1. Conduct a waste assessment

First Step: Start by being mindful of the items leaving your home.

Performing a “waste audit” involves examining your trash and recycling bins and taking note of their contents. Pay attention to what you dispose of every time you throw something away. Are there excessive clamshell containers, snack bags, cereal box liners, milk jugs, or juice containers? Identifying the most commonly discarded items will allow you to prioritize changes.

Go the extra mile: Keep track of your trash and recycling for a whole week.

You can create a simple tally system attached to each bin or use a detailed spreadsheet (check out our template and make your own editable copy). Whenever you discard something in any bin (trash, recycle, compost), record it. Remember to include bins in your bathroom, bedroom, or home office. This audit will provide a useful guide for making impactful swaps in your home and reducing your plastic footprint.

2. Separate from food packaging

First step: Choose produce without plastic packaging.

Farmers markets are excellent sources, but many grocery stores also offer unpackaged fruits and vegetables. When shopping, use reusable produce bags or simply place the items directly into your basket or cart.

Go the extra mile: Purchase in bulk.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 30 percent of household waste in the U.S. comes from packaging. However, numerous grocery stores have bulk bins filled with pantry staples such as grains, dried beans, and nuts. Inquire if you can use your own reusable containers. Many stores accept fabric bags, glass jars, silicone bags, and more, as long as you have them weighed before filling. If you can’t bring your own containers, you can repeatedly refill the provided plastic bags or containers.

3. Assemble a portable kit

First step: Prepare a convenient on-the-go kit.

These essential items should be kept in your bag, work desk, or car, ensuring they are readily available when needed. They are also useful for school lunches and travel. Depending on your requirements, your kit may include:

• Water bottle
• Insulated mug or tumbler
• Reusable utensils (fork, knife, spoon, and/or chopsticks)
• Reusable straw (silicone, metal, or glass)
• Silicone bag, glass jar, or metal container for leftovers

Go the extra mile: Use your own container for takeout.

When ordering food for takeout, bring along a reusable container and ask if the restaurant can place your meal inside it. If they are unable to accommodate your request, request your meal on a plate (or order it “for here”) and then pack it up yourself to minimize plastic usage.

4. Employ recycling strategically

First step: Understand what can be recycled in your area.

Approximately a quarter of items collected for curbside recycling are actually non-recyclable waste. If your waste collection agency does not accept a particular item, refrain from placing it in the recycling bin. “Aspirational” recycling, or wishcycling, can harm workers and machinery and devalue recyclable materials, increasing the likelihood of them ending up in landfills. Some companies, like Grove, offer recycling programs for their products.

Go the extra mile: Minimize your reliance on recycling.

“Recycling should be a last resort,” says Jezienicki. “It isn’t the happy ending we envision.” The average person consumes 250 pounds of plastic per year, but only a meager 9 percent of plastic is actually recycled in the U.S., according to the EPA. Companies like Grove, which focus on reducing plastic packaging and collaborate with partners to offset plastic production (such as rePurpose Global and Plastic Bank), have a greater impact

than those that simply promote recycling. By purchasing reusable and plastic-free products, our Grove community has prevented 4 million pounds of plastic from entering nature and oceans. That’s a substantial amount of plastic that hasn’t been wasted just because people changed their approach to everyday household items.

When recycling is the only option, ensure there is no residue that could contaminate other materials or render it unclean and destined for the landfill.

Even if plastic is properly disposed of in recycling bins, it is not recycled like glass bottles or aluminum cans. Typically, it undergoes downcycling, resulting in a lower-quality material that often cannot be recycled again. Plastics labeled with numbers 3-7 in the triangular arrows are especially unlikely to be recycled at all.

By purchasing plastic-free and plastic-reducing items, you are contributing significantly more to addressing the plastic problem than through recycling alone. As of 2021, Grove has prevented 4.06 million pounds of plastic waste by using glass and aluminum containers for their products.

5. Reduce reliance on plastic food storage

First step: Replace single-use plastic wrap and bags with reusable alternatives.

Swap cling film for Bee’s Wrap and switch single-use zipper bags with reusable silicone storage bags. Read a personal review of switching to reusable storage for more information before making the switch.

