Plastic – it’s everywhere. In our kitchens, in our closets, and yes, it’s even hiding in some of our favorite decor. Convenient? Majorly. Affordable? Definitely. But in just over 100 years, plastic has also brought about a world of baggage that is impossible to ignore – it’s famously clogging our oceans, it’s poisoning our groundwater, and now, terrifyingly, it’s even impossible to find a placenta that doesn’t contain plastic. (Don’t even get me started on recent research in which numerous scientists have discovered a seemingly direct link between the amount of plastic in one’s brain and cognitive decline!)
When you’re bombarded with this information, it’s easy to feel like anything less than a plastic-free life is a failure. But the truth? Even our smallest sustainable product swaps DO make a difference! Corporations are responsible for more than half of the branded plastic pollution out there today, and we can signal our support for more human-friendly businesses and products with our wallets. (Money talks, so they say.)
And boy, HAVE I BEEN SIGNALING! At first, the swaps were easy and obvious: I stopped buying clothing that contained polyester, acrylic, or nylon; I grabbed some glass straws (my favorites); and I discovered that LA is home to a litany of sustainable bulk grocers and supply shops (shoutout to re_grocery – they ship everything from snacks to household cleaners, too!). But after a few months, I struggled to find suggestions for other plastic-free home upgrades – you can only read “try beeswax wrap” and “don’t forget your reusable tote” or “use a shampoo bar” so many times, you know? – so I took it upon myself to replace a few of the more innocuous, less obvious plastic sources in my home. Can I show you a few?
An Upgraded Air Purifier
Move over, Molekule! A new bombshell has entered the villa, and her name is Briiv. She’s fully designed to return to the earth, requires almost no energy, and uses a triple combination of budget-friendly, natural, long-lasting HEPA-like filters to purify the air around you. Added bonus: that’s the newest model above, which has been decked out with all kinds of incredible functionality. My favorite? The ability to add in essential oils, so you can add fragrance without additional waste. Pre-order it from the brand here. (If anyone is interested in a more comprehensive review, I’d love to write one – let me know!)
A Luxe Bidet
Do I already have a Tushy? Yes – and I think it’d be pretty wasteful to throw out a perfectly good bidet, so it’ll still be holding court atop our porcelain throne for the foreseeable future. But man, I wish that I’d seen this Brondell bidet sooner! It’s cheaper (!!!), sleeker, and made solely of metal. One of these bidets is made up of a material that may end up in your blood and bones; the other is made of brass. The choice seems clear, no?
An Upgraded Water Filter
A few weeks ago, I asked if anyone could recommend a plastic-free water filter to replace my Brita. (Spoiler: you all delivered!) I discovered a few great options, but felt most drawn to this sweet pitcher from Invigorated Water and to this heavy-duty Berkey, which can filter and store A LOT of water. (If your style leans a bit more minimalist, you’ll also love the Aarke pitcher. The aesthetics are top-notch, but the filter takes up a lot of real estate and as it turns out, I’m too lazy to refill something that often. C’est la vie!)
And if you’re a homeowner, I’d encourage you to look into Culligan’s whole house filtration or reverse osmosis systems. It’s been 6 years since Em partnered with the brand, but she still opted to install the former system at the Farm and the latter at the River House. They’re worth the investment!
A Cheery Power Strip
This cast aluminum-meets-stainless steel beauty is by Conway Electric, a brand that specializes in punchy, keep-forever electric components that you’ll be proud to display. Their products are made by hand in California, under warranty for 5 years (the average plastic power strip needs to be replaced every 4 years, by comparison), and they’ve worked diligently to craft the safest surge protectors on the market. You can purchase other color or size selections directly from the brand, but be mindful of the extended delivery timeframes.
A Streamlined Carbonator
While a Sodastream is still a great way to reduce single-use plastics, I far prefer the construction – and the 15 different hue and finish options – of the stainless steel Aarke. (PS. I don’t know if I missed the memo on this one, but I didn’t learn until LAST WEEK that the inside of every aluminum can is coated in a thin layer of plastic. If that also gives you pause, it’s time to carbonate at home!)
A Vintage-Meets-Futuristic Keyboard
OH. MY. GOSH. Can more American brands start making these stainless steel keyboards? (Should I start making stainless steel keyboards?!) While they were originally designed for more rugged or industrial use – think military operations or outdoor ATMs – these all-metal keyboards will stand the test of time (and they’ll look good doing it, too). Plug it in via USB to enjoy one of the most satisfying typing experiences of your life, guaranteed. 🙂
Dried Florals
Hey, uh, have you guys checked in on the dried floral market lately? Because it’s gotten really good. We’re partial to Afloral’s selection of still-green grasses, ferns, and foliage, but there are tons of great deals to be found on Etsy. (I love this seller, who offers a full box of dried wildflowers for only $23. There are some beautiful bouquets and finished crafts in her reviews, if you need some inspiration!)
