Cloth napkins I recently made
Envelope I made from a paper grocery bag
Over the past year, I have done a pretty good job reducing the use of plastic in my day-to-day life. There are a few areas I need to work on, like the use of plastic produce bags at the grocery stores and farmers markets, but overall, I’ve done better than I have in years past.
For 2010, I decided to make an effort to cut back on the amount of paper I use . I am usually mindful of my paper usage when it comes to eliminating unnecessary magazine and catalog subscriptions, junk mail, grocery stores bags, and reducing office and shipping paper. My use of miscellaneous paper products like napkins and facial tissue can be excessive at times, though I only buy 100% recycled paper products. In an effort to reduce the amount of paper I use, I started using cloth napkins at the dinner table and handkerchiefs instead of facial tissue. I normally only use cloth napkins when I have guests, but whats stopping me from using them everyday? Thankfully, I haven’t purchased a roll of paper towels in months, so that’s also a good start!
Have you made an effort to reduce the amount of paper and/or plastic in your life? Do you have any other ideas aside from what I mentioned?
Hi Carla,
I’ve been making an effort to trim down on all of those plastic bags we get. My fiance and I have a cloth grocery bag that we try to use in all permissible places. Just wish that it would be socially acceptable to shop with it in more places!
-Ted
.-= Ted Hessing´s last blog ..How an Inheritance Can Get You Fired: Mathematical Proof =-.
Hey Ted, I never known of a store that didn’t welcome my bags with open arms. That is strange!
I try to remember my reusable bags when I go to the grocery store. If I forget, I usually just put the food in my purse if it’ll fit or carry it out the store in my hands when feasible.
As far as paper towels go, I just love them too much. I haven’t done anything, except feel guilty, about my excessive paper towel usage.
.-= Shawanda´s last blog ..You Have Less Than You Think =-.
@Shawanda – I know, paper towels can be addictive! I decided to invest in microfiber towels, which helps.
I have given up paper napkins and paper towels. We still use TP and tissues but have switched to Seventh Generation recycled so at least it’s not new paper.
I also have worked to reduce our junk mail and only have one magazine subscription and I give my magazines to my mom who likes the same ones I do so they get read twice before recycled.
I also have a smart phone which I use to reduce needs for notes and a paper calendar.
.-= Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green´s last blog ..Book Review: Smart Mama’s Green Guide =-.
We recycle like crazy and try to buy products made with recycled paper. But in the area of trash bags I’m really confused. The environmentally friendly kind break, leak and we end up double bagging. They’re already three times the price of Hefty, and they’re just not working. It’s a good thing we only have 1 bag of trash every week or two!
.-= Michelle @ Find Your Balance´s last blog ..Quick & Delicious Pumpkin Soup =-.
I totally understand about the garbage bags! The Bio Bags only work for smaller trash cans (ie bathroom) because the large kitchen bags does break. We end up getting the 360 (or is it 365?) Whole Foods private label brand which is still plastic.
We still use TP too – my guy isn’t open to the “family cloth” yet, LOL.
Love the idea of making an envelope out of the paper grocery bag.
Our biggest de-papering shift about nine months ago was swearing off paper towels and paper napkins. I was worried using rags for cleaning would get tiresome (ie all the laundry), but it’s been such an easy switch!
.-= Emily on the Southern Prairie´s last blog ..Is global warming real? =-.