Every minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck of plastic enters our oceans! A post on my LinkedIn feed jolted me out of my complacency. The picture showed the ocean bed laden with waste, being eaten by marine creatures. I see the same at wetlands, bird sanctuaries, parks on my walks. In the parks, the squirrels, cows, dogs keep putting their heads in plastic bags, foraging for leftovers. Ducks keep swimming near plastic bottles, sometimes consuming contaminated water and food. This is a worrisome situation.
Plastic can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. Microplastics have been found in the deepest ocean trenches, the highest mountain peaks, and even in the air we breathe.
Breathing Plastic: The Health Impacts of Invisible Plastics in the Air
But we can change that. Our grandparents knew the value of reusing and minimizing waste. We can learn from their example and make small changes to reduce our plastic footprint. They stored grains in tins, ate from reusable plates, and recycled everything. Don’t you think that it’s time we bring back that resourceful spirit by ditching the disposables?
Plastic, while convenient, is one of the most polluting materials on Earth. It’s cheap and seemingly indispensable, but the long-term cost to our planet is far too high. We can all play a part in creating a healthier future. Here are some practical strategies that we can all adopt:
Personal Actions: Small Changes, Big Impact
Bag It: Carry reusable shopping bags. Durable tote bags fold up small and are readily available. Keep a few in your car or bag so you’re always prepared. I have two in my car and about four at home.
Hydrate Smart: Invest in a stainless steel or glass water bottle. Refill it from taps or water stations and say goodbye to plastic bottled water. We have more steel bottles at home.
Container Craze: Use reusable food containers for takeout meals. Beeswax wraps are a fantastic alternative to plastic wrap for preserving food. Sometimes, we wrap the bread in cloth, like olden days.
Sip Sustainably: Opt for reusable straws made of metal, silicone, or bamboo. Keep a set in your bag. We try our best not to ask for straws at juice counters.
Cutlery Carry-On: Keep a set of reusable utensils (fork, knife, spoon) in your bag or car to avoid disposable cutlery when eating out. I save all the cutlery that comes with food delivery and use it from time-to-time.
Cup of Kindness (to the Planet): Carry your own reusable coffee/tea cup to cafes. Many cafes even offer discounts for bringing your own cup! While this might not be an option in India, but kulhads are a good option. I also have a small bottle in my bag.
Bulk Up: Buy items in bulk to reduce packaging. Choose grains, spices, and other products from bulk bins or stores that prioritize minimal packaging. I usually buy loose lentils and grains.
Cardboard and Glass are Classy: When shopping, choose products with minimal or eco-friendly packaging, like cardboard or glass instead of plastic. We use the cardboard at home for lining up the cupboards, drawers and shelves.
Produce Pride: Use mesh or cotton produce bags for fruits and vegetables instead of the plastic bags provided at the store.
Bar is Better: Replace liquid soap and shampoo in plastic bottles with solid bars. They last longer and create less waste. Already done this. I also bring back used soap bars and toothpastes, toothbrushes from my travels. Else, they go into waste; a good three days usage at home.
Community Initiatives: Working Together for Change
Local Love: Support or advocate for local legislation aimed at reducing single-use plastics, such as bans on plastic bags and straws.
Clean Sweep: Participate in community clean-up events to collect plastic waste and raise awareness about the issue. I did begin my journey into sustainability with a clean-up drive at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi, on environment day in 2014.
Sustainable Shopping: Choose to shop at businesses that prioritize sustainability and use minimal or no plastic in their packaging.
Educate and Empower: Organize or participate in campaigns to educate others about the impacts of plastic pollution. Working on this through my social media. I also participated in the Anatomy of Action challenge, a few years back.
Lifestyle Changes: A More Sustainable You
Mindful Spending: Avoid impulse buying. Consider whether items are truly necessary and how they are packaged before you make a purchase. I always make a list of things that I need, then shop on priority basis. In this way, certain articles don’t even matter.
DIY Delight: Make your own products, such as cleaning solutions or personal care items, to reduce reliance on plastic-packaged alternatives. I like to attend small local fairs, where many of these home-made small batches of good products can be found.
Zero-Waste Zen: Seek out zero-waste stores that allow you to bring your own containers for bulk shopping. My local kirana guy is good for this.
Reuse Revolution: Repair broken items instead of replacing them, reducing the demand for new, packaged goods. We still get our shoes repaired many times, as the cobbler sits on the pavement outside our building. There’s a tailor there too, so we got some clothes altered from him as well. This gives them work, eases the strain on our pocket and we promote a circular economy.
Compost Crusaders: Use biodegradable and compostable alternatives for trash bags and tableware whenever possible.
Support and Advocacy: Making a Bigger Difference
Lead by Example: Be a role model in your community by demonstrating your commitment to reducing single-use plastic.
Share the Knowledge: Use social media platforms to raise awareness about single-use plastics and share your tips for reduction. #PlasticFree #SustainableLiving #ReduceReuseRecycle. Tag us too, and we will reshare your posts on our stories.
