We've all heard about the common single use products in our life and ways we can reduce our consumption of them. For water bottles, switch to a reusable water bottle. For single use coffee cups from your local coffee Shop, bring your own thermos. Plastic bags, bring your reusable tote bags! But we often don't think about the day to day products we use within our own home and how this contributes to single use waste on a broader scale. I'm going to quickly run through 3 common single use household products that are widely use, and give examples of products you can swap them out for, reuse consistently and ultimately reduce the trash you send to the dump.
I've added links to these products collections within our shop so you can view all of the options we have available.
1. Plastic Wrap & Tinfoil
I think until you remove plastic wrap and tinfoil from your life, you don't realise how dependent you are on them to preserve food. At least that's how I felt. By replacing these with products such as Beeswax wraps or reusable dish covers, you can significantly reduce the amount of garbage your home produces on a weekly basis. Ultimately, I've found by replacing these two products that we've actually saved a significant amount of money since we no longer need to regularly purchase plastic wrap and tin foil.
The Replacement?
Click to Shop: Beeswax Wraps
Our beeswax wraps are made from Canadian organic bees wax, organic jojoba oil, organic pine rosin. They are also washable, reusable, compostable and completely plastic-free.
Click to Shop: Reusable Bowl Covers
These are a great alternative to beeswax when you need something that can stand up well to heat, more durable, vegan and still sustainable. They can stretch to fit almost all bowls and plates. They can also stretch over half cut fruits and veggies.
2. Traditional Sponges, Plastic Scrubbies and Plastic Cleaning Brushes
We often don't think about it, but traditional dish washing sponges contain plastic! Meaning when you throw those out, they can take years to break down. Generally, a year's worth of plastic sponges can last up to 52,000 years in a landfill and are unable to be recycled. In addition, most dish scrubbing brushes are made from polypropylene plastic and nylon. These can take up to 500 years or more to decompose in landfills.
The Replacement?
Click to Shop: Wooden Cleaning Brushes
Our brushes use sisal fibre for their bristles. It is a natural fibre from the agave sisalana plant and stronger and more durable than other natural fibres. It is resistant to bacteria, mildew, and oil. These wooden brushes at the end of their life can be used for other household cleaning or placed in the compost.
Click to Shop: Pop Up Sponges
Made of 100% vegetable cellulose (wood pulp), these kitchen sponges feel and function like traditional sponges but are completely plant-based, plastic-free and compostable.
3. Paper Towel
Another product we all use, dispose of and constantly repurchased. Because a used paper towel is dirty, it is often considered contaminated waste and unable to be recycled. In addition, the process to produce paper towel in general uses a significant amount of water processing, creates water pollution and results in a detrimental destruction of trees.
The Replacement?
Click to Shop: Swedish Sponge Cloths
One Swedish sponge cloth can replace the use of up to 17 rolls of paper towels and can be composted easily, which makes it an economical and zero waste solution.
They also are:
- wood and cotton-based: super absorbent and 100% compostable
- quick-drying: no more dishcloth smell
- durable: can last up to 6-12 months or 200 wash cycles, depending on use
Now you have three great ways to continue to reduce your household waste. These are really easy products to integrate into your life and once you get into the routine of using these, you really start to see a reduction in garbage. By making small changes as a time, you can significantly reduce your overall environmental impact. It really is just a matter of changing your mindset, and choosing to do it.