How to reduce plastic waste in everyday life

Yes, you can significantly reduce plastic waste in everyday life through seven practical changes: using reusable water bottles, bringing your own coffee thermos, refusing plastic straws, carrying shopping bags, shopping at zero-waste stores, avoiding microbeads, and switching to shampoo bars. These simple swaps can help combat the 300 million tons of plastic produced annually, with more than 50% used just once before ending up in landfills and oceans.

The shocking reality is that around 50% of plastic is used just once, only to be tossed into landfills and the sea, where it can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. Plastic grocery bags, food packaging, drinks bottles, cutlery, and straws are the main culprits contributing to the eight million tons of plastic littering the ocean each year.

With the rate of plastic pollution predicted to double by 2030, the power to make positive changes lies largely in the hands of the consumer. While recycling is one option, a study published in Science Advances reveals this doesn't always give your plastic waste a new life. In fact, a whopping 91% of plastic isn't recycled. Only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled, leaving 12% to be incinerated and 79% to accumulate in landfills, dumps, and the ocean.

1. Don't Buy Bottled Water

Given that one million plastic bottles are sold every minute around the world, resisting the temptation to buy bottled water is a great first step in reducing daily plastic consumption. Carrying a reusable bottle is a far more environmental solution, with options ranging from $10 to $30 that can last for years.

Water refill stations are popping up worldwide, with handy global apps like Refill, Tap, and RefillMyBottle helping you find the nearest station. If you live in one of the 187 countries where tap water isn't safe to drink, investing in a home water filter for as little as $25 can help protect your family from contaminants while eliminating plastic bottles and saving money long-term.

2. Bring Your Own Thermos to Coffee Shops

While disposable coffee cups might look like paper, they usually contain a polyethylene lining that makes them waterproof but un-recyclable. With 16 billion disposable coffee cups used and disposed of each year, that's an awful lot of unnecessary waste ending up in landfills along with their plastic lids and stirrers.

Reusable coffee cups made from recyclable plastic, glass, and bamboo fibers are available at various price points. Major chains like Starbucks, Costa Coffee, and Pret a Manger offer discounts to customers who bring their own cups, allowing you to save money while helping the environment.

3. Say No to Plastic Straws

In the United States alone, an estimated 500 million straws are used and thrown away every single day. One 2017 study estimated that as many as 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world's beaches.

The simple solution is to ask servers to refrain from putting straws in your drinks. The online movement #RefuseTheStraw promotes this idea on Twitter. Many people are also choosing to carry their own reusable straws made from paper, bamboo, stainless steel, or even potato starch.

4. Bring Your Own Shopping Bags

Around 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide each year, ending up in landfills and the ocean where wildlife can become entangled or eat them. Bringing reusable bags to the supermarket can save you money, as many grocery stores offer discounts to customers who bring their own bags.

While it might be tempting to just pay the small fee for a bag at the store, this cost adds up over time. Tote bags are also sturdier and less likely to split than plastic ones, plus you'll reclaim valuable storage space previously occupied by your stash of supermarket bags.

5. Shop at Zero-Waste Stores

There are now more than 500 zero-waste stores worldwide, mostly based in Europe but also popping up in the U.S., Canada, and Southeast Asia. These stores enable customers to fill their own reusable containers with grains, pasta, seeds, and dried fruit from hoppers, eliminating unnecessary plastic packaging.

Shoppers can also pump washing-up liquid, laundry detergents, and liquid toiletries into their own bottles. These stores often sell environmentally-friendly products like bamboo toothbrush holders, plastic-free dental floss, and fair-trade chocolate and coffee while supporting local farmers.

For more sustainable living tips, visit our blog section for additional eco-friendly guides.

6. Avoid Products with Microbeads

Many cosmetic and personal care products contain microbeads - small, spherical plastic beads designed for exfoliation in body scrubs, toothpaste, and shower gels. Once rinsed down the drain, they often slip through waste-water treatment plants and end up in the sea, where marine organisms ingest them along with toxic chemicals like pesticides and flame retardants absorbed by the beads.

Some countries including the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand have banned products containing microbeads. Until they're removed globally, check labels for ingredients like 'Polypropylene (PP)' and 'Polyethylene (PE)'. Opt for products with natural exfoliants including oats, salt, sugar, coffee grounds, and sand.

7. Give Shampoo Bars a Try

Shampoo bars fit neatly into your palm and are the perfect solution for eliminating plastic from bathroom cabinets. Some bars last for up to 80 washes, outlasting two to three bottles of liquid product and saving you money long-term.

Available in various colors and scents for different hair types, major retailers like LUSH offer bars with natural ingredients including coconut oil, shea butter, rose petals, and hibiscus. Many stores sell small tins to store the bars while traveling, eliminating the need to measure out 100ml bottles before flights.

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