This February, in the lead up to Valentine’s Day, we’ve put together 14 alternatives to single-use plastic that anyone can try – it’s time to end your toxic relationship single-use plastic!
- Milk bottles – Did you know that milk men still exist? Yes! Ditch those plastic bottles and get fresh milk delivered in glass bottles!
- Cling film – It’s either a godsend or a nemesis. Either way, it can’t be recycled and often leads to soggy sandwiches. Beeswax wraps are a great alternative. They’re washable, reusable and once they’re completely worn out they can be composted at home.
- Coffee cups – Aside from bagging you great discounts at most coffee shops, a good reusable coffee cup will keep your coffee hot for longer and help to reduce the estimated 2.5 billion single-use cups thrown away each year in the UK.
- Washing up sponges – Not everyone realises that a multipack of kitchen sponges in the cupboard is 100% plastic. The good news is that there is a wealth of alternative options like hessian and crocheted cotton that can be washed and reused time and time again. If looked after properly, they could even work out cheaper in the long run.
- Sellotape – ‘Brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favourite things.’ Sticky tape on paper and card stops it from being recycled so instead use brown paper and string for your favourite things when it comes to wrapping gifts and parcels.
- Liquid toiletries – With natural ingredients – for happy, healthy hair and skin – solid toiletry bars can be kinder to your pocket too (shampoo and conditioner can usually be purchased for the same prices as their liquid equivalents). They’re longer lasting and can be bought packaging free.
- Sandwich and freezer bags – These can be reused but if you don’t fancy the hassle of washing out plastic bags then bag yourself some reusable alternatives. There are hundreds of types and designs to choose from.
- Cotton buds – Millions of these cotton-tipped plastic sticks are flushed away every year. Aside from potentially blocking sewerage systems, they can also end up in waterways and oceans. So, stop flushing and get switching to more sustainable options like paper or bamboo.
- Cutlery – It’s all too easy if you’re in a rush and grab your lunch on the go, but plastic cutlery is often a plastic double whammy – both the cutlery itself and the film wrapping. There are lots of great pocket and handbag sized cutlery kits available to keep handy for busy days.
- Water bottles – Millions of plastic bottles are thrown away every day in the UK and very few of these make it to recycling. A reusable water bottle will save you money and there is a growing number of refill points. If you haven’t already, download the Refill app.
- Shopping bags – Whether you have a stash of ‘bags for life’ in the cupboard or prefer a canvas version, reusing any carrier bag is better than a single-use one. If you’ve got a growing collection of carrier bags that you want to clear out then take them to be recycled. Most supermarkets have collection points for bags and other plastic films and wrappers.
- Cleaning wipes – Just like those kitchen sponges, cleaning wipes are made of plastic. The best alternative is a good old cloth and spray. There are some great, low cost, family-friendly DIY cleaning spray recipes too – so you can reuse your spray bottles.
- Straws – With a ban on plastic straws set to come into force from April this year, if you haven’t already it’s time to start thinking about swapping. If a metal reusable straw sets your teeth on edge, there are lots of other types to try – including silicone, glass and even bamboo. These won’t go soggy like the paper versions!
- Choose loose – More and more products are being made available without packaging at all. Choosing these items reduces the amount of packaging produced altogether. Where items are packaged, try and choose recyclable options like metal tins (that can be recycled endlessly) over plastic pouches and pots.
Read More at https://www.so-cheshire.co.uk/14-ways-to-break-up-with-single-use-plastic-this-february/