Sustainable Switch Plates
Let me be clear: I do not want you to throw away every outlet and switch plate cover in your home! But if you’re ever in need of a replacement (or if you’re lucky enough to work on a new build), please consider a plastic-free option. I like this brand for budget-friendly solid brass plates, and I’m also a big fan of these unfinished, paintable wood covers that can easily blend into your wall.
And I mean…since we’re here, can I please plug these custom toggle plates? I’ve long dreamed of dropping $900 on a Forbes & Lomax toggle, but somehow, I still lack the bank balance required. If you’re in the same boat, the alternative above is a great way to get the look for less.
Plastic-Free Frames
Stop! Before you buy the affordable frame of your choice, remember to double-check the construction. I’ve recently eschewed acrylic and plexiglass in favor of solid glass-fronted options. When possible, take a peek at the construction details on the matting and backing, too – these are all little tweaks, but they can add up over time!
Design-Forward Storage
Synthetic plastic wasn’t invented until 1907, and mass production of plastics didn’t take off until the mid-20th century. Do you know what that means? For all of human history, our stuff has been stored in natural materials. Our generation is the exception to the rule…and guys, we’re kind of missing out here.
I’m going to be real: my cloudy and scratched plastic bins and tubs do not bring me joy. You know what does? The cheery pink gridded metal baskets that stash my linens. The vintage wicker trunk that holds my vacuum. The coiled rope bin that holds my cotton balls, and the ceramic container that stashes the rounds. Before you opt for yet another tub, consider a wire basket, wooden bin, collapsible metal underbed storage, or stackable wicker trunk. Our generation also deserves to experience beautiful storage!
Thoughtfully-Crafted Hangers
The next time you need to grab some hangers, forgo the beloved non-slip flocked style for one with wood or metal construction. I like these bamboo hangers from Ikea, which come in just under $1/pop, but I’m dreaming of the day in which I open my closet to find these solid steel German-engineered hangers. They’re the creme de la creme of hangers: space-saving, non-slip, and specially designed to prevent both pant creases and those weird bumps in the shoulder area. They aren’t cheap, but neither is your wardrobe!
Actual Loofahs, From The Earth
UH, HEY – I MISSED THE MEMO HERE. Anyone else? When did you learn that the “luffa” was an actual plant – an edible type of squash that tastes like a mix between cucumber and kiwi – and not just a manmade shower tool? (I’ll go first: it was far more recently than I’d care to admit.)
Treat yourself to a novel experience: scrub yourself down with a sponge that looks like a piece of corn! If you want to get really adventurous, you could even grow your own! (If you prefer a scrub towel, like me, check these out – they’re made from silk, cotton, linen, and lactic acid. I just ordered a few to replace my old Salux towels.)
A Trash Can That Won’t Get Trashed
How many times in my life have I aimlessly purchased a tiny little flimsy plastic trash can? TOO MANY TIMES! But no longer – I finally know better. There are thousands of great options out there at every price point – wire mesh bins from $11; solid wood receptacles from $23; the color-blocked aluminum trash can of my dreams from (gulp…) $150 – you’ll easily be able to score a plastic-free can that works for your space and style, I promise.
But now, I’m curious – do you have any recommendations? Are there any plastic-free products or existence-friendly businesses that we should all know about? Are there any other questions I can help answer or suggestions I could offer? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Here’s to all of us making a change, one step at a time – we’ll get there, slowly but surely. xx
Opening Image Credits: Styled by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Fall 2021 Is All About Comfort, Ease, Affordability, And Gathering Again In Target’s New Big Launch
I could not love this more!!
It is so easy to think that ones contribution doesn’t make a difference, but every little bit helps!
Love this! Will be bookmarking this for future reference
I am hesitant about the used “swap” word. Swapping means more pollution.
The aim should be not to swap, meaning throw away the existing plastic item, but to buy more environmentally friendly version when replacing or first time acquiring.
Completely agree! While this article is really well intentioned, I think it misses the mark. The problem with plastic is not just that it is plastic. It’s that it is frequently tossed and can never decompose. Swapping plastic items for new pretty metal items just speeds up this process. The old plastic is tossed in the landfill but at least it’s not in your house so you can feel virtuous looking at all the pretty new things you bought! Replacing a broken trashcan with a nice metal one is great. Replacing a perfectly functional plastic switch plate or keyboard with a metal replacement is unnecessary.
i reiterated this messaging as many times as i could – sorry it didn’t come through more clearly!
