life without plastic Archives

Back to school season is almost upon us, and while returning to the classroom might not be possible for all students, two things remain the same in this time of uncertainty: the importance of educating our youth and protecting the planet for their futures.

This year’s plastic-free back to school not only features a variety of sustainable products for eco-minded students and parents, we also include a number of educational resources to compliment your child’s learning, whether it takes place at home or in the classroom.

#NOTPLASTIC

#NOTPLASTIC is an online store with a variety of reusable alternatives to single-use plastic. They even have carbon neutral delivery through reforestation.

Reusable Cutlery for Kids – A safe and healthy alternative to plastic cutlery, these adorable reusable forks and spoons are perfect for packing into school lunches. They are specifically designed for small hands and mouths and they are made from USDA certified organic bamboo.

Abeego

Abeego picks up where the peel leaves off. Their beeswax food wraps protect and breathe like nature’s peel and preserve food.

Beeswax Wrap – Abeego offers plastic-free wraps in a variety of sizes, so they are any eco-minded lunch-packing parent’s dream come true. They are great for sandwiches, partial or whole fruits, veggies, and more.

BeeBagz

Bee Bagz is an innovative manufacturer of sustainably produced and environmentally friendly food storage solutions. Their mission is to contribute to the zero waste movement by providing customers with socially responsible alternatives that result in a notable reduction in overall single-use plastic.

Snack Pack – If you like beeswax wraps then you will LOVE these beeswax bags. Reusable and biodegradable, these are a great alternative to single-use plastic bags.

BuyMeOnce

BuyMeOnce is an online store dedicated to selling quality products that really last. In a world where so many products are meant to break or wear out, BuyMeOnce is all about offering items that (you guessed it!) you only need to buy once.

Chalkboard – Revolutionize screentime with this wooden toy chalkboard tablet made by little miss workbench. Make learning fun and watch your child’s imagination come to life with this unique learning tool.

Chico Bag

Chico Bag offers a variety of reusable solutions to help prevent pollution from single-use plastic. With their partner brand To-Go Ware, they have saved an estimated 18 billion single-use items from entering the waste stream.

Snack Time Bags – Just one of these cute reusable bags can replace 1,825 single-use plastic bags throughout its life, and each set includes three. Reduce plastic pollution in style with these adjustable, reusable bags.

EcoBags

EcoBags is a Certified B Corporation that offers a variety of reusable bags that help prevent plastic pollution. All of their products are certified by the (GOTS), meaning their cotton not only meets high-level environmental and supply chain certifications, but also complies with social criteria.

Organic Cotton Lunch Box – These reusable lunchboxes are made out of 100% organic cotton and are even customizable so your child can create their very own design.

ECOlunchbox

ECOlunchbox specializes in plastic-free food containers designed to help people reduce their dependence on plastics for health and environmental reasons.

Splash Box and Pods Set – Completely leak-proof and plastic-free, this terrific three-piece set of metal lunchbox containers includes one Splash Box and two coordinating Splash Pods.

Faherty

Faherty is a family business dedicated to crafting great products that last a lifetime. They produce quality products that honor both their customers and the planet.

Masks – Make sure your kids suit up in style with one of these soft, lightweight face masks from Faherty. The accordion design and elastic bands make it easy to wear, even for the most finicky of kids.

Final

Final, the creator of the innovative FinalStraw, creates a range of ‘Foreverables’ that reduce the need for plastics, empower individuals to change their buying habits, and raise awareness of the impacts of our everyday decisions.

Final Fork – One of the newest offerings from Final is the Final Fork, a reusable, collapsable fork that is perfect for tucking into a lunchbox. Check out their Indiegogo to pre-order yours now.

Khala & Company

Khala & Company is a Colorado-based company that makes vegan and beeswax wraps for food on the go. They are also a Green America certified business and a member of 1% for the Planet.

Beeswax Wraps – Khala Cloths’ beeswax wraps are a great way to store and carry food without resorting to polluting plastic cling wrap. In addition to eliminating the need for single-use plastic wrap, you can feel great about using Khala Cloths because their beeswax is sourced from sustainable, bee-friendly apiaries in their local Colorado area.

Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen is a family owned business that makes non-toxic, BPA-free stainless steel water bottles. They are also a certified B Corp and a member of 1% for the Planet, so you can feel great when you buy their high quality reusable water bottles.

Kid Classic Sport 12oz Water Bottle – This stainless steel water bottle was designed with active kids in mind. It features a spill proof sports cap with a dust cover, a soft silicone spout and loop so it can be easily attached to a bag or backpack. It comes in a variety of bright colors and fun graphics, and the chip-resistant finish is extra durable, making it safe for people and the planet.

