The popular and well-known concept of ‘3R’ refers to reduce, reuse and recycle. Reducing waste is the most important thing we can do.
If we want to reduce the amount of plastic pollution that makes its way into our oceans we need to limit the amount of plastic we consume in the first place. Many of the plastic products that we use are either unnecessary or have viable alternatives. We need to think about what we buy and only consume what we need.
Do we really need a straw to drink a glass of water? From reusable water bottles to saying no to plastic straws, there are many little ways to reduce the amount of plastic we use. There is a difference between ‘want’ and ‘need’ – a good question to ask is ‘Do I really need this product?’ A complete plastic free life is probably not feasible, but by reducing the use of “unnecessary” single-use or throw-away plastics we can help to drastically improve the environment.
Food & drink
- Give up single use cups & drinks in plastic bottles. Instead, carry a travel mug or water bottle.
- Bring your own reusable bags
- Use a milkman to provide milk in returnable glass bottles or buy direct from a farm
- Carry your own non-plastic cutlery
- Buy fresh bread that comes in either paper bags or no bags, or make your own
- Avoid overpackaged foods, such as fruit on a Styrofoam tray covered in plastic cellophane
- If you are using a lot of little yoghurts swap for one bigger pot and add your own fruit to it
- Ask takeaways to use your container instead of their disposable one, or make your own healthy takeaway version.
- Take a container when you buy meat, fish or cheese
- Fresh food markets sell fruit and vegetables loose. Don’t forget to take your reusable bags
- Buying from an independent butcher or greengrocer means you can avoid a lot of packaging and you can buy exactly the amount you need
- Avoid single-use coffee pods and individually wrapped teabags – try using loose tea leaves
- Look for plastic alternatives such as honey or mayonnaise in glass jars, tinned golden syrup, porridge oats in a cardboard box
- Avoid products such as plastic ketchup bottles, snap pots of yoghurt and other hard to recycle items
Bathroom
- Use bar soap instead of liquid hand soap
- Reduce the number of plastic bottles in the bathroom. Choose a brand you like and try and get it in bulk
- Go for reusable products such as wet-wipes, feminine hygiene, nappies, make-up removing pads and safety-blade razors – buy high quality razor blades that last a longer time
- Make your own toiletries such as body lotion and toothpaste
- Check labels of toiletries Some facial scrubs & toiletries products contain tiny plastic beads. Instead of buying
products containing micro-beads, look for products that have natural exfoliators. Avoid anything with “polyethylene” listed as an ingredient - Use a bamboo toothbrush or a toothbrush with recyclable heads and try to find dental floss that doesn’t come in plastic packaging
- Choose lotions and lip balms in plastic-free containers
Kitchen
- Buy cupboard staples such as rice and pasta in bulk and store in glass or stainless steel containers
- Use a dish brush with a wooden handle and compostable bristles or a biodegradable, compostable sponge
- Use natural cleaning cloths instead of plastic & synthetic sponges
- Avoid foil wrapped crisps and chocolates, or check for recyclable sweet wrappers
- Beeswax or soy wax wraps can be used instead of clingfilm to keep food fresh. They can then be washed, dried and reused. They last for up to a year after which time some can be composted.
Home
- Avoid plastic straws – instead use a paper, reusable metal or no straw
- Cook as much as possible from scratch and take your own sandwiches and snacks when you go out
Check online for advice about repairing, up-cycling and finding wooden or metal furniture online- Avoid wet wipes These contain plastic fibres so don’t break down like toilet roll, despite often being described as flushable
- Check second-hand shops for necessary plastic items instead of buying new. Look online for sharing groups locally
- Stream or download music, shows, and films online or borrow them from the library or friends. Buy second hand rather than new CDs and DVDs
- If you buy new clothes, leave any plastic hangers in the shop
- Where possible buy clothes made of natural fibres. Avoid clothes with plastic micro-fibres such as nylon and polyester
- Buy greetings cards that are not wrapped in cellophane, or make your own
- Recycle stretchy plastic (including sandwich bags, toilet paper wrap, multi baked bean wrap, frozen vegetable bags, cucumber wrap, most bread bags) at larger Supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Co-op and Waitrose
Travel
- Avoid plastic pens and giveaways. Try using a refillable fountain pen or pencils
- Bring your own toiletries rather than use the free travel size shampoos, soaps, and lotions offered by hotels
- Avoid the Mini bar snacks and drinks that come in small plastic packages or bottles
Cleaning
- Make your own eco-friendly cleaning products
- Buy washing power in cardboard boxes
- Buy products in bulk, for example washing powder, toilet roll, washing-up liquid, kitchen roll, etc to minimise or eliminate packaging
‘Reduce’ is the most important of the ‘3Rs’ – Reduce reuse recycle.
It would be great to hear about what swaps you have made. Let me know in the comments below: