We are all fully aware that we should be living more eco-friendly lifestyles and using less plastic day-to-day, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. Here are a few tips to get you going…
8 ways you can help reduce plastic waste
Reusable cups
Make sure you own a reusable coffee cup and water bottle. Drinking vessels are one of the most common pieces of plastic that sadly end up in landfill, so it is a good idea to make carrying one around with you a daily habit. Many coffee shops will offer you money off your drink as an incentive for bringing your own cup, and you can refill your water bottle for free in plenty of places too.
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Reusable shopping bags
Try to avoid excessive single-use packaging in your shop. Opt for loose fruit and vegetables in the supermarket - which could also save you money by only picking up what you need - and bring your own mesh produce bags from home for even better eco-credentials. We also love recycled fabric shoppers which you can use again and again. This shopper is from Kind and is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Shop at refill stores
Seek out stores with self-serve dispensers for cereals, pastas, nuts and other dry ingredients for you to fill up your own containers. Supermarket chain ASDA will be introducing more of these plastic-free refill stations to more of its stores across the UK.
Many online brands and subscription services offer refillable options too. We rate Neat for household cleaning supplies, which come bottled in plastic-free containers.
Check out more of our favourite refillable cleaning products here.
Opt for recycled packaging
Plastic bottles and boxes are rife in the cleaning supplies aisle, so seeking out alternatives with more sustainable packaging can significantly reduce the amount of plastic in your weekly shop.
Many household products and appliances are now being made with plastic-free, or heavily reduced plastic, designs. Take this eco kettle from Philips, for example, which is made from 100% bio-based plastics.
You can see more of our favourite, tried and tested eco kettles here.
Buy biodegradable products
From biodegradable plant pots to sustainably-made pens, there are more and more products these days made with recycled and recyclable materials.
Compostable cleaning products are especially popular. They're effective, affordable and at the end of their life can simply be popped in your compost bin.
Take these Zero Waste World sponges, for example. They efficiently remove dirt from your dishes without scratching non-stick surfaces or delicate dishes, all while being 100% biodegradable.
Which tea bags are plastic free?
These best-selling tea brands offer compostable tea bags*...
- Aldi
- ASDA
- Bird & Blend
- Clipper
- Co-op
- PG Tips
- Pukka
- Sainsbury's
- T2
- Teapigs
- Tick Tock Tea
- Twinnings
- Yorkshire Tea
*always check the packaging to be sure!
Eco alternatives to clingfilm
Swap out your clingfilm for beeswax wraps when storing food in the fridge or lunch boxes. These are 100% natural and environmentally friendly, and can be washed and reused multiple times. They’re compostable once they come to the end of their lifecycle too. That's just one of our fabulous eco-kitchen hacks...
Grow your own
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Instead of buying plastic packets of herbs and bags of salad in your weekly shop, try growing your own at home! A sunny windowsill is a great spot for harvesting herbs, while a handy indoor greenhouse can let you grow larger produce, such as lettuce, tomatoes, chillies, peppers, radishes and even carrots.
You can also try propagating vegetables from scraps. Using veg you already have in the fridge is a fun, space-saving and eco-friendly way to grow your own produce. Onions, lettuce, celery, and avocados are some good examples to try.
Plus, all this is a great excuse to treat yourself to a cute herb planter or two for your windowsill.
Got milk?
Sign up to a milk-delivery service and get fresh milk delivered to your door in glass bottles. This type of service is seeing a modern-day resurgence in many neighbourhoods, and now you can even get other pantry favourites, such as juices, eggs and bread delivered in the same sustainable way