It is estimated that globally, eight million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans. Single-use plastics contribute massively to landfills and waterways, with disastrous effects.
Small changes in our routine can make a difference in the fight against single-use plastic! Check out these easy top 10 ways your family can reduce plastic at home:
– Avoid plastic water bottles
Globally, humans buy one million plastic bottles per minute. It takes 450 years for one plastic bottle to break apart in the ocean or landfill. Using a reusable water bottle is just such a simple change – with a huge impact.
– Say no to plastic straws
Worldwide, half a million disposable plastic straws are used every day. Start saying no to the straw in restaurants, fast food places, and cafes. Drink from a cup, or bring your own reusable straws. Check out our foldable straws at Mumzworld:
– Reusable shopping bags
A single plastic bag can take 1000 years to degrade, and annually it is estimated we use 1 trillion shopping bags. That’s a shocking statistic, that can easily be reduced by using reusable carrier bags or tote bags.
– Boxes instead of bottles
Where possible, purchase items in boxes instead of plastic bottles, such as laundry detergent, juice, and milk, as these are more easily recycled.
– Litter-free lunches
Instead of using plastic cling wrap and plastic zip-lock bags to store lunch items, choose containers, lunchboxes with compartments, and reusable wraps such as muslin or beeswax.
– Reusable coffee mugs
Coffee shops are now encouraging us to bring our own coffee mugs, which will cut down on waste, including plastic lids. At some chains, you might even score a discount!
At Mumzworld, we have a wide range of stylish travel mugs to choose from:
– It’s the little things
When buying an ice-cream, choose a cone over a cup with a plastic spoon. When ordering a meal delivery, ask for no plastic cutlery. Carry a small set of cutlery to avoid using disposables, as well as coffee stirrers.
– Buy whole
Buy fruits and vegetables whole, instead of in plastic containers or bags, and avoid single pieces of fruit wrapped in plastic! The skin of the fruit is nature’s wrapping. –
– Birthday goodie bags
Tiny, cheap plastic toys are often thrown away a few days after a party. Think of eco-friendly giveaways, such as homemade cookies, seedlings, small bath bombs or notebooks.
– Recycle at home
Get the whole family involved, by sorting their waste with an easy system. Remember to rinse plastic and glass containers of all visible residue before putting them in the recycling, so as to not jeopardise the recycling system.
While recycling certainly helps, it’s important to remember that not all plastics are recyclable. So the best way we can do our bit, and make the world a better place, is to reduce our plastic usage. You might think you’re only a single family, but united we can make a huge difference!
Other articles you might be interested in:
