What’s in Your Bag? Ocean-Friendly Swaps You Can Make Today (Beginner's Guide)

Close to seventy percent of the world’s surface is ocean. World Ocean Day, which took place this weekend, served as a reminder of the incalcuable value of our oceans, and serves as a call-to-action to protect them. Today, the ocean faces unprecedented threats from human activity. 

The list of products that are harmful to our oceans is long. Many of these products aren’t easily avoided. Regulating them is out of our hands as consumers and requires broader industry or policy change.

 However, there are many other products we can address through everyday consumer choices. What we choose to buy, carry, and discard can make a huge difference.

Plastic Alternatives: Small Changes, Big Impact

Plastic is the single largest contributor to ocean pollution. Marine animals can become entangled in plastic waste, leading to injury, suffocation, or drowning. Others mistake plastic for food. Ingesting it can cause internal damage, blockages, and often death. Alarmingly, about 40% of all plastic produced is intended for single-use,used once and discarded. Fortunately, there are simple, effective ways to reduce our plastic footprint.

Here are a few everyday swaps you can start making today:

Bellboy Market Bag

1. In: Reusable bags

   Out: Single-use Plastic Bags 

   
   

Single-use plastic is one of the most serious threats facing our oceans today, and plastic bags are a major part of the problem. These items are everywhere in daily life, but they cause serious harm after disposal. Many are made from fossil fuels, which adds to the climate crisis. Switching to reusable bags is a simple but meaningful step. I keep four or five in rotation and try to carry one with me wherever I go. That way, if I need to make a quick stop at the store, I don’t have to rely on the single-use bags offered at checkout.

B-Corp Shoutout: Bellboy Market Bag

Affordable: Merchery

2. In: Reusable (or no) fruits and veggies bags

   Out: Single-use produce bags 

   
   

For a long time, I assumed the thin plastic produce bags offered in grocery stores were required. They’re not! Choosing to skip them altogether, especially for produce like apples, cucumbers, or potatoes, can drastically reduce unnecessary plastic use. Just wash your fruits and vegetables when you get home.

Organic Cotton Mesh Reusable Produce Bags by Grove Co.

Of course, some people prefer to keep their produce separate for hygiene or organization. If that’s the case, opt for reusable mesh or cloth bags. 

If that’s you, a fellow B-Corp alternative is Grove: link grove

3. In: Reusable Water Bottles

   Out: Single-use plastic Bottles 

   
   

Every minute, the world buys an estimated one million plastic bottles, the majority of which are not recycled properly. A large number end up in the ocean, where they harm marine life and break down into microplastics that contaminate the food chain.

Switching to a reusable water bottle is a simple habit with lasting benefits, not only for the ocean, but also for consumer health. Stainless steel or BPA-free bottles last longer, help reduce plastic use, and lower your exposure to harmful chemicals.

B-Corp Shoutout: Miir & Klean Kanteen

4. In: Mineral-based sunscreen

   Out: Chemical Sunscreen

Daily Mineral Sunscreen - SPF 30 by Badger

Think back to your last trip to the beach: how many people were swimming, surfing, or snorkelling? Most of them likely wore sunscreen. Unfortunately, many popular sunscreens contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals known to harm coral reefs. These chemicals bleach coral and damage marine DNA. That is why places like Hawaii and parts of Mexico have banned them.

Consumers can instead choose to buy mineral-based sunscreens made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. The labels "reef-safe" and "reef-friendly" are not regulated. Always check the ingredients instead of relying on the label.

A comprehensive guide on truly reef-safe sunscreen can be found here: link

A highly-rated B-Corp alternative: Badger

Toothbrush by Bite

5. In: Bamboo Toothbrushes

   Out: Plastic Toothbrushes

Most pieces of conventional plastic toothbrushes (from the bristles to the packaging) rely on single-use plastic.

A more sustainable plastic alternative that does not compromise on practicality are bamboo toothbrushes. One of our favorite B-Corp brands is Bite .

World Ocean Day is a good reminder that protecting the ocean doesn’t always require big actions. Often, it’s about small, intentional choices, like what we carry, what we buy, and what we leave behind.