Follow the tips below suggested by Pura’s very own team members, and soon you’ll realize just how simple it can be to eliminate all sorts of plastic from your family’s life!

1. Do away with plastic produce bags…

If you think about it, produce bags are generally unnecessary. If we’re worried about our produce getting dirty, remember that they were grown in the dirt to begin with and we’re going to wash them when we get home anyway, right? Try placing your produce directly into your cart and then into your reusable bag at checkout.

If you still want to use a separate bag for produce, try cloth bags! You can hand-make them using old T-shirts or buy from brands like Naturally Sensible.

2. Ditch your plastic baggies…

Let’s do away with plastic baggies in our kids’ lunches once and for all! There are better, more environmental and economical options. Instead of using single-use baggies and frequenting the store to buy more just to throw them out, invest in 100% plastic-free and reusable storage bags like Stasher. They come in a variety of sizes and are perfect for storing snacks and leftovers—even in the freezer!

3. Carry a bamboo utensil set when you’re “on the go…”

Let’s kick our habit of grabbing plastic utensils when we get take-out and start carrying around reusable utensils. It’s worth buying two sets; one to keep at the office, and one to keep in your car when you’re eating on the go. We’re fans of the 100% untreated bamboo set from BEWBOW because it also includes a toothbrush, straw, and chopsticks for sushi night!

4. Start using stainless steel and silicone straws…

Did you know that there are 7.5 million plastic straws polluting the U.S shorelines alone? Anywhere from 500 million to 8.3 billion plastic straws are on shorelines across the globe. Thankfully, now more than ever people are starting to turn to reusable plastic-free straws.

Let’s preserve our oceans, its ecosystems, and the world at large by doing our part and saying “sayonara” to single-use plastic!

5. Swap out your old plastic ice trays…

It’s probably time to replace those old trays you have stashed in the back of your freezer anyway, right? Consider replacing them with stainless steel or silicone trays.

If your kids enjoy popsicles in the summer, consider investing in a stainless steel or silicone popsicle mold as well.

6. Choose stainless steel or cast iron over non-stick cookware…

Cookware coated with Teflon and other resins leach toxic perfluorochemicals (PFCs) when heated. PFCs are used in many consumer products and have been shown to induce several severe health consequences, such as neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity.

It’s worth investing in a couple of cast iron skillets and a stainless steel set of pots and pans, knowing they will not emit toxins in the air that can be harmful to the health of your family. 

7. Provide your own containers for take-out food and leftovers…

What’s so wrong with bringing your own food containers to a restaurant in case you have leftovers? Try requesting that restaurants use your container instead of their disposable one. You’ll be surprised at how many places will gladly do so! Also, saying “No thanks” to that plastic to-go bag will be the cherry on top to this ecological decision.

8. Become a “regular” at your local farmer’s market…

Farmer’s markets are a great way to buy fresh, local and organic produce without plastic. Grab your reusable produce bags and hit the streets on a Saturday morning for your weekly groceries! Typically, the fruits and veggies at farmer’s markets don’t even have the little plastic stickers stuck to them like the produce you’ll find at your local grocery store. And for smaller berries, fruits, and veggies, consider using your own container to carry them out and hand the vendor their plastic container back to reuse. Every little bit counts. 😊

9. Make your own toxic-free cleaning supplies…

Making your own cleaning supplies will minimize your use of plastic bottles and your trips to the store when you run out. It also allows you to discover the multitude of toxic-free recipes that are out there for every type of house-cleaning that exists. Here are a couple of our favorites:

All-Purpose Cleaner (except glass)

¾ C Water

¼ C Rubbing Alcohol

5-10 Drops of Peppermint, Lemon, or Orange essential oil

1 Squirt of natural dish soap

Pour all of the ingredients into a 16-ounce glass spray bottle and shake well. Use on any marble, quartz, and granite surface. You can also spray tabletops, bathroom sinks, baseboard, and window sills with this homemade goodness!

Glass Cleaner

2 C Water

2 TBSP White Vinegar

2 TBSP Rubbing Alcohol

5 Drops of Peppermint essential oil

Pour all of the ingredients into a 24-ounce glass spray bottle and give it a shake to blend well. Spray the solution onto a microfiber cloth and clean all of your glass windows and mirrors.

10. GO PURA!

It’s no question that repurpose-able products are a great way to go plastic free and reduce waste. Pura’s One Life… One Bottle™ system allows you to simply change the silicone top when your child is ready for the next stage. Infant bottles can easily be transformed into sippy bottles, straw bottles, sport bottles and even bottles for food storage so you can save money while helping the planet.

There is absolutely no place for any plastic in anyone’s mouth. We have created the first and only line of 100% plastic-free juvenile bottles, crafted exclusively from food service grade stainless steel and medical grade silicone. And, because we are the only plastic-free bottles we are also the only bottle to achieve the MadeSafe Certified™ rating. If you haven’t joined the Pura Family yet, what are you waiting for? Join us in our efforts to save the planet one child at a time today!