10 Tips for Living Plastic-free in Japan

What comes to mind when you hear the term plastic-free life?

“I'm too busy to adapt to that lifestyle.”

“I’m interested but it sounds expensive.”

“We need the corporate leaders to change first!”

“Is it really hygienic?”

Those thoughts may have crossed your mind.

Especially with the outbreak of COVID-19, the consumption of single-use plastics has been on the rise, perhaps due to their perceived hygieniene or convenience. As a result, the amount of waste generated from households has been increasing significantly.

Now, are plastic products really that hygienic compared to reusable products?

Unless you're looking for hospital-like standards, single-use plastic is not inherently safer than reusables. In fact, one can assume that any object or surface in a public space — reusable or disposable — could be contaminated with the virus.

According to hygiene experts around the world, most common approved household disinfectants should be effective for disinfecting hard surfaces, including reusable items, with such surfaces being cleaned thoroughly using a detergent or soap.

Also, according to CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), viruses are rarely transmitted from foods and their packages. You can safely consume the store bought vegetables by washing it with running water or cooking it thoroughly.

When you buy produce in a supermarket in Japan, the chances are, that it will be wrapped in a styrofoam net, placed on a plastic tray, which is then wrapped in a plastic bag and finally you bring it back home by packing it in another plastic bag.

Omotenashi is an integral part of the Japanese culture in which you put others, essentially, your customers, before yourself, to ensure their satisfaction and happiness. The norm of overwrapping one’s produce in plastic originates from this cultural aspect. Hence, foods are packed with excessive care so customers are able to carry it around safely and hygienically.

The excessive packaging comes with good intentions but when we consider the damage it has on our health and planet, it has an inverse effect.

But wait. Does living a healthy and happy plastic-free life have to be that difficult?

The answer is NO!

You may be surprised to know how easy it is to lead a wallet-friendly plastic-free life. All you need to do is incorporate some new habits into your daily life.

Here’s 10 practical tips for living plastic-free in Japan. Get ready to be blown away!

1. My bottle, my tumbler

Carry around your favorite reusable bottle to increase your happiness level, live plastic-free and never forget to bring along your new best friend when you leave your front door! Besides your water bottle, if you bring your coffee or tea tumbler, you might even get a discount at cafes. Friendly for the environment but also for your wallet – what else can you ask for!

Let’s say you used to buy two bottles of water at a convenience store everyday. Carrying your reusable bottle will save you 87,600 yen per year and 1,680 yen per week – enough for you to buy a round trip ticket to Hawaii or Gold Coast! (In the case that one PET bottle is 120 yen.)

Today, 740 PET bottles are bought nationwide every second in Japan. Carrying around your own bottle might be the first step towards bringing this number closer to zero.

Don’t forget to wash and sterilize your reusable bottle before bringing it to cafes and you can also use the mymizu app to find a free refill spot near you!

2. Reusable bags

Reusable bags are not only for planned grocery shopping! Set yourself up for success by pre-placing reusable bags in your daily bag for sudden gifts or unexpected shopping. It’s a great technique for those unsuspected, “We’re out of toilet paper! Can you pick some up on the way home?” texts from your family.

But did you know that considering all the other environmental impacts besides litter and marine debris, a cotton tote may be worse for the environment than a plastic bag?

In that case, using the existing bag with care and giving it a long life rather than buying a new reusable bag is better for the environment.

If you regularly use a big backpack, you can put all your purchased goods in your backpack directly — my go-to move! The key is to discover what kind of bag works best for your lifestyle.

3. Reusable food wraps (beeswax/silicone)

Yes — the plastic cling wrap is very useful and you may be using it on a daily basis. But in most cases, you will use it once and throw it away.

Why not try a more sustainable alternative to wrap up leftovers by using reusable beeswax or silicone wrap?

Beeswax wraps are made from natural materials, can be washed and used repeatedly and completely safe. Reusable silicone wraps are useful in that it is heat resistant and can be microwaved.

The good news is you don’t have to buy either of those if you breathe new life into the container you already have at home.

Just store your leftovers in those reusable plastic containers!

4. Reusable utensils and straws

You don’t have to fancy a new set of utensils when you’re trying to go plastic-free. Keep it simple by throwing a well-washed and sterilized reusable stainless steel to-go set of utensils in your daily bag and for all of you tapioca and coffee lovers, you could add in a reusable straw if needed!

Another important thing to remember is to be proactive. It’s crucial to request and emphasize that you don’t need a straw as you order your drink (not after it arrives!).

Perhaps, offer a brief explanation behind your request in a courteous manner. I add, “I am trying to be eco-friendly and avoid single-use plastic”. Remember to ask nicely with a smile and let the staff know you appreciate their attention to detail and flexibility with your eco-friendly request. Your gratitude will encourage them to hopefully avoid other single-use plastic and spread the positive movement.

5. Plastic-free periods: Menstrual cups

Did you know that tampon applicators and most pad and tampon wrappers are made from single-use plastic?

My alternative for single-use sanitary products are menstrual cups. It’s a soft silicone cup that you can insert in the morning and only has to be removed once a day to be emptied, rinsed and then reinserted.

You might be hesitant at first, but once you get used to it, it's so comfortable that you may even forget that you have it on in the first place! You also don't have to worry about leakage or the itchiness caused by the moisture when using a menstrual cup. It is especially useful when traveling, as it is as small as a ping pong ball!

