market I go to will open up their larger direct import bags and measure out a set weight if customers request it. I don't think they carry basmati, but they carry a ton of other varieties, including brown jasmine.
Eggs.
I refuse to purchase the styrofoam containers, and have even stopped buying the bulk sets in cardboard since they are wrapped in plastic. I go only with the cardboard containers. If I can ever find a local egg person, I'll even be able to reduce that waste.
Sun dried tomatoes.
The Bella San Luci brand comes in a glass jar with a metal lid. Now I still like the dried kind that don't come in oil for things like scones and flavored breads, but instead of buying the in a plastic bag, I'm going to hit up a fellow blogger for her homemade recipe.
Olive oil.
I'm switching over to glass jars and bulk cans. We've always done that to some extent anyway, but would snag a large plastic jug if that's what happened to be available where I was shopping when I ran out. Also, oils in general I'm starting to make precision choices about. For example, grape seed oil at the stores in my area always comes in a plastic bottle. But at Whole Foods which is further away, they sell a version in glass. We try to make it down there every 4-6 weeks for the few items that we purchase from that chain. Since I'm almost out, and they have a comparable price, that's the kind I'll buy from now on.
Taking advantage of bulk bins.
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I'll be honest. I don't have that many available at the stores in my area. And while I love the fact that we do have a Whole Foods in Tampa, it's bulk bin selection isn't nearly as large as others I've seen. In fact, it's bordering on disappointing. It seems that all the folks out west have access to more package free bulk buying than those of us on the other side of the country. I've seen remarkable images of stores with rows and rows of nothing but bulk bins on either side, and storage tanks with things on tap like lotion, shampoo, honey and olive oil. Why are we so far behind the times on this coast? I have no idea. But I'm at least committed to making the best of the few options I have. Kuwait actually had some decent options for this when I lived there, and I noticed they still did when I was visiting a while back. The old souk was not only a fun place to shop and hang out, but they had great options for package free produce, spices, nuts, etc. I've noticed similar options throughout the Middle East and other countries where the open air markets are the norm.
DIY cleaners.
Actually, I've been doing this for a while for both toxicity and frugality reasons. So the reduced plastic container waste has been going on for a while in this particular department. If I was trying to make all of these transitions at once, it would be far too overwhelming.
Keeping a keen eye.
I have found myself viewing the produce aisles of the stores where I shop quite critically. For example, one of them has portabellas (although not the baby ones I love) available without packaging, but none of the other types are available without plastic. Just down the street, another store has loose champion mushrooms for the same price as the plastic packaged ones.
Vodka.
Once we have used up our two large bottles of rubbing alcohol (We use it for mirror and faucet shining, spray sanitizer in the bathroom, electronics cleaning, etc.) we are switching over to using vodka for the same purpose. It's available in glass bottles with metal tops. Now, the peroxide and witch hazel are still things we'll need to use plastic bottles for. But at least this is one switch we can make easily.
Dollar Tree.
I just can't stop thinking of reasons to love this store. Check them out for glass containers with stainless steel tops. Shakers, pour tops and other types of non plastic containers are available there. We use them for things like cinnamon and sugar blend, cocoa for a coffee bar party and more. You can also use them for things you might see in a restaurant like shakeable Parmesan, red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning.
Precision tea purchases.
Honest to Pete, do we really need to have extra plastic packaging here? And don't get me started on the same argument for coffee. For crying out loud, this stuff comes clear around the world in a burlap sack. I think we can safely store it in paper. I went to pick up a bit at the grocery store the other day. No loose options were available at the store I went to, so I went for the boxed. The one and only brand that came without an outside layer of plastic wrap? Bigelow.
Canning jars.
Like I needed another reason to love these. For foods that aren't going to expand, they are going to be my new freezer storage solution. For example, I can cut down on the use of freezer bags when I break down my bulk purchases of shredded cheese by putting the shredded cheddar and mozzarella into pint jars. I've also heard of some stores being willing to pre-weigh the jars you bring in and subtracting from the total new weight once moist products like feta are added in. Haven't checked that one out yet in my neighborhood. Now, I'm finding that a fair number of stores I used to be able to find the jar lids at are no longer carrying them. So this is going to be a bit of a quest in my new area. Also, some stores only carry them seasonally. But I will press on and make it happen some how. Stay tuned.
