by Zoe Munday
Plastic. It is everywhere. From the plastic bottles we drink our water and fruit juices from, those plastic wrapped bananas, down to the microbeads in that (now non-existent) Nivea face scrub, some toothpastes and even as recent research has shown the fish we eat and very possibly us. But thanks to inspirational figure heads like Greta Thunburg and through David Attenborough’s “Attenborough effect” from the airing of Blue Planet and Our Planet, people’s lifestyles are being challenged. We have witnessed steps being made to reverse the damage such as the increase in beach clean ups and the recent declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’ in the UK. People are shifting their consciousness around what they are consuming to become more sustainable consumers and there are numerous ways in which we can individually make small changes in our lives to create a bigger impact for the world around us. A lot of people just don’t know where to start, so this blog is to give you some top tips and ideas to help kick start your zero waste journey.
#1: Bamboo toothbrush
With something we all do regularly, it is easy to forget that our toothbrushes are made from plastic. And with it being a recommendation by dental professionals to replace our brush every 3-4 months that’s a lot of waste. So a great alternative is bamboo toothbrushes. Their main body is fully biodegradable and compostable, the bristles are made with BPA free nylon which does mean that they will need to be plucked out with pliers before you throw the brush on the compost heap, but this is a small plastic price to pay compared to the prior fully plastic brush. There are many great options out there but here are some companies to note (1): The Environmental Toothbrush, The Pearly White Club that sends you a new brush every month, The Humble Co’s brush from Holland and Barratts... And Zero Waste Club go that extra step where you can buy a toothbrush with a replaceable head so you don’t have to throw away the whole brush! They also come in a range of cool colours and for every item purchased they plant a tree! Bonus eco points!
#2: Reusable coffee cup
There are so many out there to choose from, from glass to bamboo down to the branded cups Costa and even Universities sell to encourage people to save on waste. My current one is a collapsible cup made from silicone, making it easy to fit in a bag or pocket and easy to clean. Plus, it is super satisfying to collapse knowing that you’ve done your bit to save the planet one cup at a time. Most places provide an incentive to bring your own cup like 20p off your hot drink at Costa, an extra stamp at Café Nero and 10p off at Canvas Coffee by Southsea station. So get one for a friend or colleague or family member and give those who already own one a cheer or well-deserved drum roll (nice work Debbie!)
#3: Refillable water bottle
In the UK alone 7.7 billion water bottles are purchased every year with 234 million of these being littered ending up in our waterways and ultimately in the ocean and washed up on beaches (2). One easy solution is to reduce demand by buying a refillable water bottle. These come in all shapes and sizes to suit your water drinking needs. Despite plastic refillable bottles being more environmentally friendly than the single use plastic bottles, they do still degrade over time with prolonged use giving you a plastic taste, so it may be better to purchase a metal or glass bottle with metal giving you the option of both hot or cold beverages. Your local Millets will have some viable options with the likes of Karrimor and CamelBak, or if you like quirky patterns have a look at Chilly’s bottles (a). There are numerous options to choose from online and there is bound to be one that suits your preference. Once you have your trusty water bottle don’t shy away from asking your friendly café or bar person when you are out to top it up for you. Or you may be lucky enough to find a refill station (there are some soon to be ones built in and around Southsea).
#4: Tote bag
Since the plastic bag levy introduced in October 2015 there has been an 86% reduction in the use plastic bags which is great news for wildlife. Before this the average person in the UK would use about 140 plastic bags a year (3). Take some bags for life with you or some canvas tote bags next time you go to the shops, not only are these stronger and remove the necessity for “double bagging” they are just more attractive to look at. Plus, canvas bags can just be popped in the washing machine when they get dirty. Pick some up from your local charity shop or craft fair or if you feel like being crafty you can make your own and then get your kids involved in decorating them after. If you don’t fancy just throwing your loose veg into the shopping basket go the extra mile and bring reusable net bags for your loose veggies or try and use paper bags when they are available.
#5: Straws
Many retailers, bars and restaurants have committed to banning the use of straws going for the greener paper option. However, this still uses trees so ultimately is still bad for the planet. Companies like The Wheat Straws Company have combat this issue by developing an alternative - by using actual straw. 100% biodegradable and doesn’t go soggy in your drink – bonus eco points! Reusable alternatives include metal, glass or bamboo which are wonderful but a little difficult to carry around. So Final Straw (b) have come up with the collapsible straw that comes in a little box and fits on your key ring. Get one to match your collapsible cup and impress all your friends!
