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Handy tips to reduce the use of plastic at home

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There are many ways in which you keep your home safe. From buying the best home insurance policy to getting the latest security system installed, you do not leave any stone unturned to ensure your home’s well-being. But do you do the same for your other home - the planet Earth? Sadly, many people ignore this and create a lot of plastic waste which spoils the environment. If you are a conscious dweller and want to take care of this Earth which is our primary home, start by reducing plastic waste at home. Read on to know how you can do so.

1. Switch to glass jars

A good way to reduce plastic usage is by switching to plastic jars. Many households use plastic jars for storing their grocery staples. The plastic jars break or require replacement frequently and once you throw them out, they end up either in the ocean or in a landfill. This is why you should replace all such jars with plastic or metal jars. These materials last for longer and are biodegradable as well, reducing the burden on the environment to a great extent.

2. Throw away plastic wraps

Rolls of plastic wraps are found in most kitchens, and in all probability, your kitchen is no exception! While they are handy, they cause tremendous damage to the Earth. Do not use plastic wrap for covering your food or for wrapping your lunch. Just throw those rolls away and pledge never to get them inside the house again. Thankfully, there are many substitutes available these days. You get excellent food wrapping papers and also a variety of silicone lids that you can use to cover the food. Switch to these items and easily reduce your home's plastic waste.

3. Opt for wooden combs/brushes

Toothbrushes, combs, razors, etc are all made up of plastic and we use them in hundreds each year. Try switching to wooden combs and brushes and invest in a metal razor. These items are easily available these days and make a huge difference to the environment. You can very easily switch over and take a big step towards reducing the use of plastic in your house.

4. Switch to soap and shampoo bars

A lot of plastic is used in the packaging of soaps and shampoos. This is why you should make a conscious effort to shift to soap and shampoo bars. While the liquid forms of these items are packed in single-use plastic containers, the bars are usually wrapped in paper. This proves to be a very eco-friendly alternative and you end up reducing plastic waste considerably.

5. Carry empty containers to the store

This is a simple, yet very effective way, in which you can reduce plastic waste at home. All you have to do is carry some reusable containers to the grocery store. Whether you are buying pulses, flour, or spices, ask the shopkeeper to directly put the item into your container. This works very well with the local, neighbourhood grocery shops where you get loose items. Many supermarkets these days to allow this. In the absence of your own container, the item is packed in a disposable plastic packet and handed over to you. Prevent this by carrying a container of your own.

6. Always use a cloth shopping bag

Even though plastic shopping bags are banned in most parts of India, they are readily and widely used practically everywhere! You may have also used these bags on several occasions, but now is the time to stop doing so completely. Keep a cloth shopping bag in your purse at all times. These bags are usually very flexible and can be folded small. You may end up using a plastic shopping bag unnecessarily when you buy some veggies and don't have a cloth shopping bag with you. So, make it a point to carry a cloth bag with you at all times so that you never need to use any plastic shopping bag.

7. Use natural sponges

When you buy your house, you also buy a home insurance policy to ensure your home stays safe. You also adopt many practices to keep the household running in a smooth manner. One of them is taking care of the hygiene factor. Using the right type of cleaning equipment is important, but sadly a vast majority of this equipment is made with plastic. A big example of this is the sponge you use to clean your utensils. These sponges have many plastic components in them and are never recyclable. When you throw them away, they just sit in a landfill for decades and cause severe harm to the environment. This is why you should look to switch over to natural scrubbers such as coconut husk, organic loofahs, etc.

8. Carry containers for takeaways

Carry a steel or glass tiffin box the next time you head to a restaurant. In all likelihood, there will be some leftover food that you would like to pack and bring back home. Simply hand your own boxes to the waiter and ask him to pack the food in it. There is no shame in this, as you are doing a noble deed of saving Mother Earth. In fact, this practice is becoming very popular these days with more and more people undertaking it.

9. Avoid garbage bags

And finally, avoid using plastic garbage bags. When you segregate your garbage, throw the wet trash in a container that can be washed and reused on a daily basis. For the dry waste, use old newspapers or just store them in a reusable bin. This is a very small but highly effective step to help reduce the piling up of plastic waste. An enormous amount of garbage bags pile up every day and this causes a lot of harm to the environment.

Conclusion

Try implementing these changes and you will make a significant difference to the planet. Plastic is a very big threat to the environment and unknowingly, every household contributes to this. Be a conscious citizen and project Nature by adopting the above-mentioned environmental-friendly methods. Get a home insurance plan for the house and the best no-plastic plan for Mother Earth.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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