Living plastic-free with family sounds like a mammoth task? It doesn't have to be. With small steps, every family can significantly reduce their plastic consumption – and even save money in the process. Here are our best tips.
Kitchen: The biggest lever
The kitchen is the room with the most single-use plastic. Three simple changes:
- Tap water instead of plastic bottles – in Germany, tap water has drinking water quality. A glass bottle for on the go saves ~150 PET bottles per person per year.
- Shop unpackaged – buy fruits and vegetables loose, bring your own bags. Many supermarkets now offer unpackaged alternatives.
- Beeswax wraps instead of cling film – reusable, natural, and keeps food just as fresh.
Bathroom: Small swaps, big impact
- Solid shampoo and soap instead of plastic bottles
- Bamboo toothbrushes for the whole family
- Reusable make-up remover pads instead of cotton pads
- Menstrual cup or period underwear as a sustainable alternative
Kids' room: Learning sustainability through play
Children learn best by example:
- Second-hand toys – flea markets and swap meets are goldmines
- Wooden toys instead of plastic – more durable and pollutant-free
- Stainless steel water bottle and lunch box for school and daycare
- Collect trash together – it's fun and raises awareness
On the go: Plastic-free even when out and about
- Always have a fabric bag with you
- Your own coffee cup instead of a single-use cup
- Sustainable phone case – our biodegradable cases decompose after use, instead of existing as plastic waste for centuries
What one family can achieve
A family of four consumes an average of 100 kg of plastic per year. With the tips above, this can be reduced by 30-50%. And with every Oceanmata product, you additionally collect 1 kg of plastic from the ocean – since 2019, together with our community, we have collected over 321,000 kg.