#6: Make an Ecobrick!
You may be aware of the eco brick trend surfacing in areas of PGS such as the junior school and the Wildlife Club, however you still may be asking the question what is an ecobrick? An ecobrick is made by packing your clean and dry empty plastic water bottles with plastic sweet and food wrappers, plastic film and any ‘crunchy’ plastic. These are then sent to projects around the world to be used as an alternative building material. No need to put crisp packets into your eco brick as Walkers have now employed a recycling scheme for them, you just need to find your local drop off recycling point(c). And all the plastic bags you no longer need thanks to your canvas bags, along with any other stretchy plastic will be able to go in your local supermarket plastic bag drop off bin. You can then get creative with your final eco bricks use them to produce flower planters or other structures (d). It should be noted that this shouldn’t be used as a justification for eating even more plastic wrapped goodies only as a way to redirect the plastic you already use into a more creative means.
#7: Refill
Have a look for your local health food store and you are bound to find that they provide refills for not only laundry detergent, shampoo, hand wash and shower gel but also seeds, grains, pulses and herbs. Instead of buying bulky plastic packaging each time you need one of these items you are instead using the original, perfectly decent package it first came in. In addition to this, you will also be supporting your lovely local supplier, such as Wild Thyme on Palmerstone Road, Southsea Bathing Hut and Salix Health and Wellbeing Centre which is just around the corner. Just bring along a clean dry container of your choice, weigh it in the store before you fill and that’s it! Look out for your local market (Palmerstone road market on the last Sunday of each month for those in Southsea) for Refill and Replenish another wonderful independent retailer with a zero waste philosophy.
#8: Refuse & Reuse
The easiest way to rid yourself of plastic in your life is to just refuse it altogether. This means buying things that are not wrapped in plastic and are instead ‘naked’ or are packaged in recyclable/biodegradable material. One example of a supplier that provides these sort of products is Lush, found on many high streets and known for being a green pioneer in the business world. Their notable products are their bath bombs and shampoo bars which last nearly twice as long as normal liquid shampoos, you can even buy a cute little tin to pop them in. Recently I purchased their new 7 to 3 face cleanser (e) made from, wait for it... Cannellini beans! Reusable and 100% biodegradable, and I think they’re pretty amazing. Lush also provides a great incentive where if you bring back 5 of their pots you get a free face mask. You can of course just keep these pots and reuse them for storing odd things in. Other containers you can reuse are yoghurt pots, great for potting plants, and if you have any old shoes lying around you can do the same to add some instant character to your garden.
#9: Makeup
This one is a bit of a challenge as very few cosmetics companies offer zero waste products in their stores and you may lose hope of recycling any of those old lipsticks. However, there are some options. If you have any used mascaras wands you can send these to a great charity called Wands for Wildlife (f) who then use them as tiny little brushes to remove pests, dirt and help examine for injuries on the animals in their care. MAC cosmetics have their Back to MAC scheme (g) where if you return 6 of their primary containers back to them you will receive a free lipstick of your choice. TerraCycle have paired with Garnier to create a beauty product recycling programme (h) where you can drop off containers and wrappers including plastic wipes packaging, single use face mask packets, plastic pots and tubes and plastic deodorant roll ons. You can either find your local drop off point or enter in to the school recycling contest (i) where plastic you collect earns you points for a charity of your choice and the winner gets a recycled playground makeover! Once you have recycled all your makeup containers you can have a look at Acala (j) a zero waste beauty brand that does everything from toothpastes and bamboo toothbrushes to eco glitter and refillable mascaras!
