Reducing Plastic Use May Benefit Your Health and Finances

09.29.2025 | Category: Health & Well-Being

Summary: Reducing plastic use has direct health and financial benefits. This article shows how small, steady changes like switching to reusable containers or bulk shopping can reduce waste, lower costs and limit chemical exposure.

Reducing plastic use can lead to meaningful changes that benefit your health, finances and the environment. You may already be committed to sustainability or just starting to explore eco-friendly living, but reducing the use of plastic is a significant step. For example, switching to a reusable water bottle cuts down on plastic waste and can save you money in the long run.

You can create a positive impact on both your well-being and the planet by making small, mindful changes in your daily life. Let’s explore how simple changes, like cutting back on plastic, can lead to a healthier lifestyle and a more sustainable future.

Why reduce plastic use? Health, financial and environmental wins

Single-use plastics can leach chemicals into food and drinks, and microplastics have been found in human bloodstreams. This has raised concerns about long-term health effects that are still being studied in the medical community.

Many of us purchase bottled water, plastic-wrapped produce and disposable items because it’s what we’ve become used to. However, all the extra plastic adds up financially as well. Switching to reusable alternatives can deliver significant savings to family budgets.

Environmentally, the numbers are staggering: the world generates over 430 million tons of plastic waste annually, with 46% of that waste ending up in landfills and 22% becoming litter¹. Reducing our footprint means fewer plastics in landfills, fewer toxins in oceans and a step toward cleaner air and water for everyone.

How reducing plastic can improve your health

Plastics can release harmful toxins into food and drinks and even contaminate the air you breathe. You can enhance your physical and mental well-being by minimizing exposure to these hazardous chemicals and opting for natural, plastic-free alternatives.

The concern goes beyond just bottles and packaging. Microplastics, tiny fragments from larger pieces, have been detected in drinking water and table salt, which can eventually make their way into human blood. While the long-term effects are still under study, it’s unlikely that a steady intake of microplastics is going to benefit anyone’s health.

Professionals suggest reducing the amount of microplastics you ingest by drinking filtered tap water instead of bottled, using plastic-free options for food storage and cutting boards, avoiding single-use plastics for food and washing plastic by hand, not in the dishwasher².

Save money by cutting plastic waste

While the initial investment in reusable products might be higher, the long-term savings are significant. Imagine never having to repurchase plastic bottles or containers. Over time, the savings add up, making plastic-free choices not only sustainable but also financially beneficial.

One refillable stainless steel water bottle can last years, while single-use bottled water can cost hundreds of dollars, with Americans spending over $112 billion on it in 2024³.

Switching to bulk goods in paper or with minimal packaging usually cuts the cost per ounce compared to heavily packaged convenience sizes.

There’s also the matter of hidden costs. Disposable plastic often contributes to clutter and waste at home, so moving toward clean eating instead of a diet full of processed, highly packaged food is a good step toward reducing plastic waste.

Food in cheap containers tends to spoil faster because the seal isn’t airtight, leading to more food wastage. Investing in higher-quality, plastic-free options helps preserve what you’ve already purchased, potentially stretching your grocery budget further.

Environmental impact of reducing plastic use

Plastics can take centuries to decompose, during which they pollute our oceans and landscapes, thus harming wildlife. By reducing your use of plastic, you contribute to reducing waste and helping safeguard our planet.

Plastic pollution threatens more than 1,500 marine and terrestrial species, which can ingest or become entangled in plastic. Making new plastic also adds to climate change, with around 3% of global greenhouse gases coming from plastics, a figure that, without changes, could double by 2060⁴.

To get a close look at some of the common plastic items polluting the oceans and how some artists have transformed them into works of art that make an important statement, check out this video featuring The Washed Ashore Project.

Easy ways to start reducing plastic use today

You don’t have to make dramatic changes overnight. Taking one small step at a time is a good start, like tackling one area of your routine where plastic use is highest, and gradually replacing it with longer-lasting alternatives. The key is consistency, not speed.

1. Swap to reusable bottles, bags and containers

Single-use bottles, grocery bags and takeaway containers are some of the most common forms of plastics in circulation. Invest in a sturdy stainless steel or glass bottle, and you’ll quickly avoid dozens of disposable ones.

Keep reusable grocery bags in your car or by the front door so they’re easy to grab. For food storage, spring clean your cupboards and drawers and replace disposable tubs that crack or warp over time with durable containers, whether glass jars or aluminum lunch boxes.

2. Avoid single-use utensils and straws

In 2024, Surfrider volunteers logged the most individual trash items ever on beaches, with 870,000 pieces recorded in their national cleanup database, 83% of which was plastic⁵. Plastic utensils, straws and stirrers are often found in beach cleanups, and while individually small, they pile up quickly.

Carrying a compact reusable cutlery kit in your bag or leaving one at work makes it easy to avoid unnecessary single-use plastics. Reusable straws made of silicone, stainless steel or even bamboo are widely available and easy to clean.

3. Shop in bulk and choose minimal packaging

Always carry your own bags and containers to stores. Opt for bulk purchases to minimize plastic packaging and select products with recyclable or minimal packaging.

Bulk paper or compostable bags are commonly used for bulk bins of grains, coffee, nuts and snacks. Even large-packaged items such as detergent or pasta often use less plastic overall than multiple smaller packages. Choosing brands that use cardboard or refill systems can also significantly reduce the plastic waste generated by your household each week.

4. Use durable, plastic-free alternatives

Other long-lasting swaps include beeswax wraps instead of cling film, bar soap in paper instead of liquid soap in plastic pumps and wooden brushes instead of plastic scrubbers. Many of these replacements outlast their plastic counterparts, meaning fewer trips to the store and more value over time.

Next steps for reducing plastic use

You can start reaping the health, financial and environmental benefits of sustainable living by reducing the plastic you use each day. This doesn’t have to mean an all-or-nothing approach.

Start with small swaps and see what sticks. Maybe it’s keeping a reusable coffee cup in your car, saying no to plastic cutlery with takeout or buying more produce without packaging. Each small change reduces demand for disposable plastic and moves you toward a cleaner lifestyle.

You can also think beyond the kitchen. Bathroom swaps like bar soap, refillable shampoo bottles or bamboo toothbrushes all make a difference. Around the house, consider repairing or repurposing items instead of buying cheap plastic replacements. Even choosing natural fabrics over synthetic ones when shopping for clothes helps cut down on microplastics entering waterways during laundry.

Over time, these habits can help support your health, potentially save money and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Discover more tips for a healthier, happier life with Mutual of Omaha. Explore our free resources for expert planning and advice today!

Frequently asked questions

What’s the best way to recycle plastic?

Recycling is a vital part of the sustainability cycle. For the plastic items you already own or can’t avoid, proper sorting is key. Properly sorting recyclables prevents contamination, ensuring materials are effectively reused and reducing the need for new raw materials.

Where can I learn more about reducing plastic waste?

For more information, visit plasticfreejuly.org and kab.org for tips, challenges and initiatives designed to make it easier to live with less plastic and keep communities cleaner.

Are there creative ways to raise awareness about plastic pollution?

Art is one powerful approach to raise awareness about plastic pollution. Consider The Washed Ashore Project, which turns plastic trash collected from oceans into large-scale sculptures. These works highlight the issue of marine pollution in a way that’s both eye-opening and inspiring.