Avoid online shopping

Let’s start with the crux of the matter: shopping. More and more apps and sites offer online ordering of products and their delivery to the customer’s home. This is particularly the case in large cities, which are already very rich in local shops. While this saves time, this service is not ideal for avoiding plastic. Products are often delivered in single-use plastic packaging and/or bags. Whenever possible, prefer to go directly to shops and merchants.

Bet on bulk

In recent years, stores, including major retailers, have increasingly offered bulk products, i.e. without packaging. Two types of products can be offered via this system: food (dry products, fruit, vegetables, etc.) and hygiene products (washing powder, washing-up liquid, cosmetics). Some stores have even specialized in bulk and sell all their stocks without packaging.

Go to the market or to your local merchants

Supermarkets are a terrible temptation to take the easy way. Plastic is everywhere, in every department. While most fruits and vegetables are sold without packaging and bulk shelves are developing, some products are impossible to find without plastic. This is the case for fresh foods such as cheese, meat or fishmongers. The solution? You can simply go to the food shops or the local market if they are not too far from your home.

Prefer glass packaging

Bulk is a good solution, but it is not always offered. You can then favor other materials such as glass. Already cooked vegetables and legumes, ready meals or sauces are sold in glass jars .

Think of glass or metal cans

There is also the option of metal cans. These can be recycled, and are lighter than glass, and will still allow you not to buy plastic. However, they cannot be reused, and therefore will only be used once. Where glass is recovered.

Favor cardboard

The last alternative to plastic: paper or cardboard packaging for dry products. Look closely, because sometimes part of the package is made of plastic. Paper is single-use, but at least it can be recycled. Like canned goods, this material is thrown into the yellow bin.

Arm yourself before you go shopping

Carry glass bags and jars in preparation for your errands. This will not only allow you to avoid buying plastic bags in supermarkets, but also to transport your products in bulk. Slip them into your purse, office briefcase, or car to make sure you don’t forget them. Several options are available to you: you can collect reusable kraft paper from stores, especially organic brands. They can contain dry products, but also fruits and vegetables. You can also buy small shopping bags made of cotton or canvas. Finally, consider taking one or two large bags to carry all your groceries. For back pain sufferers, the cadis is your friend.

Buy glass storage boxes

For the storage and transport of groceries, you can bring storage boxes. Obviously, the idea is not to buy plastic ones, but glass. You can take them with you when you buy and ask your cheesemonger, for example, to put the dairy product in them and thus prevent the enemy of the day, the plastic bag, from coming out. The other advantage is that it can be placed directly in the fridge and will save you time on storing groceries. These boxes can also be used to store your food scraps and be brought to work as a lunchbox. Practice!

Collect the glass jars

If you don’t want to buy additional containers, simply pick up the glass jars you bought while shopping. Once emptied and washed, boxes of vegetables, legumes or tomato sauce can be reused to store cereals, biscuits, flour, sugar, etc.

Adopt the water bottle

There are a thousand and one solutions to stop buying plastic water bottles. The first is the simplest: buy a water bottle. It will follow you everywhere in your daily life: at work, on a walk, in the sports bag, on the bedside table… We are fortunate to live in a country where tap water is safe to drink. Let’s take advantage of it!

Use a filter jug

You are one of those people who do not like the taste of tap water, or who are not reassured about its composition. In this case, you can buy a carafe of filter water. Be aware that most of these products are made of plastic, but let’s look at the positives. They are reusable and remain a good alternative to the regular purchase of bottles.

Favor canned drinks

Do you love sodas? Bet more on cans, which are certainly not the best of friends, but which have the advantage of being recyclable. There are also devices that can be used to create homemade sodas.

Avoid food deliveries

At the risk of disappointing you, meal deliveries from restaurants are not eco-friendly. Food products are packaged in plastic containers that are not reusable or recyclable (in most jurisdictions). It is also through this that microplastics can be found inside the body. Should you then be forbidden to eat your favorite burger? No, not for all that. It is always possible to go directly to your favorite restaurant, equipped with glass containers. Ask the cook to slip the meal in. If not, ask him if it is possible to use cardboard trays. Several brands are now making the effort to use this material.

Avoid online shopping

As with food deliveries, parcels should be avoided, especially when it comes to buying clothes, cosmetics or decorations online that could be avoided. Whenever possible, go straight to the store with your cotton bags for your shopping sessions.

Make your own products

One of the solutions to avoid plastic at home is to create your own hygiene and cleaning products. It requires investment and patience, we don’t hide it, but see the advantage, it will allow you to respect the environment and save you so much. Follow the safety instructions for the materials purchased. Work very cleanly. Pay attention to the storage date.

Turn to solid cosmetics

In the event that the “homemade” solution does not suit you, you can, to reduce plastic in the bathroom, buy solid products. These are usually sold in small recyclable boxes. Body soap, face soap or shampoo, more and more brands are getting into it.

Prefer metal or glass packaging

Some cosmetics or beauty products are not available in solid versions. Luckily, there are other ways to store moisturizers, skincare, and balms. Several beauty brands offer metal or glass jars.

Stock up on reusable cotton pads

The production of cotton squares already has many disadvantages for the planet. The other problem is that once they are manufactured, they are stored in plastic packaging. Now, many brands sell reusable cotton pads without plastic packaging. You can find them in beauty stores and organic stores. They can be washed by hand or in the machine, and can last for several years.

Use a bamboo brush!

The vast majority of toothbrushes sold on the market are made of plastic. Just like hairbrushes. Prefer bamboo products. You can find them everywhere: in supermarkets, organic stores and sometimes even pharmacies.

Avoid cotton swabs

The cotton swabs are used once and then thrown directly into the bin. They may be created from compostable or bio-based materials, but they are always sold in plastic. Good news, alternatives are available: bamboo cotton swabs, the Japanese ear pick or sprays (which clean the ears and are safe for your eardrums).

Antoine