This Earth Day, Skip the Landfill With These Reusable Necessities
A hundred and fifty years ago, the invention of plastic might have actually saved some animals. In the late 19th century, a man named John Wesley Hyatt created the first synthetic, mass producible polymer as an substitute for elephant ivory. Elephants aside, it’s been downhill from there as single-use plastics clog landfills and and threaten wildlife the world over. Despite recycling efforts, 85 percent of plastic waste gets thrown away. The stuff is unavoidable in modern life: it’s in our computers, cars and phones; in our contact lenses, zippers, and all over our homes. A simple solution? Don’t create the waste in the first place. It takes commitment and determination to go your own way and invest in reusable items, but it's worth it. At the very least, you won’t have stress dreams about turtles choking on your discarded straw. Thanks to our friends at Earth Hero, we’ve tracked down some of the best eco-friendly alternatives to your everyday plastic necessities.
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Despite what you might think, lots of plastic-lined hot coffee cups aren’t recyclable. Carry this insulated Klean Kanteen instead. Many coffee shops (Starbucks included) will gladly refill it, and some will even give you a discount for going green. This bottle works for hot and cold beverages, so you can carry it year-round. Considering one million plastic bottles are used every minute worldwide, this is a great first step towards reducing your waste.
This metal lunch box is compact, light, and cute to boot. The three compartments allow you to separate your snacks from your lunch, with a surprising amount of room for a potato and green beans in each one. If you don’t need all three compartments, you can use the top tier alone instead. If you just need a plate, use the lid!
Don’t rely on the world to give you plastic utensils! Bring your own bamboo utensils with you everywhere you go. This RePEat Utensil Set includes a bamboo fork, spoon, knife and chopsticks, all wrapped into a handy little carrier made from recycled plastic bottles that you can attach to your backpack or purse. The fork is pointy enough to eat salads, the spoon is smooth enough to enjoy yogurt, even if I found the knife a little dull.
Preserve the environment and your food with Etee Reusable Wrap. This reusable food wrap is made from an organic cotton muslin fabric that’s been infused in beeswax, tree resin, non-GMO soy wax, organic essential oils, and non-toxic dyes. They come in a pack of three different sizes. The smallest cut is big enough to wrap around a tomato and the largest can fit a sandwich. After use, clean it with cool water and a soapy sponge—can do so up to 150 times. When it’s all worn out, toss it in your compost bin!
You might already bring your own grocery bag to the supermarket, but chances are slim that you bring your own produce bags along for the ride, too. This kit gives you three different reusable produce bags, each one specifically made for a different kind of food, from carrots and onions to bulk bin nuts. When you’re not using them, roll them up and put them in a pouch shaped like an apple.
With all this new to-go gear, you’ll need something to carry it in. The Blossom Bag not only transports your food, but once opened, it can function as a placemat, napkin or even a bib. I didn’t get a chance to try out this item for myself, so I can’t speak to how well it holds its contents, but it’s a neat idea. Life Without Plastic also notes that they are still working on perfecting this item and want customer feedback.
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