Reusable Resolution
🎉 Kick Off 2026 with a Reusable Resolution!
Happy New Year! As we step into 2026, many of us are looking for ways to live more intentionally. What if your most impactful change this year was also the simplest? Making a Reusable Resolution isn’t about buying expensive eco-gadgets; it’s about rethinking the “waste” already sitting in your kitchen.
By shifting toward a circular economy at home, you can significantly reduce your personal carbon footprint. Here are a few easy ways to start sustainable living today:
1. Give Plastic Bags a Second Life
Instead of reaching for single-use plastic food wrap, look at what you already have.
Bread bags, Buns bags, packaging, and vegetable bags are durable and perfect for reuse and part of your Reusable Resolution.
- How to do it: Use these bags to store dry goods, solid foods or to cover containers. Simply place the container inside the bag and fold the excess plastic under to create a secure, airtight seal.
- Economic Impact: All 3 of these Great alternative to using plastic food storage that costs zero dollars! Technically, your original purchase cost is less now that you are reusing the packaging and NOT paying for new container but, you did purchase “food and packaging.”
2. Upcycle Glass Jars
Before you toss that empty Marinara or Jam jar into the recycling bin, consider upcycling glass jars for your pantry.
- How to do it: “Mason-style” jars are perfect for refrigerated leftovers or dry bulk goods like rice and lentils. These can also be handy to used for Bulk Store purchases – don’t forget them!
- Reuse your Upcycle: Use an old glass jar as a shaker dispenser for your DIY natural scouring powder or Baking Soda/Natural cleaners. It’s functional, plastic-free, and looks great on the counter.
3. Save Your Dairy Containers
Margarine, Sour cream, yogurt, and other tubs are the unsung heroes of zero-waste meal prep.
- How to do it: These containers are lightweight and “leak-resistant”, making them ideal for bringing your lunch to work or sending leftovers home with friends. Using what you already own is the truest form of eco-friendly packaging.
- TIP: Great for freezing dinner portions and then use the container for any leftovers or lunch.
🌍 The Realistic Environmental Impact
Switching to these habits isn’t just a “feel-good” move; it is part of reuse resolution and truly has measurable benefits for our planet:
- Landfill Diversion: The average household can divert up to 30 lbs of plastic waste per year simply by reusing existing containers and bags instead of buying new disposables.
- Energy Savings: While glass is recyclable, the process of melting it down requires extreme heat (over 1,400°C). Reusing a jar at home saves 100% of that industrial energy.
- Microplastic Reduction: Flexible plastic film (like cling wrap) is one of the most common ocean pollutants. By reusing sturdier bags, you ensure fewer thin plastics break down into our waterways.
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