LIST: Alternatives to single use plastics

It is estimated that Americans alone use 500 million plastic straws daily. A metal straw is easily washable and portable, capable of being a part of one's every day carry items.

Forks, knives, spoons and sporks, are given out at fast food restaurants and available in cafeterias across the country. Carrying a reusable, personal, eating utensil is not only good for ending plastic waste but always there when needed.

Perfect for the break room, a reusable plate or bowl can put an end to single use plastic options. Plates and bowls even come in collapsible silicon options to make every day carry easy.   

High density plastic containers and wax wraps are a perfect alternative to plastic food storage bags and foam clam-shell carryout containers. Easy to wash, these will help keep foods fresh for days and even months to come.  

Carrying a plastic or metal bottle will cut back on plastic use, keep liquids hot or cold for longer and even save consumers from having to purchase basic things like water.  

Many soaps and detergents come in plastic bottles, switching to bar soaps that come in a paper wrapper cut back on non-biodegradable waste.

For instances when a plastic bottle is unavoidable, opt for concentrated soaps that will last longer and require fewer purchases.

Used toothbrushes, fully made of plastic, are hard to avoid wasting. A more environmentally friendly alternative is a bamboo or wooden brush that will decompose much faster than a plastic brush.

Much like liquid soap bottles, under the arm deodorant, once used up, creates plastic waste with the container and inner components. Rock salt can act as a deodorant that will repel body odor with no plastic waste. This alternative will also be economically friendly in that each stick will last, at minimum, a year each.

One study in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology showed that over a woman’s lifetime, she will use between 5,000 - 14,000 tampons. Each tampon is made of synthetic materials such as polyester and polyethylene that will last for hundreds of years. On top of that, each tampon comes with a plastic applicator that will take decades to degrade. Menstrual cups offer several advantages for women to consider in addition to curbing plastic waste and saving money because they are reusable.

Tote bags, backpacks and packable handbags can all take the place of single use plastic bags one may get at the grocery or convenience store. Simply taking a bag from home to the grocery store will help drastically cut back on the number of bags found within communities.

Coolers are a great thing to have when going out to the beach or to a tailgate party. Styrofoam coolers, while a popular single use option, can take decades to decompose and if destroyed, small pieces litter for years to come. Taking a hard-durable plastic or even biodegradable cooler will keep your items cold while lessening the impact of such items on the environment.