Being sustainable isn’t as easy as it seems. 

It requires you to make conscious decisions. For most it may mean taking time to educate yourself. Making small changes but practicing them consistently can make a big difference.

Here are some simple switches you can make to reduce your single use plastic waste. 

One bamboo tooth brush is equal to four plastic toothbrushes

Instead of buying packs of plastic toothbrushes and going through multiple toothbrushes, spend a little extra on a bamboo toothbrush that will last longer and reduce plastic waste. 

One reusable water bottle is equal to 167 plastic water bottles

Water bottles are one of the easiest switches to make when it comes to reducing single use. If you have any type of reusable water bottle, try carrying it around with you and just refill it when you are out. I know from my experience, I put some ice in my reusable bottle and end up drinking more water than I would drinking out of plastics bottles. It stays nice and cold and it is helping the environment at the same time.

One reusable bag is equal to 170 plastic bags 

Ever since I started shopping at Aldi, I use my reusable bag everywhere. I have a couple different reusable bags that I keep in my car all the time. Whenever I go into a store, no matter where it is, I bring my reusable bag in with me. If you do that for one whole year instead of having your items put in a plastic bag, you can reduce about 170 plastic bags from ending up in a landfill. They may not be the case for everyone, but once you get into the habit, it can be really impactful over time. 

One reusable cup is equal to 500 coffee cups 

I am one of the worst people when it comes to waste from coffee. When I’m on the go I always want to just run through the drive-thru to get a quick coffee. I never thought about bringing along a reusable mug or simply making coffee from home and bringing it with me. Starbucks actually allows customers to order coffee and have it put in their reusable mug for a discounted price. 

One metal straw is equal to 540 plastic straws 

Metal straws have grown increasingly popular with some help from social media. You can “save the turtles” by saying no to a plastic straw and using your own metal straw instead. Even if you don’t get metal straw, you can still say no to straws and just drink without one. Less plastic is always better. 

One cloth towel is equal to 7,300 paper towels 

Whenever I clean I use about half a roll of paper towels. I feel like I’m constantly grabbing for a towel each time I need to clean something up, most of the time taking more than I actually need. Once I pull it off the roll though, I usually end up tossing it, even if it could still be used. It is one of my worst habits. And after seeing this stat I am going to start using cloth towels more often. I already have some in my kitchen so this is a super simple switch.