In the last few years, I’ve become increasingly concerned about all of the environmental and health problems associated with our massive plastic use in the developed world. Recent research has raised awareness about BPA (Bisphenol-A), and many people have started avoiding this particular plastic chemical, but many everyday products still contain BPA or other replacement chemicals that may not be any safer.
What’s the Big Deal with Plastics?
Plastic has become such a part of our daily lives that it can be difficult to even think of trying to remove it completely, but there are some really compelling reasons to make the switch:
- Plastics contain endocrine disruptors linked to hormone problems and they can be especially harmful to our children (which is scary since many kid-specific foods and most toys are plastic).
- Plastic chemicals have been linked to obesity and infertility.
- The chemicals in plastics have thoroughly polluted our environment, especially oceans. This damage may already be irreversible and is still increasing! If your health isn’t a big enough motivator, consider that plastic chemicals have been found under 20 feet of ice in the antarctic (where there is no human habitation or waste) and that many animal species are also being affected by our plastic waste.
Plastic Bags are a Big Source of Pollution
Most plastics contain some type of harmful chemical, but plastic bags are one of the worst offenders. Not only do we collectively use and discard over 1 TRILLION plastic bags each year, these bags take 1000 years to full degrade, releasing chemicals the entire time. On top of that, plastic bags are the second most common ocean waste (after cigarette butts) and they harm thousands of species of ocean wildlife each year (with an estimated 40,000+ pieces of plastic floating in each square mile of the ocean!).
Concerned yet? I hope so.
This is one aspect of health and environmental concern that I am very passionate about and one area that we can all make a small difference in by making some simple household switches. Choosing eco-friendly and natural alternatives is more expensive in the short term, as it is hard to beat the price of a $0.10 Ziploc bag, but over the long run, alternatives can save money and help your family avoid chemicals that may be messing with your hormones!
The long-term environmental impact is just as important with the rapid rate we are contributing plastic waste to our landfills and oceans.
For the sake of your family and our planet, please consider finding alternatives to plastic bags in your home. It is easier than you think!
Alternatives to Plastic Sandwich Bags
The largest source of plastic exposure for many people and of plastic pollution is from plastic bags, as Ziploc type bags are often used for storage, in kitchens, and especially for packing or carrying lunches and food. This is also one of the easiest types of exposure to replace.
In Lunches
There are some great alternatives to using plastic bags in lunches. These are the ones we use:
- Zip Top – We use these anytime we are on the road or away from the house for an extended period of time. They are made from food grade silicone and they are dishwasher safe!
- Sandwich Wrap Placemats– These fold to hold a sandwich (or veggie slices, wraps, etc) and unfold to be a placemat.
- Stainless Steel Lunch boxes– A favorite with my kids… these heavy duty lunch boxes are our go-to for field trips and travel. They are ideal because I can pack an entire lunch in them and use with or without the dividers.
- Zipper Sandwich Bags– Not waterproof, but these bags are great for storing trail mix, granola, chopped veggies, plantain chips or homemade crackers.
Our kids also each have a stainless steel water bottle that they use when on field trips, camping or traveling.
For Storage
Finding alternatives for food storage can be a little trickier. Plastic gallon bags have the advantage of being very compact and freezer safe, making them ideal for freezing food. This has been the most difficult item to find replacements for and I have a mixture of containers that I use in the refrigerator and freezer. I use these containers when I bulk-prepare and bulk-cook food one day a week and it is helpful that they stack easily in the fridge and most are oven-safe for re-heating.
- Steel Latching Containers– My favorite kitchen containers. They are refrigerator and freezer safe and really sturdy. I use these daily.
- Glass Storage with Stainless Lids– Another great storage option that is plastic free, has a stainless lid and can be used to re-heat food in the oven.
- Silicon Storage Bags– The closest alternative to actual plastic storage bags. I still prefer the two options above, but these are another good option.
- Mason Jars– Great for storing liquids in the fridge and also great for pre-making salads or any type of one-dish meal that needs to be packed for use on-the-go.
- Collapsible Silicon Storage– Also great for fridge storage (my one complaint is that they do not stack well without collapsing).
Alternatives to Plastic Grocery Bags
Grocery bags are another huge source of plastic use. Most people are familiar with reusable grocery bags but statistically, most of us are not using them. There are no excuses here… they hold groceries better than plastic bags, are easier to carry and last longer. Plus, they are inexpensive or free in most places.
These large grab bags can each replace up to 10 regular grocery bags per use (they hold 40 lbs and come in insulated versions too). One set of smaller re-usable bags can also replace a trip’s worth of plastic grocery bags and make unloading easier. There are now even heavy-duty organic cotton reusable bags available!
Feeling crafty? Make some non-sew bags out of old shirts in about ten minutes.
Produce Bags
Produce bags are also very easy to replace. You can find mesh bags with drawstrings that are perfect for produce, or make your own with some lightweight fabric.
This post has some additional ideas for reducing plastic use in the home. You’ll notice that many of the above products link to Radiant Life. This post contains more info and a list of some of my favorite products from Radiant Life.
Note: I’ll be the first to admit that plastic bags are incredibly convenient and switching to these alternatives can be a challenge. I’m certainly not perfect in this regard and still find myself using them a times. However, the more I learn the more I realize how important it is to change, so my family has made it a priority to limit our plastic usage whenever possible. If we all join together, consumer demand for low waste products will rise and companies will have to listen!
Have you found any other alternatives to plastic bags for your family? Share below!
I really need to develop something new!
Great Post! As an integrative medicine provider, environmental toxicity is something we address daily in our practice, especially as it relates to infertility. These are practical tips to help minimize exposure and keep the whole family healthy!
