Etsy by searching âbeeswax wrap.â Pro tip: Be sure to wash with soap and COLD water to clean! Produce bags. The canv
Ways to Replace Single-Use Products Curated by Riley Mummah -
[email protected] Please be aware of where you are sourcing your products. Something might seem like a great sustainable replacement, but if you’re sourcing it from Europe, you’re using a lot of natural resources to transport it. Be mindful of ALL the resources consumed in your purchasing process!
Beeswax wrap It comes in different sizes, shapes, and designs. Buy on Etsy by searching “beeswax wrap.” Pro tip: Be sure to wash with soap and COLD water to clean!
Produce bags The canvas bags shown on Sunday were from Earth Junky, a family-owned company from Burbank! (However, you buy their product on Amazon, not directly from their site.) Kootsac makes a series of silk or nylon bags that are perfect for bulk grains, sugars, and nuts. You can find other produce bag replacements on Etsy and Amazon. Pro tip: Buy bags with the tare weight listed on them, so you’re not charged for the weight of the bag!
Vermicompost If you have a small balcony or outdoor space, vermicomposting is really easy to start and maintain! I bought my bin on Etsy at this listing. It was easy assembly and an easy start. I purchased my worms from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm (no joke). Triformis Corporation is a local company which sells composting equipment. You can also find composting bins on Amazon. LA County even provides some information on composting bins and worm composting
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habits. Santa Monica runs its own city-wide composting program using its green bins. Pro tip: Escapees are common while setting up the bin. It is not recommended to start the worm bin in your bedroom.
Bento boxes Bento boxes are perfect for kids on the go! They’re dishwasher safe! You can find bento boxes many places; I found a few on Amazon by searching “bento box”. Pro tip: Search local Goodwill or thrift stores for donated bento boxes!
SodaStream Addicted to sparkling water or soda/pop? You can make your own at home with the SodaStream (found on Amazon)! Pro tip: You can purchase a SodaStream with a plastic or glass canister; I would recommend the glass!
Reusable water bottles You can find a reusable water bottle just about anywhere you go. When shopping around for one, keep in mind the materials that are used for your water bottle. Metal and glass are more easily recycled than plastic. Pro tip: The link above is to Amazon but there are SO many reusable water bottles that are donated to Goodwill and thrift stores. Check there first!
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Countertop composter Want to start composting? These small containers are a good way to start and can be left on your counter or under your sink. Already composting? Here’s a way to store your food scraps before you take it out to the main bin or feed it to the worms. Amazon is the easiest option here (though there are some attractive options on Etsy as well). Pro tip: Buy a container with a charcoal filter in order to reduce the potential of a smell. Also, you will need a plan for the scraps if you don’t have a longer term solution
Imperfect Produce Interested in a weekly or biweekly produce box? Imperfect Produce delivers a customizable box of blemished/misshapen/mis-sized/surplus produce to your doorstep. Have family in other cities? Imperfect currently delivers to the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and Chicago. For family on the East Coast, I would recommend Hungry Harvest (www.hungryharvest.net) which has a similar mission. They deliver to areas in DC, DE, FL, MD, NC, NJ, PA, and VA. Pro tip: If you want to sign up for Imperfect Produce, ask Sarah & Ryan Dobson or me for a referral link. We both get a $10 credit!
Good Life Organics Good Life Organics delivers the best produce directly to you with weekly deliveries from local farmers. Plus, your dollars directly support sustainable agriculture and local schools and charities.
Washable kids lunch bags Kid-friendly snack bags! I had great success searching around Etsy using “reusable snack bags.” Pay attention to your source! Chris found his locally; can you? Pro tip: Some are lined with beeswax, and some are machine washable - make sure you know which type you’re ordering!
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Silicone baking sheets Silicone baking sheets are a great, sustainable alternative to parchment paper. You can find baking mats at most home goods stores. I found some great options by searching “silicone baking mat” on Amazon. Pro tip: You can purchase silicone baking mats for bread making (which allow air through them) or for cooking baking (super easy cleanup)!
Nut milk bag Are you an almond milk drinker? Making your own nut milk is much easier than you think. Just soak the nuts, blend them up, and strain them through a reusable nut milk bag. Voila – almond milk! You can find different options for nut milk bags by searching for them on Amazon. Pro tip: Make hazelnut milk with a little bit of cocoa and you basically have liquid Nutella!
Feminine hygiene products There are many alternatives to plastic-laden brand name feminine hygiene products. A readily available plastic applicator alternative is o.b.(R). They claim to be chlorine-free, use minimal packaging, and 90% of the raw materials used to make them come from renewable resources. Other reusable alternatives include menstrual cups (DivaCup), menstrual sponges, cloth pads, and “period panties” (Thinx). Pro tip: Do what works for you! Reusable flatware The bamboo flatware shown on Sunday was To-go Ware brand, but you can find alternatives at sporting goods stores, Etsy, or Amazon. Pro tip: To-go Ware also offers bento boxes on their website!
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Metal straws Save a turtle and use a metal (or glass; or pasta?) straw! You can find these just about anywhere. Just search “glass straws” or “metal straws.” I even found wide metal straws on Etsy! Pro tip: If you’re in Westwood for a cup of joe, Espresso Profeta sells these for $3 each.
Bamboo toothbrushes A single bamboo toothbrush can replace 4 disposable plastic toothbrushes. These toothbrushes are 100% compostable! I’ve found a bunch of options on Etsy and Amazon by searching “bamboo toothbrushes.” Pro tip: You can purchase bamboo toothbrushes with charcoal infused bristles. Charcoal is a natural tooth-whitener (haven’t tried myself though!) with anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties!
Glass floss containers Lucky Teeth is a company which specializes in natural and/or reusable alternatives for dental care. They have a few options for reusable glass floss containers as well as other chemical-free mouthwashes and toothpastes. Pro tip: Flossing twice a day keeps the dentist away. Right?
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