When I was growing up on a small farm, my family always tried to avoid tossing whatever we could in the trash, always finding ways to reuse or repurpose household items that might otherwise have gone immediately to the landfill. My mom used old newspapers for weed control in the garden, we made salsa with a bumper crop of tomatoes, and my father corralled nuts, bolts, and nails into large coffee tins for carpentry projects. Making use of what we had was the rule, not the exception, and it was really fun to figure out how to “upcycle” an item.
As an adult with a family of my own living in the suburbs, I still try to nurture sustainability and respect for the environment in the same way. One item that I’ve reused for years was a plastic milk carton. While I’ve found tons of uses for this item in the past, I recently began avoiding plastic as much as possible and making swaps to more sustainable items like glass, aluminum, and paper in my home.
What Made My Finally Quit Buying Plastic Milk Jugs
In my plastic-free journey, I first swapped my plastic food containers for glassware to store leftovers. It was easy enough once the purchase was made, but then I thought about the packaging my groceries actually come in. So recently, I switched from buying plastic milk cartons to cardboard ones. Not only does it feel more environmentally responsible, but studies have found that dairy in plastic packaging can add more nano- and microplastics into the milk itself (though there tend to be microplastic particles from the production process itself), so it’s also a health concern.
Admittedly, this swap was a challenge at first, due to fewer options and the higher price point. Then, I discovered a half-gallon paper carton of milk at my local Aldi. It was only a few cents higher per volume, so I figured that to pursue my goal of making eco-friendlier swaps, I’d try out the half-gallon cardboard container. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the paper milk carton is certainly a fond, nostalgic memory, albeit an oversized replica, of the milk cartons from elementary school!
The Unexpected Uses I’ve Discovered for Paper Milk Cartons
Just like with the plastic milk jug, I wanted to extend the life of the cardboard milk carton, too. I found a few smart uses for it once it’s empty, and the waxy coating on the cardboard has surprisingly been much more durable than I had anticipated.
While my plastic milk gallon was good for tons of uses, like watering plants and serving as a berry-picking container, I wanted to do the same with the paper one. After the milk is gone, I give it a quick rinse, then fill it with tap water to water my houseplants and my outdoor potted plants (pansies this time of year!). Since my family finishes a milk carton every few days, this aligns perfectly as a reminder to water my houseplants, a chore I find enjoyable but inevitably forget to do until withered stems and leaves begin to appear. The lightweight half-gallon carton is even easier to maneuver and pour into the pots than the larger gallon one. So far, it’s been a huge win for me and my plants.
I decided to test one more project with my half-gallon carton. I knew I wanted to start my herb garden early this year by planting seeds indoors in containers during the wintertime. Starting with seeds indoors is a fraction of the cost of purchasing seedlings or an entire plant later in the spring, so I turned the bottom of the milk carton into a small pot for sowing these seeds. It was so easy! I just cut the top off, added potting soil, and planted the seeds. So far, the waxy bottom of the carton has proven to be just the right size for a makeshift pot (that I didn’t have to purchase). With six or seven herbs I’m hoping to start from seed, I estimate that in four weeks time, I’ll have ample containers for starting the seeds without purchasing any plastic containers, another win for the environment and my pocketbook.
Of course, aside from my two favorites, there are tons of other clever ways to use paper milk cartons before recycling them: You can cut them up and use as in-drawer, cabinet, or fridge organizers, or you can use on the bottom of furniture legs to prevent scratching the floor when moving. Or try using them as a freezer mold for large ice cubes or as bases for dozens of craft projects, from DIY lanterns to birdhouses.
Just like switching from plastic food containers to durable glassware, the swap from a plastic gallon to a cardboard milk carton has been a net positive. And I’ve found yet another reason to appreciate the cardboard — a half-gallon square container (or even two at a time!) fits so much more easily into my fridge. No more wonky gallon-size plastic containers to maneuver around, and that’s a bonus to me for keeping the fridge more user-friendly and organized.
What do you think about the switch from plastic to paper milk cartons? Let us know in the comments below!
