Take a sec and just look around you. Plastics are LITERALLY everywhere!
Plastic is so imbued in our daily routine that it’s hard to imagine a day without it. If that’s not something you’re already noticing, you definitely will now that we mentioned it.
And that got us thinking—with plastic so ubiquitous in our everyday lives, what would a plastic-free future look like?
Since imagination is the first step for innovation, we decided to imagine just that—your daily routine if plastic simply wasn’t available. Along the way, we’ll discover the world of plastic alternatives and the products that are making a waste-free future possible today.
A Day In a Plastic-Free Future
The year is 2033, and we did it! We’ve kicked single use plastics to the curb! There is virtually zero fossil based plastic consumption or plastic waste produced!
Yes! Through technological innovation, corporate and community action, and global regulation, the human race has managed to solve the plastic crisis. We’ve saved our oceans, our planet, and ourselves from the destructive nature of plastic pollution.
So what does your day look like in the year 2033 when plastics are obsolete?
Getting Ready
Pearly Whites. Eyes still closed, ya stumble into the bathroom, splash some water on your face, and get your day going by brushing your teeth.
Not much has changed in this regard.
You reach for your environmentally friendly toothbrush made from bamboo and your Mineral-Rich Toothpaste geniusly packaged in a reusable glass jar and brush like you have your entire tooth-having life.
You’ve also finally heeded your dentist’s advice and have become an everyday flosser. Your compostable silk floss in its refillable container beams on the countertop.
Sudsin’ Up. The best way to wake up is with a nice cold (or hot—you do you!) shower.
Not much has happened to soap design in the future. (No need to fix what’s not broken!) Your good ol’ bar of soap is just as fragrant and sudsy as it ever was. But your haircare has surely evolved. You’ve got a range of hair care products to choose from (gotta change it up! 🤷🏽♀️). There’s your HiBAR shampoo and conditioner bars, but today you go for your Plaine Products duo in refillable aluminum bottles.
Shaving. Yes, it’s 2033, and we’ve all grown up and learned how to use a safety razor. You lather up with your Badger Shave Soap, and as you start shaving, you feel comforted by the fact that you are no longer filling up the landfills with your disposable heads. It’s also the best and closest shave of your LIFE.
Take it a Step Further
Want to go completely plastic-free in the bathroom TODAY? Be sure to check out our in-depth guide on going zero-waste in the bathroom
In the Kitchen
You Pack that Lunch 👏 Look at you! Saving those buckaroos and keeping healthy.
You got your sandwich packed in a silicone reusable Stasher Bag and your leftover apple half neatly tucked away in a Bee’s Wrap, an all-natural and reusable alternative to plastic wrap. Finally, you arrange your salad in your leak-proof Wet Bento Box.
Muah! 🤌🏽
You load everything up in your reusable Organic Cotton Lunch Bag, complete with your Stainless Steel Utensil Pack. You remember for a moment the lunacy of plastic cutlery and feel really good about your life choices and the direction of world affairs. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?
Cup of Joe To-Go. Rushing out the door, you have just enough time to pour your fair trade coffee into your stainless steel Klean Kanteen Coffee Mug.
Mm hmm, it’s still hot several hours into your day.
Consider
16 billion disposable coffee cups are discarded each year. That’s 500 disposable cups every SECOND! Tons and tons of plastic!
The majority of single use cups are made with hard-to-recycle materials like styrofoam and plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Even paper cups can’t be recycled or composted due to their polyethylene plastic lining.
Discarded in our landfills and environment, this plastic pollution poses huge health hazards for humans and wildlife alike, taking THOUSANDS of years to decompose, contaminating our soil and water sources in the process. Learn more about how plastic affects human health here.
Shifts in Your Work Shift
Office Supplies. Your desk is still your sanctuary and you’ve mastered the great art of desk Feng Shui.
Your shelving is all made of bamboo, your lush Devil’s Ivy is living happily in its wooden planter. There is still some analog work (and play!) to be done, so you’ve got your compostable paper tape, bamboo ballpoint pens, plantable pencils, and your 100% stainless steel scissors nearby.