Leafico

Lefico is a Vancouver-based business with one major goal: to save the world from plastic pollution. To that end, they make high quality, affordable reusable alternatives to common plastic items.

Telescopic Straw With Carrying Case – This is another eco-friendly gadget that is a big hit with the kiddos. Small enough to fit on a keychain and made from dishwasher safe stainless steel, this telescopic straw is the perfect addition to any environmentally-friendly lunch box.

Life Without Plastic

Life Without Plastic is an online store with a large selection of items that help people eliminate plastic from their lives.

Adjustable Juco Sandwich Bag – This exclusive sandwich bag is made of juco, a new eco fabric composed of 75% jute and 25% cotton. It offers the best properties of jute, such as durability and water resistance, while having a finer weave and softer texture thanks to the presence of cotton. It is strong and reusable and its high jute content–the production of which has a low carbon and water footprint–makes its overall environmental impact very low.

Lunch Bag – This lunch bag really is the whole package: it is 100% plastic free (unlike most lunch bags), insulated, and it is washable! This bag is made from one of Life Without Plastic’s most trusted ethical manufacturers who strives to provide only the highest quality materials and finished product. The cotton is even GOTS certified.

Stainless Steel Folding Spork – This super handy and extra compact foldable spork is absolutely perfect for school lunches! It is small enough to be packed inside a lunch box or even kept in a pocket. Kids love this fun and practical alternative to single-use plastic utensils.

LunchBots

Founded by a mother of two sons, LunchBots offers zero waste food containers that are easy to pack and that last a lifetime.

Bento Box – LunchBots offers stainless steel bento boxes in a range of sizes and with a variety of compartment options. These handy boxes are thoughtfully designed to make it easy to add variety to your child’s lunch without the need for tons of single-use plastic bags.

Made By Bees

Made By Bees is a producer of all-natural, Canadian-made honey and handmade beeswax products. They strive to save bees, the planet, and our food.

“Bee Kind” Buttoned Wrap – This adorable buttoned beeswax bag is a fun and reusable replacement for single-use plastic sandwich bags.

Rewilder

Rewilder is a sustainable fashion brand that finds beauty in discarded materials and upcycles them into products that highlight their strength and durability. This women-owned and operated fashion brand ethically manufactures their quality in their Los Angeles studio using only repurposed and upcycled materials.

Backpack – Believe it or not, this stylish backpack was made entirely out of upcycled auto airbags and seatbelts! Durable and water resistant, this backpack features a 15-inch laptop sleeve and a dual-zip main compartment. Bonus: this product is PETA approved vegan.

Stasher

Stasher offers a range of reusable silicone bags that are better for you and better for the planet than single-use plastic baggies. Stasher is also a member of 1% for the Planet, which means that they donate 1% of their sales to environmental non-profits.

Sandwich Bag – Made with non-toxic, 100% pure platinum silicone, the Stasher sandwich bag is a total crowd pleaser and a lunchbox essential. These bags are endlessly reusable as they are both dishwasher and microwave safe.

To-Go Ware/Life Without Plastic

To-Go Ware provides sustainable solutions to the convenience of our “to-go” culture. Their goal is to make the “throw-away” mentality a thing of the past. Their products are innovative, safe, environmentally responsible, affordable and convenient. To-Go Ware makes it easy to choose to reuse.

Bamboo Utensil Set – This handy bamboo utensil set features a fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks all conveniently tucked in a pouch with a carabiner so it is perfect for people on the go. Lightweight, strong, and heat & stain resistant, these utensils will last a lifetime without imparting or absorbing flavors. Even the holder is eco-friendly as it is made out of recycled PET plastic bottles.

U-Konserve

U-Konserve was started by two mothers who wanted to find environmentally conscious solutions to packed school lunches. They knew that common single-use baggies and drink cartons were destined for landfill, so they created a waste-free lunch kit, and shortly after U-Konserve was born! To this day they offer durable, long-lasting products that offer innovative solutions to eco-minded parents and kids.

NEW Stainless Steel & Silicone To-Go Containers – U-Konserve’s trusted stainless steel containers now come with plastic-free, clear-as-glass silicone lids! These are the perfect waste-free solution for eco-friendly lunches. Leak-proof and dishwasher safe, these containers are popular with kids and parents alike.

Wild Minimalist

Wild Minimalist is an online story for people who are striving to live a plastic-free, zero waste lifestyle.

