Replacing Plastics in Your Home
February 22, 2024 by Victoria Motazedi, PE, PEP
Seeking out and removing plastic from my life has been nothing short of a quest that seems overwhelming at times. During the first few weeks of this journey, I had to come to the realization that I cannot totally eliminate plastic from my daily existence because it is everywhere and in everything. I had to resign myself to just cutting down my and my family’s exposure. I also had to get my family on board, which was easier than I thought. Since I can’t eliminate all the plastic in my home and life, I had to settle with reducing the load. So, when possible, I replace what I can with other safer options.
The first thing I did was to replace all our plastic water bottles with stainless steel. Recent scientific studies have determined that bottled water and plastic water bottles infiltrate every sip you take with thousands of plastic nanoparticles (even the BPA-free ones). Plastic bottles are probably one of the worst offenders for plastic poisoning since we drink out of them continuously throughout the day.
Now it was time to tackle the plastic in my home. I felt it was best to start with one room at a time so that the task wouldn’t seem so overwhelming. I started with the most plastic-ridden room in my home – the kitchen. This room was a bit scary when I looked around and saw plastic on every counter and in every cabinet and drawer. I started with the counters – the drip coffee pot, blender with the plastic pitcher, utensil container by my stove, etc. The following is a list of what I got rid of and what I replaced it with. Some of the replacements were made with creative new products that I will address in another article.
Kitchen
| Plastic | Possible Replacements |
| Drip Coffee Maker (They all have plastic parts) | Stainless Steel Percolator, Glass Coffee Press |
| Blender with Plastic Pitcher | Blender with Glass Pitcher |
| Plastic Utensils | Bamboo/Wood/Stainless Steel Utensils |
| Plastic Cutting Board | Bamboo/Wood Cutting Board |
| Plastic Canister Set | Ceramic/Glass/Stainless Steel Canister Set |
| Plastic Containers for Leftovers | Glass Containers, Canning Jars, Glass Pickle Jars, Ceramic Bowls, Aluminum Foil Containers |
| Plastic Lids for Containers | Silicone Lids (Doesn’t Leach Chemicals Like Plastic Lids), Beeswax Cloth Covers, Bamboo Lids, Aluminum Foil |
| Plastic Dog Bowls | Stainless Steel/Ceramic |
| Plastic Wrap/Suran | Beeswax Cloth, Aluminum Foil, Wax Paper, Parchment Paper, Silicone Covers |
| Plastic Thermoses and Water Bottles | Stainless Steel |
| Plastic Soap Dispenser | Glass, Stainless Steel Soap Dispenser |
| Plastic Scrubby, Bottle Cleaning Brush, Sponges | Natural Loofah, Natural Plant Fibers, Bamboo, etc. |
The kitchen pantry is still a work in progress considering the amount of food that is contained in plastic. I am replacing those food products, if I can, with ones made by manufacturers that use glass, paper, or other non-plastic containers. I was able to find milk in glass bottles sold at Whole Foods and other health food stores. There are also dairy delivery services that still use glass. Mayonnaise and other condiments are still bottled by some manufacturers in glass. I try to buy my meat from the butcher counter and ask them to place the paper side of their butcher paper against my hamburger, etc. (Turns out butcher paper is coated on one side with plastic). Note: Cereals that come in cardboard boxes place their product in plastic bags inside. I hate going to the grocery store because you are literally surrounded by plastic everywhere. I must be creative and selective, and no matter how hard I try, I still leave with something sold in plastic. If this is the case, I transfer the item to an acceptable container once I get home. It may not eliminate the plastic transferred from the shipping container but at least it cuts down on further contamination.
Bathroom
| Plastic | Possible Replacements |
| Plastic Soap Dish/Glass | Glass, Stainless Steel, Ceramic. Bamboo, Wood |
| Toothbrush (Nylon Bristles) | Natural Boar’s Hair and Bamboo |
| Toothpicks/Flossers | Natural Plant Based Options, Silk thread |
| Shampoo/Conditioner Bottles | Shampoo/Conditioner Soap Bars |
| Body Cleansing Gel | Bar Soap |
| Body Scrub Brush | Natural Loofah, Natural Sponge |
| Toothpaste | Toothpaste Tablets in non-plastic containers |
| Plastic Razors | Steel Razors with replacement blades |
You get the idea.
Eating out can be a challenge because you cannot control the restaurant’s kitchen. So, unless you plan on never entering an eating establishment and cooking 100% at home, you will have to choose your battles. However, you can request that your water comes in a glass container, refuse plastic straws, and bring your own plastic free take home container for leftovers.
When I go grocery shopping, I bring my non-plastic cloth shopping bag and netted fabric produce bags to place my veggies and fruits in. I try to buy loose produce and not prebagged plastic produce. Farmer’s markets are awesome.
Going au natural is not an easy task, but I am making a dent in my plastic world. As time goes on and with plastic pollution becoming more important to consumers, more natural products will become available. Do your research and choose wisely. Support companies that are eco-friendly and do not use plastics in their products or packaging. Join my quest to eliminate plastic from your world.