It’s impossible to avoid 100% of plastic and this list is proof. I don’t make posts like this to scare anyone, but simply to show that you cannot be perfect when it comes to plastic and waste. It’s impossible to avoid all plastic and that’s okay. That is simply the system we were born into.

Of course, do your best. Find alternatives that work for you if you want. But, don’t stress these uncommon or rarely used items. Instead, focus on reducing plastic that you use daily and focus on reducing your reliance on all single-use materials because none of them are great.

Many of these will be plastic that we are familiar with but some of them will be plastic-like or simply just derived from oil byproducts. I lumped them all into this one broad category which might be a hot take. But, just wanted to clarify that.

Anyway, if you missed part 1, check it out here and let’s get into part two of hidden plastic items.

Crayons

Not all wax crayons are made equally, but most of them, including big brands like Crayola, are made with paraffin wax…Paraffin wax (or petroleum wax) is a soft colorless solid derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale. So, those crayons you or your children play with are derived from fossil fuels.

When talking about paraffin wax, there is some proof that burning it in the form of candles can be harmful, but doing something such as drawing with them is generally fine.

But, if you want to go petroleum-free, here are a few options on Earth Hero made from beeswax.

Candles

Speaking of paraffin wax, many of our candles are made with it. So, let’s bring it back to the health issues that could come with burning them. It really comes down to frequency. If you are burning them consistently and sitting very near the smoke, that could pose a health risk. But if it’s rare such as a birthday cake or special occasions you should be fine. Of course, do further research on your own or simply eliminate this risk by opting for natural candles.

My favorite brand is Everly. They are made with coconut and soy wax (so they’re vegan, too) and you just receive the wax and refill a jar at home! It’s a fun partial DIY.

But, I also have access to a lot of local beekeepers who make their own beeswax candles. I suggest starting there for your own swap to natural candles!

Tennis Shoes

That’s right, in part one we talked about clothes and now we have to talk about shoes. Since plastic/polyester is the cheapest material, it’s the most common for manufacturers to use in making just about all of our items. And this is all parts of the shoe: foamy soles, fabric tops, eyelets, aglets, and more.

Some good news is shoe recycling is becoming more and more popular but it’s still no mainstream. So, people may donate their gently used shoes but shoes that are extremely worn cannot be resold. For now, try to find recycling programs near you or online. I recently recycled my old Crocs for free!

When opting for new shoes, do what you gotta do. I usually buy secondhand instead of opting for natural materials. Shopping secondhand means that I personally did not contribute to the rise in plastic needed to make that shoe AND I diverted it from the landfill. I know what shoes I like: Crocs, Altra’s for hiking, Barefoot for my boots, etc. I would rather stick to the shoes that work for my body.

But, you can always opt for shoes made out of natural materials such as Allbirds made from wool and recycled plastic.

Polymer Clay

Not all clay is made of plastic or oil-derived parts, but polymer clay sure is. It’s usually made from PVC, polyvinyl chloride and other plasticizers. This is another one that isn’t technically plastic in the way we think of plastic, but it’s made from the same stuff and pollutes in the same way. So, if you want to still make projects with clay, opt for natural air dry clay. The label/ingredients should say “natural clay” instead of “polymer clay.”

DuraCopy paper - Rite in the Rain

As outdoor enthusiasts, we have always been a fan of Rite in the Rain paper. It’s great for fieldwork, volunteering, or hiking in our free time. We’ve used them to journal on longer trips, for example. Not all of their paper is made from plastic, but their DuraCopy paper is 100% synthetic. So, regular Rite in the Rain paper CAN be recycled since it is still made out of paper but DuraCopy may or may not be recycled. It depends on your local rules. As always, check before recycling, you don’t want to end up wishcycling!

I couldn’t find the exact material that they coat their paper with to make it weatherproof, but they claim it’s just as recyclable as office paper. I don’t love it, so I may just avoid it entirely in the future where possible.

