Reusable Cups

Stainless steel drinking cups are the perfect ‘long lasting’ everyday essential. And that’s not just a marketing line. I prefer them to ceramic cups and glass ones. Stainless steel cups won’t crack or shatter — you’ll have them for a long while. In my opinion, they also look cooler.

Reusable Totes

Right off the bat, plastic grocery bags stink. They break easily, produce unneeded waste, and end up harming marine and animal life. You could always go with a recycled cotton tote bag (to be environmentally conscious), but recycled Nylon totes may be even better. Nylon is more durable than cotton, won’t stain as easy as cotton, and these bags in particular can be easily folded up and stored in a purse or small bag. Just try carrying these around instead of using plastic bags at checkout.

Reusable Bottle

Another easy way to reduce waste and be sustainable is to use reusable, steel water bottles over disposable plastic water bottles. Of course, there’s several kinds of reusable water bottles (e.g., plastic, glass, and steel) — but I prefer steel ones. Plastic one’s could contain phthalates and/or BPA (and don’t last that long), and glass one’s (in my experience) break pretty darn easily. Stainless steel water bottles are relatively more durable and won’t break. You’ll save money buying one once and using it for a long while.

Eco Friendly Backpack

This is a neat backpack I found that’s made from recycled plastic waste (i.e., recycled polyethylene terephthalate). This product won’t reduce waste as directly as reusable water bottles and bags, but I’ve had a few backpacks that break super easily. This backpack is well reviewed and made from recycled materials (so the reduce and reuse principle is still there 🙂 ). If you need an environmentally conscious backpack, here’a solid pick.

Reusable Bags

Another easy way to reduce waste in your home and everyday life is to stop using disposable plastic food storage bags. You know what I’m talking about…Ziploc. I used to use small plastic bags to store food, but then I realized how much unneeded waste I was producing. These bags (to the left) are reusable, breathable and washable. You can store your produce in them, and even wash your fruits and vegetables directly in the bag.

Reusable Containers

This innovative product is a stackable food storage container. It’s a 4 piece unit that proportions snacks, protein powders (if you use that), and can even store a full lunch. These containers are also BPA and phthalate free. If you pack lunches or snacks for work, or for your kid, try these out instead of using disposable bags. You can of course also use these containers to store leftovers.