I will acknowledge that Caitlin did her best to flag this in her writing! “Let me be clear: I do not want you to throw away every outlet and switch plate cover in your home! But if you’re ever in need of a replacement (or if you’re lucky enough to work on a new build), please consider a plastic-free option.” It’s just that this nice caveat is easily overpowered by the massive pictures and shoppable links meant to draw the eye swiftly past what she writes.
I don’t think this criticism is necessarily fair – it’s inherently impossible to write an article about this topic without providing alternative products. I would, however really appreciate information on what to prioritize — for example, I would consider replacing something that goes directly into my body (filtered water) to be a much higher priority than replacing a trash can or a power strip. Anyone know any good resources for this?
this isn’t an exaaaaact match for what you’re looking for, but these two pieces of info were helpful for me:
1. https://www.statista.com/chart/18299/how-we-eat-drink-and-breathe-microplastics (most of our microplastics come from water bottles, but air quality is major contributor – so i’d agree with your assessment on filtered water being a priority, but i’d also prioritize air filtration.)
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10151227/ (but clothing and fabric play a major role, too. switching to natural fibers, if you haven’t already, can greatly reduce your intake as well!)
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749116312325 (this one is a little scarier, and suggests that your clothing and textiles are the primary source of microplastics found in the body.)
but i would LOVE to read more on this, if anyone can recommend something that’s been written in layman’s terms 🙂 ha
Amazing, thank you!! And thank you for your ongoing focus on sustainability. 🙂
Caitlin – the book, To Dye For by Alden Wicker, is an eye opening read. It talks about this topic in depth in layman terms. You should definitely check it out. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705645/to-dye-for-by-alden-wicker/
I’m sorry. Are you guys reading the same post? I just spent 5 years finishing up a masters and PhD in environment and sustainability, in which I focused on effective communication and messaging. This *is* exactly what we need more of. She did state numerous times that she’s NOT making some of these swaps and she asks us to just be mindful of these ideas moving forward. I feel like we read totally different posts and I’m disheartened to see this feedback. This is exactly the phenomenon referred to when she suggested that anything less than perfection is a failure. It’s something I came across in my own research, as well. We have spent far too much time harping on our allies for not meeting our own messaging standards, without realizing that these same-team critiques are directly correlated with LESS frequent environmental communication. If someone’s sustainability efforts are never good enough, what’s the point in trying? Moving forward, I would ask all audiences to consider asking for MORE content on how to manage plastic waste in the home. You may not understand how difficult it is to garner organic coverage for these topics, ESPECIALLY in a manner that is… Read more »
AMEN!!!!!
I think Caitlin makes it clear that she is not recommending throwing away items needlessly, but rather the mindful replacing as needed or when first time purchasing like you’re saying. I love the bamboo hangers she suggested, but I’m not throwing away my plastic ones, I just know now what I’ll be buying when I do need new ones in a few years’ time.
I have been doing the same thing! We recently invested in a Berkey water filter and I cannot believe how much water I’m drinking now— it just tastes so good! I like that the design is so straightforward & easy to fill & clean as well.
I’m intrigued by the Berkey, but does the water stay cold? It looks way too big to fit in the refrigerator.
No the water isn’t cold. We have glass jugs that we fill and put in the fridge. But its also better for your body to drink room temp water so I think that’s part of it. We have a huge one that sits in the pantry and we (family of 4 with lots of sports) have to fill it once a day. We have to stay on top of it but it tasets soooo much better than tap or bottle.
Thanks for this great round-up. I recently started using plastic-free homekeeping products from Blueland. All of the laundry detergent, dishwasher pods, and household cleanser bottles we all use really add up to a ton of disposed plastic over time, let alone the exposure to plastics in our systems from those pods. I wish I had made this switch sooner – it’s crazy how we mindlessly toss plastic in with our dishes and clothes and assume it’s safe.
Have you found that their effectiveness is still good? I’ve tried a few brands, and most—especially laundry detergent—just don’t do the job well. I would love to find a more earth-friendly option that still cleans my clothes.
I’ve been using Melliora detergent powder and I am happy with the results. But stains have to be pre-treated (which I had to do even with regular detergent)
I use the meliora detergent too. It’s harder for the kids to use than a single pod thing but it works just fine for us and I can put more or less in based on load size/condition.
I’ve also used dropps but the pod wrapper things don’t always dissolve and then it’s a mess.
