With households relying
on shopping for virtually all products used in a home, waste packaging can pile
up pretty quickly. On-demand food is perhaps the biggest waste packaging
contributor in a household. Some of the common packaging that is unrecyclable
and harmful to the environment includes:
• Mesh bags for vegetables and fruits
• Plastic ‘clamshell’ for pastries and fruits
• Tetra-Pak containers for milk and juice
• Plastic bags for greens
• Cereal box liners
• Coffee cartridges and lids
• Bioplastic cutlery and tableware often used
as use-and-dump in parties
• Unattached plastic bottle caps
• Plastic Straws
The US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) reported that these common packaging materials accounted for about half of the plastic waste generated.
Reusable and recycled
packaging
There are several items
around the house that can be used for shopping without extra costs or any
inconveniences. Some of these include:
• Fabric carrier bags – These are perhaps the
most versatile and eco-friendly packaging items to use for holding shopped
items. They are strong and can hold considerable weight. They can also be
washed several times without weakening the fabric.
• Cardboard boxes – These are commonly used to hold items such
as shoes, stationery, and electronic appliances. These boxes can be used to
hold dry items from the store for example clothing or electronic parts.
• Honey jars – Glass jars are very good in
keeping food as they are non-reactive and stable in temperature. Glass jars can
be used to hold food items such as unpackaged grains or sugar from the store.
• Paper envelopes – These are very reusable
as well as recyclable items. Good condition paper envelopes can be reused at
the bookstore to hold a few items like postcards or a notebook and pen.
• Old denim – Denim is a tough fabric that
can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Carrier bags can be fashioned from denim
with a few basic tailoring tricks.
• Reusable coffee cups – Some coffee shops
offer a discount for customers who come in with reusable coffee cups. These
cups are usually made of 100% food safe silicone.
• Reusable water bottles – These bottles can
be used to carry water as well as any other beverage or drink. The most durable
ones are metallic, made from either stainless steel or aluminum. They also come
with a long-lasting attached lid.
• Recycled plastic carriers – These carrier
bags are still the cheapest in the market. When there is no other alternative
ensure to pick one that is 100% made from recycled plastic.
Better choices in
packaging and carrying items for purchases at the store can drastically reduce the amount of waste generated in a home. The good thing is that making a habit of using them
is very affordable.
