Looking around and realizing that everything in your house, in your grocery store, and every item you order from your favorite takeaway restaurant is likely touched in some way or packaged in plastic can be a little overwhelming. Once you look around, you might want to cut down… but figuring out where to start can be really hard. I suggest stating with a few easy to change daily items (check out my favorite 6 swaps over here), and then taking everything room by room, area by area. Maybe you look at the shampoo and soap bottles in your shower, or the 50 kinds of sunscreen you have hidden under your bathroom sink. Maybe you check out the cleaning products in your kitchen, or the packaging in your pantry.

Cutting down on plastic and waste in general is really hard when we are constantly surrounded by products that at first glance are only available in packaging. So take it slow, and consider every small corner, every shelf of change a victory, and move on from there!

When you find yourself looking for things to swap out, and where to buy them, check out some of my favorites below:

Basic Tools & Plastic-Free Containers

Package Free Shop - This gold mine is an amazing source for sustainable products you will hopefully only need to buy once. They work with brands to make sure that regardless of if you shop in store or buy something online, your product will never be packaged in plastic.
Life Without Plastic - A great online retailer for a lot of your plastic-free needs.
To-Go Ware - I have their bamboo cutlery set that I grabbed at Whole Foods. I bring this everywhere (even on planes) and love always being prepared.
Klean Kanteen - My favorite daily water bottle comes from here, I can’t praise them enough!
Eco Bags - You have stuff, and you probably need to carry it around. This is a one stop shop for all kinds of eco friendly bags.

Kitchen Items

Mason Jars - You can store everything in here. Panty dry goods, fridge items, your water or other beverage to go, even lunch to heat up later since they’re glass. The all-around zero-waste holy grail item - Check Christmas Tree Shops, Target, Walmart, the Container Store, or even most large supermarkets like Whole Foods or Wegmans
Silicone Baking Mats - Ditch aluminum foil, wax paper, and the lot. This is your new best friend for the oven that you can just keep re-using.
Cleaning Solution - Make your own non-toxic and effective solution in a multi-use, pre-labeled spray bottle. There are recipes for all types of material like tile, glass, even veggie washing. Basic ingredients include things like water, vinegar, castile soap, and alcohol.
Cleaning Cloths & Dish Towels - Ditch the paper towels and start using rags or cloths (cutting up old tshirts, towels, or sheets works just fine) for cleaning and dish towels for drying. Just throw them in the wash when you’re done!

Self Care & Bathroom Items

Find a local bulk store and get shampoo, body wash, soap, and more in your own jars & containers.
- For my local people in Baltimore, check out Mom’s Organic Market!
Lush Cosmetics - Package free shampoo & conditioner bars, along with bath bombs and a few other bathroom essentials. I also get my deodorant as a bar here, and it’s one of the only ones I’ve found that doesn’t irritate my skin.
Plaine Products - Refillable shampoo & conditioner + subscription service
Meow Meow Tweet - All reusable / compostable packaging for deodorant, face washes, soaps, shampoo bars, etc.
- Also check out Schmit’s deodorant in a glass jar.
Stainless Steel Razor - Just change out the blades & recycle
- Single Blade (Albatross) - These guys will also take back the used razor blades and recycle them into new ones.
- Multi-Blade (Leaf Shave) - I have this one and it’s great!!!
Bamboo Toothbrushes - While I love my Sonicare… all of that plastic just doesn’t go away. These aren’t a perfect zero-waste solution (you still have to toss the bristles or find a place that will recycle them) but the packaging is compostable and the main component is just bamboo which you can re-purpose or compost.

Clothing

Clothing production can be extremely wasteful… so whatever we can do to have the least impact when we shop, even if something is new, we should at least be conscious and try.
Start to check out thrift & vintage stores for your everyday items. If you have something specific in mind, try Ebay, Depop, ThredUP, Poshmark for more used options.
Got a special event? Think about renting that outfit you may otherwise only wear once from Rent the Runway.
When you want your own undies… check out Pact: undergarments & basics - 100% organic cotton + fair trade…. all around great. And they carry them at most Whole Foods.
For those times you really just want to go new… use the Good On You app - a great resource for seeing the environmental, ethical, and labor practices of various brands.

Can’t find a local store that sells bulk items?

Check out this locator app from Zero Waste Home!

Special Shout Out - the Honest Weight Food Co-Op in Albany, NY

I’ve been going to this store for years with my mom and they recently got a bigger, even better location. This place is the holy grail of bulk shopping. You can find everything from oils, flours, pastas, and grains, along with more unusual things like bulk tofu, not to mention all of your bathroom & cleaning essentials. Just bring your own containers up to the front counter and they will gladly tare them all. I don’t get to visit as often as I’d like, but whenever I’m up that way I like to stock up on some of my favorite shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and even lotions. IT’S SO GREAT! (I may have wowed a few of the employees with my overall enthusiasm for this store… trust me, it’s worth it.)