I was planning to switch to dishwasher powder when our pods ran out (this week) but my toddler loves his chore of starting the dishwasher and there’s no way he could handle the box of powder so I caved and got more pods for now. But it’s on my list!
Yes I’ve been very happy with their results.
I’ve been using washing nuts for a few years now, often with a little essential oil for scent.
are there any blueland standouts for you? i’ve been eyeing the laundry + toilet duo. LOVE that you can just buy refills, too – i already have so many cute empty vessels in need of a purpose!
I swear by the blueland toilet tabs and foaming soap!
I wish I loved the Blueland toilet tabs more, but they just don’t work that well for me. We have hard, mineral-y water which leaves lots of rings and stains. They’re good bowl “refreshers” for us, but I’m on the hunt for something else. I LOVE Branch Basics, but hate that all their bottles and bags are plastic (though they certainly reduce plastic use because it’s so heavily concentrated that a single bottle lasts for months and months.)
i like the toilet bowl cleaner a lot but HATED the smell of the bathroom spray cleaner. Also the reusable bottles they provide are plastic 🙃
I use dropps brand for Laundry/ dishwasher pods and love blueland foaming hand soap but not a fan of their dish soap. I get them from Earth Hero (certified B corp) so double win!
I love these toilet bombs (https://www.virenapothecary.com/shop/p/toilet-bowl-bombs) and her geoderant is great if you’re trying to go refillable there!
I loved these recommendations! Thank you so much for digging in to all of this! I wanted to add that if there’s a real concern with water quality (e.g. lead in your water) you may want to stick with an NSF/ANSI certified water filter. I hear great things about Berkley, but it isn’t certified by an independent third party which can matter if there’s a serious contaminant in your water!
Yes! I live in a city with lead issues, so I’m sticking with my plastic Zero filter for now. I’ll take micro plastics over heavy metals!
love this post
Love this post – brilliant!
Well it’s great to have the where with all to somewhat protect ourselves and our families and it’s great to reduce consumer demand for plastics and it’s great to encourage the production of plastic alternatives but then comes the question where do we PUT all the discarded plastic?
Great to get it out of OUR lives, but into whose lives are we dumping it? The lives of people in poorer parts of the world? The lives of creatures who can’t protest? It’s such a huge problem and such a huge conundrum… I think the only big, meaningful changes will come if we provide major support to reductions in plastic use legislatively and scientific efforts to deal with the plastic we’ve already got.
oh, i totally agree! we’ve made a MASSIVE mess in only 114 years that’ll exist for millennia to come – it feels pretty bleak to think about.
but i do have hope that the right entrepreneur or politician could make it plastic reduction into an opportunity, and not a chore! i’ve thought about it a lot over the past few months – reducing plastics would radically transform global manufacturing and supply chains, but i think it’d actually create a job boom! we’d need new factories and machinery that can handle sustainable materials. we’d need new methods of shipping, as plastic is significantly lighter than its alternatives – might this reinvigorate local economies, making it more affordable to shop small vs. buying online? that’s just the tip of the iceberg – but the way i see it, reducing plastic is good business AND good for us. i have a lot of hope here, if you can’t tell 🙂
Love, love, love this post. We need more of this from popular blogs! Thank you so much Caitlin.
Great post! It looks like none of the “swap” trashcans are linked yet, and it would be great to be able to click on them for a closer look. Thanks!
Also hoping for this!! Have been looking for an affordable, attractive, small metal trash bin.
Definitely off topic, but is the team aware that there are lots of political attack ads playing on the site? I know that sort of thing is hard to get away from during the election season, but if you’re able to tweak that sort of thing that would be great.
if anyone spots one, do you mind sending me a screenshot? (caitlin@emilyhendersondesign.com)
we’ve opted out of all political ads, but certain candidates and PACs intentionally mislabel their ads to secure placements on sites like ours. they are, quite literally, cheating the system and i am more than happy to yell about it!!! ha.
Ugh! That is so disgusting of them. I hope you are able to weed them out in as few attempts as possible & that the next several weeks won’t be a constant mental load due to toxic politicking.
May everyone’s loved ones reach out and give you all moments of refreshment and love, and may you each be able to do the same for them.
Great list and recommendations! Really appreciate the tips on items that aren’t always mentioned when trying to be eco-friendly, please keep them coming 😁 I was needing a new scrub towel and just used your link to order those silk/cotton/flax ones – thank you. Please do review the air purifier, that would be so helpful. Thanks again!
I’d love a recommendation for a coffee maker swap. We have a French press but that’s too much work for me before I have my morning coffee.