I can’t stress it enough how amazing it is. It’s my absolute favorite among all the eco-friendly products I have!

There are also reusable, washable pads and panty liners that are great alternatives for those that do not feel comfortable with inserting products in their body.

6. Bamboo toothbrushes and eco-friendly toothpastes

If the plastic toothbrush you are now using is ready for replacement, it’s the perfect time for you to switch over to a bamboo toothbrush!

As toothbrushes are consumables that get worn out pretty easily, you want to select a material that will eventually return to nature.

Also, did you know that commercially available toothpastes contain small plastic particles and microbeads? You can find recipes of homemade toothpastes that can easily be made with baking soda, sea salt, coconut oil and essential oils. So, why not make your own with your favorite scent?

And — don't forget to bring your eco-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste when traveling as well!

7. Laundry detergent alternative: Laundry magnesium pouch

By using a laundry magnesium pouch (in Japan, a popular choice is the Laundry “Sentaku” Magchan), you will no longer need laundry detergent or fabric softener.

Laundry Magchan is made from pure magnesium (99.95%).

Magnesium generates hydrogen bubbles when it comes in contact with water, turning tap water into alkaline ionized water.

Laundry Magchan is an excellent product that removes dirt without detergent and leaves no unpleasant odor even when drying your clothes indoors. In addition, the alkaline ionized water will voluntarily clean the inside of the washing machine and drain it’s hose as well. What a bonus!

As the Laundry Magchan can be used repeatedly for years, I recommend this product with or without its plastic-free goodness.

8. Package-free bath goods

What you use in the bath is full of plastic. Even refillable shampoos, conditioners and body soaps that almost deceive us as eco-friendly alternatives are wrapped in plastic.

Why don’t you take this chance to start exploring different options like a package-free shampoo and conditioner bar?

Your average shampoo consists of up to 80% water and conditioners consist of up to 95% water. However, as shampoo and conditioner bars are more concentrated, they have a longer lifespan compared to liquid shampoos and conditioners. Many shampoo and conditioner bars are made with only natural ingredients so it will keep your scalp and environment healthy!

I personally recommend products by Lush, a cosmetic brand headquartered in the UK. Their products are not only package-free but made only from natural ingredients without using any microplastics which is generally included in bath goods.

9. Farmers market

Farmers markets are a great way to buy fresh, local produce without plastic packaging. However, in some markets, vendors still use plastic packaging so preliminary research is necessary. For vendors that use plastic packaging, you can always take this as an opportunity to communicate directly with them on your thoughts regarding single-use plastic as a consumer and see if they would be willing to reduce plastic packaging.

Start your research to find your nearby farmers market and don't forget to bring your own bag or empty bottle! Here’s a list of farmers markets in the Tokyo and Yokohama area, for your reference.

10. Throw a plastic-free party and BYOS (Bring Your Own Snack)!

Have you ever been defeated by hunger and grabbed a plastic packaged snack at a convenience store? I have and I’m pretty sure most of you have had similar experiences.

A huge source of single-use plastics for many, comes in the form of prepackaged grab-and-go food like chocolates or protein bars.

Well, guess what! Carry around some fruits, veggie sticks, nuts or homemade snacks in your favorite reusable container. Not only does it taste better but you’ll be getting more nutrients into your system! (You also wouldn’t have to worry about finding your nearest bin which isn’t an easy task, especially in Japan!)

Now, cooking at home is also a great way to reduce the usage of wasteful takeout containers and unnecessary single-use plastics as well! When cooking at home, you have the choice of selecting ingredients that don’t come with plastic packaging which is something that is invisible to us customers when dining at a restaurant.

Or if you’re really feeling up for it, why not involve your friends and throw a zero waste party?

The key takeaway is: whether it's a plastic product or not, use and cherish the things you already have. When you use it all up, that would be the ideal time to switch to eco-friendly alternatives. That is the most environmentally friendly way to consume products.

We live busy lives and so naturally, we can’t be thinking about our way around single-use plastics all day long. But, through reading this article, you have already taken the first step to living a plastic-free life so give yourself some credit!

Reducing plastic consumption may not improve the environment immediately but your actions will protect and save the lives of marine animals and improve the ecosystem of forests, rivers and oceans worldwide.

To start, I challenge you to live a plastic-free or a plastic-less life for a week by incorporating these 10 tips. Slowly start changing them into daily habits and as a result, the amount of garbage will naturally decrease. You are now on track to living an eco-friendly and budget-friendly plastic-free life!

【Blogger Intro: Kanae Hasegawa】

Kanae Hasegawa Blog mymizu introduction 長谷川佳苗.png

As an ecofreak, I aspire to help others adopt a sustainable and healthy lifestyle - not only for the direct benefit of us as individuals but for the health of our environment. My journey towards sustainability started from her hometown Nagoya, Japan where I hosted monthly events such as street cleanup, vegan picnic, yoga, climate action lectures and more, bringing in over 350 participants from all age groups. I am also a core member of Fridays For Future Nagoya and have participated in Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in Tokyo hosted by Al Gore to cultivate a broad view of the climate crisis. By writing this blog (from the world’s largest island: Australia!), I hope to share my own learnings and document my own journey to help create a world in which sustainable and eco-friendly choices become the norm!

10 Tips for Living Plastic-free in Japan

mymizu Blog Series "My Journey Towards Sustainability, with Kanae"

【Blogger Intro: Kanae Hasegawa】