Single-use plastic items are so ubiquitous, it's easy to forget that they make little sense. That petroleum-based fork you use for 10 minutes will last forever in a waste stream—or the ocean. Ready to kick the plastic habit? Consider these alternatives.

AARDVARK's Sea Turtle Eco-Flex Paper Straws are chlorine-free and 100 percent biodegradable—and their proceeds go toward protecting marine life. Kids love the clever bending design and the embossed sea creatures. The straws are meant for one use (the paper gets soggy), but unlike plastic, they're compostable. $5.25 for 24 straws, aardvarkstraws.com 

LIFE WITHOUT PLASTIC's Hemp and Organic Cotton Sandwich Bag will have you wondering how Ziploc ever became so popular. This cloth baggie securely holds anything from a snack-size PB&J to a meal-size pastrami on rye, keeping out most moisture. To use the bag over and over, hand-wash it with a bit of soapy water. $9 per bag, lifewithoutplastic.com 

Plastic utensils are wasteful and resource-intensive to manufacture, and they're not very nice to eat with, either. TO-GO WARE's RePEaT Utensil Sets, by contrast, are sleek, stylish, and sustainable: A bamboo fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks come in a carrying case made from recycled bottles. The lightweight set is dishwasher-safe, and the bamboo doesn't stain or absorb flavors. $13 per set, to-goware.com 

Should you find yourself at a cafe without your reusable mug, your next best option is a YILOVE Silicone Coffee-Cup Lid, which cuts the single-use plastic from your caffeine fix. The brightly colored, BPA-free tops fit a standard-size paper coffee cup and stretch to fit larger sizes and travel mugs with a suctionlike seal. $8 for four lids, amazon.com

You may whip out your own grocery bags at the cash register, but what about when you’re stocking up in the produce section? CHICO BAG’s Produce Stand rePETe mesh sacks are a roomy solution for stashing fruits and veggies. Made from recycled plastic bottles, the netted material prevents ethylene gas—nature’s ripening agent—from getting trapped. An attached elastic band makes the sacks easy to roll up and store inside other reusable bags. $13 for three bags, chicobag.com