Modern society has reached a point where convenience is king. People want things fast and easy, even if that convenience comes at the expense of the planet’s health. The amount of waste that is generated every day reached an unsustainable point a long time ago and is only continuing to grow. In order to protect the environment and the future of the planet, we need to start opting for reusable products that last, instead of choosing the convenient single-use products that end up in the landfill as soon as we’re done with them.
What are reusable products?
When people think of reusable products, there are a few obvious options that come to mind. Using reusable water bottles and coffee mugs, and taking your reusable bags to the store instead of using plastic bags. Everyone knows these are good things to do, but most people have just accepted that they can’t have much of an impact on the environment as an individual. However, these mundane seemingly obvious decisions can have a huge effect on the planet. If one person replaces two disposable plastic water bottles every day with a reusable water bottle, that adds up to almost 800 water bottles a year that don’t end up in the trash, or worse the ocean. If 1,000 people make that same choice for a year, that means almost 800,000 plastic water bottles don’t end up in a landfill. And that’s just a tiny percentage of the world’s population.
How do reusable products help the planet?
The more we normalize choosing reusable products over disposable ones, the more people will choose to make intentional decisions about what they consume and start eliminating unnecessary waste in their lives. Choosing to take your water bottle when you leave for work instead of buying a water bottle at lunch requires intentionality. However, it’s those many small decisions over time that turn into habits that create real change in the world and the environment. You can also save tons of money in the process by not buying single-use products every day!
Reusable products aren’t just limited to water bottles and tote bags. There are hundreds of opportunities in the kitchen, the bathroom and all over the house to eliminate single-use products and start using reusable products. Reusable products also end up being much higher quality and much more enjoyable to use in the long run.
EcoCart makes it convenient and carbon neutral!
When you purchase your reusable products using the EcoCart Chrome extension, you can also offset your carbon footprint for that order. By offsetting your order, you will make your new reusable product have an even more positive impact on the planet. Just install the extension in your browser and click the green button whenever you see it pop up while shopping online. After that, you can sit back and relax! EcoCart does the rest of the work for you, offsetting your carbon footprint and helping to save the planet.
Reusable Silicone Sandwich Bag – Stasher
These reusable sandwich bags from Stasher are a great way to store leftovers or pack your lunch for the day, without using plastic bags. They’re easy to wash out after you use them and the durable silicone will last for years to come. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the ripping or leaking like a flimsy plastic sandwich bag will!
Reusable Beeswax Food Wrap – Bee’s Wrap
Toss out your annoying, flimsy plastic wrap and replace it with this durable, reusable cotton and beeswax food wrap. It’s washable and has tons of uses from covering containers of leftovers to wrapping up a sandwich or snack to take to work. The beeswax helps it stick to containers and creates a strong seal, plus it won’t tear or turn into a tangled mess like normal plastic wrap.
Reusable Stainless Steel Cutlery Set – Black & Blum
Skip the packs of single use cutlery at lunch, and bring this high quality stainless steel travel set along with you instead. They’re easily washable and can be packed into a convenient travel container, so you can toss them in your bag and always have them ready to go. They also won’t bend or break like cheap plastic cutlery, and you’ll never have to go hunting for a fork in the breakroom again!
Reusable Silicone Straws – Eco Living
If you prefer all your drinks through a straw, these silicone straws are the perfect solution. You can skip plastic straws that end up in the trash or those soggy paper straws that never seem to last long enough. These reusable straws come in a variety of fun colors and include a brush for easy cleaning. You can put one in your purse or backpack, leave some at the office, and have a few around the house!
Lightweight Insulated Metal Water Bottle – Hydroflask
Save time, money, and frustration with this high-quality insulated stainless steel bottle from Hydroflask! This bottle will last you a lifetime and it’ll keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cool for hours. Having a water bottle you can always carry with you is also a great way to remember to drink more water. You’ll even save money in the long term by not buying water bottles everyday!
Reusable Silicone Travel Tube – GoToob+
These handy, reusable travel tubes are great for taking your soaps, shampoo, and conditioner on the road with you. That way, you can avoid buying all those tiny bottles of shampoo before your trips and you never have to hunt around to find travel-sized versions of your favorite products. They’re easily washable and will last much longer than cheap plastic travel bottles.
Recycled Cotton Woven Tote Bag – Vegan Outfitters
We all know we need to use our reusable bags at the store but they always end up buried and forgotten in the trunk of the car, because they’re ugly and never last as long as they should. Make this great looking tote bag a part of your grocery routine! It’s vegan and made of recycled cotton, and we all need the reminder to save the bees and be kind to others! You’ll make a statement and save the planet at the same time!
