How to Start Using Less Packaging at Home

But in reality, it’s something very simple:

• use what you already have,
• buy only what you really need,
• create less waste
• and not stressing about perfection.

If you’ve decided you want to produce less waste at home, congratulations. That’s already a big step.
You don’t have to change everything all at once. Getting started means observing, thinking—and, step by step, doing things differently.

Not to become a “zero-waste guru,” but because it’s possible to live more simply. And often, it’s also cheaper, more local, and leaves you with a warmer feeling in your heart.

1. Take a look in your trash can (and don’t be too hard on yourself)

The first and simplest step is: open your trash can.

Not as a punishment—but as a mirror. What ends up there most often?

• plastic water bottles
• fruit and vegetable packaging
• wrappers from cheese, salami, and meat products
• plastic bags and wrapping paper
• yogurt, cottage cheese, and sour cream containers
• cleaning fluid bottles
• Packaging from chips, coffee, and candy

Also check the packaging bin. It’s often fuller than the one for general waste.
Take a look, without feeling guilty. You might find that most waste is very easy to reduce—without sacrificing your comfort.

2. Start with one thing. Just one.

(and then slowly expand)

Zero waste isn’t a race. It’s a slow walk, sometimes with detours.
It’s easiest to start where it’s easiest for you—with one change.

2.1 Bags

Start with a single bread bag. Or a mesh bag for fruit.
Or simply with a bag you’ve received at some point and that ended up in a drawer.
Plastic bags aren’t necessarily bad—but using them just once is the problem.

Reuse them. If they tear, throw them away. And if you know how to sew, you can mend or repurpose them.

Real-life example: an empty Planica ice cream container that people use to carry soup, goulash, or leftovers. Why? Because it was handy.

That’s the essence of the zero-waste mindset: use what you have.

2.2 Containers and Jars

Jars from jam, marmalade, and pickled cucumbers—all of these are free, reusable containers.

Wash them, remove the label, dry them—and you’ve got the perfect storage container.

You can use them to store:
– tea, nuts, cereal
– detergent, baking soda, powdered shampoo
– spices, coffee, pasta
– even homemade sauces, jams, and leftovers

If you have plastic containers—don’t throw them away. Instead, reuse them as long as they’re still usable.
Even an old lid or a cracked container can have a second life.

3. Use what you already have (seriously—everything counts)

Reuse is the foundation of a sustainable lifestyle.
And it’s often more creative than anything you’d buy new.

– A T-shirt with a stain? Cut it up into rags for cleaning the kitchen or windows.
– Torn pants? Turn them into shorts. Or a bag.
– An old calendar or newspaper? Use it as wrapping paper.
– A paper flour bag? Perfect for organic waste.

Every item you reuse means one less thing in the trash.
And that counts. Every single day.

4. Shop Smart (Don’t Just Go Through the Motions)

How often do we buy something just because that’s what we “always do”?
Because it’s a habit. Because it’s on the shelf. Because it’s on sale.

If you stop and ask yourself—at least once in a while:
- Do I really need this?
- Do I already have this at home?
- Can I get this somewhere else—without the packaging?
… you’re already moving toward a more sustainable everyday life.

Even if you take just 15 minutes once a month to make a “smart shopping list,” your habits will start to change.
Not any faster—but more sustainably.

5. The Bathroom: A Silent Plastic Factory

The bathroom is often an overlooked source of plastic. But if you look at the shelves, you’ll see:
– shampoos, gels, foams
– razors, toothbrushes, cotton swabs
– packaging for toilet, tub, and sink cleaners

You can gradually replace them with:
- solid shampoos – long-lasting, packaging-free
- soaps – natural, handmade, locally sourced
- toothpaste tablets in a glass jar instead of toothpaste in a tube
- wooden toothbrushes instead of plastic ones
- cleaning supplies made from natural, recycled materials
- cosmetics in glass containers
- refillable cleaning products – less waste, fewer toxic substances

You don’t have to replace everything right away. The important thing is to start thinking differently.

6. Create a “refill corner”

Organization at home is half the battle.
If you have the packaging and supplies ready, you’re much more likely to use them.

Your Rinfuza corner could be:
– an old shoe box
– a woven basket under the kitchen counter
– a box in the closet with empty containers, bags, and labels
– even a small backpack that you use just for Rinfuza shopping

Always keep it ready. When you walk past a store, just grab it and go.

7. Buy in bulk—not in standard sizes

In stores, you often find “standard” packages—1 kg of rice, 0.5 kg of tea, 400 g of lentils.
But life isn’t standard. And neither are your needs.

That’s why it’s great to be able to buy exactly as much as you need:
– a pinch of thyme for a recipe you’re making for the first time
– 30 g of raisins for baking
– 2 kg of rice to last for several days
– 500 ml of dishwasher detergent

Shopping on demand means less food waste, less plastic, and more control.
You shop based on your instincts. As needed. Using common sense.

8. You don’t have to be perfect (because nobody is!)

Even the most dedicated “zero-waste enthusiasts” sometimes forget their bag.
Even those who work in zero-waste stores sometimes buy a sandwich wrapped in plastic.
And that’s totally fine.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about awareness. About sincere effort. About small steps.
It’s about the question you can ask yourself every day:
- What can I do today to be more responsible?

And if you ask yourself this question regularly, you’re already well on your way.

Rifuzl: a packaging-free store. Tailored to you. Just the way you like it.

If plastic bothers you—come to Rifuzl.
If you want to shop with more freedom—even better.
If you’d rather support local producers than multinational corporations—then you’re in the right place.
If it’s important to you that products are ECO-certified and have the appropriate certification.

At Rifuzl, you’ll find:
– packaging-free foods (flour, legumes, nuts, grains, spices…),
– natural cosmetics and refillable cleaning products,
– products from Slovenian manufacturers,
– the option to measure out exactly what you need,
– friendly conversation and help without judgment.

Bring your own container. Or an old Planica bag. Or that paper bag you’ve had at home since last year.
Take a pinch of basil. Or 2 kg of rice. The choice is yours.

Every purchase you make with us means less waste. And more space for what really matters in life.