How to use less plastic
Plastic in the environment poses such a huge threat to wildlife because it doesn’t just disappear; it simply breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. Aside from the dangers of becoming trapped or injured, animals often ingest plastic fragments, with the potential to build up in the bodies of animals right up the food chain - from microscopic animals right up to large predators, including us!
You may already bring your own shopping bags and coffee cups, but there are plenty more small changes you can make to reduce your plastic footprint
While recycling plastic is often hailed as a solution, it is estimated that only 9% of plastics ever manufactured have actually been recycled! Not everything you put in your recycling bin will get recycled either. The limited demand for products made from recycled plastic means that a large proportion of plastic sent to be recycled actually winds up getting burned or sent to landfill.
The good news is we can all do our bit to cut down on unnecessary plastic! Once you start looking, you might be surprised at just how much plastic is woven into our daily and weekly routines. You may already bring your own shopping bags, coffee cups and reusable bottles, but there are plenty more small changes you can make to shrink your plastic footprint!
Top tips to reduce your plastic use:
In the bathroom
Chances are, you brush your teeth with plastic. Bamboo toothbrushes made from sustainable bamboo are an easy way to ditch the excess plastic. While the wooden handle is fully compostable (or upcyclable!), the plastic bristles will have to go in the bin, but fear not - they weigh practically nothing so they are far less wasteful than a conventional plastic toothbrush!
Prefer the electric experience? If you use branded replacement heads, check with the manufacturer - they may accept them back for recycling, and if they don’t, write to them!
In the shower
Exfoliating shower puffs might be a popular scrubbing tool, but they’re made of plastic. Specialist advice is to not use them at all, but if you must, to replace them every 3-4 weeks because of the nasty bacteria that can build up on the netting - that adds up to a lot of plastic waste! There are alternatives made from natural materials, but maybe it’s best to ditch them altogether.
Keep an eye out for unpackaged bar soap and ditch the shower gel. Kept out of any water stream, they last a really long time! You can also get shampoo and conditioner in this form.
You should also keep a close eye on your cleaning products as they may contain sneaky microbeads not covered by the recent ban. Check product ingredients closely, especially items that claim to polish, add extra shine, or shimmer. More details on what to look out for on our microbeads page.
In the kitchen
Out and about
Do a little preparation
One of the easiest ways to reduce your plastic consumption at the supermarket is by choosing loose produce over packaged. Because you only buy what you need, this will also help you curb food waste!
Certain items, like spinach, may be harder to find packaging-free, so it’s also worth finding out if you can get some from a local greengrocer, community allotments or farmer’s market and support your local economy. A few major supermarkets officially accept customers’ own containers for deli items, including meat, so it’s worth taking yours along and asking nicely!
With the rising demand for plastic-free groceries, many cities have seen their first bulk shops pop up. If you are lucky enough to live near one, buying dried goods like rice and spice often works out cheaper too!
We Brits love a good brew, but you may be surprised to hear that many teabags have plastic woven into the fibres, or are sealed with a plastic based glue (something to be mindful of when composting!). Following public pressure, a few companies have committed to eliminating plastic from their teabags, and a quick internet search will show you which brands are plastic-free.
Alternatively, buying loose tea can eliminate plastic packaging entirely – just be aware that many sold in cardboard boxes will be sealed in plastic inside the box to maintain freshness.