Approximately 39 kilograms of plastic waste are generated per person in Germany each year. This waste is often exported to countries where waste disposal infrastructure is not as well developed as it is here. The result: plastic bags, PET bottles, disposable cups, and the like end up in nature, harming humans and animals. However, even small adjustments in everyday life can help you avoid plastic waste and reduce your environmental impact. In this article, we’ve compiled tips on how you and your family can save plastic.

Save plastic at home and on the go

Shop consciously

There are now so-called cities in many cities. Zero Waste Stores . Here you can find everything from groceries to household products like dish soap or laundry detergent without packaging. You bring your own jars and containers and fill them up. These can also be old plastic bottles, giving them another life cycle—so you’ll save a lot of packaging material in the future!

You can save quite a bit of plastic at the supermarket if you buy loose fruits and vegetables . Bring reusable, washable fruit and vegetable nets for shopping. Additionally, many products come in a choice of plastic packaging or packaging made of cardboard or glass. Take a little more time on your next shopping trip and see what you can swap in your cart for more environmentally friendly options. Remember to buy only what you really need, because far too much food ends up in the trash—often still in plastic packaging. Our tip: Make a plan beforehand, write a Shopping list , and set aside one day a week to plan your Meal options .

Use reusable items instead of disposable products

You’ve probably heard the idea of bringing your own Reusable cup with you instead of using a new to-go cup every time. But did you know there’s baking paper you can reuse multiple times? These Back mats are washable and dishwasher-safe, so you always have a clean surface for the oven.

Look around your home if you want to reduce plastic in everyday life. You’re sure to find more items you can replace with reusable products: Dishcloths instead of cling film, Stainless steel straws instead of the plastic version, and a Canvas tote bag instead of a plastic bag. For kitchen roll, washable kitchen towels can be an alternative that also comes without plastic packaging.

Make your own cleaning products and more

Let’s be honest: kids can make quite a mess, and that’s just part of family life. Cleaning is simply part of the daily routine. :) To get the house clean again, you don’t need a cabinet filled with dozens of different cleaning products in plastic bottles. With Baking soda, vinegar, citric acid, and bar soap you can replace items like all-purpose cleaner, fabric softener, and descaler. These household remedies are more environmentally friendly than chemical products and are also easier on your wallet.

Sponges and cloths are also usually made of plastic. Plastic-free alternatives include natural sponges or cellulose sponges. Or you can simply make your own dishcloth: cut up old fabric scraps or give discarded towels a new use as rags. The “new” cleaning cloths can be washed and reused.

And even for the good old Trash bag , there is a plastic-free option. All you need is waste paper. You can easily fold it into a practical trash bag and reduce the plastic in your daily life in yet another way.

Pay attention to the ingredients

For many products, it’s immediately clear that they—or their packaging—are made of plastic. However, Microplastics can’t be recognized from the outside. They’re found in many cosmetic products such as shampoos, shower gels, scrubs, and lipsticks, and are just as harmful to the environment. It’s always worth checking the ingredients before you buy. The following terms indicate plastic additives:

• Acrylate Copolymer (AC)

• Acrylate Crosspolymer (ACS)

• Dimethiconol

• Methicone

• Polyamide (PA, Nylon)

• Polyacrylate (PA)

• Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)

• Polyquaternium (PQ)

• Polyethylene (PE)

• Polyethylene glycol (PEG)

• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

• Polypropylene (PP)

• Polypropylene glycol (PPG)

• Polystyrene (PS)

• Polyurethane (PUR)

• Siloxane

Save plastic with a baby and toddler

Cook porridge and snacks yourself

A shopping cart full of jars, pouches, fruit bars, and rice cakes is also a cart full of packaging waste. You can save quite a bit of plastic by making porridge and snacks yourself—your little explorer will enjoy it just as much. :) But don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Family life is busy, and sometimes it’s simply not possible to do everything yourself. Our tip: If you find the time, it’s worth cooking larger portions and freezing meals. Under hygienic conditions, for example, purées can last up to two months at -18°C.

You can fill porridge meals into existing, sterilized jars or use canning jars. Homemade treats can be easily stored in a tin and taken along. And if your little explorer can’t get enough of squeeze pouches, use Reusable squeeze pouches , which you can refill again and again with fruit or vegetable purée. This way, the... sustainable nutrition in family life .

Use plastic-neutralized diapers

If you want to completely avoid plastic when changing, you can cloth diapers use or hold your child. Sometimes these two methods aren’t so easy to implement in everyday baby life. If you choose cloth diapers or potty training, it can help to occasionally switch back to disposable diapers—especially in the beginning or when you’re on the go.

To save as much plastic as possible at the changing table, we use our and with as little plastic as possible. They are made from natural ingredients such as unbleached cellulose in the diaper core and come in more sustainable paper packaging. To ensure consistent absorption, we unfortunately (still) cannot completely eliminate plastic. Instead, in collaboration with we remove the full amount of plastic from the environment that is contained in our product. At the same time, with our LILLYDOO green line, you don’t have to compromise on skin friendliness—like all LILLYDOO products, the diapers and pants are free from artificial ingredients, perfumes, and lotions, making them gentle on both the environment and baby’s skin.

Pay attention to natural materials when choosing clothing

Since synthetic fibers are cheaper in textile manufacturing, they’re now found in many garments. The problem: During washing, they release Microplastics in wastewater . But it’s not only the environment that’s affected by synthetic fibers—your child’s skin may be, too. Skin irritation can occur depending on the type of dye used. Therefore, when purchasing Baby and children's clothing , you should make sure it’s made from natural materials such as Wool, linen, or cotton and not from the following fibers:

• Polyester

• Polyamide/Nylon

• Polyacrylic

• Elastane

As you can see, it’s not that difficult to reduce plastic in everyday family life. Of course, no one has to live plastic-free overnight—even small changes are good for the environment.