Dental floss.
We are nearly finished our very last package of plastic-encased floss. Standing by is our new brand. Eco Dent. No petroleum waxes, and it comes packaged in a paperboard container. Score!
Peanut butter.
For our own use, we are making a conscious choice to buy it in glass jars from now on. It's a little challenging though, because I've always bought the larger jugs of the cheaper stuff for doggie kong stuffing. Not sure how I'm going to replace that one yet.
Compiling a list of local farmers' markets.
So far, this is as far as I've gotten since we've moved here. But I did come up with a list and forward it to a few friends. Several of the markets aren't open in the summer, but others are. We are in the process of setting aside some times to explore them as a couples' activity. They are a bit far away to make them work on a regular basis, but for certain things that are cheap enough to seriously stock up on, it could be a fun day outing with a side grocery benefit.
Meat.
This has been nearly impossible for me, but here's my plan: The next time there are a few loss leaders at different stores, I'm going to call the meat departments ahead of time and request butcher paper packaging instead of the styrofoam and plastic wrap the meat sale items usually come in. It probably won't work so well for full turkeys, but I'm hoping they'll play ball for things like ribs, roasts and chicken breasts. I'll keep you posted.
BYO flatware.
We already do this when traveling, so I'm not sure why we haven't previously made the decision to do it on a regular “out and about” basis. Beth Terry has inspired us though, so we're going for it.
Glass or plastic?
Many products come in both types of containers on the very same shelf, although it may be a different brand. If the price is comparable, I'm going with the glass.
Cider vinegar.
I only go through enough of this stuff to buy one of the smaller bottles every month or so. Since that size comes in glass, I've committed to buying it that way from now on. White vinegar is a little tougher. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw the gallon jugs in glass, and that's how I need to buy it. The smaller glass bottles represent too much of a cost differential for the way we've committed to allocating our funds. I feel good about the fact that we're halfway there, but the amount of white vinegar we use is so much greater that I'm left feeling like I've somehow missed the boat on this one. In the meantime, I'll keep looking for an option.
These are the choices we've made to start making an immediate change. We have a few others in mind, some of which will likely result in a product review or two. I invite those of you who are trying to use less plastic in your own homes to share your trials, successes and strategies for some of the tough switch overs below. Thanks for tuning in.
Best of Wise Bread
Basmati rice can be found in bulk in burlap sacks in Sam's club or Indian stores. Loose tea(in 3 lb/5 lb)packaged in cardboard boxes also can be found in Indian stores. Lipton Yellow Label and Red Label teas are really good too!Just repack the tea in a jar with a tight lid and measure out a teaspoon. I've seen a tea filter(stainless steel mesh ball) at Walmart(?) that can be used with loose tea instead of a tea bag!
Good luck with going plastic free! An admirable goal!
I'm lucky enough to live near a Winco where I can buy lots of items in the bulk bins. I wish they would package more things in reusable packaging. I recently bought some honey that came in a juice glass topped with a metal lid - genius! I like to buy this one type of store-brand cat litter that comes in a plastic bucket with a thin removable plastic sleeve where the brand name goes. When the bucket is empty, I drill holes in the bottom and use it to plant veggies!
If you're willing to roast your own coffee beans (you can do it in a hot-air popcorn popper in about 8 minutes), you can buy bulk green coffee beans for half the cost of roasted. I can get them at my local coffee shops that roast beans, and they package them in paper bags. Bonus: tastes fantastic.
Thanks for all the great comments and support, folks. I've been meaning to try roasting our own coffee for a bit now, but things have been so crazy since the move it's sort of fallen further down on my priority list. However, the price difference is what will likely motivate me in the end. Plus, when we finally do have the time, I think it will actually be quite fun.
We buy coffee online from Orleans Coffee Exchange, who sends beans or ground coffee in the sealable paper bags. The coffee is good, and they often have deals where you get free bags of coffee, etc.. Unfortunately I can't remember what they ship in, so the possibility of more plastic is there.
