Carry reusable shopping bags for all shopping, not just groceries.
If you like to use straws, carry reusable ones. Paper ones for kids fit nicely into a toothbrush travel case.
Carry reusable canteens if you expect to need water.
Bring your own travel mug for coffee-to-go.
Use reusable, washable mesh produce bags.
Carry your own take-out containers to restaurants.
Use your own containers at bulk bins. Get a tare weight
Instead of plastic wrap, use waxed paper, bees' wax cloth, or other alternatives.
Instead of plastic garbage bags, use bags you'd be tossing out anyway -- chips bags, cereal-box liners, mail-order bags.
Beware of plastic packaging on paper goods.
Save and reuse glass jars.
Replace plastic toothbrush with bamboo.
Instead of toothpaste tubes, try dental bites or make your own.
Make a to-go bag with reusable cutlery, stainless steel cup, cloth napkin.
Use natural cleaning cloths and scrubbers.
find on line do-it-yourself recipes for cleaning supplies.
Skip disposable razors if you shave.
Replace disposable paper items in bathroom and kitchen with reusable materials.
Go back to the bar -- soap that is!
Choose matches over disposable lighters.
Replace plastic containers with glass when possible.
Rethink gifts - giving and receiving.
Skip the mini toiletries at hotels.
Use loose tea instead of tea bags.
Choose fresh (or fresh-frozen) over commercially frozen foods when possible.
Plastic reduction for pet parents (avoid plastic bags and plastic-lined food cans).
Choose clothes made of natural fibers. Try to avoid microfleece (aka "fleece") whenever possible.
Eat real fruit instead of drinking fruit juice from plastic bottles or cartons.
Cook more meals at home.
Consider sustainable party decorations instead of balloons.
Write letters to businesses asking for less plastic packaging!
Egremont recycling information: https://www.egremont-ma.gov/green.html
https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/
https://zerowastehome.com/tips/
https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/the-ultimate-list-of-zero-waste-swaps
Information about the environmental impact of plastic:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/plastic-pollution/
https://beyondplastics.org/article/what-you-can-do-to-help-end-plastic-pollution/
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/09/20/how-to-recycle-plastic
“We can't recycle our way out of this problem,” “We have to buy less plastic, and we need American and other businesses to make less plastic. There are alternatives, [but …] even the most careful consumer has a hard time avoiding plastics.”
https://envirobank.com.au/coffee-cups-recyclable-or-not/
https://www.greenmatters.com/p/sustainable-toilet-paper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCs8iZFKzdE (PBS: Why it will take more than basic recycling to cut back on plastic)
How to make a garbage bag out of newspaper:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Newspaper-Garbage-Bag/
On Canning and Freezing Food:
https://www.freshpreserving.com/canning-101-getting-started.html
https://abetterwaytothrive.com/freezing-in-glass-no-more-broken-jars/
Why Cooked at Home Is Better Than Take-Out (Containers):
https://www.wired.com/story/pfas-forever-chemicals-are-in-your-popcornand-your-blood/
Fruit vs Fruit Juice:
https://www.consumerreports.org/healthy-eating/forget-the-juice-eat-the-whole-fruit-instead/
Tea and Tea Bags:
https://www.cleanplates.com/eat/tips-eat/these-teas-are-toxin-free/
Disposable Razors:
https://groundswell.org/2-billion-tossed-per-year-whats-the-most-wasteful-bathroom-product/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/disposable-razors-environment_l_5cdb237de4b0790953deb7de
Toothbrushes:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/06/story-of-plastic-toothbrushes/
Make Your Own Toothpaste Recipe:
http://trashisfortossers.com/my-zero-waste-homemade-toothpaste-recipe/
Make Your Own Liquid Soap:
https://clark.com/family-lifestyle/make-liquid-hand-soap-bar-scraps/
Cleaning Supplies:
https://pollybarks.com/zero-waste-cleaning/
https://thegreenparent.co.uk/articles/read/make-your-own-cleaning-products
