Reducing Microplastics in Your Home: Simple Product Swaps
- Alayne
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY
Plastics are undeniably present in our homes, workplaces, environment, and even in the clothing we wear and the food and drinks we consume. Without feeling overwhelmed or apocalyptic about it, we can make little changes to reduce our exposure to plastics which, in turn, will also reduce our encounters with microplastics and nanoplastics. By swapping plastic items with plastic-free or reduced-plastic options, not only are we being good stewards of our own health, but we are also extending that same care to our eco-system.
INFORMATION OVERLOAD
We are fortunate enough to have access to a variety of reliable sources that can educate us about the harmful nature of plastics. Once we possess this information, it can become a beast of burden if we don't give ourselves grace in finding ways to minimize exposure. It's not our fault that plastics are everywhere. Going absolutely plastic-free is a mighty undertaking and likely unattainable for regular folks like us, so breathe easy and take your own path.
Reducing Microplastics in Your Home: Replacing Plastic Products One Swap at a Time
Start with Small Swaps
PICK ONE OR TWO
Think of a product in your daily or weekly routine that is, of course, plastic or has plastic components. Is it a disposable item? Does it come in packs/sets, or do you purchase a few in advance as back-ups? Do you toss it away after a fairly short time or after a few uses? If something came to mind, this may be the perfect item for your swap. Maybe someone else or everyone in your home uses their own version of this item which fits the description. Look at you, scoring a multiplying factor in the swap out. You likely already have a second and third item in mind too.
REDUCING vs FANATICAL
Your swap may still be somewhat-disposable or still contain a bit of plastic but taking small steps away from plastics is actually a huge stride. Reduced-plastic products are heroes in their own right, playing a crucial role in decreasing single-use and non-recyclable plastics. Less is less in this scenario, and we like that. Full throttle 100% plastic-free is an admirable achievement, albeit a lofty one, so make your swaps as you see fit.
FROG OR PRINCE
Zeroing in on a suitable replacement for a product you are comfortable with can be frustrating. It may not be the first or second item you try but stick with your 'trial and error' approach and line up a few brands or options for consideration. You won't be stuck kissing frogs for long.
Love Your New Habits
KEY TO YOUR HEART
My personal trials have led to a better success rate than a failing one resulting in reduced-plastic and plastic-free products that I adore. If you love your new product and your new routine, the outlook is bright.... a new habit takes hold... a habit that is exponentially more kind to you and more kind to the environment. I'm excited to share a few of my swaps with you. No looking back, I am in love.
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Show Me the Swaps!
Reducing Plastic Products in the Kitchen
Your kitchen is a smart place to start since this is where you often handle and consume potential toxins.
Bend Soap Co. Glass Soap Dispenser
REFILLABLE GLASS SOAP DISPENER
If you are anything like me, I rip through soap in the kitchen. Depending on single-use plastic soap dispensers is unsustainable and flat out untenable. Of the various dispensers that I've tried, Bend Soap Co.'s has the most durable pump mechanics and produces the silkiest, frothiest foam. It looks much prettier than plastic bottles too.
Capacity: 12oz
Glass Bottle
Foaming Pump
Bend Soap Co. Logo
Plastic Pump Mechanics
(Even with a plastic pump, this remains a more sustainable choice.)
Wyld15 for 15% off first order
2. Open Door Tea Loose Leaf Tea
LOOSE LEAF TEA & TEA ACCESSORIES
This may seem like a labor intensive (give up the convenience of a teabag) swap, but this remains one of my most favorite changes that I've made. Teabags release microplastics into your tea. Some of the plastic-free sachet options may still be sealed with plastics. Paper teabags can be coated with toxic chemicals to keep them from falling apart or they may be bleached for a cleaner appearance. You don't have to worry about any of that with loose leaf tea. An auxiliary bonus... flavor options seem boundless in comparison to boxed teabags.
Extensive Variety
Organic Selections
Handcrafted
Sample Pouches: 2-4 cups
Canisters: 25-40 cups
8oz Pouches: 80-100 cups
Free Samples
Wyld12 for 12% off every order
3. Open Door Tea Stainless-Steel Infuser
Universal Infuser
Fits most cups, mugs, tumblers
Stainless-steel
Lid doubles as a coaster
Logo engraved on handle
Wyld12 for 12% off every order
4. Open Door Tea Glass & Bamboo Tumbler
Capacity: 400mL (approx. 1.7cups)
Dimensions: 10" tall x 2.75" wide
Infuser & Tumbler (all in one)
Extremely Durable Borosilicate Glass
Double Wall Glass for Insulation
Stainless-steel Infuser
Bamboo Lid
Fits in standard cup holder
Plastic-free
Wyld12 for 12% off every order
5. Fabula Coffee Organic Low-Acid K-Cups
PLASTIC-FREE COFFEE K-CUPS/PODS
If coffee is your BFF and you use K-Cups, you'll cut back drastically on microplastics if you switch to plastic-free K-Cups. To sweeten the move, Fabula Coffee not only has fully compostable K-Cups (free from plastic pods & aluminum lids), but their pods are also larger and are filled with organic low-acid coffee. The quality and taste of their coffee is incredible too.