Hmmm, I feel the opposite. I think a French press is the easiest way to make coffee. Put a couple of scoops of coffee in and pour how water over it. No paper filter, no giant machine on the counter, nothing to plug in. Love the simplicity of it! Can’t imagine a simpler and more environmental friendly way to make coffee!
oh man – that’s a good one that i should have thought of! any coffee drinkers out there who can advise?
A plastic free drip coffee maker will be nearly impossible to find – the engineering behind it and cost of materials would make it terribly expensive. That being said, I would recommend two options:
Sincerely, nerdy chemist with extensive extractables/leachables experience who loves LOVES LOVES coffee and pretty things 🙂
See my comment about my percolator. Zero plastic
I have a stainless steel percolator coffee pot like my grandparents used to have. The cup that holds the grounds is also metal. I just empty it in my garden in the morning or a compost bowl on my counter. No pods, no paper filter, tastes great. Can get them anywhere.
Like, the old “camp coffee” or “cowboy coffee” things? Speckled enamel?
We switched to a Chemex. It is still more work than a drip coffee machine (and we do use paper filters with it), but we find it much less annoying than a french press.
We use Bialetti and one of those stainless stell cups with a foamer lid that you pump up and down instead of a battery foamer – it is dishes every day but it sure tastes good.
Would love a post on shampoo/detergents without plastic containers that actually work.
I would love to know about shampoo and conditioners too! I tried a bar one once (off Etsy, small company), and it completely did not work for my fine, thin hair.
Also, since I am already commenting my favorite east swap for plastics is to shop at thrift stores for containers. Baskets are always there. I use wicker baskets for most of my family’s laundry baskets (they are shaped like laundry baskets. They don’t hold huge loads, but that works better for my kids’ laundry anyway.) Or I needed an organizer for my writing supplies and just got a couple of wood utensil organizers from the thrift store, instead of buying plastic ones new or used. However, when I do buy plastic I try and buy it used (I mean, there is still plenty of plastic in my house and life – more than I wish).
Re: shampoo & conditioner, I’ve been using the Under Luna products for a year now and really enjoy them. You do have a plastic pump, but you can opt to not have new ones sent to you. I would love it if they had aluminum bottles, because I’ve definitely broken a bottle in the shower….
They are also pricey. BUT my whole family (curly haired husband, my two daughters and my baby) all use it and it works really really well. I get two of the large bottles of shampoo a year and 2 small bottles of conditioner.
Under Luna! They are pricey, and I have definitely broken a bottle, but it works SO well for my family. My husband down to my baby use it, we’re talking coarse curly hair, uber fine toddler hair, normal kid hair and my lovely postpartum hair. We can do two large bottles of shampoo a year, and my girls truly only have to wash once a week. So the investment has been worth it for us, bc again, it actually works.
Stainless steel mokapot!
https://www.bialetti.com/ee_en/products/coffee-makers/stainless-steel-coffee-makers.html
This is next on my list of things to seriously consider budgeting for. I just got a Dualit stainless kettle over the summer ♥️ (it’s only about 95% plastic-free but I couldn’t find one with no plastic, plus it’s repairable. you never have to trash it!). That takes care of tea and pasta/ramen water. But I do need to clean up my coffee routine.
This is a great article! I’ve never seen stuff like this posted before and hadn’t even thought about it. I’m going to be in need of switch plates soon and I’m excited about the wood ones!
Thank you for this, Caitlyn! One that really gets me is vinyl flooring… As you noted, it doesn’t make sense to re-purchase something you already own in plastic. But, if you are doing something, using a plastic-free option is so worth the time/effort/cost. Less and better! But people are currently putting in vinyl floors when that is an area where obvious, easy, beautiful, durable (much more durable than plastic, because they look BETTER with age, not worse!) option exists.
That info about the placentas is so intense. We can’t keep living like this! Have you read the book Good Energy yet?! It’s so, so helpful! And, I know this is not your typical watch, either, but you might ironically really appreciate this interview (minus the commercials!)… I’ve been learning so much and every time I do, I think about what you saw in the Antarctic (in this strange world in which all of you at EHD are some of the people I interact with most regularly!)
I loved that interview, but I too am needing to caveat the ads when sharing with my people-please listen! Why is health “right wing” right now?! I don’t get it!
you’re right – that isn’t my usual watch 🙂 but i’ll check it out! it’s nice to think that there’s some common ground there that i hadn’t considered. i’ll take a peek at good energy the next time i’m at the library, too!
Would you mind suggesting non plastic flooring alternatives?
