What Kind of Plastic-Free Are You?

Plastic-free has been on my mind for years. Over time, I’ve realized that plastic-free means something different for everyone. For some, it means avoiding as much plastic as possible for environmental and health reasons - switching cooking utensils, cookware, food storage, personal care, cleaning products, and the list goes on. For others, it simply means refilling a plastic bottle they already own, again and again.

I’ve seen laundry jugs and shampoo bottles refilled 13 times - and that’s both great and not so great. Great because we’re keeping the same plastic in circulation. Not so great because plastic lasts forever. Using a take-out container to store dishwasher tablets? Honestly, I think that’s pretty cool. Some people love reusing what they already have; others prefer a beautiful glass jar. And that’s okay.

Wherever you are on your journey - if plastic-free has been on your mind, or on your list of intentions for 2026 - we want to be friends.

Eliminating plastic completely is impossible. There is no “perfect.” We don’t have an easy solution to plastic pollution, but we are here doing what we can. At Fill Happy, we’re offering alternatives and reducing dependency on plastic for our beautiful community. We know systemic change is necessary, but while solutions feel far away, individual choices can support better systems. Circular models like ours offer an opportunity to participate in a system where need for plastic is eliminated (even our drums and jugs are returned, sanitized, and refilled!).

Yes, it costs us more to do it this way. But what a wonderful feeling it is to know that there’s no hand soap, dish soap, or laundry detergent in town that represents these values the way ours does. It feels like a quiet, tangible revolution.

It’s becoming clear that microplastics are no joke. They’ve been found in umbilical cords, placentas, brains, and accumulating in organs - and they’re known to disrupt our hormones.

Not long ago, we were at a café and forgot our water bottles. We bought a plastic one, and my kids were curious to try it. One of them said, “Wow, I was expecting something different - it tastes like microplastics.” We laughed, but it’s not really a joke. The plastic crisis is affecting our health. Think about single-use plastic water bottles transported in trucks under high heat, leaching chemicals into the water. Carrying a reusable water bottle isn’t just good for the planet - t’s good for your health.

If you’re deciding where to start, I’d recommend:

• Stop using black plastic utensils for cooking (we carry bamboo ones!)

• Never heat food in plastic in the microwave

• Rethink single-use plastics

• Start replacing items in your bathroom gradually with safer, more sustainable options

It takes about 30 days for a new habit to stick. Be gentle with yourself. This journey doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Celebrate your small wins - you’re doing better than you think.

I often remind myself that we are connected to the environment. It’s something I care so deeply about that I even made it our tagline: “Where your health connects to planet health.” And sometimes the choices feel impossible - like choosing between organic lemons in a plastic mesh bag or loose lemons sprayed with pesticides. Grabbing that plastic-wrapped organic bag can feel greedy, knowing the packaging will end up in landfill, breaking down into microplastics that pollute our soil and water. These are hard decisions.

To conclude: single-use plastic is a huge issue. Less than 9% of plastic has ever been recycled. Recycling is a business, and if it’s not profitable, it often doesn’t happen. There is simply too much plastic being produced, and we need to turn off the tap instead of mopping the floor. The best thing we can do is minimize plastic waste, educate ourselves, and decide what matters most to us.

And when you’re ready for your next plastic-free swap or chat, we’ll be here - happy to refill, reuse, and support you along the way. 💚
Visit us at Fill Happy - where your health connects to planet health.

Source on microplastics & hormone disruption:
https://usrtk.org/healthwire/microplastics-wreaking-havoc-on-human-hormones-fertility/