Less Waste...Simple everyday swaps
Before you jump into upgrading all of your plastic items, remember that it is far more environmentally friendly to use up what you already have and make a plastic or single use packaging free purchase when you really need to replace or next buy that item.
The main areas of waste in our homes are the kitchen and the bathroom so food and hygiene are the main areas I will be exploring, sharing with you the changes we have made.
Shopping:
Fruit & veg - to eliminate a large percentage of plastic waste we buy an organic veg box from Riverford (according to a recent comparison experiment they carried out with a local supermarket their boxes contain 82% less plastic packaging). It is worth checking to see whether you have a small local veg box scheme that is available to you and offers loose fruit and veggies. However something I personally like about Riverford is that everything is organic (you cannot buy organic fruit and veg out of plastic in the supermarket), nothing is air freighted, it is seasonal and I admire Guy Riverford’s approach to his business. He is open and transparent and happy to rant about the system!
Meat & dairy – for environmental reasons we no longer eat meat or dairy however when we did we would take our containers to the counters in the supermarket and ask for these items to be placed directly into our own boxes. Even better you can take your boxes to your local butcher or deli helping to support small, local independents whilst eliminating the plastic packaging.
Dried goods – shop in bulk where you can. See my article on Bulk shopping for further tips.
Other containers –
- Reusable bags – take these for items that don’t need to be in leak proof containers. Whilst cloth totes are aesthetically pleasing, aim to reuse your plastic bags until they no longer usable before you treat yourself to the zero waste alternative.
- Mesh bags – are great for all the small loose items you would usually put in the flimsy plastic carriers or paper bags. As they are transparent it saves a lot of extra phaf at the checkout. If you know somebody handy with a sewing machine and you can get hold of an old pair of net curtains get them on board! Alternative you can easily pick these up at your local bulk store or online.
- Small cloth bags – these are handy for loose grains or anything that would fall through the mesh of a bag designed for veggies. It offers a nice light weight alternative to lugging your glass jars around with you. I have repurposed a few cloth bags that came with new shoes. There are also lots of bulk and online shops which sell these too.
Create a shopping kit – if you are a forgetful person create a shopping kit with all of the items you need for you supermarket, bulk, local shop run and leave it in a convenient place. By the door, in the boot of the car, in your bike pannier… When you get home put any bags that need laundering through the wash and the put the kit back in its place ready for the next trip.
Out and about:
Containers – take a container with you. If you are out with friends and stop off at a street market, or fancy a delicious looking slice of cake you have something the vendor can pop the item in and your sorted, no need for the additional packaging, no mater how compostable or environmentally friendly it is made to be.
ZW Tip - Reusable always wins the award for environmental sustainability!
Napkin & cutlery – similarly throw in some reusable cutlery and a napkin and you’ve avoided more single use items. I love my bamboo spork as it super light weight, fits in the zip pocket of my rucksack and is always there if I haven’t planned to pack full sized cutlery. This purchase was not strictly necessary and a bit of a treat but it saves carrying traditional cutlery all of the time. It is also much easier to remember something you didn’t have to remember!
Reusable coffee cup – if you don’t drink on the go then this may not be something you need to splash out on. That being said I have also used it at as a wine glass for events that don’t provide real glassware. Even better than a buying a reusable cup, treat yourself to some down time. Take a short break to sit and savour your coffee in a proper cup.
Reuseable bottle – we are privileged to live in a country with clean running water. Bottling water is about as wasteful as you can get. Don’t buy into this overpriced con. Carry a water bottle instead.
Food storage
Beeswax or candelilla wax wraps – these are an alternative for clingfilm and work really well. The heat from your hands softens the wax and allows you to mold it around the edge of your bowl or container. To clean simply wipe with a damp cloth.
ZW Tip - There may be times when a wax wrap is useful however even more ZW, stick a plate over the top!
Sandwich boxes – use these to store leftovers or batched cooked food not only to take your sandwiches to work.
Salad bath – soak a damp cloth and use it to line the bottom of your container. Add your salad leaves or leafy veg to the container and seal. This will keep it fresh for longer. If you have some sad looking leaves you can also refresh them by putting them in a bowl of cold water. Over night if needs be.
Loaf of bread – I have yet to find any pre-sliced bread out of plastic. Buy a full loaf in your cotton bag. Slice it when you get home and stick it in the freezer. Help yourself to slices as you need them and to avoid throwing away the last mouldy slices.
Freezing – the vast majority of things can be frozen. If something is going out of date or you have made too much, stick it in the freezer. It is a great way to salvage food that would otherwise go to waste. Do try to remember what you have so you can come back and add it to future dishes.
Bathroom:
Bars – buy bars over liquids; hand and body soap, shampoo and conditioner bars work well and cut out the consumer side of the packaging.
Bamboo toothbrush – swap from a plastic non-recyclable toothbrush to one you can throw in your compost once it is finished (depending on the bristles you may need to pull these out with pliers before you compost the handle). Extend its life by using it to clean your grouting or other fiddly spaces before you finally ditch it.
Toothpaste – there are lots of companies selling toothpaste or toothpowder in recyclable glass jars. This was one of my first home makes (bicarb, bentonite clay and xylitol). It is very easy to do yourself should you be so inclined.