#10: Razors
It’s a difficult task looking after our appearance whilst trying to dodge the plastic minefield. Shaving for example, not only are the razors themselves plastic but they are also packaged in the stuff which is impossible to get into, and when you want to buy replaceable heads to stop yourself throwing the whole razor away it ends up being twice the price of the razor in the first place! So then you just end up buying a whole new razor because it is much cheaper. Electric razors are also cased in horrible plastic, have the added hassle of needing to be charged and never really give you the result you hoped for. However, there is a light at the end of the plastic tunnel, and that comes in the shape of a safety razor. Many people may be intimidated by the thought of them but they are actually incredibly easy and safe to use. Prices range from £20 upwards (4) with an incredible variety of styles to suit your preference, with long or short handles and butterfly opening mechanisms to name a few. Some great brands to mention are Edwin Jagger, Muhle, Parker and Murker. All you then need to do is buy a set of double sided razor blades and that’s it! Follow your normal shaving regime and you will be a pro in no time, but if you are a bit uncertain there are some video tutorials you can watch. Just dispose of the blades safely once you are finished with them (it is recommended to change your blades every 1-2 months). You could even sharpen the blades to make their life extend that little bit further if you are feeling extra eager. Keep your razor clean and dry, maybe buy a little stand for it and it will last you a lifetime.
There are of course other ways to reduce your plastic consumption but I didn’t want to overwhelm you, and it is not expected for you to adopt all of these lifestyle changes immediately and all at once, it takes time. Of course if you want to go plastic cold-turkey there is nothing stopping you! It just takes small steps but once these steps build up they can make a dramatic impact on the world and people around you. Here’s hoping that this blog has been that little bit of inspiration you needed to make a change.
1 Jess Dunham, Monday 9th July 2018, 6 best bamboo toothbrushes
2 House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, (22 December 2017) Plastic bottles: Turning Back the Plastic Tide, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/339/339.pdf
3 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 27th September 2018, Single-use plastic carrier bags charge: data in England for 2016 to 2017, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carrier-bag-charge-summary-of-data-in-england/single-use-plastic-carrier-bags-charge-data-in-england-for-2016-to-2017
4 Marcus Jaye, Thursday 18 April 2019, 8 best safety razors that will help you boss your grooming regime
Links
ahttps://www.chillysbottles.com/
bhttps://finalstraw.com/
chttps://www.walkers.co.uk/recycle
dhttps://www.ecobricks.org/
e https://uk.lush.com/article/7-3-biodegradable-face-wipes-combining-convenience-conscience
f https://www.appalachianwild.org/wands-for-wildlife.html
g https://www.maccosmetics.com/giving_back/back_to_mac.tmpl
h https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/personal-care-and-beauty-brigade#how-it-works
i https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/contests/recycle-plastic-to-make-your-school-fantastic#
j https://acalaonline.com/
Plastic. It is everywhere. From the plastic bottles we drink our water and fruit juices from, those plastic wrapped bananas, down to the microbeads in that (now non-existent) Nivea face scrub, some toothpastes and even as recent research has shown the fish we eat and very possibly us. But thanks to inspirational figure heads like Greta Thunburg and through David Attenborough’s “Attenborough effect” from the airing of Blue Planet and Our Planet, people’s lifestyles are being challenged. We have witnessed steps being made to reverse the damage such as the increase in beach clean ups and the recent declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’ in the UK. People are shifting their consciousness around what they are consuming to become more sustainable consumers and there are numerous ways in which we can individually make small changes in our lives to create a bigger impact for the world around us. A lot of people just don’t know where to start, so this blog is to give you some top tips and ideas to help kick start your zero waste journey.
With something we all do regularly, it is easy to forget that our toothbrushes are made from plastic. And with it being a recommendation by dental professionals to replace our brush every 3-4 months that’s a lot of waste. So a great alternative is bamboo toothbrushes. Their main body is fully biodegradable and compostable, the bristles are made with BPA free nylon which does mean that they will need to be plucked out with pliers before you throw the brush on the compost heap, but this is a small plastic price to pay compared to the prior fully plastic brush. There are many great options out there but here are some companies to note (1): The Environmental Toothbrush, The Pearly White Club that sends you a new brush every month, The Humble Co’s brush from Holland and Barratts... And Zero Waste Club go that extra step where you can buy a toothbrush with a replaceable head so you don’t have to throw away the whole brush! They also come in a range of cool colours and for every item purchased they plant a tree! Bonus eco points!
#2: Reusable coffee cup
There are so many out there to choose from, from glass to bamboo down to the branded cups Costa and even Universities sell to encourage people to save on waste. My current one is a collapsible cup made from silicone, making it easy to fit in a bag or pocket and easy to clean. Plus, it is super satisfying to collapse knowing that you’ve done your bit to save the planet one cup at a time. Most places provide an incentive to bring your own cup like 20p off your hot drink at Costa, an extra stamp at Café Nero and 10p off at Canvas Coffee by Southsea station. So get one for a friend or colleague or family member and give those who already own one a cheer or well-deserved drum roll (nice work Debbie!)