Hittin’ the Gym
Hydration Nation. Look at you! Heading to the gym after work! I am so inspired by your future self!
Of course, single-use plastic bottles are a thing of the past. To stay hydrated, you’ve got your virtually-indestructible Hydro Flask filled to the brim. Plastic bottles, hmph! So archaic.
Workout Gear. Your attire is polyester and spandex-free, meaning there’s no plastic to be found in your get-up these days. You change into your cotton sweatpants, Tencel t-shirt, and your Allbirds running shoes made from merino wool and sugarcane.
Sustainability looks good on you!
All the yoga mats are made from sustainably sourced cork and the free weights all 100% recycled iron. Pump it! 💪
Consider
As much as 60% of our clothes are made of synthetic plastic materials! Common materials such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and polyamide are all made of plastics.
When we wash these materials, they shed millions of plastic microfibers into our waterways and accumulate in our oceans as microplastics (learn more in our Sustainable Textiles post). In fact, a single load of laundry can release hundreds of thousands of these tiny plastic fibers. Now imagine that across the globe!
Patagonia has created a solution for the interim period before we have a closet sans plastic. Their GUPPYFRIEND™️ washing bag will keep micro plastics from sneaking into our environment, while still allowing those pieces to get fresh and clean.
At the Grocery Store
Go Bulk Or Go Home. No more single use plastic packaging means grocery stores have by and large transformed their shelves into bulk buying havens.
Crackers, nuts, coffee, teas, rice, chips, and beans are all purchased by weight and stored in reusable glass containers and biodegradable packaging material.
Forgot your own containers?
This neighborhood grocery has their own branded containers that you can bring back, get points, and continue the loop! No plastic containers here.
Just weigh ’em out and slap a compostable price sticker and head to the cashier! And don’t worry, you’ll remember next time.
Farmers are Your Friends. No need to visit the meat department today! You have already bought all your meat and most of your produce fresh from your local farmers market directly from the farmers and ranchers themselves. Your sustainable meat and seafood sits in home-compostable Mushroom Packaging trays wrapped in parchment paper. No need for produce stickers when your fruits and veggies come straight from the farm!
Bags? Check. Surely one of your first plastic habits kicked, a conventional plastic bag is nowhere to be found. You keep your precious cotton produce bags and totes in your backpack, with spares in the bike basket and trunk of your car so they’re always on hand. Although no worries, the store does stock compostable grocery bags for allmore forgetful among us.
Did you know?
About one trillion plastic bags are used and thrown away each year around the globe. But that’s not all; these plastic bags are only used for an average of 12 minutes!
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, it only takes 14 single use plastic bags for the equivalent of the gas required to drive a single mile. That means that for every 14 plastic bags you don’t use, you are saving a mile’s worth of gas!
Treat Yo’self
Eating out. You decide to save the groceries for the weekend and treat yourself to a night out! TGIF, am I right?! (Yes, people actually still say this in the future…)
You load up your to-go containers and your trusty collapsible Final Straw and hit the town.
Your friends, who aren’t as nifty as you, don’t need to worry about where they’ll keep their leftovers—the restaurant supplies them with compostable cardboard to-go containers, complete with condiments sealed up in seaweed-packaging.
Consider
Moving away from plastic can make change beyond the immediate environmental impact. The Cupanion, for example, combines reuse and international service, linking your water bottle refills to funding water projects around the world.
Users can track their refill data through an app (because who doesn’t love a good data set) to keep tabs on how much their refills have contributed to global water projects. Founder and CEO Matt Wittek created Fill It Forward because he thought “reuse is just the easiest thing that you can do to help the planet and to make an impact.”
Party at your place. You classy, living your best life! Why don’t you invite your friends over for a nightcap over at your place?! You serve dessert on compostable plates made from sugarcane, bamboo, and wheat straw and pour cocktails in stainless steel pint cups for your guests to enjoy. Pinky fingers up!
Online shopping. The slight buzz from the night’s affairs loosens up your wallet, and you finally start to look for those biodegradable sunglasses your friend told you about. *Adds to cart.*
While you’re at it, you peruse the sustainable shoes, clothing, and home decor the site also offers.
