At the Green Business Network®, our certified members inspire us every day with their innovation and commitment to sustainability. Running a small business is no easy task, especially when intention requires thoughtful approaches that still ensure success.
We spoke to four of our members about how they reduce plastic waste and tips they have for anyone looking to rethink their relationship to plastic. Here’s what they had to say:
Airnex
Eco kitchen essentials >>> Shop Airnex
How does your business reduce plastic waste?
Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We design home and kitchen essentials that aim to reduce single-use plastics with plant-based, biodegradable alternatives like bamboo, cornstarch, and wood pulp cellulose.
We’ve also partnered with CleanHub to ensure that for every product sold, we help prevent ocean-bound plastic from entering the environment. Through this collaboration, we’ve supported the collection of over 12,000 lbs of plastic waste.
What’s one piece of advice you have about rethinking plastic use?
Think beyond recycling—refuse and replace. The most powerful shift happens when we stop accepting plastic as the default. Whether it’s a bamboo toothbrush, a refillable cleaning solution, or plastic-free packaging, every small swap chips away at a big problem. Start with one habit, and you’ll see how quickly it adds up.
Supply Bulk Foods
Healthy foods without plastic packaging >>> Shop Supply Bulk Foods
How does your business reduce plastic waste?
Our whole primary mission—our raison d’être—is the reduction of plastics. We run a plastic-free, dry bulk grocery store. We also recycle everything that comes in that is recyclable (plastic bags, markers, batteries, and more).
What’s one piece of advice you have about rethinking plastic use?
Don’t use it! We now know that plastics are leaching chemicals into foods and there are so many alternatives now that mean we don’t have to use plastics. For home/personal items, there are zero waste stores all over the country (most ship) that can provide almost anything you need that doesn’t have plastic associated with it.
Hill+House
Sustainable and reusable essentials >>> Shop Hill+House
How does your business reduce plastic waste?
We use entirely plastic-free and sustainable materials for all our shipments, reducing our environmental impact and providing our customers with a true eco-friendly experience. Our shipping labels are 100% compostable, designed to naturally break down and return to the earth. We also use non-reinforced, kraft paper tape that’s free of plastic fibers.
What’s one piece of advice you have about rethinking plastic use?
Instead of thinking of plastic as something that just “goes away,” recognize that every piece of plastic you use is a permanent part of our environment. Plastic never truly disappears; it just breaks down into [progressively] smaller pieces (see “Microplastics 101” on p. 8).
Rethink the single-use habit. Before you grab a plastic bottle, a plastic bag, or a disposable coffee cup, take a moment to ask yourself, “Do I really need this, or is there a reusable alternative?”
Brush With Bamboo
Plant-based oral care and accessories >>> Brush With Bamboo
How does your business reduce plastic waste?
Our products are certified biobased and home-compostable wherever possible, ensuring they do not contribute to long-term plastic pollution. Every design choice—from sourcing to shipping—is focused on reducing or eliminating plastic at every stage of the product lifecycle.
What’s one piece of advice you have about rethinking plastic use?
View plastic as a last resort, not the default. Before purchasing, ask yourself if there is a natural, reusable, or compostable alternative. Small swaps, like choosing a bamboo toothbrush over a plastic one, add up to significant environmental impact over time. Changing everyday habits, even in seemingly small ways, is the key to reducing dependence on single-use plastics.
