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News flash: plastic is slowly destroying our planet.
And sadly most household items are made from it, or wrapped in it. Single use plastic is the worst (think: drinks bottles, plastic wrapped vegetables etc) – it’s very difficult to reuse or recycle, so most of this waste ends up dumped and polluting our soils and seas.
Plastic pollution in our oceans is a huge problem – up to 12 million tonnes of the stuff ends up in the sea every year. This has a devastating effect on sea creatures, who can get tangled up in it or mistake plastic for food.
Luckily there are loads of way you can start cutting down on plastic use at home. From household products to food storage – here are some simple swaps to help you cut down this year.
If you regularly batch cook meals, chances are you’re probably a Tupperware hoarder too. Reusing plastic boxes is a much friendlier environmental move, but when they wear out try swapping them for glass ones instead – they’re a bit pricier, but much kinder to the planet and keep food fresher too. These containers from Amazon have snap locking lids too.
While you're at it, how about stashing your cupboard staples in glass jars too? Mason jars are ideal for keeping things like oats, lentils and pasta fresh.
We’ve all got an old, stained plastic spatula knocking around somewhere haven’t we? Gross. If yours looks knackered, bin it and replace with a wooden or metal alternative for planet-saving points – this Dunelm utensil set looks much prettier too, and comes with a pot to keep everything in!
Next time you go to wrap up a spare portion or cling film the top of a bowl, think again. You can do the same food-freshening job by just placing a plate on top. Or invest in a few reusable food bags like these – they’re great for packing sandwiches in too.
Vegetables are one of the worst single use plastic offenders of them all – just think of the amount of times you’ve seen a cabbage unnecessarily wrapped in film?! If you’re lucky enough to live near a fruit and veg market, this is a great place to pick up plastic-free groceries for often cheaper price tags too. Otherwise subscribe to a veg box delivery service like Abel & Cole who deliver organic produce to your doorstep in just a cardboard box, no wrapping needed.
Look around the bathroom and you’ll notice that almost everything in it is plastic. And while it might seem like shampoo bottles are kind of essential, they’re actually not. Introducing the shampoo bar. They look a bit like soap, but do the same job as your regular shampoo – just with no needless packaging. Lush has a great selection for all hair types, and the bonus is they tend to last a lot longer…
You use it so often you probably forget it’s plastic, but investing in a wooden toothbrush is such a simple swap too. Check this Humble Brush one out – it’ll last just as long as a regular toothbrush, but it’s biodegradable and comes in recyclable packaging.
If you’re always grabbing food on the go, this one’s for you. Instead of reaching for a free plastic fork next time you get lunch, how about investing in a sustainable cutlery set and stashing it in your desk drawers? This bamboo set comes in its own pouch, and is totally durable, reusable and biodegradable. It includes knife, fork, spoon AND chopsticks. Oh, and a straw cleaning brush with plastic free coconut shell bristles. Amazing!
Make your morning coffee ten times more saintly by investing in a Keep Cup. They’re reusable, sustainable and look great too. You’ll find most coffee shops are in on the trend now too – with some offering money off or double points when you order and use your own cup.
Image credits: Sandro Kradolfer, Unsplash, Pinterest.
Fancy living rent free this month?! To grab an extra entry into our Live Rent Free competition, all you have to do is answer the question below, which is your extra entry coupon into this month’s prize draw – click the button below and enter it in the box. Be quick though, the code expires at 11:45pm on Monday 18th July. Good luck!
Q: What material could you swap plastic tupperware for? A: ‘_____’