Go the extra mile: Gradually replace old plastic containers as they wear out.

Instead of discarding your existing plastic containers, take good care of them by handwashing and avoiding microwave use. When it’s time for replacements, consider reusing glass jars for storing leftovers (they can even be used for freezing food) or upgrading to glass or metal storage containers.

6. Revise feminine care product choices

First step: Opt for tampons with cardboard or recyclable applicators, or choose tampons without applicators.

In 2018, people in the U.S. purchased 5.8 billion tampons, resulting in significant waste. Conventional tampons are often individually wrapped, come with plastic applicators, and contain synthetic materials. Switch to 100 percent organic cotton tampons with cardboard applicators.

Go the extra mile: Embrace a zero waste period.

Instead of disposable tampons, pads, and liners, try period underwear, a silicone menstrual cup, or reusable pads and liners. Over a 10-year period, one menstrual cup is estimated to generate only six percent of the plastic waste produced by using tampons and less than half a percent of the waste created by single-use pads.

Learn more about period underwear and how they function before making the transition.

7. Opt for plastic-free toilet paper

First step: Purchase toilet paper rolls packaged in recyclable cardboard.

The plastic film that typically wraps toilet paper rolls is challenging to recycle and often ends up in landfills. Tree-free toilet paper also helps reduce paper waste and saves trees. How can toilet paper be tree-free? Alternative products offered by Grove use responsibly-sourced bamboo from small family farms in China, where bamboo is native. Additionally, bamboo generates three times the amount of oxygen than the carbon emissions produced during transportation, making it an environmentally conscious choice.

Bonus: Choose plastic-free paper towels without plastic packaging as well.

Go the extra mile: Install a simple bidet as an alternative to “flushable” wipes.

Flushable wipes are often responsible for clogging sewer pipes, and using a bidet can reduce your reliance on toilet paper. It’s a win-win situation.

8. Simplify your cleaning routine

Step one: Refill your cleaning supplies.

Instead of purchasing new bottles every time you run out, consider refilling the containers you already have with bulk pouches or concentrated cleaning solutions. At Grove, our refill pouches are lightweight and reduce plastic usage by 60 percent. Plus, they are easy to dispose of – simply request a prepaid shipping label, and we’ll take care of recycling them for you.

Go further: Don’t forget about the other items in your cleaning arsenal.

When your plastic dryer sheets are depleted, replace them with wool dryer balls that not only reduce static but also speed up drying time by up to 25 percent. Use cleaning cloths made from natural fibers or a bamboo brush for scrubbing. Opt for powdered dishwasher detergent instead of individually wrapped tablets.

9. Indulge in self-care while being mindful of the environment

Step one: Keep your hands clean with eco-friendly options.

Bid farewell to the clutter of hand soap bottles in your cupboard. Instead, refill your preferred bottle or opt for a sleek glass dispenser. Alternatively, pamper yourself with a hydrating bar of soap. If you choose the latter, don’t forget to use a soap saver or a soap dish with proper drainage to extend the lifespan of the bar.

Go further: Replace your daily essentials.

You don’t have to make all the changes at once. Gradually incorporate personal care products packaged in glass, metal, or cardboard as you run out of your existing ones. From shampoo and conditioner bars to plastic-free razor cartridges or a safety razor, and even moisturizer and eye shadow, there are numerous eco-friendly alternatives waiting to be discovered.

10. Stay vigilant for hidden plastic usage

Step one: Pay attention to the bag.

While you’re mindful of what you dispose of, the plastic bag that holds it all together often goes unnoticed. Consider replacing the liner in your trash can with a compostable or recycled plastic bag. Even better, you can skip the liner altogether, especially if you can compost messy food scraps, which are the main culprits for creating a mess in the trash can.

Go further: Examine your everyday items closely.

Plastic tends to hide in unexpected places, such as tea bags, paper milk cartons, and chewing gum. The good news is that many of these hidden sources can be easily replaced. For example, you can opt for loose leaf tea or tea bags labeled as compostable or made entirely from paper. If you’re unsure whether an item contains plastic, reach out to the company and inquire.