While out and about, it may be easy to just take the single use item that is offered to you. This can be plastic bags for bringing your groceries home, it could be plastic utensils to eat your lunch, it can be plastic water bottles that are sold for a dollar. Plastic is normally derived from fossil fuels which means that plastic is a major contributor to climate change. Plastic also while decomposing will leach many different chemicals into the environment which is polluting our earth and oceans. And our plastic supply only seems to grow as time goes on, which means more pollution as time goes on.

So what can you do?

Here’s a few simple ideas to bring your own reusable substitute for single use plastic while on the go:

Water Bottle

Sounds like an obvious one but many people forget to bring one or just don’t find it important. But lately many places have been setting up more water refill stations to allow for bringing your own water bottle easier.

Reusable Shopping Bag

Plastic bags seem to be plentiful and free, but reusable bags are always the way to go. They can be bigger, have better designs, and best of all; good for the environment. 

Reusable Utensils

You can get some metal utensils that you always use or specific utensils for on the go and keep them with you when you plan to go and eat. Either keep one in your car or in your purse, wherever you think you could benefit from it the most. Then once used just wash and put back into the same spot.

Coffee Cup

Tons of people love to go and get a morning dose of caffeine at their favorite coffee shop, but many cups can be wasted from this. Instead bring your own reusable cup for the baristas to use and that way you can help keep your cup out of landfills.

To-Go Container

When going out for a meal whether it’s breakfast lunch or dinner, you may often have leftovers. Normally those to go containers will be made of styrofoam which is terrible for the environment. Instead bring your own reusable container that you put your leftovers in and that way you’re helping the environment and saving your food.

By bringing your own reusable items instead of the single use plastic that is often provided, you are helping keep plastic from the environment.