Plastic-Free July: How and Where to Shop Plastic-Free in Los Angeles

Why go plastic-free in July

Plastic is everywhere—including inside our bodies—and there’s growing research on the ways that plastic is harmful not just to our ecosystems but also to our health. Chemicals in plastic have been clearly linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, cancer risk, and more. A recent study even showed that exposure to the chemicals in plastic can disrupt our sleep in a way that’s similar to caffeine.

In addition to invisible risks, we can also see the result of the plastic crisis in nature, as more plastics are polluting our oceans, showing up in animal remains, and posing serious threats to wildlife around the world.

Thankfully, there are many ways that we as consumers can dramatically reduce plastic in our lives.

Where to shop plastic-free in Los Angeles

re_ grocery is a plastic-free grocery with three locations in Los Angeles, along with local delivery in Los Angeles. Not an LA native? We also offer nationwide shipping so our friends outside LA can shop sustainably from our online zero waste store.

A recent study even showed that exposure to the chemicals in plastic can disrupt our sleep in a way that’s similar to caffeine.

Other places around LA that help us stay plastic-free with refill options:

→ Visit re_ partner Canyon Coffee in Echo Park for hot coffee and cold brew

→ Check out re_ partner Ferrazzani’s Pasta & Market in Pasadena for fresh pasta

→ Bring your reusable container to get chips and salsa from Homestate

→ Grab fresh focaccia in your own container from Ceci’s Gastronomia in Silver Lake

→ Bring your reusable container to get cheese from Milkfarm

“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” —Anne-Marie Bonneau

Refill, reduce, reuse, recycle

Following a flow like “refill, reduce, reuse, recycle” can help get you into a good system of avoiding plastic waste.

→ Refill your regular purchases, like weekly groceries and bath products

→ Reduce your additional purchases (this might look like avoiding whims like plastic-wrapped candies)

→ Reuse your empty jars and containers to avoid buying more plastic (here’s how to clean off sticky labels).

→ Recycle any plastic that you do use—we collect hard-to-recycle soft, stretchy film so it gets made into something new.

We collect hard-to-recycle soft, stretchy film so it gets made into something new

It’s about progress, not perfection

“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” —Anne-Marie Bonneau.

Don’t worry about immediately changing everything in your home to being plastic-free. Start with what might be the most toxic to your family, and items that might be the most avoidable. We’ve written a whole post about where to start with reusables.

Ways to reuse plastic containers

Repurposing old plastic bottles and trash bags is a good impulse—just be mindful of those toxic risks associated with plastic. For instance, you’ll want to avoid heating single-use plastic in the microwave. You may also want to avoid storing drinks and food in plastic, or generally wearing plastic items close to your skin.

Empty plastic tubs and canisters can be good for mixing watercolors, holding art supplies, toting cleaning rags, stashing dryer lint for fire tinder, or organizing drawers.

Cleaning up plastic waste from the beach or during our walks helps keep us connected to nature, reminding us why we choose to avoid single-use plastic in our lives

Notice what you tend to toss

Whether it’s berries in plastic containers, produce in soft, stretchy film, or juice in plastic bottles, notice the plastic that goes into your bin each week—that will be a good place to start for your Plastic Free July goals.

At re_ grocery, our pickers source produce directly from our local farmers markets so you can shop fruits and veggies without the plastic cartons, film, and produce stickers.

One easy and satisfying way to cut out plastic for Plastic-Free July is to switch to solid bath and beauty items like shampoo bars, solid conditioner, bar soap, shave soap bar, and toothpaste tabs

Put food away for later

Takeout and delivery tend to be wasteful, even when you check the “no utensils” option. But often, we’re tempted by the takeout apps when we’re hungry and don’t feel up to making a hot meal.

To avoid this (and save money), next time you make a big meal, make some extra and freeze it into portions for your busy days. Silicone bags are great for this.

To replace common kitchen plastic, we also love the ease of compostable cling wrap, compostable sandwich baggies, and compostable trash bags.

Switch to solid bath and beauty items like shampoo bars, solid conditioner, bar soap, shave soap bar, and toothpaste tabs

Go bottle-free in the bathroom

One easy and satisfying way to cut out plastic for Plastic-Free July is to switch to solid bath and beauty items like shampoo bars, solid conditioner, bar soap, shave soap bar, and toothpaste tabs. They’re also great for summer travel since they won’t leak in your luggage. We love an exfoliating body soap bar for sloughing off sunscreen and sand under an outdoor shower in the summer.

Keep reusables where you’ll use them

It’s easy to find ourselves at stores, restaurants, and airports with the best intentions but no alternatives to the plastic bag or water bottle. To stay stocked on the go, here’s what we recommend:

→ Keep a market tote handy by the door

→ Inside that, keep any smaller reusable produce bags

→ Keep another tote in your car or folded up in your bag

→ Stash a set of to-go utensils and cloth napkins in your glove box for eating on the road

It’s easy to find ourselves at stores, restaurants, and airports with the best intentions but no alternatives to the plastic bag or water bottle

→ Keep a lightweight stainless steel container in your bag for takeout, restaurant leftovers, or food at the butcher counter

→ Bring your reusable water bottle with you on the road and on flights for filling up at the airport

→ Bring a reusable coffee cup with you for your barista to fill up

→ Have extra plastic-free lip balm in your work or travel bag

For more sustainable travel tips, read our recent summer travel checklist.

Join a beach cleanup

If you’re already living your best plastic-free lifestyle, a beach (or other) community cleanup can be a great way to stay motivated and do a little extra while having fun outside with your friends. You can organize one of your own, or opt into a group to meet new people. Cleaning up plastic waste from the beach or during our walks helps keep us connected to nature, reminding us why we choose to avoid single-use plastic in our lives.

Synthetic plastics haven’t been around that long in the scheme of things. That means we can get back to a world where we don’t need single-use plastics in our everyday lives. But we have to start somewhere.

Switching your grocery routine to a plastic-free experience is a great way to live your values, and at re_ grocery we make it easy. Head to the shop or online to stock up on reusables and refillables for your plastic-free summer.

Sources:

How Plastic Can Harm Your Health - Consumer Reports

Plastics in everyday objects may disrupt sleep in same way as caffeine, study finds.

Plastic chemicals disrupt molecular circadian rhythms via adenosine 1 receptor in vitro - ScienceDirect