Basic tips to stop using plastic bags for good

It may seem impossible to stop using plastic bags because they are offered everywhere. However, we also see countless devastating images of mountains of plastic bags contaminating the land and oceans. Therefore, raising awareness and applying small changes in our habits is necessary and can yield good results.In fact, in many countries, plastic bags are banned. There are also some initiatives that propose using materials that degrade faster than traditional plastics, or even impose a tax if you want to use bags. Still, this is not enough and does not happen worldwide.We recommend How to waste less food when you have small childrenAdditionally, there are other single-use plastics like straws, cutlery, and plates, which have also seen bans extended. But what complicates the situation is that despite the fact that the polyethylene used to make bags is easily recyclable, it is not done because it is difficult to separate it from the rest of the trash.Considering all this, the best solution is to avoid it. First, start with shopping. There are many attractive cloth bags that you can take to the supermarket or market to pack your products.If you forget them, ask for boxes; they always have extras at large stores. Also, think that bags are not only given at supermarkets, so always carry cloth bags handy for everything you buy, or even if you buy takeout food from a restaurant.For fruits and vegetables, you can get small open cloth bags, like mesh or tulle. Remember to wash them from time to time to avoid contamination. A traditional plastic bag can take hundreds of years to decompose completely. And if you also buy juices in plastic bottles, imagine how much of this material you consume in just one week.We recommend: How to calculate portions for grocery shopping?Little by little, stores selling bulk products for both cleaning and food are opening. Bring your own containers and reuse them.Use paper bags or containers for lunch sandwiches. It is not necessary to pack them in bags. Try to use glass or stainless steel containers as they last much longer and when they are no longer useful, they pollute less.And if you already have the bags, reuse them as much as possible, whether for shopping or to line trash bins. Turn the issue into a family project: organize a challenge to see who can go the longest without using a plastic bag, involve your children, and invite them to suggest ideas to reduce their use. Remember that the best teaching is by example.