Bulk store refills

Something that may shock everyone, especially new zero wasters, is that shopping at the bulk bins is not 100% waste-free or 100% plastic-free! How? Well, it depends on the store, but generally speaking, bulk items arrive to the bulk store in large plastic bags inside of shipping boxes. This protects it from dirt, debris, water, and damage. If it’s a liquid, it likely comes in a 5-gallon bucket. Thankfully the buckets can be reused, but the plastic bags cannot.

Of course, this is a HUGE reduction in plastic usage. I would rather support a bulk store that uses 1 plastic bag for 10 pounds of almonds than my large-chain grocery store where I would have to buy 10 smaller 1-pound bags to get the same amount. It helps us reduce plastic overall and that is still a step in the right direction!

Photo paper

This may or may not be shocking to some, but generally speaking, most photo paper consists of some plastic. Usually, it’s all made with tree-based paper on the inside and then coated with a polyethylene-resin layer or a polyester support sheet. Both of these are common types of plastics that we use daily.

If you want to print photos, that’s fine! It’s not single-use. But I do urge you to think before you print. Don’t print out every single photo on your phone, print the ones that you will cherish the most.

Or, go digital! Make an e-holiday card, make a digital photo collection, and so forth.

Exfoliating beads

Those little beads in your face wash or other exfoliant are almost always going to be made out of plastic and wash right down into the drain and into our waterways. They’re not as common as they once were. Growing up, these were EVERYWHERE! Well, that’s because President Obama signed into law that they should be banned due to their environmental impact. Yay!

But, if you happen to still see them around secondhand, in the back of your bathroom closet or shopping for products abroad, ditch them. And be sure to check a cleanser’s ingredient list for polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate, polylactic acid, or nylon

Other ways to exfoliate are with natural pumice stones, this natural exfoliant from Earth Hero made with walnut instead of plastic, or a natural loofa.

Glue

Unless you’re specifically seeking out natural white glues made from animal parts (definitely not vegan) then your glue is almost certainly made of Polyvinyl acetate, Polyvinyl alcohol, and Propylene glycol. Of course, it’s packaged in plastic, too.

But, other glues, too!

Hot glue is made of EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate), APAO (Amorphous Poly Alpha Olefin), and PA (Poly Amides)…

Superglue is made of cyanoacrylate, an acrylic resin…

Glue sticks are made out of acrylic polymers…

And so forth. I still use hot glue and I probably won’t give it up. I also use superglue to make repairs. The key here, for me at least, is to use it in moderation and make sure caps go on tight so that they don’t dry out.

Used hot glue and acryllic paint to make these

Contacts

See what I mean when I say plastic is hard to avoid? Yes, pun intended…sorry. Soft contacts are made of hydrogels, which are hydrophilic plastics. “Hydrophilic” literally means “water-loving.” So, you’re putting plastic on your eyes in order to see! Of course, I’m not saying to give these up. Please correct your vision if you need to. But, maybe you give glasses a consideration. Even if you use plastic glasses, they have infinite uses as opposed to contacts which only have 1-30 uses depending on the brand and the type.

But, for example, when Dan was in the Air Force, glasses were not allowed on his flight line job. So, we worse contacts almost exclusively, no way around it. Do what you gotta do!

Toothbrush bristles

Even on your bamboo toothbrushes, it’s true, the bristles are almost always going to be made out of plastic. What this means is that you need to remove the bristles or the entire head before composting. Of course, traditional toothbrushes are made of 100% plastic, but this one was surprising to see on bamboo toothbrushes! Truly proof that even the most perfect zero wasters cannot avoid plastic.

This plastic is typically nylon though some natural options are boar’s fur or bamboo.

Metal bottle caps

When you make the eco option to get a bottle of rootbeer or beer, it still contains hidden plastic on the cap. Plastic is important here to get a proper seal! They were first made with aluminum and cork. While still made from aluminum mostly, in the 1960s, cork got swapped for the much cheaper, much more available plastic that is either polyethylene or plastisol

Once again proving that even when you try to be perfect, it still can’t be avoided. As always, check your local recycling center for rules about recycling caps. They may not be accepted due to the plastic or simply because they’re too small. Find ways to upcycle them instead!

