These are the list of items we use in our home. Alternatives are what I am aspiring to work towards doing more of. We need to be more self-conscious about what we are doing to our beautiful Earth. Also, this is a brilliant way to be creative and save more money.
No packaging/Biodegradable/Reusable
| Item | |
| Bath: Bar for body, hair, and handwashing; the moisturizing bar for body | |
| Bath: Cotton fabric rounds | |
| Bath: DIY mouthwash | |
| Bath: Recycled/biodegradable toilet paper wrapped in paper (Tushy) + bidet | |
| Bath: Shhhowercap | |
| Bath (ladies): Thinx period panties and menstrual cup | |
| Cleaning: All-purpose cleaner (make at home in a reusable container) | |
| Cleaning: Compostable bamboo brush heads for dishes | |
| Cleaning: Bar soap for dish soap | |
| Cleaning: Rag towels for cleaning | |
| Clothing: Thrifting clothes | |
| Dog: Flush dog poop down the toilet | |
| Eating: Beeswax wraps instead of cling/aluminum/ziplock | |
| Eating: Cloth napkins | |
| Eating: Pyrex and stainless steel containers for food storage | |
| Eating: Reusable Cinemark popcorn and drink container | |
| Eating: Reusable straws | |
| Food: Bulk hummus, pesto in a mason jar | |
| Food: Flour/sugar/salt from bulk | |
| Food: Compost egg containers | |
| Food: Compost pizza box | |
| Food: Condiments: Make pickled jalapenos | |
| Food: Distilled water made at home | |
| Food: Make juice at home | |
| Food: Make kefir at home | |
| Food: Make own bread/buy a fresh loaf in own bag | |
| Food: Make own ice cream | |
| Food: meat packaging (the butcher paper) in compost (bokashi) | |
| Food: Nuts/dried fruits/spices/chocolate/candy/popcorn from bulk | |
| Food: Oils: Vinegar, olive oil, coconut oil, honey in bulk | |
| Food: Package free produce | |
| Food: Scraps composting (bokashi!) | |
| Laundry: Wool dryer balls | |
| Paper: Books (library + kindle) | |
| Paper: Credit card mailings opt-out | |
| Paper: Digital newspaper | |
| Travel: Boarding passes + tickets in-app | |
| Travel: Hotel toiletries when traveling: bring all from home in reusable containers (shampoo bars, body soap bar, face soap bar, face lotion de-potted, body lotion de-potted) | |
| Travel: Que bottle for water |
Aluminum
| Item | Alternative |
| Bath: Hair + styling spray* | Best option atm |
| Bath: Shaving cream can | Bar shave soap |
| Bath: Sunscreen spray | Best option atm |
| Dog: Canned food | Best option atm |
| Dog: Toothpaste in a metal tube | Best option atm |
| Food: Baking powder | Best option atm |
| Food: Canned sparkle water | Best option atm |
| Food: Canned veggies, sauces, pantry items | Best option atm |
| Food: Cider* | Fill reusable growler |
| Food: Cooking spray | Make at home using a refillable can or don’t buy anymore |
Paper
| Item | Alternative |
| Dog: Treats | Make at home; buy bulk |
| Food: Baking soda | The best option at the moment |
| Food: Butter; compost paper | The best option at the moment |
| Food: Cereal inbox (plastic liner inside can be recycled) | The best option at the moment |
| Food: Cookies, crackers in a box (but also with plastic at times-not recyclable) | Buy in bulk with own bag; make own |
| Food: Cream cheese wrapper in paper box | The best option at the moment |
| Food: Garlic bread (but also with plastic-not recyclable) | Make at home |
| Food: Milk and cream in a box | The best option at the moment |
| Food: Pasta in a box | The best option at the moment |
| Food: Tea | Buy tea in bulk with own bag |
| Food: Vegetable/chicken broth | Make at home using veggie/chicken scraps |
| Home: Candles | Make at home using old jars; buy beeswax candle kits from Etsy; buy soy wax/wicks from Refill Revolution (packaged in the paper) |
| Laundry: Biodegradable laundry detergent in cardboard | The best option at the moment |
| Paper: Amazon boxes | Buy self without packaging; save boxes to re-ship |
