Zero Waste Lifestyle: Five Eco-Friendly Items to Replace Their Plastic Counterparts

As more and more reports of environmental pollution are reported week by week, people have come up with many ingenious ways to help reduce waste for the benefit of the environment. Many concerned individuals have even resorted to adapting and embracing a zero waste lifestyle. One of the ways to do so is to reduce the amount of plastic we use every day as it is one of the leading causes of pollution in the sea and the deaths of thousands of animals each year. In fact, aside from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, we are also unknowingly eating our own trash in the form of microplastics through the fish we eat. This and more issues due to pollution have cropped up over the years, getting bigger and more serious the more we refuse to change our ways.

We can still do something about this. Our suggestion? Try to ditch every plastic product you have in your life, and replace them with more environmentally friendly alternatives. Want to know more? Read on!

Coconut Bowls

Every year, thousands upon thousands of coconut shells are burned, leading to the release of harmful CO2 and methane into the atmosphere. But several companies have thought of a way to reuse these discarded “waste” — coconut bowls. These sturdy, eco-sustainable bowls are nothing but great for the environment as they 100% natural and biodegradable, and the process of their production is ethical and has zero waste! If you accidentally knock one over the counter, it won’t break into a thousand tiny pieces.

Wooden Cutlery Set

Whenever you eat at a fast food restaurant, servers will often hand you disposable plastic utensils to use. In order to reduce single-use plastic products, opt for wooden cutlery sets made of solid, study wood like bamboo. Like the coco bowls, this kind of utensil is 100% compostable which is especially useful because they won’t pollute the environment once they get worn out from use and disposed of. So the next time you eat at your favorite food establishment, bring your own wooden cutlery set with you and refuse disposable plastic utensils.

Bamboo Straws

If you’re one of those people who just has to use straws when drinking something, here’s a better alternative to plastic straws. Together with wooden utensils, bamboo straws are the latest eco-friendly product that decrease single-use plastic wastage. Though metal straws are also sold as alternatives for plastic straws, ones made from bamboo are your best bet. Aside from being organic and easy to compost (while plastic straws take years and years before they break down!), these reusable straws are safe to use for hot and cold drinks.

Mesh or Tote Bags

Plastic bags are still widely used across hundreds of grocery stores globally. But people have found a better way to carry food items back home while saving the environment. Mesh bags made of cotton and tote bags made of cloth have gained ground as the best alternatives to plastic bags in grocery stores. In fact, some supermarkets encourage customers to bring their own tote bags since they’ve banned the use of plastic bags entirely. The next time you go to the grocery or farmer’s market, make sure to have your own eco-friendly bags in tow!

Shampoo Bars

No, those aren’t macaroons! Many people have started to switch organic, hand-made shampoo bars instead of buying the usual commercialized shampoo. Aside from reducing plastic bottles in general, shampoo bars contain all-natural ingredients which improve hair health in general. They don’t require chemicals or synthetic ingredients during production, unlike the shampoos we find in the grocery. Moreover, they’re inexpensive, long-lasting, and travel-friendly, ensuring that there won’t be any spills all over your luggage! Cosmetic giants like Lush have popularized and encouraged their customers to switch to shampoo bars. So go try one now!

Albeit all the destruction we have caused and continue to cause, we’ve still managed to find resources that we can use to curb and lessen the disastrous effects of pollution. Yes, it’s difficult to completely rid ourselves of plastic, but by reaching out for these eco-friendly items and following a zero-waste lifestyle, we can slowly change and encourage others to do so, thereby helping improve and preserve the environment for the generations to come.