It’s the second week of Plastic Free July 2026, and we’ve been focusing on food lately. There are many ways our daily eating and drinking habits contribute to the climate crisis… but that just means there are many ways to make a positive change!
In this blog, learn about bringing your own cup to cafes, the basics of un-plasticing with farmer’s markets, and our favorite beginner-friendly plastic-free alternatives for food prep and storage.
Bring Your Own Cup!
Coffee shops across the country have been implementing BYO cup or mug programs for the past decade or so, as a way to reduce plastic waste and incentivize reuse. Some places even offer a discount when you bring your own container to refill!
Before you go, make sure your container is clean and watertight. If you’re unsure what your chosen cafe’s policy is, be sure to call before you go!
Gainesville Cafes that offer a BYO cup program:
The Lynx Books has a cafe inside, and they’d love to refill your own cups or serve your drink in a real, reusable ceramic dish if you’re hanging out for a bit.
Coffee Culture is also happy to fill your cup or mug that you bring from home.
Opus Coffee locations offer a $0.30 discount when you bring your own cup to be filled, and free coffee with the purchase of a Opus tumbler or mug.
Curia on the Drag also offers a discount, with $0.25 off when you bring your own mug, and half price off refills.
Farmer’s Market 101
Most food available in big-box grocery stores travels about 1,000 miles to get to consumers. That’s 1,000 miles of refrigeration and fossil fuel emissions from planes, trains, boats, and trucks, which all adds up to a huge sum of CO2 in the atmosphere. More time in transit also allows gives produce more opportunities to spoil and bruise, meaning more food waste, and lower quality food in your kitchen. Locally grown and harvested food is way better for the planet (and for you) than the groceries available at big-box grocery stores. So how do you get connected with those local food networks?
Farmer’s Markets are a fantastic way to get connected with local growers in your area. If you’ve never been, there are some tips to get the most out of your experience:
1. Get there early
These are local farms and small-batch artisans, not factories. This means they’ll naturally tend to run out of the really popular items by the end of the allotted time! Get there early if you really want to ensure you have the most options.
2. Bring your reusable bags
Some booths will have bags for you, but it’s definitely more sustainable and convenient to have your own bags. String produce bags are great to store all your fresh groceries in! Cotton bags or totes are also washable, which is nice for reusability week-to-week.
3. Dress for the occasion
For morning or day markets, you’ll probably want sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, protective clothing, or all of the above. Evening markets could require bug repellent. Regardless of the time of day, be sure to wear shoes you can walk around in.
4. Browse and talk to people!
Many farmers offer samples of their products, and trying out the different options and chatting to the sellers is a great way to learn more about the food you’ll be putting on your table. Farmer’s Markets are also meant to bring the local community together, and there are often fun offerings beyond food. Bask in the vibes and engage in your community!
If you’re not sure where to start to get your low-waste local grocery fix, we have local Gainesville farmer’s market details on our Sustainable GNV page!
Our Favorite Easy Swaps
Paper Sandwich Bags
Packing lunch and storing small snacks doesn’t need to require plastic. Paper sandwich bags are just as easy, and if you’re at the beginning of your low-waste journey, they’re a great simple swap. If you need waterproof, check out the silicone stasher bag!
Beeswax Wraps
If you need to wrap more than sandwiches, or find plastic cling film to be a main source of your plastic waste, you might want to try beeswax wraps. They can be used to cover bowls, wrap up sandwiches, and store snacks or leftovers. They’re washable and reusable, then compostable at the end of their life.
Stasher Silicone Pouch
Sometimes paper or fabric won’t cut it, and you need a waterproof option. These kid-friendly cute silicone pouches are great for applesauce, juice, or pudding. They also feature loops perfect for hooking onto backpacks or purses.
Coconut Cutlery Set
To-go meals or picnics don’t need to come with plastic single-use utensils. These reusable utensils are made from coconut wood, and in addition to being beautiful and durable, they’re far more sustainable than the plastic disposables that many restaurants offer by default. Tie the fork, spoon, and chopsticks up in their equally attractive (and washable!) carrying case, and throw them in your car, your purse, or your luggage.
Stainless Steel Straw
You can always furnish your travel cutlery set with a metal reusable straw for an additional simple swap that amounts to big impact. We also carry straw cleaners* to help you get your new sidekick squeaky clean, and sleeves to store your straw in if you aren’t interested in storing it with a full cutlery kit.
Tea Ball Infuser
At home, switching to looseleaf tea is a great way to avoid the waste associated with tea bags and the boxes they come in. But once you’ve made that switch, you’ll need something to brew your tea in. The stainless steel tea ball infuser is a perfect option, available in a personal size and one big enough to brew a whole pitcher. Completely metal, it is 100% devoid of any microplastics and infinitely reusable, unlike tea bags.
Silicone Baking Mat
One great switch that also reduces stress and eliminates extra work as much as it eliminates waste: a reusable alternative to parchment paper. The silicone baking mat even has circles to help you space out your batch of baked goods!
Aluminum Foil
You likely already have aluminum foil at home, but did you know that they’re not all made equal? Perhaps the easiest swap in this list, our 100% recycled aluminum foil eliminates the worries of how unsustainable the mining for aluminum is. A plastic-free box is also designed to reduce waste, and you’ll never find another foil that is as durable or clearly delineated into a shiny and not-shiny side, making it perfect for baking as well as storage.
We also have lots of pantry staples available by the ounce in our refillery, plus more food storage and prep options! Check out our Pantry Staples here.