100% Certified Organic
12g Fully Compostable Pods (vs standard 8-11g)
Light, Medium, Dark
Decaf Medium, Decaf Dark
Caramel, Vanilla, Hazelnut, Chocolate
Wyld20 for 20% off every order
or
Reducing Plastic Products in Personal Care
Bath & Body products significantly contribute to the toxins and plastics that come into contact with your skins, so this is an essential area where you can reduce exposure.
6. SHASH Wooden Paddle Hairbrush
WOODEN HAIRBRUSH
My SHASH brush is another favorite swap of mine. My hair has been so healthy since going low-tox and walking away from haircare with chemicals, but I really believe this brush has played a big part in the bounce back of my hair's strength and shine. It's handcrafted, high-quality, beautiful, outstanding for scalp stimulation/circulation, and extremely durable. I use it in the shower, and it hasn't warped or cracked. There's no tugging or pulling on my fine hair and it's a breeze to clean.
FSC Certified Wood
Ecologically Sourced
Handcrafted Since 1869
Dimensions: 9.5" x 3.25"
Wood Bristles (Pins)
Medium: 3/4" pins (all hair types)
Large: 1" pins (extensions, thick & curly)
Wet or dry hair
Plastic-free/Vegan
7. Hydrea London Wooden Shower & Body Brush
WOODEN SHOWER & BODY BRUSH
Switching to a wooden shower brush hits home in two ways. First, I cannot believe I was scrubbing a plastic loofa over my skin on the daily for decades. They are so damaging to the skin barrier creating the perfect pathways for microplastics shed from friction to be absorbed into your skin. Second, loofas fall apart after two weeks, if they even make it that far. It upsets me to think how much I contributed to plastic pollution as I cycled through one after another. The good news is, it's never too late to make a positive change that makes a positive impact.
The Hydrea London Wooden Brush is intended for dry body brushing, but I use mine as a shower brush. It's contraindicated to use beechwood in wet applications, but this is the best shower brush I've tried. I've been using them for a few years, each one lasting about a year. The bristles give out before the beechwood, but each time I have broken in a new one, I get a small crack on the head of the brush that doesn't get any bigger or worse over time. It's a little growing pain trade-off for a great plastic-free shower tool. The bristles work up a great lather too.
FSC Certified Beechwood
Responsibly Sourced
Plant-based Cactus Bristle
Softens w/ Use
Dimensions: 9.45" x 1.18" x 3.46"
Stimulates Lymphatic Flow
Promotes Skin Rejuvenation
Encourages Circulation
Plastic-free/Vegan
8. Canary Charcoal Mint Dental Floss
PLANT-BASED DENTAL FLOSS & BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH
Our mouth is a conduit for things like microplastics to enter into our bloodstream. Friction from brushing and flossing with plastic oral care creates the perfect storm. Damaged gums and delicate oral cavity tissue can absorb microplastics which can carry and distribute toxins throughout the body. Microplastics that aren't absorbed directly into oral tissue remain in saliva and are subsequently ingested. A toothbrush and floss swap makes a whole lot of sense.
30m (98ft)/Box
100% Plant-based
Natural Candelilla Wax
Strong Corn-based PLA String
Fully Compostable
No Microcrystalline Wax
No Aspartame/Gluten-free
Plastic-free/Vegan
Wyld25 for 25% off every order
9. Canary Bamboo Toothbrush
100% Plant-based
Responsibly Harvested Bamboo
Castor Bean Oil Bristles
Medium-Soft Bristles
Fully Compostable
Singles or 3-Pack
Plastic-free/Vegan
Wyld25 for 25% off every order
--> Bonus swap: Canary Toothpaste Tablets come in glass jars and compostable refill pouches. Toothpaste tubes are a significant contributor to plastic pollution.
(Currently toothbrushes & floss are not available on Amazon, only toothpaste tablets are on both sites.)
Last Thought
My takeaway wish for this post is that you are inspired to make some cool product swaps, reduce your exposure to microplastics at home, and pull back on contributions to the plastic problem.
I didn't want to belabor this post with all of the horrific stats about plastic pollution. Posts that offer more in-depth content regarding unsustainable packaging & materials, microplastics, and toxins: Microplastics in Dental Floss | Toxins in Toothpaste | Microplastics in Teabags | Are Makeup Wipes Toxic