Wood or bamboo or tile
And other old stuff: true linoleum from linseed oil, terrazzo (sp?), a pickled wood floor (a little cheaper than stain-grade wood), architectural salvage. Terrazzo & lino aren’t necessarily going to be cheaper (but sometimes weird things happen & they are!) and that’s important. We are going to get classic black & white checkered lino in our kitchen after the foundation is repaired, but I’ve been saving up for over a decade bc otherwise it wouldn’t be in our budget either.
Yes, they have also studied vinyl flooring on the affects on newborn babies and kids. The cheap vinyl is terrible stuff.
Our first house had wood floors in a bright, beautiful honey color (from the 1950s). I’m not sure what species they were, but certainly when we moved out they were in good shape. When the house sold again, I peeked at the pictures and someone had either replaced or (I hope) covered up the wood with gray LVT. I wanted to throw up.
I second the Good Energy recommendation!
What a great post with so many accessible ideas for when the time comes to replace things. Thank you Caitlin!
We switched to the Aarke a few years ago after realizing how much $ we were spending on Topo Chico and all the glass and plastic bottles. My husband actually rigged it so we use refillable CO2 air cylinders (like ones used in home brewing) so we don’t have to buy the cartridges to get our carbonation. We add different flavor packets to our glasses that are usually sugar free-zero calories and we have unlimited varieties of sparkling water. Plus the color/metal choices Aarke has are so good that they match any kitchen.
genius!!!
The reverse osmosis process generally requires about 4 gallons of water to produce one gallon of filtered water. If you’re in an area that experiences drought, this is something to consider.
I think its funny that you walk into Target or Walmart or any grocery store and most of the products are plastic…. but its up to us the consumer to do better? Why is it not on the product manufacturers?
it is on the product manufacturers! but until they see a drop in sales, nothing is going to change. plastic is lightweight, affordable, and easy – there’s no reason to change until the larger consumer market demands it.
it’s one of the reasons i’m so excited about briiv, and really hoping that they’ll take off – if other air purifier brands start taking a hit as we begin to support these existence-friendly brands, perhaps they’ll be motivated to innovate. facts aren’t enough; human complaints aren’t enough – our wallet is the only thing that manufacturers will listen to. (and, on a larger scale, if we can boost sales at brands like target or walmart, they’ll look to stock MORE plastic-free items. we can really make a difference here, i swear!)
Unfortunately, I think that for a lot of us, our wallet is one of the main things we listen to, too. Fifty percent of Americans make under $32k a year. I own an antiques restoration business and I spend so much time talking about the environmental benefits of vintage furniture… but ironically, there’s no way I could ever afford my own products or services.
We’re all in kind of a crazy situation where the more money billionaires make of the plastic they sell, the less able the rest of us are to purchase anything but that plastic. We have to solve this the same way we solved the hole in the ozone layer—a f%#&ton of laws that force companies to stop poisoning everybody. Voting for politicians who believe in science and can pass those laws is the absolute most important thing anybody can do.
I feel there is a shift in the manufacturing industry the last years. Plastic bags are forbidden here, you can buy only paper grocery and vegetable bags in supermarkets. And clothing stores often ask to use your own bag or else you’ll pay a few cents. Lots of packing became cardboard instead of plastics. More and more refil packages are available for like soap or dish wash. Even zara home is following the green wave by making loofah dish sponges, wood and metal house utensils etc. Not that I’d like to say Zara is green, on the contrary, but even they are trying to appeal the modern customer.
Re: plastic bags. We learned that’s another geographical thing. For example, Target in my state no longer uses plastic bags but in my summer travels to other states , Target still had bags. It’s unfortunate that stores aren’t always choosing the path; they wait for their state to require.
I also recall an NPR story that noted the amount of years/uses you have to use reusable bags to make them beneficial is a lot. Reusable bags in a landfill is very problematic. I don’t remember the data but I stopped patting myself/the store on the back for not having plastic bags around. More to be done! Keep using your reusables but don’t buy so many and use them for 20 years and you’re good 😉
Thanks for the many useful suggestions if there is anything to replace. We have a Sodastream, with a glass bottle. Even though the machine is plastic, it has saved us soooooo many cans and plastic bottles over the years. I personally prefer bubbly water with a little lime or lemon squeezed in but my husband now uses their Diet Pepsi syrup (they are owned now by PepsiCo.) Natural storage solutions: thrift stores often have a tremendous selection of baskets and the like. I have bought some really cool storage baskets from there, sanitized them and they serve as storage for blankets, magazines, cat toys etc.