In the UK alone 7.7 billion water bottles are purchased every year with 234 million of these being littered ending up in our waterways and ultimately in the ocean and washed up on beaches (2). One easy solution is to reduce demand by buying a refillable water bottle. These come in all shapes and sizes to suit your water drinking needs. Despite plastic refillable bottles being more environmentally friendly than the single use plastic bottles, they do still degrade over time with prolonged use giving you a plastic taste, so it may be better to purchase a metal or glass bottle with metal giving you the option of both hot or cold beverages. Your local Millets will have some viable options with the likes of Karrimor and CamelBak, or if you like quirky patterns have a look at Chilly’s bottles (a). There are numerous options to choose from online and there is bound to be one that suits your preference. Once you have your trusty water bottle don’t shy away from asking your friendly café or bar person when you are out to top it up for you. Or you may be lucky enough to find a refill station (there are some soon to be ones built in and around Southsea).
#4: Tote bag
Since the plastic bag levy introduced in October 2015 there has been an 86% reduction in the use plastic bags which is great news for wildlife. Before this the average person in the UK would use about 140 plastic bags a year (3). Take some bags for life with you or some canvas tote bags next time you go to the shops, not only are these stronger and remove the necessity for “double bagging” they are just more attractive to look at. Plus, canvas bags can just be popped in the washing machine when they get dirty. Pick some up from your local charity shop or craft fair or if you feel like being crafty you can make your own and then get your kids involved in decorating them after. If you don’t fancy just throwing your loose veg into the shopping basket go the extra mile and bring reusable net bags for your loose veggies or try and use paper bags when they are available.
#5: Straws
Many retailers, bars and restaurants have committed to banning the use of straws going for the greener paper option. However, this still uses trees so ultimately is still bad for the planet. Companies like The Wheat Straws Company have combat this issue by developing an alternative - by using actual straw. 100% biodegradable and doesn’t go soggy in your drink – bonus eco points! Reusable alternatives include metal, glass or bamboo which are wonderful but a little difficult to carry around. So Final Straw (b) have come up with the collapsible straw that comes in a little box and fits on your key ring. Get one to match your collapsible cup and impress all your friends!
You may be aware of the eco brick trend surfacing in areas of PGS such as the junior school and the Wildlife Club, however you still may be asking the question what is an ecobrick? An ecobrick is made by packing your clean and dry empty plastic water bottles with plastic sweet and food wrappers, plastic film and any ‘crunchy’ plastic. These are then sent to projects around the world to be used as an alternative building material. No need to put crisp packets into your eco brick as Walkers have now employed a recycling scheme for them, you just need to find your local drop off recycling point(c). And all the plastic bags you no longer need thanks to your canvas bags, along with any other stretchy plastic will be able to go in your local supermarket plastic bag drop off bin. You can then get creative with your final eco bricks use them to produce flower planters or other structures (d). It should be noted that this shouldn’t be used as a justification for eating even more plastic wrapped goodies only as a way to redirect the plastic you already use into a more creative means.
#7: Refill
Have a look for your local health food store and you are bound to find that they provide refills for not only laundry detergent, shampoo, hand wash and shower gel but also seeds, grains, pulses and herbs. Instead of buying bulky plastic packaging each time you need one of these items you are instead using the original, perfectly decent package it first came in. In addition to this, you will also be supporting your lovely local supplier, such as Wild Thyme on Palmerstone Road, Southsea Bathing Hut and Salix Health and Wellbeing Centre which is just around the corner. Just bring along a clean dry container of your choice, weigh it in the store before you fill and that’s it! Look out for your local market (Palmerstone road market on the last Sunday of each month for those in Southsea) for Refill and Replenish another wonderful independent retailer with a zero waste philosophy.