Possible TMI here, but cloth maxi pads are way more comfortable than the plastic diaper-y alternatives. I've been using them with the Keeper for the last five years or so and will never go back. You can supposedly also use the bloody soak water for gardening, though I haven't explored this just yet.
We are heavy users of the bulk bins, especially for things like flour, sugar, pasta, beans, rice, oats, and other assorted grains. I haven't bought a plastic bag of noodles in ages.
I've recently switched completely to solid shampoos and conditioners and love them. My current favorite is the mango lassi stuff made by carmel soaps. I have waist-length hair so I go through a fair amount of the bottled stuff otherwise, even though I don't wash my hair every day.
You can get a 6 lb "tub" of creamy peanut butter at Sam's and the tub is foil-lined cardboard. Still has a plastic lid, but that's preferable to an entire container.
We get our peanut butter at the local health food store. They grind it from peanuts into whatever container you bring in, and charge by weight. The peanut oil separates out as it sits on your counter, but you just stir it up before using it.
Great tips! Especially the coffee source. I'll have the check that out soon and see if it fits in with our tastes, budget and such. Thanks, guys!
Maybe I'm showing my age here, but does anyone remember the little cinched-up flat calico bags that everyone used to take to church picnics? They held a few plates and some sliverware, and you would take them home to wash afterward -- the dishes in the sink and the bags with the laundry. Nobody had paper or plasticware.
What we need is for everyone to revive these for bbqs as the "chic green" thing to do (the chic thing seems to be the only way to get anyone's attention). I do remember those little pastel-colored bags as being rather charming, myself...
You've really hit it on the head here, it really does make you sick to see all of the waste. I'll be linking to this post from my blog. Thanks.
Jared - Thanks for the kudos and the link.
Kristina - I don't remember those bags, but they sound precious. Hey, whip some up and sell them on Etsy!
Save the vodka for its right & proper use! :-)
Vodka is typically about 40% alcohol (80 proof). For cleaning & especially disinfecting, you're better off with a higher concentration - 70-90%... the isopropyl you have is probably one of those.
You can get pure denatured alcohol at the hardware store or home center, in the paint department. It comes in pints (metal can, plastic top, typically), or gallons (metal/metal).
You can also (depending on what state you're in) get Everclear at a liquor store, which is 200 proof ethanol.
If you figure out the cost per ounce, the gallon of denatured is probably most cost-efficient, certainly more so than the vodka.
And the Vodka? Enjoy it!
You don't have any local health food or co-op kinds of stores where they sell PB in the bulk bins and you can buy just how much you want? (That way you can keep using the same glass jar, or at least reuse the big plastic jug you got when you last bought the huge container).
It also might be interesting to find out if you could purchase a bulk amount of PB straight from a producer?
Or, sometime recently an older person told me that in her childhood days, people ground their own peanut butter and it was a big deal when you started to be able to buy it in jars! Not sure about the accuracy of this history or the feasibility of finding your own peanut butter grinder and using it on a regular basis, but it could be worth some research. You might even be able to find an "antique" one that still works!
I understand that the overall goal of yours is to reduce the amount of plastic that you use, but can't you just recycle it if you don't have an non-plastic alternative? In Iowa, we can return all plastic bags to the grocery store for recycling and the other plastics can just be put in the recycling bin for pickup.
One of the other things I'm going to try is replacing my disposable 5-bladed razor with an old-fashioned safety razor. The cost of the disposable plastic cartridge heads is ridiculous compared to the cost of plain old-man razor blades. I'm going to save the disposable for times when I need to shave quickly/carelessly/drunk. ;)
Guest, most "recycling" of plastic is actually "downcycling" - it gets made into a lower grade of plastic. And the market goes up and down, so your plastic may or may not be actually getting recycled. Recycling is a good option if you absolutely can't avoid the plastic, but it's not a good first choice.