Organic Biodegradable Bandaids – Handy, eco-friendly and super cute, these organic and biodegradable bandaids are great for stashing in your kiddo’s backpack.

Wisdom Supply Co.

Wisdom Supply Co. is a Certified B Corporation that believes that waste is a design flaw. It is this conviction that drives them to curate and create school supplies that prevent waste, for good.

3-Ring Binders – Decades upon decades worth of disposable vinyl binder contribute to the global plastic pollution crisis. These sturdy cardboard binders with removable covers are designed to stay out of the waste stream altogether. Should the need arise for a fresh cover, simply remove the tattered cover, place it in the recycling bin, and attach a new cover!

Educational Resources

Check out Nat Geo Wild’s new panda-centric TV series The Hidden Kingdoms of China
Watch Birds and Butterflies in Your Backyard – A Kid-Friendly Webinar
Tune in to Master Classes from Female Filmmakers
Visit the Free Video Library (featuring engaging presentations from some of the most innovative minds in STEM) for Remote Learning from USA Science & Engineering Festival
Discover a wealth of information on plastic pollution and curriculum for children of all ages, including links to show educational videos, music, art projects, and feature documentary films
Take one or more of 20 Virtual Field Trips to zoos, aquariums, museums, and more
Take a class with Coursera
Learn a language with Rosetta Stone, Babbel, or Duolingo
Check out the Smithsonian Learning Lab
Learn to draw via Instagram Stories with Wendy MacNaughton
Watch Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems! a daily art break for home-bound families
Check out The Kennedy Center’s art education Classroom Resources
Scholastic Education Resources
Take free courses from Ivy League schools

Join our global Coalition

Can you believe it is already back to school season? Us either! We know this time of year can be stressful, but we’ve got you and your kid covered with all the coolest, eco-friendly back to school gear around. Keep reading to check out our Plastic-Free Back To School Guide!

Abeego

Abeego picks up where the peel leaves off. Their beeswax food wraps protect and breathe like nature’s peel and preserve food.

Beeswax Wrap – Abeego offers plastic-free wraps in a variety of sizes, so they are any eco-minded lunch-packing parent’s dream come true. They are great for sandwiches, partial or whole fruits, veggies, and more.

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ECOlunchbox

ECOlunchbox specializes in plastic-free food containers designed to help people reduce their dependence on plastics for health and environmental reasons.

Splash Box and Pods Set – Completely leak-proof and plastic-free, this terrific three-piece set of metal lunchbox containers includes one Splash Box and two coordinating Splash Pods.

Khala Cloths

Khala Cloths is a Colorado-based company that makes vegan and beeswax wraps for food on the go. They are also a Green America certified business and a member of 1% for the Planet.

Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen is a family owned business that makes non-toxic, BPA-free stainless steel water bottles. They are also a certified B Corp and a member of 1% for the Planet, so you can feel great when you buy their high quality reusable water bottles.

Leafico

Lefico is a Vancouver-based business with one major goal: to save the world from plastic pollution. To that end, they make high quality, affordable reusable alternatives to common plastic items.

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Life Without Plastic

Life Without Plastic is an online store with a large selection of items that help people eliminate plastic from their lives.

LunchBots

Founded by a mother of two sons, LunchBots offers zero waste food containers that are easy to pack and that last a lifetime.

Stasher

Stasher offers a range of reusable silicone bags that are better for you and better for the planet than single-use plastic baggies. Stasher is also a member of 1% for the Planet, which means that they donate 1% of their sales to environmental non-profits.

To-Go Ware/Life Without Plastic

To-Go Ware provides sustainable solutions to the convenience of our “to-go” culture. Their goal is to make the “throw-away” mentality a thing of the past. Their products are innovative, safe, environmentally responsible, affordable and convenient. To-Go Ware makes it easy to choose to reuse.

U-Konserve

U-Konserve was started by two mothers who wanted to find environmentally conscious solutions to packed school lunches. They knew that common single-use baggies and drink cartons were destined for landfill, so they created a waste-free lunch kit, and shortly after U-Konserve was born! To this day U-Konserve offers durable, long-lasting products that offer innovative solutions to eco-minded parents and kids.

Divided Stainless Steel Container – These stainless steel bento-style lunch boxes feature a removable divider that makes it seem like you have several containers in one! Easy to clean and boasting a leak-resistant lid, these are great for school lunches.

Insulated Lunch Sack – Durable, machine washable, and featuring a strap made from non-toxic recycled water bottles, this lunch sack is the ultimate in recycling and reuse! With an inside pocket for an ice pack, this lunch sack can keep your food and drinks cold for 5-8 hours.