The Berkey water filter, which seems to be a favorite of lots of bloggers and Youtubers, is not certified by NSF (National Sanitary Foundation). This is the standard for testing water filter manufacturers’ claims. It’s beautiful, expensive, and untested. Consumer Reports did not review it, but the New York Times did: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/big-berkey-water-filter-system/
Berkey household water filters are also not available for purchase in California.
https://support.berkeywater.com/berkey-products-not-available-california/
Thank you for all of this – really appreciate it. I have been trying to buy less and less plastic stuff which can be so frustrating at times, like when you spend time finding a good non-plastic option that then arrives with all kinds of plastic packaging. Ugh! So glad that there are getting to be better options for this stuff. Please keep the recommendations coming! I would also love to hear more about the air filter…
On a loofah note, there is a whole world of dish sponge alternatives. Mostly loofah, but some other materials as wel. I stopped buying plastic sponges the moment I learned they release microplastics with every use.
Thank you for this! Would love to see more… rugs, furniture, toys etc.
Petite collage has some great eco friendly toys. Revival rugs carry recycled fiber washable rugs. I have a huge one in my LR and my dog prefers it to her bed.
What an awesome post I didn’t know I needed. thank you!
Thank you for this! I was literally *just* saying to my husband that I don’t want to buy plastic as we organize our new home. It’s become a ubiquitous devil for us all. 🙁
I love this roundup! It’s such an important topic. My husband and I talk about plastic ALL. THE. TIME. We try to purchase non-plastic options when they’re available, but there are still HUGE sources of plastic out there that don’t get recycled. So, yes, we need to reduce the plastic we consume, but we also need to address what’s already here. We’ve actually started a business and are working with the Hefty ReNew program and the city of Boise to use all types of plastic—including traditionally non-recyclable plastic—to make lumber, benches, and other outdoor products. (But not the kind of “recycled plastic benches” etc. that you’ve seen in your local parks. Our benches are cool looking and heavy–i.e., they’re not going to blow away in the wind, and your kids could jump on them all day! And they often incorporate wood too.) We’re hoping that in the next few years, we’ll be able to take all of Boise’s household plastic and convert it into long-lasting (in a good way!) products that are stylish and robust. If you’re interested in learning more, the company is Remix Materials (www.remixmaterials.com). I know a lot of people are down on plastic recycling right now,… Read more »
This is so interesting! I checked out your site and am so excited to see you guys continue to expand and develop.
This is a little random, but just wanted to say that the name Jenga is under copyright and I see you use it in a product name. I am no lawyer so I could be misinformed here, but I would hate for your progress to be slowed down in anyway if there was a legal complication in using their name for one of your products. Either way, keep up the amazing work! I feel so encouraged to see people finding solutions to the plastic problem. So cool!
Love this. Several store in Mpls area geared to reducing waste, Tare comes to mind first. Using Ridwell who is partnered to close the loop on recycled plastic and Styrofoam. Love Grove for personal care / cleaning options (they offer mail back toothbrushes). Sad to see Hey Humans personal care items not available but just started with Plaine Products and their metal lotion, shampoo containers as I’m not ready to go to the bar. Also love metal toothpaste tubes from David’s. Using paper grocery bags for trash where I can and compostable bags when I can’t.
Great article, so many things we can gradually change to reduce our impact on the environment.
the one thing I can’t get my head around is people buying all these plastic organisers for the kitchen and refrigerator. I store food in glass jars – often large ones like from coconut oil that I have recycled, or in glass “Tupperware” type boxes with bamboo lids from places like ikea.
As a candle addict I found Siblings candles. You melt in the compostable bag and pour into an existing cute vessel. I absolutely love the clean scents..Also another swap I’ve made is shampoo bars and my finicky, flat color treated hair approves. I’m using kitsch now but I’ve also found local ones that are great.
Thank you for showing me other ways to get the plastic out. Lately I’ve been focusing on getting my food out of plastic. So right now it’s switching to glass and ceramic canisters. I also chose to buy a hot sauce in glass today vs. one in plastic. Working on it!
I would LOVE to see a similar discussion on fast fashion!! There are pretty frequent fashion posts/sponcon supporting fast fashion brands featured in both the weekly Link Up and individual fashion roundups. I know its a struggle not to purchase from say Amazon or H&M or whatever, but would love to see more sustainable brands featured.