Coffee cups & Takeout containers

Once again, we think we’re making an eco-choice by opting for paper…but it’s not 100% paper. Coffee cups, takeout containers, and other paper items that we use for food and drink are lined with plastic. Think about it: if you handmade a cup out of printer paper and poured water into it, what would happen? It would entirely dissolve. That’s why they’re lined with plastic, to keep them from disintegrating immediately and even over time.

This usually renders it non-recyclable, though. As always, check your local rules.

Coffee filters

Thankfully it’s becoming less and less common for there to be excess plastic in coffee filters. They’re almost always going to be at least mostly paper. But, these filters do often contain glue or binder to hold them together which is made out of plastic. Though no the end of the world, it does make it impossible for it to break down completely in compost and could leave microplastics behind. If you use them, it’s better to compost the ground and throw away the filter.

Better yet, opt for a 100% organic cotton, reusable and machine washable filter from Earth Hero or a reusable metal filter that goes in the basket of a coffee pot or your Keurig. Or, go entirely filter-less and try a French press.

Coloring pens and pencils

This one shocked me that’s for sure! Colored pencils and even regular pencils may contain plastic in them in order to make them stronger. I think it’s great that they can last longer but it just proves that Big Oil is everywhere, even where you least expect it!

So, use what you have and then if you’re looking for something new, there are several options on Earth Hero such as made from recycled newspaper, pencils that have seeds in the bottom and can be planted, or made from 100% graphite.

Face masks

As with other categories, not all face masks are made from 100% plastic or even partially made of plastic. But, a good portion of them are. Any face masks that are marketed as microfiber are usually comprised of polyester, polyamide, acrylic, modal, lyocell, or viscose. Others are made from Rayon, Hydrogel (some but not all are made of plastic), and other synthetics. Even face masks that are majority made with cotton, cellulose, or other bio-based materials may still contain SOME amounts of plastic. So, use them mindfully and remember to dispose of them in the trash.

Stickers

I hope this comes as no surprise but a good portion of stickers are made from plastic. Whether you receive merch from a brand, a star at the top of your math test, or buy an orange at the grocery store, it is almost always made of plastic. I still use them on my water bottle. I think they’re a fun way to accessorize, but as with others on this list, use them mindfully. I also like to remove them when I no longer want them on my water bottle and place them in a junk journal as a keepsake and to keep them out of the landfill.

Clothing Tags

While the paper part of the clothing tag is clearly made out of paper, usually it’s secured to your clothing with plastic. Think about Goodwill, I think this is the best example. They use colored plastic pieces to attach the paper tags to the garments. A lot of eco brands are moving away from this and will often use metal safety pins and cotton, hemp, or or other natural fiber strings to attach the clothing to the tag. Just another perk to shopping sustainably!

But, this is unavoidable when buying from non-eco brands and even when secondhand shopping. Buy what you need to, but just keep in mind that nothing is perfect.

Metallic packaging

Though it looks shiny and made of metal, not all metallic packaging actually IS made of metal. It might just be shiny plastic. Though this video outlines the “crumple test” with paper, the same applies to metal vs plastic. If you crumple metal, it will hold its shape. If you crumple plastic, it will bounce back to its original form. When in doubt, call your local recycling center for advice.

That concludes out list of hidden plastics to look out for, part 2! I hope you learned something from this post. Once again, this is not a call for you to ditch all of these. I sure don’t. It’s simply educational to show you that no matter how perfect you try to be about being zero waste or plastic-free, it’s impossible.

And that’s not to count the necessary plastic we need such as food and medical care. So, do what you can and don’t stress the rest of it too much.

As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)

Emma

These Items Contain Hidden Plastic, Part 2