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Wild Minimalist

Wild Minimalist is an online story for people who are striving to live a plastic-free, zero waste lifestyle.

Organic Biodegradable Bandaids – Handy, eco-friendly and super cute, these organic and biodegradable bandaids are great for stashing in your kiddo’s backpack.

Wisdom Supply

Wisdom Supply Co. is a company “driven to address plastic pollution” and offers a range of plastic-free, sustainable school supplies from folders to pencils and more, so that young minds can enjoy a zero waste educational experience.

Join our global Coalition

By Lynn Mignola

“NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! You shouldn’t do that! It is so bad for you.” To me, this wasn’t an overreaction. At lunch, a co-worker asked if I thought it would be okay for her to microwave her soup in the styrofoam container she had bought it in. I was horrified. “Please, don’t. Just use this coffee mug as your bowl.”

Later, I saw her spooning her soup from the reusable mug, and I apologized for the intensity of my reaction. I explained that I don’t like plastic. She said, “Yes, so I’ve heard.” So there it was; my reputation precedes me. My family thinks I am a wacko for trying to eliminate plastic from my life. Now I know that my coworkers do, too!

I’m not the person who says anything to others about their packaging choices, unless, what they are about to do could harm their health. But I am that person who pulls the single-use plastic bag out of the trash; the bag that held my coworker’s store-bought-plastic-clam-shell boxed-lunch for the eight minutes it took him to get from the store to the office. I will add it to my collection of plastic to be brought back to said store for recycling. I am also that person who asks the dry cleaning service to return my clothes in a reusable bag instead of a plastic bag wrapping each individual garment (it’s an ongoing battle as they continually forget to do that).

And I am that person who picks up plastic trash on my lunchtime walks so that it can be disposed of properly. As low-key as I try to be, I guess it is hard for people not to notice.

Washing my lunch dishes at work, I am asked about the brush. “It’s wood,” I say, “I don’t like plastic.” “Why not?” I answer them that it is insidious: it’s in our water, our soil, our fish, and our salt. It’s harming our health, contributing to the warming of our planet, and littering our outdoor spaces. “But plastic is recycled into other things,” I am told. “Maybe. But only about 9% of it actually is,” I counter. Some people look at me funny and then move on with their day. But occasionally I notice that people I have these discussions with end up making small changes in their routines, and that gives me hope. In the fight against plastic, I have learned that awareness makes all the difference.

I started trying to reduce waste in 2009 after cleaning out my parents’ home when they moved. There was so much stuff and no one who wanted it. Some of it went to my siblings, some to charity, and some was sold at a garage sale and on Craig’s List. But it sickened me that a lot of it ended up in a landfill. That experience changed me. I started seeing that the choices I make as a consumer have an impact on others and on the world. I wanted that impact to be positive, so I made some changes. I decided I was going to be just like Bea Johnson and go zero-waste!

Lynn uses stainless steel containers for meals while traveling.

I have a confession to make: nine years later and no one would mistake me for Bea Johnson. Zero-waste is really hard. But reducing plastic waste is surprisingly easy. It just requires awareness.

Once I started looking at the waste I produced, I very quickly came to the conclusion that the majority of it was packaging, and most of that is plastic. So after I took care of my big single-use culprits (plastic water bottles, Starbucks® “paper” coffee cups, and plastic grocery bags) I started to look at other areas where I could make a change.

The first place I looked was my bathroom. Shampoo and conditioner bottles, liquid body wash, toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, and all of the potions which make me beautiful―I was astounded by how much plastic surrounded me. It was overwhelming. So I broke it down into something manageable. I made a list of everything I used and one item at a time I eliminated the plastic-packaged product entirely or found alternatives which were not packaged in plastic; ideally with no packaging at all. I did research and tested a lot of options including some which were homemade. It’s still ongoing as my habits and my tolerance for wrinkles change. (The bane of my existence is mascara, as I have not been able to find a perfect solution and my vanity and my skinny little lashes won’t let me go without. I did find one packaged in bamboo but the liner and the wand are still plastic so I have to send the empties to TerraCycle ©.) All those shampoo bottles that I used to put in the recycling bin? Gone – bar shampoo works better. I have also found that I use less of the products themselves so I don’t need to shop as often.

The other area I needed to change was my lunch routine. I am pretty lazy and like to get out of the office at lunchtime so during the week my lunches consist of either the soup or salad bar from Whole Foods. In the past, my containers would go straight into the trash or recycling. Now, I use reusable stainless containers that I keep in my car and bring to the grocery with me. Of course, it isn’t perfect. I have learned that the soup arrives at the store in a massive amount of plastic so I try to limit these excursions to only once or twice a week. I can’t tell you how many people have noticed my containers and said “that’s a good idea.” That includes my husband.