Producing plastic causes a lot of plastic waste you never see. Our playground sand is full of little styrofoam balls - that's what happens to styrofoam trash when it's ground down by sand for a long time. On ocean beaches and beaches on the Great Lakes, the sand is full of "nerdles" of plastic - tiny plastic pellets used to make molded plastics. A park ranger in Washington State told us they are commonly washed overboard while being shipped across the Pacific to be made into toys and other items. In parts of the ocean, samples show these tiny plastic particles from all stages of production outnumber edible particles of algae and plankton.
Check out the Fake Plastic Fish website linked in the post - it has a lot of reasons for avoiding plastics as much as you can.
I've switched over to making my own bread, but now I'm finding that I need some way to store it so that it doesn't dry out. I had been using the remaining bread bags that I had saved up while I was transitioning, but now I'm out! Any ideas on how to store bread?
Also, did anyone else notice that the automated ads that come up between the article and the comments are for sites where you can buy plastic bags??!!
I'm old enough to remember bread sold in a printed waxed-paper like wrapping (like these: http://mistertoast.blogspot.com/2007/06/bread-wrappers.html), so... waxed paper.
Or there's the old-fashioned breadbox, with as tightly-fitting door as you can get, to keep a closed environment. Then add a wet sponge on a saucer to keep the humidity level higher so the bread doesn't have to give up it's moisture to the air.
Or, I think that, in the waybackwhen, oiled linen may have served the purpose.
Or there's these:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23331253
Where is the Asian market that you go to? I have been having trouble finding ethnic grocery stores in the Tampa Bay area.
The Asian market that I go to is on route 19, right across from Sam's Club in New Port Richey. There are others around. Also, we found another one today but it was an Indian market in Temple Terrace. They had cheap spices, but they were in plastic. But they were in bulk, though. Also, Al Aqsa market in Temple Terrace has halal meat and bulk bins for a few things like bulgur, chick peas, red lentils, etc.
Bread storage. Gosh, I haven't run into that yet, as I have enough of the other bags. Perhaps a large enough air tight container like you'd put a batch of muffins in? It would depend on the size and shape of the loaf, though.
Great post! All the packaging today,(not just plastic) is way out of hand-- tere has to be a better way . . .
Re: cardboard egg cartons. In addition to passing them on to chicken-owning friends, consider donating them to a beekeeper. I find that cardboard egg cartons are one of the best smoker fuels I can (easily) lay my hands on. Beekeepers use smokers to calm the bees - smoke reduces the likelihood of getting stung and reduces the possiblity of injuring bees while doing necessary hive work. It used to be popular to use the baling twine that once bound bales of hay together, but nowadays plastic twine or twine treated with a rodenticide are unfortunately most commonly used for hay. Neither is appropriate for beekeeping use.
your list is very good and it made me think more about not using plastic; although i like some things-e.g. furniture- to be made of plastic because it doesn't collect dust and it is easy to clean.i know glass behaves this well too but it is so easy to break it
you didn't mention reusing or recycling the plastic we already have.
some time ago i saw a lady on youtube that taught how to make yarn out of plastic bags and she crocheted/knitted that yarn into all sorts of beautiful things
Thanks for the extended comments, guys. Also, that waxed paper information is pretty powerful, in that the industry already did this in mass before. Why not again? I guess in the meantime, I could try to find some sort of label option or non plastic tape to seal the ends when we do our own loaves. I don't really want to give up precious counter space to a bread box, but I think I could fit something on top of my fridge.
I know this probably defeats the whole purpose, but you can buy Rubbermaid type containers made especially for holding a loaf of bread.
Wow. You have been a busy woman. I am so impressed with all your efforts. Thank you for this post and all that you are doing.
Suggestion about lemon/lime juice: Can you buy a bunch of lemons or limes and squeeze them all at once? That's what we do. I keep fresh lime juice in a glass jar in the refrigerator. It saves time in the long run. I wonder if it would cost less. You would be the expert on that. I kind of fail when it comes to frugality some times.
