If you asked me what one small change I’ve made that’s made the biggest impact on reducing the amount of waste I produce, I would say my Go Bag! My “Go Bag” goes with me on almost all outings anymore and follows me to work. There isn’t much to it, and chances are you have most of the supplies already! Yay for cost savings! So what’s in my go bag?
Canvas bag -I have two specifically for this purpose because I love them both! My fox one usually comes with me to work along with my purse, while my green bag has compartments for my phone and wallet, so I’ll usually throw those in and ditch the purse entirely. Not only does it hold my stuff, but it can double as a shopping bag in a pinch if I need to stop to pick up the essentials!
Reusable cups – At minimum I’ll take a thermos like this blue RTIC tumbler that can handle hot and cold liquids. If I’m planning on coffee and water, I’ll usually take both so I’m not struggling to eliminate the coffee taste from my water if I can’t find a sink to properly wash my mug.
Silverware – I repurposed a makeup bag from Ipsy I had lying around, but you could use a pencil case, small tupperware, whatever you find! I keep a small knife, spoon, fork, and metal straw in my bag. No need to get fancy; I just use silverware from my kitchen! Plus I can just throw them in the dishwasher and swap them out for clean ones if I’m busy/lazy.
Whatever else I need! – Usually I bring my book and/or journal and earbuds, but I’ve even thrown a change of clothes in when I’m going to the gym before work. I’ll usually chuck my Aeropress in my bag when I’m heading to work if I’m not stopping at the coffee shop (with my reusable mug!) on the way.
Not only is this great for the environment, but it’s super convenient! You can use whatever appropriately sized bag you find, but I’d recommend investing in a decently well-made canvas tote that you love, because having cute bags mean you get excited to use them! If you don’t have a bag, even just making a small container of reusable silverware and straws can help dramatically cut down on your waste. At my work we have readily available plastic silverware and straws, and it’s so easy to fall into the trap of going through several pairs of throw-away utensils per shift. This, coupled with my thermos, has pretty much eliminated my personal use of single-use plastic and Styrofoam items at work.
Links to my bags:
https://society6.com/product/fairy-lights1756611_bag?sku=s6-10200490p29a26v196
This one is great because you’re also supporting small artists! You can search Society6 for a print you love and their totes are available in multiple sizes.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FB1QB82/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Available through Amazon (yeah, yeah, I know).
If you’re looking for a more sustainably-focused company that’s still relatively affordable, check out https://baggu.com/, and https://www.thetoteproject.com focuses on ethically sourced textiles!