Loo roll – swap to paper or compostable wrapped loo roll. You need to decide on your priorities when it come to loo roll options. We buy Who Gives a Crap. The roll is wrapped in paper rather than plastic. The paper is very pretty and I have used it to make countless gift cards and to wrap presents as well as using it as scrap paper. They also support the creation of toilets in countries where these facilities are not readily available. However the company is Australian and whilst they have a UK distribution hub this is clearly a long way for the products to travel. Alternatively there are companies such as ecoleaf who are based in the UK. Their toilet rolls are wrapped in home compostable wrap. Home compostable wrap are plant based plastic and here again there are arguments for and against the use of food products for packaging. There is no perfect solution but do your homework and work out which issue is your top priority and go from there.
Safety razor – swap from a plastic to a metal razor with recyclable blades. I love my safety razor. Apart from the fact it is so beautiful it is fantastic to know that I am no longer send countless unrecyclable pieces of plastic to landfill. I know people worry about cutting themselves but I have honestly never had this problem. I am also very short sighted and don’t wear my glasses in the shower! Just take a little time and you will be fine.
Refillable floss – many bulk shops sell refillable silk or vegan flosses in glass vials. The floss can be repurchased on its own and the jar refilled. The used floss can be added to your compost. If you don’t have a bulk shop near you this can be found online.
Perfume – I managed to fine a fabulous vegan company called Eden which emulate high street scents without using any synthetic or toxic chemicals. When you have finished the perfume you can pop the bottle back in the post and Eden will refill and return the bottle.
Natural deodorant – this takes a little work but is definitely worthwhile. Most commercial deodorants have a fairly chemical laden ingredient list including aluminium to stop you from sweating. Once you stop using deodorant with aluminium in you will have to get used to sweating again, which takes a little getting used to. You might need to try a few varieties before you fine one you like. My husband and I differ on what works for us. Fortunately there are an increasing number of options available through bulk stores or online which use natural ingredients such as Cacao Pow Deo Bar. Alternatively you can have a go at making your own. I did try this and it is not difficult to do but I struggled to find a container which didn’t clog up or was easy to use but I am sure there are options out there if you are prepared to look.
Moisturisers – I have switched to oil to moisturize my face. Oils such as jojoba and almond oil work well as natural moisturisers. I did experiment with making moisturiser which can be done easily but this turned out to be equally effective and even less effort so I plumped for this! It has worked well so far. I had a massive tub of E45 so I haven’t got as far as find an alternative for my body yet.
Menstrual cup – I love mine. Periods are such an untalked about topic. They are represented on television with blue dye as though red would somehow be too graphic. The media seems to portray this bodily function as a dirty process, to be hidden away, dealt with quietly and not talked about. This has allowed the advertisers to dictate to us which products we should be using. No surprise they are the ones we have to buy every month. I wish I had known about reusable cups before. They are the most comfortable thing I have ever used. I know others have not found the process as straight forward and have had to try a number of different brands to find the right fit but there are options out there and I would absolutely encourage your to persist and find one that suits you. You won’t look back.
CSP (cloth sanitary pads) – another reusable period accessory. Although I bought some, having a light period I have not found them to be that necessary for me. There are however many different types out there to suit light and heavy periods as well as post partum pads. If you struggle with a cup these are a good alternative. Do make sure you are wearing a fairly snug pair of knickers though!
Cleaning:
Refillable cleaning products – bulk stores and many health food shops offer refills of a variety of cleaning products; surface sprays, loo cleaner, laundry liquid etc… These are not plastic free but with greater quantity comes less packaging and you can reuse your plastic bottle time and time again by refilling it. If you have a lovely local firm you are able to buy from and which collects the drums for refill this is great. However for companies like Ecover they are no longer able to offer this and stores are therefore only able to buy the large 5l bottles which they then dispense the liquids from. Although not plastic free we buy a 5l bottle of liquid which works out considerably cheaper than the equivalent number of refills. We purchase refills for the loo, laundry and for washing up liquid.
Bicarb and vinegar – this is what we use for everything else around our house. That and a bit of extra elbow grease! You do have to put in a little more effort but I think the benefit of removing all those harsh unenvironmentally friendly chemicals and countless plastic bottle is worth it.
Citric acid – when drains or surfaces need a bit of extra oomph we use citric acid with bicarb and some boiling water to move things along. Shia from Wasteland Rebel has a great recipe for this.
Coconut scrubbies – these are pretty durable and remove stubborn food without scratching your pans. Even better they can be added to your compost at the end of their life.
Compostable dish clothes – as above but a bit softer.
Old t-shirts – great for cleaning the floor
Hankerchiefs – we have a couple of large jars around the house filled with hankies which we help ourselves to as needed and throw in the wash when we are done. This saves countless paper tissues and is no less gross than putting a wet tissue in your pocket!
There are countless other products out there which you will see being marketed to help you lead a greener life. The most important thing to remember is that very few are really necessary. We are so conditioned to think we need to buy something new to successfully complete a task but I would encourage you to be really honest and ask yourself whether that new item is a need or perhaps just a want. Repurpose what you can and of course indulge in a treat every once in a while!
Good luck with your journey and remember to congratulate yourself on every step you take in the right direction. Lead by example and feel proud when you notice those around you making small changes as a result of your actions.