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a24885/make-at-home-cleaners/
On Mini Hotel Toiletries:
On Gift Giving:
https://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/11/green-gifts-dont-have-to-suck/
https://selfsufficientkids.com/eco-friendly-gifts-for-kids/
https://selfsufficientkids.com/gifts-to-make-the-holidays-less-materialistic/
Halloween:
Reducing Plastic for Pet Parents:
https://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/quick-and-dirty-tips-to-be-a-plastic-free-pet-parent/
Balloons:
http://balloonsblow.org/environmentally-friendly-alternatives
https://encenter.org/visit-us/programs/birthday-parties/balloons/
https://earth911.com/living-well-being/events-entertainement/balloons-environment/
Fabric/Clothing:
https://www.greenchoices.org/green-living/clothes/environmental-impacts
https://goodonyou.eco/how-sustainable-is-fleece/
https://nylon.com/synthetic-fleece-environmental-impact
https://www.npr.org/2016/04/08/473513620/what-happens-when-fashion-becomes-fast-disposable-and-cheap
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/transforming-the-fashion-industry_n_57ceee96e4b0a48094a58d39
Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash, by Shia Su
Life Without Plastic, by Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha
Plastic Purge, by Michael San Clements
Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste, by Bea Johnson
The Art of Frugal Hedonism, by Annie Raser-Rowland with Adam Grubb
All-purpose cleaner:
· 1 part vinegar in 3 parts water
Scouring powder:
· Baking soda
Deodorant:
· 1/4 cup baking soda
· 1/4 cup arrowroot flour
· 6-8 T coconut oil
Mix, store in glass container. Apply with fingers.
OR
· 2 spoons Shea butter
· 2 spoons cornstarch
· 1 spoon sodium bicarbonate
· 7 drops tea tree oil
· 7 drops lavender oil
Melt shea butter, add cornstarch & sodium bicarbonate. Stir, add oils. Put in glass container & chill.
Mouthwash:
Cover fresh or dried sage with boiled water, steep for 4 hours or overnight. Strain into glass jar. After 2 weeks throw away & make new batch. Sage has antiseptic & antibiotic properties.
Toothpaste:
· 2T coconut oil
· 1 T baking soda
· 15-20 drops organic essential oils, flavor of your choice, peppermint
· Flavor: cinnamon, ginger
Mix all. Dampen toothbrush and apply; you don’t need too much. Brush.
OR
· 1/4 cup xylitol (a natural sweetener)
· 1/4 cup baking soda (mild abrasive: dislodges plaque, breaks down stains, neutralizes pH)
· 1/4 cup bentonite clay (draws out toxins, contains calcium, helps to re-mineralize teeth)
· Optional: peppermint oil, orange oil, coconut oil
Mix all, avoid metal which will deactivate it. Stir with a wooden spoon or chop stick & store in glass container.
OR
· 3 ounces sea salt
· 6 ounces baking soda
· 5 drops of peppermint and/or clove oil (optional)
From https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/why-i-quit-toothpaste/
Laundry:
Stains: borax/water paste
Soap nuts for laundry detergent
· One Mercantile
· Berkshire Co-op
· Guido’s (Guido’s bulk bins. Plastic bags no longer used. https://guidosfreshmarketplace.com/blog/bulk-foods-101-with-alana-chernila/)
· Big Y
www.planetwiseinc.com -- reusable trash can liners (small) and laundry bags/kitchen pail liners.
https://to-goware.com/ -- bamboo cutlery and tiffins
https://www.commongoodandco.com/apps/store-locator/ -- glass jars/bottles
https://food52.com/shop -- Food52 -- has some non-plastic alternatives for the kitchen
https://nothingnew.com – sneakers made of recycled plastic
https://us.whogivesacrap.org -- paper products
https://alpacasofmontana.com/products/alpaca-felted-dryer-balls -- wool (alpaca) dryer balls (made in Montana) (equivalent at One Mercantile)
CLEANING SUPPLIES:
Rubber gloves: Casabella 100% latex gloves
If You Care brand FSC-certified natural rubber gloves
DENTAL:
Bamboo toothbrush
Zero Waste Toothpaste with Fluoride
Bite tooth-"paste" and floss
Debttabs Toothbrush Tablets
Eco Easy Zero Waste Toothpaste Tablets
Dr Tiblet toothpaste tablets
Zero Waste Dental Lace (dental floss)
Eco Dent Premium Dental Floss (at Berkshire Co-op)
MISC:
LYRA dry highlighters pencils