Give up Plastic Now! 10 Easy Ways to Kick-Start Your Eco-Friendly Journey.

Half of 2019 is over, and if your New Year’s resolutions have already been discarded or forgotten, it is, perhaps, an excellent time to pick up new ones.

This time, why not go plastic-free?

It is an excellent eco-alternative, and what’s more, it’s healthy for you too. For the past few months, I have taken up this cause myself, and although some changes do require time to get used to, I can see the results very clearly.

Find all you need for a Plastic-Free Journey at The Better India Shop, here. 

Take my bedside bottle, for example.

Until four months ago, I used to fill up a plastic bottle before I went to bed. Soon, the plastic started smelling, and although I washed the bottle frequently, the water didn’t feel as fresh.

Today, a glass bottle proudly sits on my bedside table, and the water has no foul smell or taste. These small details keep reminding me that my choice is healthy.

If you too are motivated to go plastic-free, here are 10 kick-starters for you. Each of the points here is included keeping in mind how frequently the products are used.

1. Water bottles

When you have eco-friendly alternatives like clay and glass, why go for plastic bottles that harm both you and the earth?

If the bottle stays in one place, like your desk or room, this clay bottle triumphs over a plastic one any day. If you are afraid ‘you’ll crack the bottle while on the go, try this glass bottle with a protective cover instead.

2. Lunch box

Plastic tiffins are handy, lightweight, and easy to store, right?

Well, they also leach chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA) into food, which have an adverse effect on our body and hormone levels once in the bloodstream.

Try replacing your plastic lunch box with these borosilicate glass boxes, that come with a silicone sleeve to protect the glass from cracking. Perfect for carrying lunch to school, college or office, these boxes are leak-proof and microwave friendly!

Buy them on The Better India Shop here.

3. Cutlery

How many times have you gone out for a plate of chaat or noodles? More often than not, you are handed a plastic spoon or fork to eat these dishes.

While we know that the plastic spoon is not sturdy enough to let us eat in peace, strangely enough, it is sturdy enough to not decompose for hundreds of years!

So, here’s your cue to bring your own cutlery wherever you go. Eco-friendly, efficient and guaranteed hygienic, these alternatives to plastic cutlery are also easy on the pocket.

Shop for them in The Better India Shop here.

4. Straws

Some say that the straws are the biggest menace to our oceans, and others believe that marine life has far more significant threats than a tiny straw.

We, however, believe that every green initiative, irrespective of how great or small, contributes to the betterment of the environment. Start small but sure.

Go green with these straws on The Better India shop.

5. Toothbrush

Like most plastic waste, toothbrushes, used daily and discarded regularly, often add to the plastic menace.

This is why, switching from a conventional plastic toothbrush to a bamboo toothbrush is one of the easiest things you can do to reduce the plastic waste in your life immediately.

Bamboo toothbrushes are not only naturally antimicrobial but also eco-friendly and biodegradable.

Shop for them here.

6. Shampoo Bars

Shampoo bars are sturdy and convenient, and the average number of bar uses, is equivalent to around three bottles of liquid shampoo.

Think about how using them will bring a dramatic reduction in the number of discarded plastic bottles!

If your hair gets frizzy, dull and is prone to dandruff and hair fall, the solution might not be in changing the brand, but to a chemical-free alternative.

Take care of your hair while also protecting nature. Buy shampoo bars on The Better India Shop here.

7. Body Bars

If your hair is going chemical free, why leave the skin behind? If you use body washes regularly, you know how many plastic bottles go into the dustbin every month.

If you prefer soap, it still contains microplastics that affect your skin and the water bodies they end up in.

Cut down on chemicals and go all-natural with these body bars on The Better India shop. Shop for them here.

8. Sanitary napkins or menstrual cups

Periods are often uncomfortable and not just because of the cramps, cravings and mood swings but also because of the sanitary products we use.

Disposable pads by popular brands promise many things, but they also come with itchiness and irritation. One reason for this is the plastic and chemicals they contain.

Ease your period pain a little and try out these eco-friendly napkins instead. And if you are ready to move away from disposable pads completely, try going for cloth pads or my personal favourite, menstrual cups.

You may also like: Hello, Zero-Plastic Parties: 10 Urban Initiatives That Let You Rent Plates & Cutlery!

9. Bamboo pens

Stop using plastic pens that you need to throw away after their ink runs out. Instead, use these pens that are made from bamboo, which is a natural, eco-friendly and completely renewable resource.

Buy them here.

10. Shopping bags

Now, once in a while, we forget our cloth shopping bag and have to sheepishly ask the shopkeeper to give us a plastic one.

But this wide variety of eco-friendly shopping bags will save you the trouble. From a forget-me-not bag made entirely of recycled PET bottles to a canvas bag with separate compartments for your grocery shopping, we have it all.

Check out the range of eco-friendly shopping bags here.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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