When I started on this journey, I told my husband that this was my issue. I was determined to not contribute to landfills, but I didn’t expect him to follow along. But with each change, he noticed that it wasn’t that difficult. He started looking around when he was grocery shopping and has made changes too. He saw my lunch containers and asked me to buy a couple of larger ones. Now, if he goes to the fish counter or the deli counter, he brings a reusable container with him. It’s true, awareness makes all the difference.

In April I volunteered to give a presentation on plastic to my coworkers for Health and Wellness Week. I didn’t expect a turnout and I didn’t get one. But one of the attendees recommended that I give the talk again for Earth Day, and this time about 25 people attended. I was surprised at how engaged people were, asking questions about things that they could do. It was also heartening to find out that a handful of people do similar things in their own lives. Since that presentation, I get emails from them with “good news on the plastic front” or photos of cardboard straws, or plastic grocery bags left on my chair (I tell myself it’s a sign of love).

The main point of my talk was awareness. I told them to look around them as they drive to and from work―most of the litter alongside the road is plastic. I asked them to open their refrigerator or medicine cabinet and look at how the products they use are packaged. Many people don’t really see all of the plastic that they are confronted with on a daily basis. But once their eyes are opened, they start to pay attention to their own behavior and hopefully will make changes that benefit us all.

Lynn Mignola is a Strategic Facilities Planner who is interested in good design, reducing waste, and protecting the environment.

Join our global Coalition.

The people behind Life Without Plastic, an online store for plastic-free gear, have a new book LIFE WITHOUT PLASTIC: The Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Avoiding Plastic to Keep Your Family and the Planet Healthy.

Printed on FSC-certified paper with BPA-free ink, the book explains the health and environmental problems of plastic and provides readers with ideas for safe, reusable, and affordable alternatives.

How did the book come about? After the birth of their son, Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha set out on a journey to avoid plastic baby bottles as the Canadian government moved to ban bisphenol A (BPA). When they found it was difficult to procure glass baby bottles, Chantal and Jay made it their mission to not only find glass and metal replacements for plastic, but to make those products accessible to others as well.

In this step-by-step guide, Chantal and Jay show readers how to analyze their personal plastic use, find alternatives, and create easy replacements.

About Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha

Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha are the co-founders of Life Without Plastic, an online shop and information resource for safe, high quality, ethically-sourced, Earth-friendly alternatives to plastic products for everyday life. They live in the rolling Gatineau Hills of Wakefield, Quebec, Canada (in a twist of ironic black humor—though it’s really not funny at all—their beloved hometown recently became the location for an expanded polystyrene factory!).

Chantal Plamondon is an ecopreneur and lawyer born and raised in Ste-Thérèse, Québec, Canada. She attended McGill Law School and went on to obtain a masters degree in law with a specialization in business ethics from the University of Ottawa. She also graduated from HEC Montréal with a degree in Management. Starting a multiple bottom line, conscious business has always been at the top of her life goals. Since co-founding Life Without Plastic with Jay, she’s been dealing primarily with strategic development, product sourcing and accounting. This passion to protect the environment was passed on to her from her Huron-Wendat mother who told her about the importance of being grateful for what the Big Turtle, our planet Earth, offers us every day. She hopes that during her lifetime, everything produced on our planet will go back to feed the Earth and its creatures in a healthy nutritious way, without any bits of plastic being caught between the teeth.

Jay Sinha is is an ecopreneur, scientist and lawyer who hails proudly from the windy prairies of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where the sun shines bright and the sky is huge. He has always been captivated by nature, and his environmental protection instincts really kicked into gear when doing a grade six project on acid rain. Now he sees chilling parallels between yesterday’s acid rain and today’s borderless toxic microplastics. An honors degree in biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario taught him about the microscopic world within and around us all. He spent a year living and travelling in Europe, and in India exploring his Bengali roots—all the while absorbing first hand how we are one people, regardless of whether we’re from Grenoble or Kolkata…or Winnipeg. Continuing his international and eco-oriented life focus, he completed civil and common law degrees at McGill University in Montreal, followed by a dip back into science with a graduate diploma in ecotoxicology from Concordia University—all the better to understand the toxic effects of plastics. He is a writer at heart who hopes his words will help people, and contribute to making the world a better place.

Take Action to stop plastic pollution.

Join our global Coalition.

Sustainable Options for ‘Back to School’ in Times of COVID

To Stop Plastic Pollution