In our fast-paced world where efficiency is highly valued, the Surfrider Foundation is pleased to partner with companies like Stasher, who make life more convenient while prioritizing sustainability. Stasher is the leading brand that helps you live a life with less plastic with its beautifully designed and easy-to-use reusable products. One Stasher bag replaces hundreds of single-use plastic bags every year, making Stasher deeply aligned with Surfrider’s core work of removing plastic pollution from our ocean, waves, and beaches.
As we head into a new year with goals for sustainable resolutions, we are excited to share fun tips and tricks about where you can swap out plastic bags for Earth-friendly options, like Stasher bags!
Tip 1: Swap out Single-Use Plastic Bags for Reusable Stasher Bags
Anytime you want to grab a plastic sandwich bag for food prep, swap the single-use plastic bag for an endlessly reusable Stasher Bag. Listed below are some of the fun sizes and shapes that Stasher offers:
- Sandwich Bag - perfect for, well, sandwiches!
- Pocket - perfect for nuts, seeds, limes, jelly beans…
- Stand-Up Bag - perfect for storing veggies and fruits in the fridge
- Snack Bag - perfect for chips, apple slices, cheese sticks
Tip 2: Opt for Refillable Containers and Bulk Shopping
When feasible, opt for purchasing bulk items and using reusable containers to avoid plastic packaging. Many grocery stores offer bulk sections. A few bulk items that store well are pantry staples, such as grains, dried fruit, nuts, dried pasta, and spices. Not only is bulk shopping a great way to avoid plastic, it is often a less-expensive option.
The Stand-Up Mega Bag by Stasher is a great way to fill up on bulk items such as rice, beans, and dried pasta. The Half-Gallon Bag by Stasher is another option to use for items such as nuts and seeds. You can also look around your own home for refillable containers you might already have, such as empty glass pasta sauce jars or old milk bottles.
Tip 3: Bring Your Own Reusables On The Go
In order to reduce reliance on single-use items such as plastic cups, bottles, and utensils, get in the habit of bringing your own water bottle, coffee thermos, and utensils on the go with you.
You can use a Stasher Bag, such as the Snack Bag, to make a “go kit” with utensils and a few reusable straws.
And don’t be afraid to advocate in your local neighborhood for a “Skip the Stuff” campaign!
Tip 4: Declutter Sustainably - Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle
As we head into a new year, we often reflect on what we want to take with us into the next year and what we want to leave behind. When looking at your space, practice mindful decluttering by reusing and repurposing items instead of buying new ones.
Below are a few examples of how you can declutter by reusing and repurposing items:
- Turn T-shirts into shopping bags
- Use old towels as cleaning rags
- Tin cans as desk organizers: clean and decorate tin cans to hold pens, brushes, or other small items on your desk
- Repurpose cardboard boxes for organizing: can be covered in fabric or decorative paper for a cleaner look
If you need to purchase new organizers, invest in something long lasting, like the Stasher beauty bags to store bathroom essentials such as cotton swabs and bandages.
With that, Stasher and Surfrider wish you a happy new year! As we enter 2025, remember that small, intentional choices to reduce single-use plastic in daily life can empower us to make a meaningful impact in addressing climate change. It's better for our bodies too!
You can join us in the battle against ocean pollution through beach cleanups, supporting an Ocean Friendly Restaurant or Hotel, taking action on one of our active campaigns, participating in your own plastic pollution reduction initiatives in your daily life, or through joining Surfrider and becoming an official friend of the ocean.
To learn more about Stasher, visit their website here!