Anyone else struggling with choosing plastic-free products in the shops?

[plasticfreefamily]

I’ve recently become much more conscious of the amount of plastic we’re exposed to in everyday life, particularly when it comes to things we use on children’s skin, brush their teeth with, heat food in, etc.

I’ve been finding it surprisingly difficult to work out which children’s products contain plastic ingredients. I haven’t been able to find a single plastic-free children’s shampoo in any supermarket, Boots or Superdrug, and I’ve only come across one high-street plastic-free children’s sun lotion.

I’ve started checking the ingredients of products when I’m shopping and keeping a note of the ones I come across, as it’s been quite an eye-opener.

Has anyone else found it frustrating trying to work out what actually contains plastic ingredients? Have you found any good plastic-free alternatives?

@plasticfreefamily this site may be a good starting point.

Also these; Peace with the Wild and Natural Baby Shower

Thank you! Three wonderful sites with so many alternatives.

I was thinking more about everyday purchases like when you’re at the supermarket or on the high street how do you choose the best option on the shelves? Instead of p&p or having to go out of your way to an eco shop, what are the easiest plastic free swaps we can make?

Waitrose dishwasher powder comes in a cardboard box (and works better than pods)
Who Gives A Crap and Cheeky Panda are paper wrapped loo roll brands in posh shops, but Morrisons own brand is (or used to be) plastic free too.
Wild deodorant do plastic free refills.
Neat do plastic free cleaning sprays.

It's not cheap! The only normal products that you can always buy in a cardboard box version are washing powder, porridge, eggs, and butter. The milkman is the last bastion of plastic free milk and juice I find.

I live in a small town so I can still buy my bread in a paper bag from the baker, veg from the grocer, milk from the milkman etc, so that's easier than navigating a supermarket.

BTW the main vectors are toothbrush, chopping boards, cups and plates and straws etc - things that you're cutting on and then eating off/with. If you've got those sorted and your clothing sorted I don't think a shampoo bottle is going to move the needle.

But also there's solid shampoo and conditioner, and soap available in most shops.

For high street plastic-free swaps: plasticfreeindex.co.uk

Perfect, just what I needed - thank you!
The Waitrose dishwasher powder contained plastic but found the Sainsbury’s powder was brilliant.
Great loo roll recommendations too, again Sainsbury’s also does paper wrapped roll!
That’s so good you still have local businesses to choose from.

Yes that’s what we’re trying to do. For us it’s finding products without the plastic ingredients in, in the supermarkets. Solid soaps are definitely a better choice. Thanks for your help :)

This is such a good list, other products to add:

Seep cloths
Miniml washing up liquid refill
Herbal Essences Daily Detox Shine Shampoo

Anyone else got any good high street/supermarket swaps?