This year, one of my on-going goals was to cut down on plastic usage in our household. Sam and I are very good about recycling (the same cannot be said of everyone on our street) but we still found ourselves with way more single use plastic on our hands then we would like.
So here are some of the steps that I took this year to cut down on plastic usage:
Shampoo Bars:
I love Lush products, and I’ve recently taken to using their shampoo bars. It’s an easy plastic solution as there’s none! I store it in an old Gu pot glass jar to keep it safe and clean in the shower.
Bamboo Toothbrushes:
When my normal plastic toothbrush was all worn out, I didn’t repurchase one. Instead, I invested in a set of bamboo toothbrushes. I really enjoy using my bamboo brush. It’s lasted me ages so far and I honestly don’t feel a difference from using my old plastic one.
Safety Razor:
A few years ago, I switched to using men’s razors because they are always cheaper than women’s razors and I’d rather save money than have a cute pink one. It never got confusing in the bathroom, though, because Sam has used a old-fashioned safety razor for years. (Apparently, in the US alone, 2 billion disposable razors are thrown out per year.) So when my disposable razor and all it’s blades were knackered I switched to a safety razor. It’s a bit more of a monetary output upfront: a safety razor costs on aver £20 and a pack of blades around £10, but Sam spent that money around 6 years ago and he’s never bought another blade since then and has at least another year’s worth of blades. So that £30 will have covered 7 years worth of shaving, which is a big monetary saving in the long-haul. Plus you aren’t chucking away excess plastic every month.
A side note about a safety razor is that they are way sharper and work miles better than disposable razors so Sam will be happy that I no longer borrow his on occasion.
Mooncup:
I absolutely sing the praises of my Mooncup (Diva Cup is another popular brand). Eco-friendly reasons aside, my Mooncup is approximately 1 million times more comfortable than tampons and pads. The first month I had it, I HATED the Mooncup and thought I wasted £20 on it, but after watching some youtube videos on ways to insert it properly (basically, don’t follow the instructions that come with it – ouch!) and filing the stem off flat it fit like a dream. I find it super convenient and it lasts for years. Plus, it’s super convenient for traveling and you don’t have to bring extra products with you.
Other sanitary products often end up in the sewer, and even worse washed out to sea. The average cis-woman disposes of 11,000 sanitary items in her lifetime otherwise.
Vegetable Boxes:
I urge everyone to look into any local veg box schemes. Unlike supermarket veg where everything is shrink-wrapped in plastic, on top of a plastic tray, most veg box vegetables come loose or in paper bags. The only vegetables that come in plastic are delicate salad leaves.
Besides hugely reducing plastic, you also are helping in reducing food waste, as veg box schemes feed you their beautiful veg as well as their “wonky” veg, which supermarkets don’t accept. (The figure is as high as 40% of vegetable crop goes to waste because supermarkets won’t accept it aesthetically.)
Some vegetable boxes supplement what they grow with produce from sister-farms in Spain or France. (For example most box schemes get their tomatoes sent in.) So Sam and I are subscribed to a 100% UK Veg Box scheme. Which sort-of makes us sound like crazy Brexiters (nothing could be further from the truth). But when we focus on eating things grown in the UK, not only does that force us to eat more seasonally, but it’s eco-friendly in that it’s cutting down on the dreaded air miles that many vegetables and fruits take to get to the UK.
But next year our allotment *should* be fully operational, so hopefully we won’t have to purchase much!
Re-usable Wrap:
Plastic wrap is a staple in most people’s kitchen but it really needn’t be. I save every jar we get and often store left-overs in old jam jars. But sometimes, a small jar really doesn’t cut it and you would like the ability to wrap food up. In comes the re-usable wrap, mostly in beeswax form (they are usually cloth coated in beeswax). The heat of your hands helps mold the wrap to whatever you are wrapping up and then once you’re finished with it, give it a wash, dry it off and it is good to go again!
Water Bottles:
The move away from disposable water bottles has been one of the most mainstream changes that people have made in the past few years to reduce their plastic usage. If you don’t have a great water bottle that you carry around with you, now is the time to invest in one! Especially since many restaurants and cafes are so happy to fill up your water bottle for you.
Re-Usable Straws:
There’s no physical reason why I have to have a straw, but occasionally I do just like one. I use paper straws but my friend Lindsay, who needs a straw, keeps her metal straw in a small container in her purse so she always has it.
Re-Usable Coffee Cups:
Another very mainstream switch! There are some great coffee cups out there (I have a KeepCup that I love). And not only that, I love seeing businesses lately offering discounts to incentivise people to bring their own cups instead of getting a paper take-away cup. Pret, for instance, offers 50p off of your coffee! Many people are making the change but as 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away in the UK every year there’s still more work to do!
Long-life Bags:
The usage of plastic bags in shops is a perfect example of government policy forcing people to change for the better. Since the 5p per bag charge was introduced, plastic bag usage in the UK has dropped 85%. How phenomenal is that? I know that I have a plethora of canvas tote bags (pretty much every blogger event I’ve ever been to has given me one) so I just always keep one balled up in my backpack just in case. We also keep an emergency one in the car too. Otherwise, when we set out to do a weekly shop, we grab an armload of bags and easily manage.
Bamboo Kitchen Brushes:
Is there any household item more disgusting than the kitchen sponge? They are disgusting and just get thrown away. So we have some bamboo scrubbing brushes and a hemp dishcloth (which can just be thrown into the wash). The bamboo brushes are brilliant at not absorbing pigments from food (like tomato sauces and curries) and hopefully should last us for years to come. This was probably the hardest switch for Sam out of the whole bunch, as he loves a good sponge.
I’m a bit of a fizzy water addict. It’s awful, but I only really drink water when there’s a carbonated or mineral water option around. So at the moment we go through a lot of plastic bottles. My next purchase to cut down on plastic usage is going to be some sort of SodaStream.
Are there any changes that you’ve made that you can recommend to me?
If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy:
An Introduction to Slow Living
Cruelty Free Beauty
Why I Transitioned to a Plant Based Diet
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