Hey earth muffins! For those looking to be more eco-friendly, it can be overwhelming to start making those low impact changes. Never fear – the first steps don’t have to be costly! You can actually buy great starter items for a total of only $100. This makes it easy for just about anyone to jump on the low-waste-living bandwagon. Keep reading for a list of the best affordable sustainable swaps to make (with Amazon affiliate links for each!).
Hey earth muffins! Over the past few years, corporations like Amazon have seen a huge rise in business. People love websites like this because they have a ton of options (in every category), are relatively affordable, and get your items to your doorstep in a matter of days. But, is quick and convenient always the best option for the planet? I’d argue it isn’t – would you agree? Let’s get into the not-so-great aspects of the Amazon giant… And tips to avoid shopping on this website!
Hey earth muffins! Are you sick and tired of ordering something off Amazon, and it coming in a box three sizes too big? I sure was! I thought it was so stupid that a tiny product would be shipped in a huge box surrounded by tons of plastic packaging. Sometimes, I would get a plastic bubble mailer instead. While those can be reused as bubble wrap, it is still excess plastic waste. Especially during Plastic Free July, I wanted to share with you all how to get absolutely NO plastic packaging in your Amazon orders! It is quick, easy, and effective in reducing your plastic usage. Let’s jump right into it! 📦
When you first navigate to Amazon.com, there is the “All” category drop down button on the top left of the screen. Click on the “All” so that you see the menu of different Amazon services and departments.
Scroll all the way to the bottom of this panel until you see “Customer Service”. It should be the second thing from the bottom of the menu. Click on “Customer Service”, and it will redirect you to Amazon Help.
Once on the Amazon Help screen, scroll down the page until you see the “Browse Help Topics” section. The very last option on this page is “Need More Help?”. When you hover over this, there are three options for you to choose from. Click on “Contact Us”.
After clicking on the Contact Us button, Amazon will redirect you to a new page. You should see a large yellow “Start chatting now” button on the left of the screen. Click on this button to start the chat! The bot will start asking you about your most recent order; so, keep selecting the option that you need help with something else. Eventually, you can opt to chat with an actual associate instead of just the bot.
When you get connected with an associate, ask them nicely to have your Amazon packages shipped plastic free. My message was, “I am hoping to get all of my future Amazon orders shipped plastic-free”. The associate should update your special notes and ta-da! You should now receive your orders without any plastic. 🎉
Before going through the steps listed above, I actually had placed an order on Amazon. I was curious to see how quick the “special notes” would be updated on my account. Sometimes companies can be misleading when they say no plastic packaging, so I wanted to double check it actually worked before sharing this post with you all… And I am excited to say that it does work! The three things I purchased were packaged in a paper mailer that was the perfect size for the three items. 😍 In my area, the paper mailers can be recycled just like any cardboard box too. What a huge win!!
I can’t believe I hadn’t done this sooner! The steps to get no plastic packaging with your Amazon orders are super easy. Plus, it takes barely no time at all. I think it took about 3 minutes from the time I went to Amazon to the time the associate said he would take care of it for me. Please take the time to follow these steps and share this post with all of your family and friends. Just imagine how much plastic we would save during Plastic Free July (and beyond) by doing this!! Do you get your Amazon orders shipped plastic-free?
Love,
Jenna ♥