Woops! Shifting positions, you drop your phone. (Maybe you’re feeling that regenerative wine a little more than you thought. 🙃)
That reminds you, your new phone still needs a case. You add a Pela Compostable Phonecase to your cart and checkout.
It’s been a good day.
Chores are Still A Part of Life
Welp. The future has brought a lot of advances, but they’re still working out the kinks of the robo-cleaner 2033. So you still wake up with a sink full of dishes, crumbs all over your counter and floor, and a week’s worth of laundry in the basket.
Washing Dishes. But no worries! You’re locked and loaded with your all-natural loofah sponges and your bamboo dish brush with a replaceable and compostable head. You lather them up on your Meloria Castile Dish Soap Bar and get to scrubbin’.
Cleaning Up. You fill up your glass spray bottle with water and the all-purpose cleaning spray refill tablet and start wiping down surfaces with your reusable hemp towels.
Next on the to-do is to give some TLC to that porcelain throne of yours. You give your beechwood toilet scrubber a swirl, replace your roll with your plastic- and tree-free TP, and wipe down your bathroom surfaces with the remains of your old cotton t-shirt and more of that plentiful all-purpose cleaning mixture.
You dump the wipes in the washer, along with your cloth napkins and hand towels from last night and a strip of zero-waste laundry detergent concentrate. Easy!
Taking out the trash. You look over at your waste bin and to your delight, another week with nothing inside. Ah the benefits of composting and no plastic waste!
What you do have is a plant-resin compostable bag full of food scraps, so you take that out to your community composting bin.
And voila! Cleaning up couldn’t be easier.
Life is pretty great without plastic.
The Plastic Alternatives that Made It Possible
Here’s a guide to the sustainable materials that will make a future free of plastic waste possible RIGHT NOW:
Stainless Steel
Like many other steels, stainless steel is made from iron and carbon. What sets stainless steel apart is the addition of chromium (Cr) and other elements to create a more corrosion-resistant product.
Benefits
- Durable
- Fire & heat resistant
- Dish-washer safe
- Recyclable
- Reusable
- Foodsafe
Uses
- Cups/to-go mugs
- Kitchen/food storage
- Water bottles
- Straws, chopsticks, & utensils
Bamboo
Bamboo is a plant material sourced from a species of fast-growing grasses found in tropical, sub-tropical, or temperate zones. Certain species of bamboo grow almost a meter a day, or one inch every 40 minutes!
Benefits
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Lightweight
- Durable/ strong
- Ecologically Friendly
- Potential Carbon Sink
- Compostable & recyclable
- Inexpensive
- Food-safe (unless chemicals are added)
Uses
- Straws, chopsticks, & utensils
- Fabrics (Tencel, etc.)
- House Decor
- Bedding and Linens
- Construction
- Furniture
Compostable Plastics
Biodegradable plastic bags? Compostable plastic cutlery? Sounds too good to be true!
And well…so far, it is. While compostable plastics aren’t yet a viable solution to the plastic problem, with technological advances and more research, they very well could be.
Compostable plastics use plants to plastics technology to make polylactic acid (PLA) from the sugars of plant materials such as corn, sugarcane, wheat, and stuff of the like. PLA replaces the petroleum base of plastics so these plastics can be composted at industrial compost facilities.
Benefits
- Potentially compostable (as technological solutions & composting facilities advance)
- Durable/ strong
- Elastic
- Most seamless switch from current plastic products
Uses
- Electronics and electronics accessories
- Packaging
- Cups
- Kitchen/food storage
- Medical supplies
Consider
There are a lot of reasons most bioplastics are not yet a viable solution to the plastic problem. One problem is that not all compostable plastics are created equally. Many leach PFAs and other harmful chemicals as they break down.
Second, the majority of bioplastics will not break down in home composts, landfills, or loose in the environment, making them just as harmful as traditional plastics, due to many of the same reasons. In fact, bioplastics have the same molecular structure as fossil fuel based plastics.
Since there are less than 100 facilities in the U.S. that accept and compost compostable plastics, many of eligible products still end up in our environment and landfills.
