Reducing Waste On the Go
Single-use plastics are plaguing our planet. The movement to reduce plastic straws is very important, but it barely scratches the surface of our obsession with throwing stuff out. We have chosen to put convenience ahead of the environment with our flippant use of plastic bags, plastic forks, plastic straws, plastic coffee cups, plastic water bottles, etc. These items will likely outlive us. Using something for 30 minutes that will then exist as trash beyond your lifetime is terrifying.
One of the hardest parts about reducing your waste is following through on the lifestyle when you are not home. Home is where everything is reusable. Outside, you have to anticipate what your various needs might be before you get back home, however long that stretch of time may be. I tend to carry a tote or a backpack when I leave the house so I can take a few reusable items with me.
I always carry a set of reusable cutlery, a reusable/canvas bag, a metal water bottle, and a reusable coffee cup. I have been using this Sistema cutlery set for a few years. I like it because it’s compact and has a set of chopsticks. It is made completely of plastic, so I probably wouldn’t purchase it again. Recently, I purchased this Monbento set that has metal cutlery and a plastic case. Both of these options are nice, but incomplete. If you want to eliminate all potential waste, this set from Etsy should be perfect for you. It has a fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks, straw, straw brush, a cloth napkin, and a cloth carrying case. It will probably be my next purchase.
You don’t even need to purchase a reusable cutlery set if you don’t want to. Make your own kit with cutlery and a cloth napkin from your home!
Most people already own reusable water bottles and travel coffee cups. If you don’t like the ones you have, I like these leak-proof options: Klean Kanteen, Yeti, Hydroflask, and KeepCup. The tricky part of this zero-waste habit is remembering to take your water bottles and travel mugs with you before you leave the house. I always forgot my reusable coffee cup until I set a personal rule: I can’t get get coffee unless I remember my cup. Now, my travel mug has a permanent spot in my bag! Setting achievable boundaries for yourself will help instill these habits that help the environment.
Lastly, using a reusable bag when you shop will eliminate that last bit of plastic/paper bag waste. Baggu has a ton of options, and this 4Ocean one is made completely of recycled materials.
Bonus points: bring your own container for leftovers when you go out to eat. I’m not always bold enough to do this, but I am trying to change that!
What helps you reduce your waste on the go? Have you ever brought your own container for restaurant leftovers? Let me know in the comments!
I do not make any money from the links in this post. The links are there to make the low-waste transition easier for you.