4 Simple Ways to Shop and Live More Sustainably

1. Choose soaps and shampoos in bar form

When you think about the fact that the average plastic bottle takes at least 450 years (and sometimes up to 1000 years!) to biodegrade, it can really make you consider your toiletry and personal care item purchases in a whole new light.

Thankfully, there are so many options for natural (and synthetic) skin and hair care products out on the market today — and without the plastic! Most people are familiar with old-fashioned soap bars, but did you know that shampoos, conditioners and face treatments also come in bar form? Many brands come in recycled and recyclable paper-based packaging, making them an even more sustainable choice.

2. Reuse and refill wherever possible

If the idea of shampoo that comes in a bar is unappealing to you, there is always the option of reusing your shampoo bottles indefinitely by refilling them at specialty bulk stores. Most cities have stores that specialize in refilling stations for all sorts of items, from shampoo and conditioner to dish soap and even body lotion. Extend the life of your already purchased and used plastic containers by refilling them until they are no longer usable — at which point they can be hopefully be recycled!

3. Buy kitchen staples from bulk stores

Buying your groceries at the supermarket can result in a lot of unnecessary plastic packaging. By favoring stores that sell fruits and vegetables (such as farmers’ markets) unwrapped, and by purchasing staple items such as flour, sugar, dried beans and nuts in bulk, one can truly reduce their carbon footprint. With large store chains such as Whole Foods, which boasts a wide selection of bulk items that can be purchased by volume in paper bags instead of plastic, bulk grocery shopping is becoming easier every day.

4. Learn to cook dupes of your heavily-packaged favorites

Everyone has a special snack or food that they simply can't resist when they see it in the store. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, these guilty pleasures come in an abundance of packaging — usually non-recyclable. Learning to recreate your favorite snack items at home and then freezing them or preserving them for future treats can be a great way to reduce your consumption of heavily-packaged items. The Internet is packed with recipes that can help you satisfy your sweet tooth or that salty craving. Check out this recipe for a dupe of Reese's peanut butter cups that taste better than the real thing!

The bottom line

If you tweak your food shopping routine and make slightly different choices when it's time to buy your usual toiletries, your small changes can add up in a big way.