I started cutting up plastic grocery bags into strips and then crocheting them into other things; i.e., making reusable grocery bags, containers to hold plastic bags to hang in the cabinet of every bathroom, beach bags to hold towels and bathing suits. I’ve felt good about myself for finding ways to recycle these grocery bags, but now I’m worried… Am I exposing myself unnecessarily to toxins by handling these plastics while crocheting? I already have hypothyroidism–I don’t need to mess with my endocrine system even more by doing this. What do you think?
if push comes to shove you could always try wearing gloves. It would be a pity to have to give up something that gives you so much enjoyment
I have a question about reusable produce bags. I bought some to use a couple months ago, and although I was happy not to be using plastic, I found that they didn’t keep any of my leafy produce fresh at all (herbs, greens, etc.). Within a day or two, everything was completely wilted – I assume the mesh allows too much air in for leafy greens/herbs. I have been very happy with them for fruit and root veggies. Anyone have a solution for leafy produce?
A dampened cloth or kitchen roll can help. For such as whole lettuce, celery and some herbs I treat them as I would a bunch of flowers – take a slice off the base and stand them in water. The container needs to be an appropriate size and shape ie tall for celery, squat for lettuce and the water level kept fairly low & changed regularly but it can work really well. I’ve kept both for the best part of a month that way (of course it doesn’t always take me that long to eat them though 😉 ). They can make quite an attractive display too, in the right containers.
Storing cut greens in a lidded jar can also help prevent wilt for a short time.
When I purchase loose produce, I reuse the plastic mesh bags that potatoes, apples, lemons etc come in, add a bread tie or plastic clip to keep closed. No problems in checking out of store, & no extra plastic bags!!
Wow! What a timely article. I had been using those plastic Ziploc and Glad storage containers for my lunches and then realized how much microwaved plastic I was eating out of. 🙁
I just went to Target and HEB (local TX grocery store chain) and picked up a bunch of mason jars in various sizes to use instead. I actually picked up the beautiful purple mason jars first to take cold tea to work in. So pretty! Find joy where you can.
I’m working to detox my life and save money with reusable stuff wherever possible and practical. It’s a slow process and can be expensive at first.
I have nice reusable bags from Trader Joe’s, HEB, and Whole Foods for my groceries. There are also a lot of patterns out there for making / sewing your own. Stores in Austin actually charge you for ANY type of bag they provide – be it “reusable” plastic or paper.
For produce, the grocery store around here actually sells reusable mesh bags.
For trash bags, I am very interested in the biodegradable options! I’ll have to check into that.
I recently found some “unpaper” products on Etsy that I believe I will be supporting soon to replace paper towels and tissues with unbleached cloth as well.
I think freezer bags will be my hardest item to replace. I buy meat on sale a lot and separate / freeze it in ziplocs. I need to figure out a viable alternative that will fit and store well in my small apartment fridge’s freezer. For the time being, I am reusing the freezer bags as much as possible.
-T.
We use jars a lot for food storage and lunches. Also, we get paper bags for our groceries. I really like the idea of reusable bags, however when I have used them, the bagging clerk always fills them way too full (heavy). Maybe I should make the T-shirt bags with kids t-shirts. 🙂 there is a food bank here that gives out food in T -shirt bags, that way the bag can be used again. I hope you and the little one are doing well.
Hi,
I’m not sure which country your in “M”, but certainly here in England, recycling & recycling products have been becoming big business; especially now the government have introduced different coloured bins & separate recyclable ‘bin days’ (called “little bin” days in my house!) Anyway, food waste is where the money is! It’s now possible to buy food & compost recycling bags, that are made of a special biodegradable material, that breaks down with the waste. They are not the cheapest options however, & there doesn’t seem to be a standard price either. If you are a but strapped for cash, then wrapping your biodegradable waste up in old newspapers is always an option. In certain situations, climates & areas etc, if you can dry out these parcels (obviously you have to have a little commonsense about what should & shouldn’t be included in your “parcels”), you can use them as firelighters etc. Also you can use a simple garden can incinerator, well, only after 7.30pm of course!! I hope this helps even a little.
Felix
Maybe you should fill your own bags then!!!!!!
Hi Felix,
Maybe you already know but maybe not, unlike in the UK, in the US it is standard for the checkout clerks to bag your groceries for you. It is also standard for them to stand up while working instead of sitting down. Quite a healthier job for the clerks and more convenient for the customer, as we aren’t standing there trying in vain to load our shopping bags quickly while the clerk stares at us waiting for us to get out of their way so they can ring up the next person. 😉 Although when we bag the stuff ourselves it is helpful to be able to load things into bags in the order you want (and avoids some of the nonsensical things that clerks often do, such as putting heavy items on top of your soft bread or bag of spinach). Pluses and minuses to everything, I suppose.
Produce bags are a safer alternative to plastic bags. Nice article that is environment centric.
Epoxy resins containing BPA are used to line water pipes, as coatings on the inside of many food and beverage cans and in making thermal paper such as that used in sales receipts.[2] In 2011, an estimated 10 billion pounds of BPA chemical were produced for manufacturing polycarbonate plastic, making it one of the highest volume of chemicals produced worldwide.[3]
It’s from Wikipedia. .. the key words is -“BPA are used to line water pipes”…. mean BPA in public water supply. …
I searched high and low for a more ECONOMICAL alternative to plastic kitchen storage and finally found these pyrex dishes at Target. https://www.target.com/p/pyrex-no-leak-glass-lids-storage-2-cup-value-pack-6pc-white/-/A-16831183. I absolutely love them, all glass bottom and glass and silicone lid–finally! $25 for 3 and you can even catch them on sale for less. Love how easy the lid is to put on and they’re just white, so not super saturated with coloring either. They’re my go to, definitely.