#PlasticFreeJuly: 6 ways to use less plastic at home!
Yes, we have all seen how the world started a war on plastic in recent years, banning plastic straws, single use bags and cotton buds, to name a few. But as countries and people have tried to cope with the pandemic there has been a resurgence of plastic in our daily lives - from plastic gloves and face coverings to single use takeaway items and plastic wrapping. There is so much plastic around (even before the pandemic) that we all may actually be eating about a credit card’s worth of plastics a week, according to WWF. Our guess is that that has increased.
So, as part of Plastic Free July, this week we want to share some ways that can help you reduce your plastic use and create a cleaner world. Let’s all be part of the solution, starting by rethinking our plastic use at home!
Here are our top 6 ideas:
1. Cut plastic from your morning brew
Unfortunately, in the general move to use plastic in everything, many tea companies started using plastic to seal their tea bags, leading to many of us polluting the environment unwittingly as we throw them in with our food waste. And no, coffee drinkers are not exempt either. Depending on the coffee you buy you can encounter anything from coffee pods to sachets that can end up in landfills.
How? If there is no ‘plastic free’ label on the brand that you choose, then it will probably contain plastic! You could consider making your morning cuppa with loose leaf tea, which is often cheaper than teabags. You can pick up a tea leaf ball infuser to use in your mugs, or a strainer to put inside your teapot, and as loose leaf tea is generally cheaper than teabags, this swap will also save you money in the long run.
Try also buying in bulk! Specialist shops or bigger bulk shops may stock larger quantity products, so you could get a couple of months worth of tea or coffee in one big paper bag or your own container. Some companies even have recycling schemes, such as Nespresso, where their capsules avoid landfill by going back into their supply chain.
2. Stop buying plastic bottles
The UK alone uses a massive 35.8million plastic bottles every single day, yet only 19.8million of these are recycled – just over half. Plastic is persistent, it doesn’t go away, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics, becoming a toxic soup in the oceans and rivers that animals such as fish and seabirds mistake for food. Eventually it make its way around the food chain, going full circle and getting back to us.
How? Getting a reusable bottle is an easy win. You don’t have to buy a top-of-the-range bottle, just something you can use time and time again. You can get them in most supermarkets, sports or homeware shops for as little as £1, and you can also download the free Refill app to find out where you can top up your bottle for free. If you forget to bring your reusable bottle with you, try asking for a glass of water at a cafe/pub or if you end up buying a plastic bottle, make sure to reuse it. Try to go for a recycled plastic bottle if you can, such as Evian’s upcoming label-free bottle.
3. Substitute items in your bathroom cabinet
Go back to basics! Our bathroom cabinets have an incredible amount of plastic. The usual toothpaste, body wash and shampoo containers may say they are recyclable, but in reality most of them end up in the landfill. Items such as plastic cotton bud sticks, tampon applicators, sanitary pads and wet wipes (which contain plastic), pose a double threat because they can escape sewage plants and get washed out to sea, particularly after heavy rain.
How? First and foremost, try to not flush anything other than the 4 Ps (Paper, Poo, Pee and Puke). Try swapping plastic products for non-plastic alternatives like cotton buds or tampons made with cardboard (which are usually cheaper, too!). There is also a variety of eco-friendly, compostable and package free product options such as shampoo bars, biodegradable toothbrushes, and toothpaste and deodorants glass pots, plus a range of plastic-free sanitary products on the market. Cotton wool is an easy, more affordable swap for wet wipes. You’ll be surprised about how much you can find and replace!
4. Avoid non-recyclable and single use food packaging
Lots of plastic cannot be recycled, particularly composite plastics. Plastic food cartons and packaging turn up on beaches every day, which means we're not disposing of them properly. Once in the ocean they can get mistaken for food and choke animals, attract toxins and break down into thousands of pieces.
How? When you shop, look out for labels on packaging saying 'not currently recycled’. Avoid these! One purse-friendly swap is to make your own snacks - flapjacks in tupperware are a win for the environment and your wallet, and they taste great too. Another tip is to take your own tupperware or cleaned takeaway containers to deli counters, and always take your reusable shopping bag with you!
5. Rethink your wardrobe
The clothes we wear are one of the greatest sources of plastic in the ocean. Miniscule strands of clothing, normally made of nylon or polyester and much finer than a human hair, detach from our clothes every time we wear them, wash them, or throw them away. A single fleece jacket could be responsible for releasing as many as 250,000 microfibres into the ocean. Not only that, but making clothing can cause excess plastics being released into the environment. In fact, as much as much as two thirds of the clothing in the UK is made from plastic-based fabrics, such as polyester, polyamide and acrylic. That is without counting the amount of plastic inks used to print on t-shirts or dye clothes.
How? Buy fewer clothes, and head to vintage or second-hand shops for those you do buy. Renting clothes has also become a great and popular way of wearing the latest designs for a fraction of the cost. Opting for natural materials (cotton, linen, wool, silk) where you can, and washing your clothes less regularly and in cold water, will also help. Try air-drying as much as you can, your purse will also thank you!
6. Leave the high grade medical supplies for essential workers
As the Covid-19 pandemic took the world by storm, hospitals and governments have been desperate to get stock of medical-grade personal protective equipment. Unfortunately, individuals without the need for PPE have also been trying to get their hands on medical gloves and face masks or taken to single-use items, with pictures of discarded gloves and masks making the rounds across the globe. As part of our new reality, face coverings are here to stay, but there are ways to make them more sustainable.
How? Opt instead for reusable and washable face coverings, there are a variety of non-medical face masks available as the market demands it. Face coverings are made from a variety of materials but choosing some made of natural fibres such as linen or cotton can mean they are washable, reusable and sustainable. Some are made with four layers of fabric so there is no need for single use filters, adding extra eco-credentials to the mix. Alternatively, use a scarf or bandana, you can get really creative! Here is also a video of how to make masks out of old socks. Instead of gloves try making a habit of washing your hands everywhere you can, and carrying hand sanitiser for those moments where a tap is not available.
For more information and tips on how to avoid plastic, head to Plastic Free July