Three simple ways everyone can purify their pantries and do away with with plastic

If being more eco is high on your priority list, there’s a multitude of ways you can rid your kitchen cupboards of unessential waste. Here’s a handful of the easiest switches you can make.

From floating islands of rubbish to contaminated waterways, the planet is drowning in plastic waste. And while the environmental damage plastic has caused is extensive–nearly 700 animal species have been affected by plastics–something as small as an eco-friendly revamp of your kitchen cupboard or larder, can help repair it.

More and more of us are looking for ways to live more sustainably, but your efforts needn’t be limited to reusing your bags and sorting out your recycling. Get out from under that sea of plastic with these simple steps:

1. Bottle It Up

Replace plastic bottles with glass! Save the planet and some coin at IKEA, which offers a full range of affordable glass food containers, bottles, and jars. Better yet, save your old milk bottles, jam jars – anything with resilient packaging – and find ways to put it to use.

2. Stop Being So Clingy

Bees’ wax food wraps serve as a great reusable alternative to single use plastic cling film. For food storage, look for glass Tupperware alternatives too—not only will they help keep your food fresh, but you won’t see the same unsightly staining that typically occurs in plastic boxes.

3. Bulk Up Your Buying

Purchasing staples like legumes, nuts, oats, and dried fruit in bulk quantities will help cut out excess packaging. It’ll also mean you won’t have to visit the supermarket every other day. Which is a blessing as far as we’re concerned.