Have you ever thought of reducing your waste at home, but you weren't quite sure where to begin? In this guide, we want to shed light on five simple and easy ways you can reduce waste in the comfort of your own home.
While going plastic-free or zero-waste may seem like an impossible task, it doesn't have to be. At first, try adopting the changes that come easiest to you — and remember that every little step you take makes a difference.
1. Make a meal plan and start composting
An estimated $165 billion in food is regularly thrown away in American households every year. To engage in less wasteful living, outline a meal plan before going grocery shopping each week. With a written plan in hand, you'll be less likely to splurge on things you won't eat, meaning less food ends up in the garbage. To make an even bigger impact, make sure to bring reusable grocery and produce bags.
Composting not only makes for a healthier planet, but it also has many benefits for your garden.
2. Say goodbye to plastic bottles
One million plastic bottles are purchased globally per minute, 91 percent of which will not make it to the recycling bin. Instead of buying plastic bottles, try investing in one reusable water bottle made from metal, glass, or even plastic.
3. Steer clear of liquid soaps
Things like laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and so much more are typically bought in their liquid form. Liquid soaps are usually more likely to contain microbeads, which are harmful for the environment. Most liquid soaps are also packaged in plastic containers. Switching to things like bar soap and powder laundry detergent can cut back on the amount of plastic packaging you purchase and throw away and have less of a negative environmental impact.
4. Cancel unnecessary mail
Have you ever wished your snail mail came with a spam filter? All of us experience unwanted clutter in our mailbox from time to time, including credit card and insurance offers, "prospect" catalogs, and other forms of junk mail.
One easy way to stop the influx of unwanted mail in your mailbox is to pick up the phone or apply online to be removed from a mailing list.
5. Buy reusable plastic straws
It's estimated that the U.S. uses and discards approximately 500 million plastic straws each day. Plastic straws, when they find their way into the ocean, are incredibly harmful to marine life.
Luckily, there's an abundance of plastic-free straws made from paper. Or, instead of switching over to these, try reducing your waste by buying reusable straws made from metal. Relying on reusable items such as straws, bags, cups, and airtight containers are some of the most straightforward ways to reduce waste at home.
Cut back on your waste today
At 4ocean, we're committed to helping the world end the ocean plastic crisis. Every 4ocean product you purchase comes with our One Pound Promise to pull one pound of trash from the ocean.
One of the most effective ways to reduce waste is by reusing everyday items. At 4ocean, we sell reusable straws, cups, and bags to encourage less wasteful living. Buy a reusable straw, cup, bag, or another 4ocean product and reduce your waste today.
Know of other ways to reduce waste? Let us know in the comment section below. Or, head on over to our Discover 4ocean Facebook Group to get in on the conversation about important ocean conservation topics.