Plastic Free July Exclusive

Problem: Did you know some tea bags contain plastic! This is a big problem as not only do we have more problematic plastic in our household, tea bags can also shed micro particles of plastic into your cuppa!

Solution: Try swapping your tea bags for loose tea leaves which can be popped in a tea strainer of your choice! After use these tea leaves can then be put in your compost bin.

Problem: Fabric softeners often come packaged in single use plastic. With more plastic having been produced in the past 13 years than in the previous half-century (Cohen, 2015) it is good to try and find some alternatives.

Solution: Why not try some homemade fabric softener? There are loads of simple methods online which allow you to make fabric softener that can be stored in reusable glass jars.

Problem: An item found in many kitchens, clingfilm is unfortunately also single-use plastic. It’s a common culprit that ends up in landfills and then inevitably our oceans where it causes harm to the natural environment.

Solution: Find alternative ways to store your food to keep it fresh. Tupperware, although plastic, can be used to store food time and time again. Reusable eco-wrapping materials are also becoming popular, with beeswax alternatives that can be washed being used to keep food fresh.

Problem: It’s easy to forget that materials from our washing machines are connected directly to the ocean. When we wash clothes that contain man-made fibres, such as nylon and acrylic, micro fibres of plastic are shedded from these items. These micro plastics can eventually make their way into our marine environment through our drainage systems.

Solution: Thankfully there are some easy steps you can take to prevent such high quantities of micro plastics shredding from your clothes.

Wash clothes on shorter washes

Wash clothes less frequently

Wash clothes at a lower temperature

You can also make sure your washing machine is always full as this reduces the amount of fibres that are shredded.

Problem: A lot of wet wipes are made with plastics such as polypropylene. Therefore, they never fully biodegrade but instead break down into smaller microscopic plastic fibres which enter our marine environment.     

Solution: Start using reusable fabric cloths that can be washed and used again. This is better for the environment, exposes your skin to less chemicals and will save money.

Problem: A lot of cosmetics and bathroom cabinet essentials are made up of or are packaged in single use plastics. This includes single use razors, plastic coated cotton buds and plastic toothbrushes. These items can pose a risk to our marine environment, with roughly 80 % of all plastic toothbrushes we use in our lifetime ending up in the sea. 

Solutions: Take five minutes to look through your bathroom, identifying products you can start to find sustainable swaps for, such as trying out a bamboo toothbursh. A little bit of planning is the first step to making a big difference.

Problem: If we keep using single use plastic at the current rate by 2050 there will be more plastic in our ocean than fish, with 80% of all marine plastic coming from land sources.                                                                                                            

Solution: Every little helps but it’s easier to cut down your household plastic waste when everyone works together to make your house a more sustainable home.

Problem: When buying lunch on the go it’s often packed in single use plastic. These materials,such as cling film and polystyrene, are usually discarded right after use and can’t be recycled as they are covered in food residue.

Solution: Bring your own packed lunch if eating away from home. Carry your grub in a reusable lunch box and wrap it either in eco beeswax wrapping or greaseproof paper. Not only will this help you reduce your single use plastic waste but it will also save you money and ensure you’re eating fresh food you know you will love!

Problem: 5 trillion plastic bags are produced globally every year. These bags are deadly to wildlife, often being consumed by marine species. For example turtles mistake plastic bags for their favourite food jellyfish. As jellyfish can’t digest the plastic they are then unable to feed and unfortunately die as a result.

Solution: It’s easy to say no to the plastic bag! Have a reusable alternative and keep them in your car or your other bags so you don’t forget them when going to the shops. By using your reusable bags you can continue to help reduce the amount of plastic bag sales, which has already fallen by 47% in the last year.

Problem: 35 million plastic bottles are used everyday in the UK. 23 million of these are likely to not be recycled. As these bottles are made of plastic they never fully decompose, entering our marine habitats and breaking down into microplastics which contaminate our oceans.

Solution: Have a reusable water bottle. Fill it up before you leave the house with tap water. This is also a great way to save a bit more money. You can also use the ‘Refill App’ when out and about to show you where you can refill your bottle for free.

Problem: Many fruit and vegetable items in shops are covered in obscene amounts of plastic. This is often unnecessary packaging as a lot of these foods such as bananas have their own protective layer to keep them fresh. A lot of this packaging also can’t be recycled. For example plastic packed salads are made with several plastics to keep them fresh however they therefore can’t be sorted in recycling centres.

Solution: Try and buy loose fruit that has no packaging or that comes in a paper bag. You can also think about growing your own salad leaves and herbs, which can be done easily from the comfort of your own home.

Problem: 10,000 items of clothing are sent to landfill every five minutes and 30% of all microplastics in our oceans are from clothing items. It is therefore important to restrict this waste and limit fast fashion production.

Solutions: Try buying second hand clothing from charity shops to reduce the fast fashion cycle. If you are removing some clothes from your wardrobe, pop them into your local charity shop, This prevents these items going to landfill and will help those in need. Another fun idea is to have a clothes swap with your friends, where everyone gets together and has an opportunity to pass clothes on as to avoid landfill.

Problem: 500 million plastic straws are used and thrown away everyday in the US. Straws are too lightweight to be recycled so will always end up in landfill. More than 1 million seabirds die every year after choking on a plastic straw that they mistake for food.

Solution: If you really love your straws you can purchase durable and long lasting alternatives made from materials such as bamboo and steel. Bring these out with you as using them in bars and restaurants is a great talking point! Otherwise, unless you really need one, say no to the straw!

Problem: 42% of all plastic ever produced is for packaging used for less than half an hour.

Solution: It is crucial that we stop using unnecessary single use plastic and encourage others to do the same.