#8: Refuse & Reuse
The easiest way to rid yourself of plastic in your life is to just refuse it altogether. This means buying things that are not wrapped in plastic and are instead ‘naked’ or are packaged in recyclable/biodegradable material. One example of a supplier that provides these sort of products is Lush, found on many high streets and known for being a green pioneer in the business world. Their notable products are their bath bombs and shampoo bars which last nearly twice as long as normal liquid shampoos, you can even buy a cute little tin to pop them in. Recently I purchased their new 7 to 3 face cleanser (e) made from, wait for it... Cannellini beans! Reusable and 100% biodegradable, and I think they’re pretty amazing. Lush also provides a great incentive where if you bring back 5 of their pots you get a free face mask. You can of course just keep these pots and reuse them for storing odd things in. Other containers you can reuse are yoghurt pots, great for potting plants, and if you have any old shoes lying around you can do the same to add some instant character to your garden.
This one is a bit of a challenge as very few cosmetics companies offer zero waste products in their stores and you may lose hope of recycling any of those old lipsticks. However, there are some options. If you have any used mascaras wands you can send these to a great charity called Wands for Wildlife (f) who then use them as tiny little brushes to remove pests, dirt and help examine for injuries on the animals in their care. MAC cosmetics have their Back to MAC scheme (g) where if you return 6 of their primary containers back to them you will receive a free lipstick of your choice. TerraCycle have paired with Garnier to create a beauty product recycling programme (h) where you can drop off containers and wrappers including plastic wipes packaging, single use face mask packets, plastic pots and tubes and plastic deodorant roll ons. You can either find your local drop off point or enter in to the school recycling contest (i) where plastic you collect earns you points for a charity of your choice and the winner gets a recycled playground makeover! Once you have recycled all your makeup containers you can have a look at Acala (j) a zero waste beauty brand that does everything from toothpastes and bamboo toothbrushes to eco glitter and refillable mascaras!
#10: Razors
It’s a difficult task looking after our appearance whilst trying to dodge the plastic minefield. Shaving for example, not only are the razors themselves plastic but they are also packaged in the stuff which is impossible to get into, and when you want to buy replaceable heads to stop yourself throwing the whole razor away it ends up being twice the price of the razor in the first place! So then you just end up buying a whole new razor because it is much cheaper. Electric razors are also cased in horrible plastic, have the added hassle of needing to be charged and never really give you the result you hoped for. However, there is a light at the end of the plastic tunnel, and that comes in the shape of a safety razor. Many people may be intimidated by the thought of them but they are actually incredibly easy and safe to use. Prices range from £20 upwards (4) with an incredible variety of styles to suit your preference, with long or short handles and butterfly opening mechanisms to name a few. Some great brands to mention are Edwin Jagger, Muhle, Parker and Murker. All you then need to do is buy a set of double sided razor blades and that’s it! Follow your normal shaving regime and you will be a pro in no time, but if you are a bit uncertain there are some video tutorials you can watch. Just dispose of the blades safely once you are finished with them (it is recommended to change your blades every 1-2 months). You could even sharpen the blades to make their life extend that little bit further if you are feeling extra eager. Keep your razor clean and dry, maybe buy a little stand for it and it will last you a lifetime.
There are of course other ways to reduce your plastic consumption but I didn’t want to overwhelm you, and it is not expected for you to adopt all of these lifestyle changes immediately and all at once, it takes time. Of course if you want to go plastic cold-turkey there is nothing stopping you! It just takes small steps but once these steps build up they can make a dramatic impact on the world and people around you. Here’s hoping that this blog has been that little bit of inspiration you needed to make a change.
1 Jess Dunham, Monday 9th July 2018, 6 best bamboo toothbrushes
2 House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, (22 December 2017) Plastic bottles: Turning Back the Plastic Tide, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/339/339.pdf
3 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 27th September 2018, Single-use plastic carrier bags charge: data in England for 2016 to 2017, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carrier-bag-charge-summary-of-data-in-england/single-use-plastic-carrier-bags-charge-data-in-england-for-2016-to-2017
4 Marcus Jaye, Thursday 18 April 2019, 8 best safety razors that will help you boss your grooming regime
Links
ahttps://www.chillysbottles.com/
bhttps://finalstraw.com/
chttps://www.walkers.co.uk/recycle
dhttps://www.ecobricks.org/
e https://uk.lush.com/article/7-3-biodegradable-face-wipes-combining-convenience-conscience
f https://www.appalachianwild.org/wands-for-wildlife.html
g https://www.maccosmetics.com/giving_back/back_to_mac.tmpl
h https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/personal-care-and-beauty-brigade#how-it-works
i https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/contests/recycle-plastic-to-make-your-school-fantastic#
j https://acalaonline.com/
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