Also, I was going to say something about making your own pesto, and then I thought, "Wait, I don't often make my own pesto. That Classico stuff sounds like a great idea." Also, I hate to say it, but I really avoid using my Cuisinart these days because the container is made from BPA-containing polycarbonate. :-(
Beth
Hey Beth, thanks for stopping by. You know, the recent Cinco de Mayo grocery sales produced an 8 for a buck deal on limes. That might be worth it (sort of), but usually they are three for a dollar. This organic deal I found trumps what I can normally buy even regular limes for. We are considering a tree at some point though, so that would probably tip the scales.
Question: I've been considering exploring the world of tomato powder as a way to reduce canned items and not have to over pay for fresh. Do you know of a source that doesn't come in a plastic bag?
This is such a great list. I too explored toilet paper first on cost, then on packaging, and wrote to Seventh Generation to find out about plastic-free TP. I bought a case online and it is lasting a long time.
I also have written about a fast, easy way to make no-knead bread that you can bake at your convenience (melding the ideas of "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day" with dutch-oven cooking). It can sit, sliced side down, on the counter for a day or so, and then I store it in a reusable (albeit plastic) container.
Great ideas. Much of our garbage now is plastic packaging that our city/county doesn't recycle. I'm still trying to come up with ways to reduce that plastic. Now that I'm out of school, cooking more from scratch and using fewer prepared foods is a more feasible option.
Paper egg cartons can be used to start seeds for the garden.
Plastic containers (butter tubs, sour cream tubs, etc.) can be used as flower pots or as pots to put cuttings in to give them away to friends. I was looking at a big shampoo bottle yesterday and thinking that I could cut it down a bit and use it as a flower pot.
I use as many of the plastic wrappers as I can for cleaning up after the dog (we live in the city, in an apt). I'll take things like the plastic wrapping from the toilet paper and use that as a cleanup "bag".
Great tips! I had forgotten about the fact that certain glass jars can be used on a blender, and I'm going to try to seek out bulk bins for dry goods (I'm hoping to find bulk spices in particular).
I think, though, that less consumption in general is a good thing. There are lots of things that we buy that can be made at home, such as peanut butter (here's a recipe). Pesto is also super, super easy to make, and actually pretty cheap if you buy the basil at a farmer's market, or if you grow your own in pots on the windowsill.
It's also worth considering: Do I really need that tea that's been shipped from around the world? Is the fuel used to ship it really worth it? Is there a local alternative to goods that are shipped long-distance? (CSAs are awesome for this.)
A commenter above me has it right -- some things, though they are common sense, just have to be chic or trendy before some people will see the light. I'm so excited that the DIY movements and ecological concerns have come together, and that more people are joining!
You might try looking in to a locally owned meat market for meats. The one I use far far away from you packages all my meat in butcher paper. Their prices are comparable, though they don't have sales. But, by buying from them, I'm also supporting a local business.
A couple of years ago, I bought a bread container from the King Arthur Flour store in Norwich, Vermont. At the time, I think it was about $12.00. It is made of two separate loaf-shaped rigid plastic pieces that slide into each other, allowing it to shrink along with the size of the bread loaf, and features a slicing guide that fits neatly inside . . . imagine that! A homemade bread sandwich with uniform slices! No more weird thin/wide bread pieces! It's wonderfully sturdy and I should get many, many years of use from it. Oh, and it keeps my homemade bread fresh, too.
Sounds like you ended up with a great bread storage solution, Guest. You know, after it was mentioned here, I started looking around more and came up with the idea of using some of my decorative retro product tins for baked items. Since they still won't fit a loaf of bread though, I took a look around at Ikea. In the home organization / storage section, I found a two-pack of long, rectangular stainless steel boxes with snug fitting steel tops. One is long enough for a standard loaf of bread, the other for shorter specialty loaves. I think it was around six bucks for the set, but they don't have the custom slicing option like you have.
try buying alcohol in bulk from chemical supply companies. spectrum chemical or sigma. its not a controlled substance so it should be all goo
Here's a tip to use less plastic. Many will give and receive gift cards this holiday season. Use the mobile app SWAGG which allows you to manage all the gift cards on your phone. You can buy, send and swap the cards all on the app. You can pay using the app, so no need to carry around all the gift cards.
