I saw a quote the other day from Jane Goodall about not being overwhelmed by looking at the whole picture, but instead looking at our tiny bit of the world and dealing with that. Jane also talks about the fact we can all make a difference, however small and insignificant it feels, it's a difference in the right direction. Thinking about plastic use, Jane's words really hit home as it's easy to think you're just one person and you can't change the world, but if millions of us all made those same small changes, we really could start to see an improvement. It's time for us all to step up and try to maintain what we have, make improvements and slow down the damage we are doing to our planet for the future generations.
Most of us are doing our bit by recycling what we can in the home and it's become second nature now to separate our rubbish in order to reduce the waste going to landfill. Most of us are trying to remember our shopping bags, buying less plastic ones and doing a little already. There is still much more we can do though each and every day and it's not even big things, it's just small changes that if we start now, will soon become habit and a part of our every day life. It's time to make greener living more the norm for us regular people. Here's ten simple changes you can do at home to reduce the plastic waste from your family, starting right now!
Ditch the straws
This is an obvious one and so many pubs and restaurants are getting on board with this now, even with MacDonald's making the switch to paper straws and offering a recycling station to make sure rubbish is sorted correctly. There are still though many people buying straws to use at home and there is pretty much no excuse now. We have a few in the cupboard from years ago, but I won't buy them again as I've got used to not using them and no longer have the need. There are of course paper alternatives as well as washable ones to use at home, so this is a very easy switch if you use straws at home.
Ditch the party bag tat & opt for long lasting or Eco friendly toys
When it comes to kids, a huge number of the things they love are extremely problematic when it comes to plastic waste and this is one area that really needs to be looked at. Plastic is cheap which makes it perfect for small pocket money treats and party bag items that more often than not end up broken in the bin a day later. Although it's a hard one to avoid, especially with the current surprise egg trends and almost every toy having about ten times more packaging than is necessary, we can start small by avoiding certain things like crackers at Christmas containing needless plastic, thinking outside the box for party bags and steering play towards longer lasting plastic toys such as Lego or Eco friendly wooden toys that can be enjoyed for years to come and eventually biodegrade once discarded being friendlier to the environment. This is something that toy manufacturers really need to think about, but we can make a difference by simply buying less of this stuff and opting for other alternatives or longer lasting options when needed.
Reuse what can't be recycled
If you can, try and find a new life or purpose for anything that can't be recycled in your area. There are loads of ideas now for creating works of art, vases, garden items etc etc on Pinterest and whatever it is, there is always something it can be used for, if not by you then someone else. If you're unsure, ask on local Facebook groups if anyone can make use of your items and think twice before sending it away in your bin.
Water bottles are THE biggest waste and there's very little excuse to have them unless out and about with no alternative. At home, keep cooled water in the fridge in jugs or bottles and when going out, try to remember a refillable bottle so you can always grab some water when you need it without creating more plastic waste.
Bulk buy
When buying foods like pasta for example, you could buy a bigger bag and use your own containers or jars to keep it fresh, meaning less plastic packets with less purchases. With fresher foods, buying in bulk may mean freezing some and thawing out as you need them. Bulk buying isn't just good for the environment, but saves money too over time. Try thinking forward a bit with your food buying and buying 'longer term' instead of by the day or week at a time.
Swap your wet wipes
There's talk about wet wipes being banned entirely as they cause such major problems in our water systems, so if you're a wipe addict then it's well worth starting to make the switch to reusable options now so you can stay ahead of the game. These much loved wipes contain plastics and are often flushed which has a serious effect on our waters and marine life as chemicals and fibres are released into the water. Instead of wipes, we should go back to using reusable cloths and a natural cleaning solution alongside.
Switch to shampoo bars
These take a lot of getting used to, but if like me you're a hoarder of hair products, this could make a big dent in your plastic use. Perfect for the whole family with no harmful plastics going into the water or bins, these bars are really catching on now and can be purchased from individual retailers that create them at home, as well as bigger stores like Lush and online stores like eBay.
Make your own cleaning products
I'm guilty of having cupboards full of products, but I am working on it. There are loads of ways you can create your own every day cleaning products and with one quick search on Pinterest you can get pinning lots of ideas to try, saving you money and saving on the HUGE problem of plastic waste from cleaning products.
Switch your tooth brush
Around a billion plastic tooth brushes are binned every single year, so if you use a regular brush it's well worth making the switch to a bamboo handled brush which will last just as long but biodegrade in around 6 months, making it a much more earth friendly option.
Shop savvy
Choose products that come in cardboard or can be decanted into your own containers where possible. If your favourites come in single use plastics, research to see what alternatives are available. You may even want to start shopping locally at smaller places for things like fresh meats where you'll be able to give them your containers to pick up your goods, eradicating all plastic packaging! When shopping just spend more time looking at the options and question what you really need if the packaging is questionable. There may take a while to get used to new products, but it's well worth it in the long run.
Will you be making any of these switches in your home?
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