Plastic Free

@ Berkeley Lab

From manufacturing to disposal, single-use plastics threaten public health and the environment.


A Berkeley Lab study estimates that by 2050 "plastic production could account for between 21% to 31% of the global carbon emission budget required to limit global temperature increase to just 1.5 degrees Celsius."


Plastic Free July is a global movement to raise awareness about plastic pollution, to inspire people to give up single-use plastics during July, and to create new habits and ideas around reuse. Small steps can make a big difference — the nonprofit Plastic Free Foundation estimates an average of 2 billion kg/year of household waste has been avoided by Plastic Free July participants.

Stylized image of reusable items: shopping bags and a coffee cup

What Can You Do?

Plastic-Free-Checklist.pdf

BRING YOUR OWN (BYO)

Image of a reusable cutlery set - including a zippered pouch, fork, chopsticks, spoon, and knife

REFILL

Try bringing reusables (containers, recycled jars, etc.) to fill with bulk foods and personal/home care products.
Some of our favorite places are listed below. Check out https://zerowastecalifornia.org/bulk-grocery-stores/ for more options.
Many also carry plastic-free alternatives to common household items.

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace

2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA

920 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA

(bulk foods)

Daisy Refillery

San Francisco, CA
(bulk personal & home care) 


Ecology Center
530 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702

(bulk personal & home care, eco products, HelpDesk, events...) 


Fillgood

1579a Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA

(bulk personal & home care)

Filling Station

2112B Vine St, Berkeley, CA
(bulk personal & home care)

Food Mill

3033 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA
(extensive bulk food)

Oaktown Spice

546 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA

1224 Solano Ave, Albany, CA
2132 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA
(spices in bulk / reusable glass jars)


Rainbow Grocery

1745 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA
(extensive bulk food; personal & home care)


Re-Up Refills
6025 College Ave, Oakland, CA
(bulk food, personal, & home care)


Refill Madness
Sonoma & Sacramento

(bulk personal & home care)

Simple SF
1001 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA
(bulk personal & home care)


Image of the inside of a store, showing bulk personal care products

WHERE TO THROW @ the Lab

What to do with waste at the Lab? Type in an item below to find out.

ViDEOS

The Story of Plastic highlights the intersection of the global plastics problem and environmental injustice. 

Reducing Packaging
(UC Climate) 

The Nonsense of Packaging: Part I & II