To ask for ways to reduce plastic in our household

[jess24x8]

I've seen so many posts recently about reducing the amount of plastic we use on daily basis to help the environment.

I absolutely love the idea and am now trying to find ways to switch my habits and products. First thing I started with was I signed up with my local milk man. What else can I do?

Do you have a local refill shop? You can take empty shampoo/conditioner/shower gel/ washing up liquid bottles and refill them. If not buy bulk (bigger bottles-less plastic)

Start buying loose fruit and veg in the supermarket.

Beeswax wraps and sandwich wraps are great for cutting out foil and cling film.

Bar soap rather than bottle soap.

Bamboo toothbrushes are good and relatively cheap on amazon.

I have been trying to cut down plastic use for a few months now,small steps and don't beat yourself up if you do buy something that's single use.

Cut out cling film - use tubs, foil, put a plate over the bowl etc. Haven't used cling film for ages.

Bamboo toothbrushes

Make your own cleaning sprays and refil the spray bottles you have already. Use things like white vinegar, soda crystals. Easy, cheap and cleans just as well.

Ditch washing up sponges.

Ditto to wet wipes and surface wipes.
Cut up an old towel into squares, use to clean surfaces, chuck in the wash and reuse hundreds of times!

Bar soap instead of shower gel and hand wash.

Shampoo and conditoner bars.

Food shop - minimise products in plastic trays, pots, bottles etc. Do we really need all those yogurts and things in single use pots? Loose fruit and veg. Meat from butchers and take your own containers.

Our local recycling is collected in plastic bags (ironically ) and by making these changes it takes us ages to fill one, whilst some people put out at least 2 or 3 full bags every fortnight..quite shocking really

If you use face wipes or cotton pads, use bamboo instead. You usually get around 20, and when you've used them chuck them in the bag and wash them with your next wash. I've found then really soft on my skin as well! Sometimes get stained a tiny bit by makeup, but they are clean so I just keep using them. I got a set for under a fiver on Amazon.

Try Splosh.com for bathroom/kitchen cleaning stuff, refillable products posted to you in a concentrated form 🙂 it smells much less chemically than supermarket stuff too.

Use a flannel and balm cleanser to remove makeup, wash and reuse the flannels for years. This is a great cleanser in a tin.

www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/face/cleansers-toners/camomile-sumptuous-cleansing-butter/p/p000186

ModgePodge I've just been looking at Splosh. Have you been happy with the products? What would you recommend?

We're just starting a similar process as I'm increasingly horrified by how much is in my recycling bin. Have bought some bees wax to make our own food wrap which is tomorrow's craft activity! We already use our own reusable water bottles but can't buy loose veg as our local supermarket doesn't sell anything loose. I have tried but didn't like solid shampoo.

I use sliced loofa as scourers.

I cut up fleece fabric to make soft reusable baby wipes. I know it's a type of plastic but it will be used and rewashed for many many years. Baby wipes are single use and are almost 100% plastic.

I reuse my soap dispensers and buy a giant concentrated version to decant and dilute.

Buying washing powder in boxes not plastic bottles.

Opting for glass containers when shopping.

Buying from local sources and taking boxes to be reused.

I'm still struggling with milk. Until there is a reasonably priced alternative to the 6 pint bottle I'm a bit stuck. Our house can go through one a day! That's teenagers.

Easy changes as things like never bagging foot and veg, loose in the best or straight into a reusable bag. Soap not shower gel. Solid shampoo. Refillable cleaning products. Take water bottles out with you.

If your brain is switched to reducing plastic there's lots you notice and is a quick, easy win.

I would like to add, use up what you have first before you go purchase-crazy with alternatives. Don't do what I did and suddenly get beeswax wrappers when I already had decent tupperware, or buy a portable utensil set when I could have just put existing cutlery into my bag.

Refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle, research.

Not all plastic is bad. Some can be recycled decently and makes the cost of transportation (and thereby use of fossil fuels) lower vs glass which is heavier. And there is also food waste to consider - if not plastic wrapped, methane from rotting food leads to increased greenhouse gases. Paper bags use up trees and making them is more resource intensive than plastic bags. No answers, it's really a minefield!!