Plus, public knowledge and information can be slow to arrive when innovation sparks. Without knowing the impact, many people include compostable plastics in their recycling bin, unaware that compostable plastics can contaminate and disrupt the recycling stream if intermixed with petroleum-based plastics that are non-compostable.
If you are looking for plastics that can be composted, look for certifications that tout home compostability such as ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 compliant or TUV certification. When you can, it’s still better to opt for the compostable plastic alternative.
Flaxstic™
Pela’s Flaxstic™ is different from most compostable plastics as it is a combination of flax straw ‘waste’, plant-based biopolymers, and recycled materials. The flax shive maintains the biopolymers’ biodegradability and impact resistance.
This means that you can in fact include them in your home compost, and the compostable material will break down within 6 months to 2 years. Flaxstic™ does not release any toxic chemicals such as BPA and phthalates into the soil and is perfectly safe to use in compost that will help grow food.
Benefits
- Upcycled (made from flax straw, a byproduct of flax seed farming)
- Compostable at home
- Flexible
- Shock-absorbant
Uses
- Electronics
- Electronics accessories (phone cases, watch bands, etc.)
Glass
Good ol’ fashioned glass is the OG on the plastic-alternatives scene. If you didn’t already know, glass is made by heating up sand (in its pure form of SiO2, or silica), soda ash (that is sodium carbonate, or Na2CO3), and limestone (calcium carbonate, or CaCo). While it won’t biodegrade, it doesn’t contaminate the environment, and it is endlessly recyclable.
Benefits
- Recyclable
- Reusable
- Translucent
- Impermeable
- Inert
- Heat-resistant
- Food-safe
Uses
- Home decor and furniture
- Appliances
- Electronics
- Automotive parts
- Tableware
- Kitchen/food storage
- Water bottles
- Packaging
Platinum Silicone
Another material borne of sand: platinum silicone. This versatile material doesn’t need any plasticizers to stabilize it, making it environmentally inert. Just make sure there are not any added ingredients in your silicone products!
Silicone isn’t infinitely recyclable nor does it biodegrade. It can, however, be downcycled into machine lubricant oil or products like playground “mulch”
Benefits
- Flexible
- Moldable
- Heat-resistant
- Non-toxic (although more research is needed)
Uses
- Kitchen/food storage
- Medical supplies
- Clothing and footwear
- Translucent
- Recyclable (at a specialized recycling company)
- Can be downcycled
Fungi
Who knew?! You can grow mycelium (the vegetative part of a fungus) into all sorts of useful shapes and sizes. Ecovative Design is one emerging brand utilizing fungi as eco friendly alternatives to unsustainable plastics.
Environmentally friendly companies like Ecovative Design grow mycelium on its own or on agricultural byproducts such as hemp flour, wood chips, or similar materials and dry it out for all sorts of uses, but particularly as a sustainable alternative to styrofoam packaging and to replace single-use plastics.
Benefits
- Moldable
- Non-toxic
- Compostable
- Shock-resistant
- Durable
Uses
- Kitchen/food packaging
- Clothing and footwear
- Product packaging
- Styrofoam replacement
Wood, Paper, and Other Plant Materials
Long used by humanity for…well…everything, trees are a source of materials such as wood, cardboard, paper, fibers, and more. We know well why trees are important; we just need to take the necessary precautions to protect them and grow them regeneratively if we want to continue our age-old use of trees and their abundant materials.
Mother nature doesn’t stop there. The natural world has no shortage of plastic-alternative solutions. Seaweed, corn hulls, sugar cane, cotton, hemp, you name it, can all be used as alternative materials to plastics.
Benefits
- Compostable/ biodegradable
- Recyclable
- Reusable
- Durable
- Carbon-sink
- Ecologically friendly (depending on agricultural methods)
Uses
- Kitchen/food packaging
- Kitchen/food storage
- Clothing and footwear
- Product packaging
- Home Decor and furniture
- Construction
- Condiment packaging (seaweed)
Looking at the long list of available materials, it feels pretty silly that we haven’t switched form all that plastic already, amirite?!
Plastic Alternatives—People Also Ask
How can I replace plastic in my life?
