We’re often asked if we have any tips for reducing single-use plastic at home. For many, the idea of plastic-free living sounds like a bit of a challenge, but fear not! Making small changes at a pace to suit you really can make a difference, so here are some easy swaps that will have an immediate impact on reducing single-use plastic in your home, and help you feel great about greener living 💚

Let’s start with shopping bags – keeping a couple of fabric bags in your pocket or car so you’re always prepared for retail therapy is a great idea and you’ll never need to buy plastic bags again. Choosing  materials such as recycled organic cotton or jute means they’re not only strong and stylish, but will  also last for years.

Have you noticed how much plastic packaging there is on fresh fruit and vegetables in supermarkets these days ? You can do your bit by buying loose produce in paper bags or even better take your own reusable containers to put them in after you’ve paid. If you want to go one step further, there are an increasing number of zero-waste shops around which not only help with reducing single-use plastics, but can also save you money as you only buy what you actually need.

Plastic-free packaging fruit and vegetables
Fruit and vegetables free from plastic packaging

Paper tape is one of our favourite switches and really easy to do. There are so many beautiful designs now which means wrapping and sealing presents or packages is a joy! Ditching plastic tape which sits in landfill for centuries in favour of fully recyclable and biodegradable paper tape is a great move. Just look for confirmation that the glue is made from a natural plant based adhesive, and the paper itself comes from sustainable sources. Even better if the ink is vegan.

Around 7.7 billion plastic bottles are bought every year in the UK, so you can easily do your bit by switching to a reusable bottle. Stainless steel ones are our favourite for keeping drinks hot or cold, and if looked after it will last for years. They are quite energy intensive to produce, but that is negated by the longevity of the product, plus stainless steel is 100% recyclable. If you can, buy a couple of your favourite reusable bottles to keep at home or on the go so you’re never caught without one.

Now we know plastic wrap (aka cling film) is really convenient for wrapping up lunches or leftover foods, but it’s a huge contributor to single-use plastic waste so we switched to beeswax wraps a while back. They’re a natural alternative that can be reused for up to a year or more. Certified food safe wraps can be used to cover  bowls or directly wrapping foods such as sandwiches, cheese, or fruit and the good quality, food safe ones don’t affect the taste of the food. Unlike plastic wrap, they also come in a gorgeous range of patterns, and when you’ve finally finished with them, they can be home composted. Why not try a pack of 2 to start and see how you get on?

Food safe beeswax wraps alternative to plastic wrap
Food safe beeswax wraps alternative to plastic wrap

One of the best swaps we've made was from plastic scourers or sponges. We call them ‘moppets’ in our household but we’re basically talking about those green/yellow, occasionally multi coloured things that sit on the sink or draining board, made from synthetic plastics such as Polyurethane foam, nylon or polyester. A few uses and they’re thrown away to landfill.

There are now plant based ones made from loofah and wood pulp cellulose which don’t release microplastics and can be home composted or put in your food waste bin when they do finally come to the end of their use – which is usually not for a very long time! The ones we use can actually be popped in the dishwasher for a refresh and have a sponge on one side and scourer on the other. It does cost a little more to make the initial switch, however the cost over the course of a year means they are generally cheaper to buy.

Of course, we can’t complete these top swaps without a mention for partying plastic-free. There are so many great alternatives available to single-use plastics these days, including edible tableware (a great way to wow your guests!) reusable decorations, plastic-free party bags, and much more. Check out our other posts in the ‘Let’s Talk’ series or visit our marketplace to get some ideas on those.

Starting with small swaps really can make a difference and before you know it, you’ll be living a more sustainable, plastic-free lifestyle for which the planet, and future generations, will thank you.

#plasticfreeliving #partywithoutplastic #sustainablechoices