So you’ve switched plastic grocery bags for long-lasting (and good-looking) net versions and traded in your cling wrap for reusable beeswax sheets. Looking for more ways to get rid of plastic around the house?
Above: Somehow those irritating polystyrene packing peanuts tend to get stuck to everything in your house. And the same thing happens once they’re thrown out: They get everywhere, in landfills, waterways, and more. A better way to pack things up, according to Wong and Allen? With shredded newsprint, re-used gift wrap, or—our favorite—plain popped popcorn. Photograph by Christine Wong.
2. The anti-disposable pen
Above: Here’s an old-fashioned idea worth returning to: “Buy a new or used fountain pen that can be refilled with ink from a glass jar,” Wong and Allen write. It “might seem like a big investment up front, but it’s more cost-effective in the long run and much gentler on the environment.” No more using—and tossing—plastic ballpoint versions. Plus, think how charming a grocery list written with a fountain pen would look. Photograph by Besjunior via Adobe Stock.
3. DIY cotton squares
Above: A DIY we’re eager to try: make-your-own cotton squares. Disposable cotton balls “are often blended with plastic fibers,” Wong and Allen write, “bleached, and treated with pesticides.” Instead, sew your own reusable square versions from organic cotton flannel or bamboo fabric. Just pre-wash the fabric, cut into 2- or 3-inch squares, and sew two pieces together with a blanket stitch; rinse in the sink and air-dry to re-use. (For the full instructions, see page 146 of Living Without Plastic.) Photograph by Christine Wong.
4. Better confetti
Above: Celebrating something? Opt for eco-friendly confetti—made with fallen, dried leaves and a hole punch—over the store-bought stuff. Photograph by Christine Wong. Above: Living Without Plasticis available via your local bookseller.
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