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Trying to reduce waste? Check out these 6 favorite reusable products that make green living a cinch.
Paper plates, plastic sporks, paper napkins… Whether one is merely looking for a way to avoid doing dishes or prepping for picnic season, it’s easy for warm weather months to mean a lot of additional garbage by way of disposable products.
When looking to reduce waste, costs, and exposure to BPA, there are so many reusable products that make green living a breeze.
Favorite reusable products
Some of my favorite reusable products come from thrift stores, where items from my parents’ and grandparents’ day get a second chance at life. Some of the products are new but well made, able to be washed again and again for years of use.
Glass water bottle
In the sweaty days of summer, it’s good to stay hydrated and guzzle lots of water. Rather than reaching for a plastic bottle, I like to carry a glass bottle by Lifefactory.
Because it’s made of glass, BPA is a non-issue and there are no worries about the lining coming off, as I had happen with a stainless steel Sigg. It has a handle on top that makes it easy for going on walks.
The only concern is that with glass, it can get a bit heavy and breakage can happen. It has a rubber casing that minimizes the chance. Although, I did drop a bottle on a concrete floor once. Sure enough, that floor received an impromptu cleaning.
I like to add sliced cucumber and lemon wedges to the bottle for extra spa-like flavor. Plus, it looks eye-catching peeking at me through the holes, inviting me to drink more.
Cloth napkins
I like products that give the cue that dinnertime is special and should be enjoyed. That’s why regardless if it’s a picnic or a candlelight dinner, I always use cloth napkins.
With a cloth napkin in the lap, it indicates that it’s time to slow down, enjoy the moment, and savor the food in front of me. Just tearing off a sheet from a paper towel roll doesn’t have quite the same effect.
Of course, there are lots of screen-printed cloth napkins available on Etsy or at Home Goods with fun patterns and designs. Many times new packages of cloth napkins can even be found in thrift stores.
(If you live in Iowa, Trumpet Blossom vegan restaurant, sells wonderful hand-sewn napkins that I love. They wear well and aren’t prone to wrinkling. They’re made by the chef/owner’s grandma!)
Why save cloth napkins for a special occasion? Make today a special occasion.
Cloth bags
Many people only think of reusable bags for groceries, but they’re great to have all the time. I never head to a clothing store, farmers market, or my local co-op without at least one in tow. (The one in the picture above comes from vegan small business, Herbivore Clothing.)
In addition, the variety that neatly folds into itself and can hide out in the purse is especially handy for those impulse purchases. It means less paper sack avalanche under the kitchen sink and less waste in landfills. Plus, cloth bags feel much better on the shoulders and in the hands.
Many stores like Target give money back when you use reusable bags. It’s just a little bit of savings for using something all of us have in the closet anyway.
Glass jars
When it comes to storage, glass jars are incredibly useful. It’s easier to keep everything neat and orderly in the cupboards instead of having a million bags of barley and rice through which to sort.
When I grind my own peanut or almond butter, glass jars make for user-friendly storage. In the summer, they’re also nice for storing your iced peach rooibos tea in the refrigerator.
I have a couple types of glass jars that I especially like to use – vintage jars with glass lids and new jars from Weck. I keep a lookout at thrift stores for glass lidded jars that don’t have a rusty handle and that aren’t too expensive.
Weck jars are my favorite new variety. They also have glass lids and a rubber removable stopper that goes around the top for better sealing. They have a variety of sizes and come in lots of pretty shapes.
Pyrex containers
Pyrex containers are made in the USA and built to last. They can be used in the freezer, microwave, refrigerator, or oven.
When we go on road trips, I pack plenty of meals and snacks in them and pop them in a cooler. I often bring along cereal for vegan hotel meals. The bowls can be used for quick and inexpensive breakfasts with a side of berries or a banana.
They’re also nice for packed lunches and taking food on a plane. Although, they can get a bit heavy in a carry-on.
The newer models have lids that seal for better freezing. But there’s something so quaint about the vintage containers with the glass lids. The vintage ones can’t be jostled too much without spilling, but they sure are sweet.
I just have one problem with my Pyrex. How is it that I always have more containers than lids? If I were to find the Bermuda triangle, would Amelia Earhart be there hanging out with 3 of my Pyrex lids? Some theorists say yes.
Glass straws
I’m a long-time fan of glass straws made by Daedra Surowiec at Strawesome. I have a collection of her handmade straws in my cupboard in a variety of colors and styles. There are wide straws for smoothies, short straws for cocktails, embellished straws that are especially festive at holidays, and everything in between.
Whether I’m having a breakfast of a blueberry banana smoothie, refreshing sparkling strawberry lemonade with lunch, or unwinding with a gin & tonic at night, a glass straw makes every sip a bit more enjoyable.
I store my cleaning brush with the straws for a quick brushing before throwing them into the dishwasher. (I recommend brushing the straws right away if you have something sticky like a smoothie.)
I’ve had many of the straws in my collection for years and years. They are still holding up beautifully.
