Forgetting your reusable bags when shopping and leaving your refillable bottle of water at home is so frustrating. I know the struggle! I’ve spent the last year trying to change up our plastic use after realising I was becoming more and more uncomfortable with our plastic use as a family. My initial though was, “We do recycle as much as we can but is it enough?” If we all did a little more it’s got to help, right? So I’ve been thinking and researching for simple ways easy ways to reduce plastic use as a family, whilst the supermarkets and the general World catch up.
Buy loose fruit and veg. Even better, walk to a local farm shop and support local too. When I do online shopping, sometimes my loose fruit and veg will arrive in a paper bag, yes Tesco! However switching to Asda recently it now comes in plastic bags, (bangs head on table). I don’t always have the time to go and do the shopping by hand, so I’m not really sure what the solution is here. I select no carrier bags already!
Go to a bakery for your bread and then store it in a bread tin, or bake your own. This is something I need to get better at. We always buy pre sliced loaves for convenience.
Look at your toothbrush buying habits. Change to a bamboo toothbrush or swap your plastic electric toothbrush heads for these recyclable ones.
Look at ordering local milk in glass bottles. Whilst looking for a local milk delivery, so that we can get our milk in glass bottles rather than plastic. I found a local farm that you can go and buy from, but they sell their milk in, you guessed it, plastic bottles. So frustrating! So we now get our ,ilk delivered fresh in the morning in glass bottles and it’s one of our favourite swaps.
Buy wooden toys. I actually prefer wooden toys and Ava has a lot of wooden toys, including big items like her play kitchen.
Buy Reusable water bottles. Even better are the metal ones that keep your water cold. I think as more cafes and shops get used to this and offer water to fill up with this will get easier to do. And it saves money too.
Get rid of the clingfilm. Try Beeswax wraps or use old containers you already have lying around.
Get a reusable coffee cup. With many coffee places now providing the incentive of cheaper coffees when using a reusable cup it’s a great idea.
Buy better Tampons. I buy organic cotton tampons which are better for you and the environment. They also come with a cardboard applicator and are wrapped in paper, in a cardboard box. Or look at trying a period cup, there are lots of different plastic free options.
Buy metal razors. Swap to longer lasting razor bodies, or invest in a rechargable one, over buying disposables.
Use matches instead of a lighter. Simple yet effective and an easy change to make.
Pick boxed detergents and food instead of bottles. When you are shopping opt for boxes of washing detergent and boxes of pasta and rice rather than the ones in plastic. I’ve been making this easy change recently. You could also check and see if you live near a refill, zero waste shop.
Change your skin care. With so many new eco, organic brands starting up there are many options now for buying glass or even bamboo packaged products. You can check out some of my favourite beauty products.
Stop using plastic straws and cutlery. I saw something saying ‘It’s only one straw, said 3 million people” And it’s so true. You can buy reusable straws and reusable cutlery that you can take with you. Every little helps.
Look at your teabags. Did you know that most teabags aren’t biodegradable? Places like Coop now sell biodegradable tea bags.
Don’t use coffee pods. We recently changed to a coffee machine that uses espresso coffee rather than pods and not only is the coffee better, but it cuts out lots of plastic.
If your child is in nappies, switch to reusable. You can save pounds by doing this and help the environment at the same time.
I would love to know if you have any more easy ways to reduce plastic use as a family?
Some good tips. I thick companies really need to up their game in terms of packaging as there is still so much waste. I watched a programme recently where they said black plastic cannot be recycled, yet so much black plastic is used, food trays, plant pots etc! I’m not sure I could manage without cling film though!
I really enjoyed this post! We need to think about ways of reducing plastic waste seriously. I had no idea my plastic toothbrushes will still be around long after I’ve died. It’s a scary thought what we’re leaving around for he next generation!
I didn’t realise you could buy beeswax wraps. I saw instructions on how to make them and it looked a bit tricky. Good tip!
These are such great tips! I really want to try the beeswax wraps out. They look amazing. I have been looking at bamboo toothbrushes too
Great tips! I’ve been using co-ops biodegradable teabags for years, ever since I worked in one and I adore the taste! I didn’t know you could get bee’s wax wraps either, so going to look that up. I actually filled two recycle bags full the other week after cleaning about my bathroom and I was shocked by how much plastic I actually use.