I can recommend Splosh - have their washing up liquid and hand wash and it's very good. Washing liquid nice too. Dint use fabric conditioner .

Dont forget the carbon footprint and environmental impact of the replacement - bamboo is not more sustainable than plastic.

I’d recommend having a look at small sustainable steps on Instagram, totally inspired me. I make my own cleaning products, use a moon cup and period pants, bamboo loo roll, I use a refillable water bottle, don’t drink coffee in disposable cups. I think it is very much about small steps and finding solutions that work for you and your family.

For loose produce, use the cloth netted bags and the cloth bags for bulk cereals, nuts, etc. Many combination of sizes and types in sets on Amazon.

Old socks make great dusting mitts. Old tee shirts are good for drying the car.

Easy wins:

1. bar soap instead of body wash; bar shampoo instead of bottled shampoo
2. always buy loose produce (don’t bag it)
3. never buy takeaway coffee (and if you do, say “no lid thank you”)
4. Reusable sanitary products (ie washable panty liners and a mooncup)

And get a bento plastic-free lunchbox for your kid, with containers you can put servings of chippies or yoghurt or popcorn. So you can stop buying individual plastic-wrapped servings of those items.

Yes I recommend splosh 🙂 I have used: washing powder, kitchen cleaner, washing up liquid, hand soap, shower gel, bathroom cleaner and toilet cleaner. Also have dishwasher tablets but am using up old stock so haven’t trjed them yet.

Loads of good advice, we are pretty close to zero waste.

I’d add that I cleanse my face and moisturise my face and body using olive oil which I get at refill shop. Skin has never looked so good and bathroom free of crap!

Buy a safety razor which will probably last your whole life. They honestly aren’t scary to use. My husband has been converted too!

Also, lots of mentions of beauty and cleaning products at refill shop but we also get all of our grains, nuts, herbs etc.

I also make my own dog food so that is zero waste too.

Unsubscribe from any catalogues etc.

Take Tupperware to deli counters in supermarkets.

Ask for all gifts to come to from charity shops!

Another thing you can do is give feedback to businesses (e.g. via tripadvisor) when they do something non eco. I’m never too harsh but will give 4 stars rather than 5 and explain why so they at least think about it!

Buy less. Do your children need new bag, stationery or pencil case for school. Even if they aren’t made of plastic they will probably be packaged in plastic for transport to store.

Just a comment: washing powder boxes are NOT cardboard, they are a composite material that looks like cardboard. Composite materials are not recycled, so a recycled bottle is probably better....

There is a Facebook group called War on aplastic that has lots of great tips

A lot of councils (eg Colchester) say washing powder boxes are recyclable cardboard. Weird!

Start to reduce the number of individual packs/multi packs you buy. It takes a bit of reconditioning of our 'norms' but now I buy 1 big bag of crisps rather than 6 individual in a multipack, 1 cake instead of multipack (or make my own which I'm doing from September for lunches).

We found a local market where fruit and veg is plastic free, still looking for a decent butcher for the same, and really tried to reduce our use of convenience foods.

It's so hard though- once you see the plastic, you can't un-see it, it's everywhere!

I love Splosh. I think I’ve nearly used their whole range. I’ve got the kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, floor cleaner, toilet cleaner, washing up liquid, soap, washing powder, fabric conditioner and glass cleaner. The loo cleaner is my fave as it smells lovely and minty

Small paper lunch bags are handy to have for putting crisps or a snack into for work or school. I made a rule last year which is no coffee out if I don’t have my cup with me. Beeswax wraps are brilliant. Haven’t bought cling film in about two years. I use Lily’s eco clean products which are refillable but I don’t know if you get them outside Ireland.
Get rid of surface wipes and just use old fashioned cloths and put them in the wash every time you are throwing a wash on.
I can’t get on board with bar shampoo so I now buy really big bottles so they last forever and I recycle them afterwards.
My child’s class in school all agreed to stop party bags and presents at parties. Less plastic tat. We do a fiver in a card for the birthday person.
Buy biodegradable bin bags.

One thing to remember is to use up what you've already got before replacing it with alternatives. If you have plastic food containers etc continue to use them until they actually break. Use glass jars to store food.