Other reusable straw options include stainless steel, and bamboo.
Melissa Levengood says
IIIii! You have the Vaute Couture sweatshirt I have been ogling! *jealous* I just bought a Klean Kanteen bottle – Can you expand on how the lining started chipping away on your stainless steel bottle? These are great recommendations!
Cadry says
David surprised me with that sweatshirt last year! I’m so fond of sheep, and that shirt is incredibly cozy. On my Sigg after I’d had it for maybe six months or so, the lining on the inside around the lip started peeling off. Since I could see it peeling there, I didn’t want to risk that it might also be coming off elsewhere inside of the bottle. Plus, the bottles aren’t cheap, and so it put me off buying another one from them.
Pixie says
I love Pyrex, too! I haven’t done enough freezing with them as I don’t have very many. But they are great for leftovers.
I like your idea of packing loads of food in a cooler to go on a trip. We have an anniversary coming up and want to go away. I’ve been “worrying” about eating vegan on the trip. This may be the best solution.
My favorite reusable thing is glass jars! I have all kinds of sizes of them in my cupboard, from tiny ones that held pimentoes, to quart-sized ones that contained coconut oil. I store smaller amounts of things in them such as ground flax seed or chia seed that I then pop into the freezer to keep it from becoming rancid or losing its nutrients once I grind it. Then I don’t have to grind it each morning. I do the same thing with chopped nuts for when I’m in a hurry making a recipe.
Cadry says
Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary! If you take a road trip, I definitely recommend packing snacks. It’s always better to have more food than less. Plus, who can feel romantic when hungry and cranky? 🙂 I wrote a post about vegan road tripping a couple of years ago with some ideas that might be useful: http://cadryskitchen.com/2010/09/09/on-the-road-again-tips-for-road-trippin-vegan-style/
That’s very resourceful of you repurposing your old glass jars. I like to do that too. The only time when it hasn’t worked out is when I’ve reused pickle jars. Let’s just say there’s a reason that pickle-flavored cashew butter hasn’t caught on in popularity…
Andrea says
Yes, what is it about those disappearing lids. Maybe they periodically run away with single socks. I’ve been collecting cloth napkins at garage sales and resale shops for years, and once I scored a tablecloth and napkins to match! I’m so used to mismatched ones that the matching ones look odd. I’ll bet our pantries look a lot alike. 🙂
Cadry says
If only the people at Pyrex would sell sets of just the lids! It baffles me how many I’ve lost. Where on earth do they go?
Andrea says
I bought some glass containers at Crate and Barrel, and when the lids disappeared, I bought replacement lids, but those disappeared too. It drives me a little crazy.
Cadry says
I can’t believe those disappeared too! It’s almost as if the people at C&B have a self destruct button on them.
Astrid says
I like putting a real cloth napkin in my lunch bag. Somehow, the tactile quality of cloth over paper is grounding in days of too much busy-ness, and it can double as a lap-cloth. We need our spa moments! I also like handcarved chopsticks for the same reason. Although maybe not an optimal material, yogurt containers are great for single-serving pinto beans cooked in a crockpot, then frozen until needed. Cute picture on the beach, by the way. Picnics- soon- yay!
Cadry says
A cloth napkin legitimizes a lunch somehow, even if it’s just a simple sandwich! I can see how hand carved chopsticks would also do the same. I know we both agree that using handmade things adds an element of beauty to the everyday. I’ve definitely enjoyed using your beautiful napkins!
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
i love my glass water bottle too! drinking out of it, i feel almost….luxurious:) haha…definitely makes me drink more water! thanks for sharing! great tips!
Cadry says
Absolutely! Don’t you just want to drink more water when it looks so inviting?
Kristy says
There is something about using cloth napkins that takes each meal up a notch. They just make me feel fancy. I like to dab the corners of my mouth them, faking being ultra-proper, at the end of a meal, then talk with a British accent. Cloth napkins just do that to me.
I’ve been oggling that Vaute Couture sweatshirt as well- slightly jealous right now, but it looks simply smashing on you, darling (I have a cloth napkin in my lap right now). 😉
Cadry says
I bet Chris’ work friends are surprised when you go out to lunch with them and then you start speaking in a British accent because of the cloth napkins on the table. They say, “Oh, I didn’t know your wife was British.” He says, “She’s not. She’s just fancy.”
That Vaute Couture sweatshirt is one of my favorites. It’s so cozy for lounging around, and yet I also feel I can wear it out for groceries or whatnot without looking like a slob. Plus, the animals I fell most in love with at Animal Acres were the sheep and goats. I’ll take any reminders of them that I can get! 🙂
joe says
Probably this should go into some of those floating theories “You will always have more containers than lids” 🙂
This is a perenial problem in every house, and bermuda triangle may not be the reason.
Cadry says
I’m sure you’re right!
Cadry says
Thanks, Gigi! I’m glad to hear that Larry is so useful for you! I know from your videos that he’s often helping in the kitchen or offering almonds to the poor. He’s a good one to keep around!