Living Plastic-Free: Everyday Alternatives to Common Plastic Items

"The Earth does not belong to us: we belong to the Earth." - Marlee Matlin

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Consider these alarming statistics:

• Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That's equivalent to setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.
• If current trends continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by weight by 2050.
• Plastic production has increased twentyfold since 1964 and is expected to double again in the next 20 years.

Given the devastating impact of plastics on our environment, it's crucial to rethink our choices and adopt sustainable alternatives. In this blog post, we'll delve deeper into everyday items made of plastic and their eco-friendly counterparts and give you an alternative choice that we sell at Byrd's Filling Station.

Byrd’s Filling Station makes it easy to avoid buying many common household and food products in plastic packaging by bringing in your own reusable containers to refill. When products aren’t sold on a refill basis, we review packaging to ensure that you can actually compost or recycle it… or find package-free versions!

Refillable items range from shampoo, lotion, dish soap, liquid laundry detergent, hand and body soaps, to bulk food items like beans, grains, candy, spices, coffee and more.

Check out our complete list of items you can refill with your own containers:
Bulk Product List

In addition to bulk refill products, we have many products available that will be longer lasting and safer alternatives to plastics.

1. Water Bottles:

• Plastic Item: Single-use plastic water bottles.
• Sustainable Alternative: Stainless steel or glass reusable water bottles. 
  Stainless Steel Water Bottle

2. Shopping Bags:

• Plastic Item: Plastic grocery bags.
• Sustainable Alternative: Cloth or jute tote bags.
  Organic Cotton Shopping Bag

3. Straws:

• Plastic Item: Plastic straws.
• Sustainable Alternative: Stainless steel, bamboo, or paper straws. 
  Stainless Steel Straws

4. Food Storage:

• Plastic Item: Plastic cling wrap and ziplock bags.
• Sustainable Alternative: Paper sandwich bags or silicone food storage bags
  Paper Sandwich Bags  and Silicon Food Container
  
  
  

5. Cutlery:

• Plastic Item: Plastic forks, spoons, and knives.
• Sustainable Alternative: Bamboo or stainless steel cutlery sets. 
  Bamboo Utensil Set and Stainless Steel Utensil Set

7. Toothbrushes:

• Plastic Item: Plastic toothbrushes.
• Sustainable Alternative: Bamboo toothbrushes.
  Bamboo Toothbrush

8. Cleaning Brushes:

• Plastic Item: Plastic scrubbing brushes for dishes or cleaning.
• Sustainable Alternative: Brushes with wooden handles and natural bristles.
  Long Handle Wood Washing Brush

9. Shampoo and Conditioner Bottles:

• Plastic Item: Plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles.
• Sustainable Alternative: Shampoo and conditioner bars. 
  Shampoo Bar
  Or bring your own containers for bulk shampoo and conditioner

10. Cleaning Products:

• Plastic Item: Plastic bottles of cleaning sprays.
• Sustainable Alternative: Try out refill station or one of our cleaning solutions using natural ingredients 
  All Purpose Cleaning Powder

12. Disposable Razors:

• Plastic Item: Plastic disposable razors.
• Sustainable Alternative: Stainless steel safety razors. 
  Henson Safety Razor

13. Feminine Hygiene Products:

• Plastic Item: Plastic applicators and packaging for tampons and sanitary pads.
• Sustainable Alternative: Menstrual cups 
  Menstrual Cup
  
  

14. Produce Bags:

• Plastic Item: Thin plastic bags for fruits and vegetables.
• Sustainable Alternative: Reusable mesh or cloth produce bags. 
  Cotton Produce Storage Bags

The journey to a plastic-free life is filled with small, conscious decisions that make a big difference. By embracing sustainable alternatives, we not only protect our planet but also ensure a healthier future for the next generations. Shifting habits is as easy as all of those January Resolutions we’ve made over the years… so it’s about changing one habit at a time. Sub out one plastic item, and when that becomes second nature, take another step!  Let's pledge to reduce, reuse, and recycle, making our world a better place, one swap at a time.