After I became tuned in to the need to reduce waste and lessen my plastic use, I saw opportunity everywhere. Some changes were simple, others require a bit of adjustment. Once you are in the mindset, it becomes a new way of life and I saw my new habits reflected in less waste changes, as well as just less plastic.
I think that by now most of us have reusable bags, water bottles and coffee cups. I now absolutely refuse to shop if I have forgotten my bags and this has gone a great way to making me remember them! I would also now never buy a plastic bottle for convenience on the go. I use water fountains or refill stations to fill up my own bottle instead. If I haven’t got that with me and really need a drink to go I’ll choose one in a can instead. No plastic for me!
When shopping I choose everything ‘bare’ and never take the plastic produce bags. At home, I am looking at packaging from online orders and wondering what I might use it for other than throwing it away (I wrapped all of my Christmas presents in Amazon packaging!). I keep empty containers from products I have bought and reuse them as storage or lunchboxes. I avoid anything that is single use, but if I do use tin foil or similar I keep it for multiple uses.
I found the bathroom the easiest place to turn plastic free. I got rid of shower gel and handwash and replaced them with bars of soap. I replaced our plastic toothbrushes with bamboo ones. I found these changes really simple and easy to make whereas others took a bit of getting used to; shampoo bars, conditioner bars and toothpaste tabs. Still doable though, and worth persevering!
In the kitchen, I have replaced tubs of spreadable butter with an old-school block and of butter and butter dish. Be wary though, only a couple of butters come in recyclable paper! I am avoiding buying sauces/condiments/everything/anything in plastic and opt for glass whenever it is available.
I found milk harder to change. We do have a ‘milkman’ option, but this is much more expensive. There are other options to dairy milk, but I must admit I don’t like them as much. I continue to try though, by alternating and sampling different brands, and I love that my workplace took the decision to go back to glass packaged, delivered milk.
When I recently needed new kitchen utensils I opted for wooden ones. Not only are they just as functional but far less expensive! When our dishwasher broke beyond repair we managed to get a second hand one on Facebook. Not only is it as good as new but we obviously save a lot by buying it second hand.
Christmas posed a good opportunity to test the habits I have learnt. I didn’t buy any new wrapping or ribbon, but used up stock at home or recycled Amazon brown paper to wrap presents. I bought a couple of second-hand items as gifts and asked family to buy the same for me. Wherever possible I made gifts plastic-free and it gave me such a good feeling to do so!
As we get more in to this, I have realized the key is to be prepared. Plastic-free options aren’t regularly available on the high street so I have learnt to start the research for a product as soon as I notice it’s running out. With this in mind, it’s also important not to replace items before they need it. Don’t chuck your plastic razors/toothbrushes/straws before you are ready just because you want bamboo equivalents.
As well as the time requirement, I do find that most eco-related choices come with a financial hit. Plastic-free or plastic-less options aren’t the norm (yet!) which means there is often a cheaper option to be found.
So, if someone is asking for advice on plastic-free choices I’d say…
Think.
Plan.
Continue to avoid plastic.
Persevere with new products and be patient while the rest of the world catches
up with your ideology!
