Everyday Products with Little or No Plastic Packaging: A Shopping Guide

by Life Less Plastic (http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com)

Introduction

This guide is intended to help you in your attempt to reduce the number of plastic-packaged products that you buy.  The guide is alphabetized by type of product. For example, if you are interested in finding cookies that are packaged without plastic, you can scroll to the "C's" where you will find the category "cookies."

Please note:

-This guide is being composed over time. Therefore, only products that I have already purchased are included right now. To submit products to this guide, please contact me at lifelessplastic@yahoo.com.

-All products listed contain little or no plastic.  However, this guide is being composed by observation only. Since companies are not contacted directly, it is possible that the packaging of some of the products listed may contain plastic adhesives, inks, etc., that I don't know about or mention.

-Finally, at this point, I reserve the right to change the organization of the guide in the future. The way it is organized works now, but as I add more and more information and products, I may need to structure it differently.

The Guide

Candy

Cheese

Cheese from the Deli Counter - Even though the deli counter person will think you're strange, have s/he wrap your cheese in butcher paper.

Savory Snacks

Popcorn kernels from bulk bins - Be sure to bring your own bags. And if you don't know how to make popcorn from kernels, click here to learn how.

El Milagro Tortilla Chips - These chips can be found in the Midwest.  They are packed in a brown paper bag with a thin layer of plastic lining the bag and also have a small plastic window.  That's still a decent amount of plastic, but it's the best I could do so far.
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish - Packed in a paper and foil bag with a thin plastic lining, these crackers can be found in cheddar, cheddar whole grain, and pretzel flavors.

Wasabi peas - You may be able to buy these in bulk from your local bulk food store. Be sure to bring your own bags.

Coffee

Buy coffee in bulk - To avoid the plastic bags and aluminum cans that coffee is usually packed in, buy your coffee in bulk. Be sure to bring your own bags.

Cookies

Pepperidge Farm Soft Baked Cookies - These are packed in paper bag lined with foil and a thin layer of plastic. They come in a variety of flavors including milk chocolate macadamia, dark chocolate chunk, milk chocolate caramel, dark chocolate brownie captiva, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle, oatmeal cranberry, sugar, molasses, milk chocolate, and oatmeal.

Conditioner

Vinegar solution - You can mix water with vinegar in a solution of about 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar.  This makes a great conditioner. Some recommend using it no more than a few times a week (I still haven't formed a verdict on this yet).

Deodorant

Baking Soda - Most would agree that baking soda is a great deodorant, although some might fine it a bit rough on the skin (I'll be using it this summer so I'll let you know how well it does in hot Chicago temperatures)

Lush Deodorant Solids - This store sells deodorant bars in solid form that come without plastic packaging (only if you buy them in person).  Note that some of the bars smell funny and can be a skin irritant.

Eggs

Dutch Farm Eggs - Sold in a paper carton.  I assume this is a regional company, but most areas probably have a brand of eggs sold in paper.

Granola

Buy granola in bulk - To avoid excess packaging, buy granola in bulk from your local bulk foods store or from Whole Foods. Be sure to bring your own bags.

Meat

Meat from the meat counter and wrapped in butcher paper - The person at the counter may look at you funny, but using butcher paper is totally practical unless your meat is for some reason very wet (example: pre-marinated meat).

Milk

Horizon Organic Milk - Sold in a paper carton lined with plastic with a pour spout made of plastic.
Lactaid Milk - Sold in a paper carton lined with plastic with a pour spout made of plastic.
Oberweiss Dairy Milk - Sold in glass bottles with a pour spout made of plastic. The company reuses the bottles, though, and you pay a deposit on the bottle to motivate you to return it to the store where you bought it. Click here for a comprehensive list of dairy's selling milk in glass bottles.

Nuts

Buy nuts in bulk - Be sure to bring your own bags.

Oatmeal

Buy oatmeal in bulk - Be sure to bring your own bags.

Pasta

Buy pasta in bulk - To avoid that little plastic window on pasta boxes buy pasta in bulk. Be sure to bring your own bags.

Peanut Butter

MaraNatha - Comes in a glass jar and has a metal lid. They make several tasty varieties including unsalted, creamy, and crunchy.

You may also be able to buy peanut butter at your bulk foods store - Be sure to bring your own container to grind the peanut butter into.

Soap

Bar Soap - Works amazing as always.  Favorite brands include Dr. Bronner's and Sappo Hill.  Don't forget to keep the soap on a soap dish to allow it to dry.

Soda

Soda packed in glass bottles or aluminum cans - If you can find affordable soda in glass bottles, those are the best, especially if they get reused.  Otherwise, you can consider buying aluminum cans since they're easy to recycle.  Unfortunately, though, they do have plastic liners inside that prevent a chemical reaction between the acid in the soda and the aluminum in the can.

Shampoo

Baking Soda - Works well according to many sources (have not tried it personally).

Burt's Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar - This works pretty well, but leaves the hair feeling a bit sticky.  Would still recommend it.

Spices

Buy spices in bulk - Be sure to bring your own bags. You can also bring jars to the store and have them pre-weighed to avoid getting the smell of spices on your reusable bags.

Syrup

Real Maple Syrup - These days, it seems that only the real maple syrup comes in a glass bottle.  All that I have seen still have a plastic lid.

Tampons

Generic - Generic tampons are typically packaged in a cardboard box and individually packaged in paper. 

Toilet Paper

Seventh Generation - According to Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank, this is the most environmentally friendly TP that you can buy, but is slightly more expensive.  To get the best deal, you can purchase it on Amazon.com for $0.77 per roll if you get a toilet paper subscription (yep, you read that right)
Marcal - Individually wrapped in paper and made of 100% recycled paper. I was recently informed, however, that when Marcal is actually shipped in big plastic bags.
Scott - Individually wrapped in paper.

Tortillas

Locally made tortillas - If you're lucky, you'll be able to find fresh, locally made tortillas wrapped a waxy paper.  If you can't find these in your regular grocery store, you might need to check your local Mexican food store, if you have one in your area.

Vegetables

Fresh from the Produce Section - Get fresh veggies in the produce section, but don't put them into a plastic produce bag.  Don't be scared of this as being unclean.  After all, you have no idea what the veggies have been in contact with before they were put on display, and even then, think about all the people who touch them before you buy them.

Note that canned foods, including canned veggies, have a plastic liner in the inside of the can to prevent a reaction between acid in the food and the aluminum.

Yogurt

Make your own - It may be impossible to find yogurt that isn't packed in plastic.  Luckily, yogurt is easy to make.  Click here for info and a recipe.

 



© copyright of Life Less Plastic
Last Updated: 04/13/2008
Created: 9/30/2007