Eliminating, or even reducing, the amount of packing in our lives is an ongoing process. It isn't usually something that can be done overnight, but with conscientious shopping and a DIY spirit, there are countless ways to reduce waste. Here are some of our tips. What are yours?
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• Buy less. Curbing the impulse to shop and learning to live with less will help put you on the path to a packaging-free life.
• Buy used. When you do shop, rather than buying new, check thrift stores and salvage shops. Or borrow items through services like NeighborGoods.
• Bring bags. Don't forget your reusable shopping bags. Need help remembering? Check out these tips.
• Get crafty. Take up urban homesteading practices like growing your own food, home canning, and baking bread. Develop a network of friends and neighbors to share your individual efforts.
• Buy from bulk. For other foods, shop at farmers' markets, produce stands, butchers, and bulk bins. Bring reusable containers like produce bags and empty jars.
• Pack lunch. Take your lunch to work in a reusable container with eco-friendly sandwich bags.
• Carry provisions. Pack a reusable water bottle and snacks in reusable bags so you don't find yourself running to the vending machine or corner store.
• Do it yourself – house cleaning. Making your own cleaning products might not eliminate packaging completely (you still need to procure the ingredients), but it can help you cut down considerably. If possible, buy ingredients like baking soda in or from bulk, and if you're really ambitious, you can make your own white vinegar!
• Take a break. Re-think your grooming habits. We're not suggesting you let yourself go, but take a break from hair product, foundation, or anti-aging cream for a week or two and see whether you really "need" it. Chances are, you'll look and feel perfectly fine with less.
• Do it yourself – personal health. For the personal care products you do need, explore DIY options. For example, you can use baking soda for toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo. Buying the raw ingredients might involve some packaging, but it's a step in the right direction.
• Go the extra mile. It's not for everyone, but you can also eliminate packaging by going toilet-paper free, switching to reusable feminine products, and using cloth tissues.
• Shop smart. Inevitably, you will buy some packaged goods, but consider packaging that's reusable and recyclable. Avoid excessive packaging like individually-wrapped produce and look for products in bulk, concentrate form, or refillable containers. If you regularly shop online, you might also consider buying more things locally to reduce packing material waste.
Do you have any other tips for packaging-free living?
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(Images: Flickr member libookperson licensed under Creative Commons, Amber Byfield, Baggu Bags via AT:NY, Kathryn Hill, Emily Ho, To-Go Ware at Greenfeet, Vapur, Rachel Wray, Flickr member lobsterstew licensed under Creative Commons, moocowmomma's cloth wipes)
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My husband & I were just commenting on the amount that we consume- our recycling is over 4 times the amount of our trash, but that is still way too much stuff. We do grow some of our food in the summer & can jam & tomato sauce, but we are working hard to do more! I do almost all of our cooking from scratch & buy some items in bulk. Our children bring home far too much paper & that gets re-used before recycling. I look at others trash & recycling & it just is so wasteful... and then think of the fuel required to transport, the fuel used to recycle, the ground the waste pollutes... sad thoughts for a Wednesday.
Didn't someone comment in an old post that baking soda was a little too abrasive for toothbrushing - that they'd actually incurred some hefty dental bills?
Can't believe you still keep bringing up the baking soda tootpaste. Perhaps you haven't read the comments on that post you link to? Baking soda is not good for your teeth!
This issue came up at the grocery store today. I never bag my produce unless I'm getting something small like Brussels sprouts. I live alone, so I never have a huge pile. The lady today was ringing through my stuff and commented on how 'nice' it was that I wasn't wasting the plastic bags. I've had cashiers gripe that it's easier and quicker to ring through a bag of apples than six apples separately. Such a small thing, but think of all the plastic bags you can acquire in one grocery shopping trip, in addition to the excessive packaging of most products! I was also happy to find today some nice lunch meat wrapped in a sturdy, reusable, plastic container. Seems like some companies are getting wiser.
I've had reusable grocery bags for a long time now. If I leave them in the car, I just carry my purchases sans bag. The one thing that bothered me was produce. I'm with TravelingRae and didn't put stuff in bags unless I HAD to. Now, I bought these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UXQ7QQ/ref=oss_product and the clerks don't get snippy :-)
Anyone have any good ideas for bulk food (flour, pasta etc)? I just bring back the original bags I bought them in...but there has to be a better way.
I made some bags out of a nylon-ish, water proof material(I have no idea what it actually is) it works good for bulk products, since it's water proof flour and things like that don't seep though. for things like nuts and pasta I have some bags that are just cloth. It works.
Some grocery stores can tare out my bags since I know how much they weigh, but some couldn't be bothered.
We have no paper products in our home except for toilet paper that only gets used for... well you know... I have cloth napkins for when I pee(my boyfriend obviously doesn't need that) and we have other "napkins" for nose blowing(They are a different color so the 2 don't get confused)
we used to live in europe and the europeans used to place all of their items back in their cart after they check out at the till and then in their car they have baskets that they will put everything in. It was a good system that makes a lot of sense. I wish the US would adopt more practices like this.
I make reusable snack and sandwich bags if anyone is interested. Check me out at BsBags.blogspot.com
thanks for this post - all great suggestions. Buying and bulk and using reusable bags both at the grocery store as well as department stores and boutiques (I always decline the bag and the tissue paper) are something that I do consistently and really do help reduce waste. I also try to make an effort to purchase items that are less packaged - so instead of buying the apples from trader joes that come wrapped in styrofoam and plastic, I fill up my own bag with loose apples. Instead of buying boxed rice mixes, I buy bulk rice and bulk spices, minimizes waste all the way up. My new goal is to not buy any bottled drinks - so far so good!
Here are some ways I reduced packaging when wrapping gifts: http://www.urbansherp.com/unique-and-eco-friendly-ways-to-wrap-presents
I want to heed the home-made toothpaste naysayers, as this is quite alarming to me (generations of baking soda toothpasters in my family), but it IS hard for me to believe that you should only use a store bought product made by a corporation. Sounds really fishy to me. Maybe there is a tertius quid here?
I recently bought some Mexican oil cloth to cut up into bits for when I buy sliced meats etc from the deli.
@rebekkap, there's been some discussion about the food safety of oil cloth since most are made with pvc. you may want to avoid using it for food storage.
I have a Hidden Messenger bag from Timbuk2 that I carry around in my man-purse. I use it to carry groceries if I make a trip to the store.
They make a similar product that more resembles reusable grocery bags. Really handy to carry around.
My family has been collecting and reusing plastic grocery bags as trash can liners for years. Not the best of solutions, but it's a start. I'm slowly trying to get everyone to adopt greener practices.
I was just looking up the reusable produce bags on Amazon and found these: http://www.amazon.com/100-Cotton-Reusable-Produce-6-Pack/dp/B0042M9JMC/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp_T2
They have the tare sewn onto a little care tag on the side, so you can tell the cashier who can easily subtract it.
A good reusable feminine product is a DivaCup (or any other brand of menstrual cup). And it's healthier too!