Get Involved: Support local initiatives aimed at banning or phasing out single-use plastics in your city or region.
Partner for Change: Work with local markets, schools, and businesses to encourage plastic-free practices.
Demand Innovation: Advocate for investment in sustainable materials and alternatives to plastic.
Every small action counts in the fight against plastic pollution! Ready to take the next step?
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
Queen of Treasures 
These are quite useful hacks that are easy to implement as well. I already follow most of them but got a few new pointers. I did not know about shampoo bars but i checked, yess they are available in market! Great!
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These are quite useful hacks that are easy to implement as well. I already follow most of them but got a few new pointers. I did not know about shampoo bars but i checked, yess they are available in market! Great!
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These are quite useful hacks that are easy to implement as well. I already follow most of them but got a few new pointers. I did not know about shampoo bars but i checked, yess they are available in market! Great!
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good to know this helped you.
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Thanks for the reminder Ambica. I try to follow most of these but I think even manufacturers should start practices that encourage sustainable consumption. Like slashing prices for people who do not ask for disposable utensils etc. I have switched to bio enzyme based detergents and always carry a tote bag folded in my purse for sudden buys. I have also started buying and recycling pre-loved garments.
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I agree Preeti, the manufacturers need to be price conscious as well.
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I always carry reusable shopping bags and a stainless steel water bottle is a must everytime I step out of the house, and I’m interested to try beeswax wraps for food storage.
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It’s so good to know that most of us carry these practices out.
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I also worried when I saw plastic every where. I think Government should make a law for this, then only usage of plastic will be minimize. Though we are talking small steps but it should be on vast majority.
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I haven’t seen such a comprehensive post about living waste-minimal life till now! Kudos for that.
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Glad this was useful.
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I am bookmarking this post for my daughter to read and realize what havoc plastic can do. Such a well researched and documented post.
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Thanks for that😊
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PAPERBAGS and cloth bags I always prefer, recommend and use in my life. Plastic no more enters my house other than those Amazon and flipkart plastic In which I have no control but I dispose them at our societies central plastic collection gate for safe disposals.
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This blog is a game-changer! Practical, relatable, and packed with easy sustainability tips. Loved the personal touch—feels like a conversation with a friend. Inspired to ditch disposables and do more!
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Thanks, you found it conversational.
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I am following many steps to ditch plastics from our lives and these are some great practical tips which you’ve mentioned. Since the last couple of years there have been many awareness programs and drives that makes one understand the consequences of using plastics. And it’s good to know that many are taking the initiative to leave this world a better place to live.
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While I’m already doing some of the things you’ve mentioned, you’ve given me a lot more ideas on what I can do further in my every day life and activities towards sustainability and a better planet. Thanks for sharing this with us Ambica
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Small changes in our lifestyle can go in a long way in reducing plastic pollution. All of us at have home carry cloth bags while stepping out and use reusable bottles/utensils wherever possible. Though I’m sure more can be done. Good post, Ambica.
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Your blog post, “Grandma’s Secrets,” is a heartwarming tribute to timeless wisdom. The anecdotes beautifully highlight the enduring value of generational knowledge. Thank you for sharing these cherished insights!
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thank you so much for this important reminder. I do some of the things you mention in your blog viz., carrying a tote bag everywhere, saving spoons and forks that come with food delivery, using local kirana stores for grocery purchase, etc. but there were so many more I could easily include. Great post!
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Loved this post.. You’ve shared such practical and doable tips—it’s inspiring. Really like how you’ve made small changes that add up to a big impact. The idea of using kulhads for coffee is brilliant. And the way you repurpose cardboard is so creative. This post just gave me the push I needed to be more mindful of my choices.
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I follow most of these practices. Shifted to cloth bags, glass and stainless steel bottles. In 2016 we gifted foldable carry bags as return gifts. It was much much appreciated. I love the way you made it all sound easy and sustainable.
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what a good gift–foldable bags!
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Thanks for this comprehensive list. I try to implement some of these. My biggest thorn is plastic water bottles and because I travel so much I am just not able to fully avoid that. Try to limit as much as possible and now my colleagues are also aware of this obsession!
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I have been trying to practice and preach all these steps ever since the pandemic hit us. It’s high time we pro actively start looking after our planet.
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These are some game-changing tips if implemented in a good way. I believe if each of us starts taking responsibility , we will see a better world with a limited carbon footprint.
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I wonder if one can write about ecovfriendly living with such usable easy tips. Ecofriendly living is not a choice but a surety.🤩
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ecofriendly is what our core is… we have to recover it, after all, we are all part of this natural world! 😛
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What an informative post! These little changes in our lifestyle can save billions of lives. We usually know many tricks but forget to implement. It is high time when one can implement these secrets.
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This is such an important subject. Another tip about the delivery: you can opt out of getting any disposable cutlery if you are eating at home.
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That’s a good one too. Though, I did opt out of dine in cutlery on Zomato recently, they still sent it! We store it and give most of it to a NGO that comes every weekend to collect. Sometimes, we use t while travelling, but definitely avoidable.
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