Start small! Choose a room or routine where you’d like to start, and move up from there. Going plastic-free can be a daunting task, the best way to stick with it and make the most change, is to start with what’s easy for you and let momentum build from there. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to go plastic-free here!
What is the most eco-friendly plastic?
Conventional plastic is not very eco-friendly by our account. It’s always better to use eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic plastic materials.
BUT if there’s any answer to that question, HDPE, or #2 plastics, is the most commonly and easily recycled plastic out there. It also won’t break down as easily in sunlight or extreme temperatures, making it a more durable, long-lasting plastic. HDPE is also considered one of the safer plastics for human health.
In the same vein, less energy is needed to make bioplastics than petroleum-based plastics. Some reports also tout bioplastics producing less greenhouse gass than conventional plastic when it breaks down in landfills. But this still doesn’t make up for the issues behind bioplastics (read more above).
What are some biodegradable alternatives to plastic?
There are a whole host of biodegradable alternatives to plastic products. Materials include hemp, cotton, mycelium, wood, paper, bamboo, seaweed, wool, and more! Finding the best material will depend on the needs/uses of the product at hand.
What is the cheapest alternative to plastic?
This will also very much depend on what you’re using it for. Some of the most common, inexpensive alternatives to petroleum based plastic products include bamboo, silicon, cardboard, and mushroom and seaweed packaging.
One thing to keep in mind is the total cost of a plastic alternative versus products you have to constantly re-purchase. For example, if possible, forgo tossing a box of Ziplock in your shopping basket a couple times and you can use that saved money to buy Stashers that will last you 3,000 uses. Opt for beeswax wrap to get those lunch sandwiches to and from school or work in the meantime.
Can we survive without plastic?
We at Grow Ensemble believe it’s possible for us to survive without plastic. With technology on our side, governmental regulation, and the growing viability of plastic alternatives, we can certainly envision a future when plastic is few and far between. We also believe that recycling processes will become more robust so that if we do use plastics, they can more possibly become infinitely recyclable.
Can we get rid of plastic completely?
With some attention to detail and readiness to adjust, you absolutely can. To get rid of plastic waste completely on a global scale, it will take sustained global effort. While it is not impossible to eliminate plastic, it will take many steps to do so. First, we need to ban all use of single-use plastics—force the transition. We’ll then need to begin to replace plastic products with viable plastic alternatives and zero waste solutions. Once we stop adding more plastic into our environments, we will need to deal with the plastic that’s already out there. To achieve a plastic-free future, we’ll need innovative engineering and cutting-edge scientific discovery to repurpose plastics into building materials, fuel, and other useful substances in a way that protects both the natural environment and human health. Many companies are already integrating these efforts into their business. We might just be able to eliminate them altogether, breaking them down using plastic-eating bacteria and other kinds of technologies.
The Plastic-Free Future Starts Now
Yes. Plastic is everywhere. And while this can get overwhelming, it also means that there are opportunities in every part of our daily routine to be part of the solution and choose plastic alternatives.
In order for us to make a plastic-free future a reality, we can get started right now in our daily lives. And as we can see, many of the plastic alternatives needed to make it happen are already available! What are we waiting for?!
Small sustained decisions add up to make a huge impact. We as consumers can encourage broader change by voting with our dollar to support the companies that are standing up for a more sustainable future and passing on the ones who aren’t.
But that’s also not to put all the pressure on individual consumers, the global shift will rely on action on a bigger, more systemic scale. We need legislative action, scientific funding, and corporate regulation to overcome the plastic crisis.
Broaden your impact by joining and donating to groups committed to getting us to this plastic-free future we imagine like Plastic Free Foundation, Plastic Pollution Coalition, Post Landfill Action Network, and the Plastic Bank.
Have more ideas on how to make a plastic-free future a reality? Comment below!
Alma Rominger
Grow Ensemble Contributor
Alma Rominger is an educator and farmer passionate about regenerative agriculture, composting, gardening for mental health, and outdoor education.
Alma believes that the health of the earth and the health of its people are intrinsically connected and has spent her entire career advocating for both. She currently specializes in Bokashi composting systems and soil ecology through her work with Compost Queens, a women-owned community composting company based in the San Antonio area.
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