I grew up in the 80s in a one-income house–my father built parks for a small city in the midwest and frankly we didn’t have a whole lot. But my dad insisted we find a way to recycle and use less. It was not popular at the time. We would go to the park after ball games and collect cans and sell them so we could save money to buy an air conditioner. We eventually had enough and the whole family was thrilled when we got AC. My mother made us wash ziplock bags. It was a source of irritation when I was a teenager and into my 20s–I told my mom one of the circles of hell was washing ziplock bags for eternity. I’m 49 and still washing ziplock bags until they get icky. Maybe it sounds silly and a bit time consuming to do that kind of task in 2024, but that habit stuck with me for many years. I don’t buy these bags, they’re typically given to me when someone gives me tomatoes or basil from their garden. I don’t think I’m going to single-handedly save the environment by washing ziplock bags, but it developed a mindset… Read more »
As a child/teen, I swore I would never wash a zip lock bag….. not 30+ years later…. guess who is still washing bag!
I can recommend a film all humans should see. Netflix. Dark Waters. Extremely eye opening yet entertaining.
I have the mawa hangers, and I think they are fine (definitely non-slip), but my husband HATES them. They do tend to get tangled with each other and fall off the rod when they are empty. I’m curious about the bamboo ones. Wood would be my first choice, but they take up so much room.
I recently looked into Mawa because I’m in desperate need of petite-width hangers. But I got turned off by what I took to be greenwashing— their nonslip coating is noted to be pvc on their website, but they make a lot of “eco” claims. ??? If anyone has a good recommendation for non-plastic hangers that don’t take up a lot of room and won’t distend the garments’ shoulders, please post! Thanks.
On the water filter front: I found ProOne to be better than Berkey. Cheaper, made in USA and their filters are third party tested NSF/ANSI. Plus, looks just as good as the Berkey one and their filters last awhile. Anyway, recommend looking into if anyone is in need!
Love that you’re featuring air purifiers! I happen to work with a lot of air purifiers due to a volunteer clean air organization I’m a part of, and unfortunately the plant-based purifier you’ve recommended is not adequate in any way and you may want to reconsider recommending it to your readers. As far as I can tell, the Briiv air purifier specs say that it can achieve 50 CFM, which is basically a measure of how much air it can move through its filters in a minute. At that measure, it would only cycle the air in a bedroom (150 sq ft) twice per hour, which by purifier standards is extremely poor. For reference, the bare minimum standard for an air purifier is 6 full air changes per hour. Making matters worse, that 6 air changes per hour figure is based off of HEPA filters, which have been shown in countless peer-reviewed articles to successfully remove 99% of most airborne pathogens and allergens. I do not know of any similar studies showing that plant-based materials are as effective as a HEPA filter. So the materials used in the Briiv don’t even remove the pathogens and allergens that HEPA filters are… Read more »
I learned so much from this post and love that EHD is speaking to more sustainable and mindful consumer decisions! It’s hard in the interior design space and so valuable ❤️
Here to say I love this article! Thank you!
I love this so much! Please share if you find any more swaps like this!
Thank you for writing on this topic. I would love to see more of this type of content. After living and working closely with people just feel more comfortable throwing things away as soon as possible, I can’t help but try to be less wasteful so I try not to take bags from shops and take out places, don’t buy plastic trash bags but instead use plastic bags that that were part of packing other items, recycle all the paper and plastic that I can, prefer to use reusable utensils, cups, and plates when eating at work, compost vegetable scrapes and egg shells (it’s actually pretty easy to keep this stuff in the freezer and take frequently to the app-opened bins in NYC) and opt for non-plastic containers when possible. I also try to buy in person rather than online if I can. Thank you for the encouragement to buy more natural fiber clothing and for sharing the information about aluminum cans – I had always tried to buy seltzer this way instead of in plastic bottles. I have a friend who is more committed to all of this than I am and he orders toilet paper that is not… Read more »
since you’re in NYC, you can get seltzer delivered in 100-year old glass siphon bottles! Brooklyn Seltzer.
Cailin … Thank you.🤗
Fiiinally, some reasonable alternatives provided. I’m so grateful. 💗
Um, plastic, it’s also probably glued to your fingernails and it’s likely in your fluffy throws and definitely lucidite furniture.
Even moreso… check out all the plastic Halloween decorations. (BTW: fake cobwebs get tangled in birds’ feet and they die) 🕸🕸🕸
My favourite new no-plastic swap is our dishwashing situation. We’ve pivoted to large solid soap blocks that we scrub up with a bamboo and metal scrubby – when the bristles are too worn out, it goes into the compost and we pop on a new head!
I needed this! Keep this coming. I also share this concern.
I LOVED this roundup! Bookmarking for when I’m in the market for replacement items.
And I’m sure this is on your radar, but *please* don’t let low purchase volume discourage similar posts in the future. I think the people who are most appreciative of these posts are also the ones who will wait until the need arises, and not just pop over and order something new. Thanks for all your intel, Caitlin!