| Paper: Junk mail | Contacted to remove self from catalogs and mailings |
| Paper: Magazines* | Digital edition; only get ones you love |
| Paper: Receipts | Email whenever possible |
Glass
| Item | Alternative |
| Bath: Antiperspirant – European Nivea (husband) | The best option at the moment |
| Bath: Face + body oil | Buy bulk from Refill Revolution |
| Bath: Face wash | Bar soap |
| Bath: Nail polish (8-free)* | The best option at the moment |
| Bath: Natural deodorant – Meow Meow Tweet (me) | The best option at the moment |
| Food: Condiments (siracha, pastes. ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, bread yeast, jam) | Make at home (too much work); reuse glass containers for storage |
| Food: Pasta sauce | Make at home using canned tomato |
| Food: Peanut butter | Buy bulk |
| Food: Salad dressing | Make at home |
| Food: Vanilla extract | Best option atm |
| Food: Yogurt | Reuse glass container for storage |
| Home: Essential oils | Buy from Refill Revolution and mail back bottle |
| Home: A room spray | Make at home |
Recyclable Plastics
| Item | Alternative |
| Bath: Face sunscreen, moisturizer, masks | Find in glass; no pump; Return to Origins |
| Bath: Haircare products | Use aluminum or glass container; Return to Origins |
| Bath: Medications | No other option |
| Bath: Nail polish remover | Switch to a non-toxic formula in a glass bottle |
| Bath: Toothpaste | TerraCycle; metal tube |
| Cleaning: Dishwasher Packets | Biodegradeable dishwasher detergent in cardboard |
| Cleaning: Shower + toilet cleaner | Make at home |
| Dog: Teeth spray | TerraCycle |
| Food: Baking sprinkles* | Find in a glass jar or packaged in paper |
| Food: Berries | Buy from farmers market; bulk pick at berry farm once/year |
| Food: Plastic container lids | Lids are generally small and fall off the recycling conveyor belts. Always make sure that a plastic lid is attached to a plastic container so that it gets through the system. |
| Food: Granola | Buy in bulk; TerraCycle current bags |
| Food: Salad box | Buy in bulk? (difficult to find) |
| Home: Ant killer/household chemicals | Get from city’s chemical reuse facility for free/reusing |
| Laundry: Dry cleaning bags | Don’t dry clean? |
| Paper: Amazon boxes interior packaging | Buy at the store without packaging; buy bulk orders; save packaging for re-use |
Landfill
| Item | Alternative |
| Bath: Beauty product pumps | Stop getting things with pumps; Return to Origins, TerraCycle |
| Bath: Brush heads/toothbrushes | TerraCycle; Switch to bamboo brushes |
| Bath: Floss container | TerraCycle; water flosser + dental lace |
| Bath: Floss picks (Meera) and floss (AJ) | Biodegradeable floss |
| Bath: Hair elastics | Eco-friendly version |
| Bath: Makeup products* | Buy products that containers can be returned to the maker or recycled; Return to Origins |
| Bath: Razor blades | Safety razor |
| Bath: Tissues | Hand kerchief |
| Cleaning: Trash bags | Find biodegradable |
| Dog: Dog food bag (split with canned) | Best option atm |
| Eating: Wax paper | Stop using it! |
| Food: Cheese wrap | Buy in bulk and ask to put in beeswax wrap |
| Food: Chips/snack bag | On TerraCycle waitlist |
| Food: Frozen fruits/veggies | Buy fresh and freeze at home |
| Food: Take out containers/styrofoam | Bring your own takeout container; stop using this (it can’t REALLY be recycled!) |
| Home: Air filter | Reusable air filter |
| Home: Pens | Refillable pens using ink in glass jars (use up existing first); donate old to Pen Guy Art |
| Home: Water filter | Ship back to recycle (for a fee) |
| Laundry: Lint roller | Ever lint |
| Paper: Gift cards | Online only cards |
| Paper: Label stickers | No avoiding this |
| Paper: Tape | Use washi tape when possible; get a boxed tape with refillable dispenser |
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