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Smart swaps for single use plastic

July 15, 2015 · 7 Comments

Smart swaps for single use plastic

 

Plastic really has crept into every area of our life.

It can be quite overwhelming and hard to know to where to even start. My advice is to make small swaps and just do what you can. It’s not about being perfect – it’s about making an effort.

Take a look at what single-use plastic in your life you are consuming in big quantities and aim to find an alternative.

Trust me, once you get into the habit, it’s actually easy and pretty fun to take on the challenge.

I have listed here six of the most common single-use plastics and what you can use instead.

It just takes a little planning! Are you up for the challenge?

 

Plastic Food Wrap

This stuff is doubly worrying as the ‘anti-bacterial’ wrap may contain harmful toxins! Replace with

♥ upcycled glass jars (the bonus is you can see what’s in them)

♥ glass or stainless steel storage containers

♥ food covers, pockets and wraps (I love the original 4 My Earth brand)

♥ a ceramic bowl with a plate on top or two plates (too easy, right!)

♥ toxic free paper products

Find out more details about how I gave up plastic wrap! I haven’t bought a roll in well over five years! Woohoo!

4 My Earth food bag

 

Plastic Fruit and Vegetable Bags

This is a tricky one because I know it’s quite a habit to use those plastic bags at the supermarket!

♥ do you need a bag? Come on, bananas don’t need a bag!

♥ use reusable, lightweight produce bags (I’ve been doing this for years and it’s easy to remember them if they are in with your reusable grocery bags!

♥ shop at the farmers’ markets with an old-fashioned basket (I am in love with these jute baskets – so chic!)

Plastic Straws

♥ do you really need that straw? Start asking for drinks without straws when you buy a drink.

♥ use a glass, bamboo or stainless straw

 

TIP: If you do get stuck with a few plastic bags, take them back to the supermarket! Most larger stores will have a bin where you can recycle them.

 

Plastic Cutlery and Plates

I know how convenient these are when you have a party, but just a little bit of thought into alternatives can mean a huge difference!

♥ get some crockery and cutlery from your op shop – it’s so cheap and it will look funky (bribe the kids into washing up)

♥ get some biodegradable catering products (they actually look much more stylish plastic too)

♥ stash a bamboo spork or cutlery in your handbag for those lunches out and about

 

biodegradable catering

 

Plastic Grocery Bags

After all the publicity and education about these, I am still gob-smacked that I am usually the only person I see at the supermarket using my own bags. Please tell me this doesn’t happen in your local area!

There are several alternatives you can use. Personally, I don’t like the ‘green bags‘ as they are usually polypropylene (a fossil-fuel based plastic) and are imported from China. I have been using homemade or natural fibre bags.

Here are some great options:

♥ make your own bag! If you can operate a sewing machine, it’s not that hard to whip a few bags up out of an old pillowcase or t-shirt

♥ cotton reusable grocery bags

♥ jute reusable shopping bags

♥ canvas shopping bags

 

TIP: How do you freeze food without plastic? I wrap food in a toxin free baking paper and then pop into either a glass storage container or a 4 My Earth food bag.

 

Plastic Water Bottles

As well as being bad for the environment, drinking out of plastic bottles can also be questionable for your health. Get everyone in your family their own drink bottle (plus a few spares) and fill up before you leave the house. It quickly becomes routine!

♥ stainless steel drink bottles

♥ glass drink bottles

♥ upcycle a glass bottle or jar

♥ invest in a nice glass jug and glass for work

♥ for hot drinks, I love my Contigo insulated stainless mug

 

The amazing plastic spoon

You may have seen this quote floating around on social media. It’s incredibly powerful and I love sharing it. I made my own design for it (I couldn’t find the original source of the quote, but please get in touch if you know it). Please pin it and share it on social media if it resonates with you – you have full permission to use my image, unaltered, wherever you like!

 

It's pretty amazing plastic spoon - Natural New Age Mum

 

 

Where to shop:

Biome Eco Store

Flora and Fauna

The Clean Collective

 

More inspiration:

Plastic Free July

My Plastic Free Life

Treading My Own Path

Plastic: A toxic love story

Slow Death by Rubber Duck

Zero Waste Home

Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Habit

 

 Have you got any more tips for us? What have you managed to ditch?

 

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Filed In: HOME / Tagged: chemical free, eco-friendly, plastic, plastic free, plastic free July, plastic pollution, stainless steel, toxin free, toxins, waste

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    July 15, 2015 at 6:45 am

    Geat post. I recently got some 4 my earth pockets. They’ve only been used once because it took DAYS for them to dry after washing! Any suggestions on how to keep them clean, I assumed you could rinse them out but now I’m not so sure.

    Reply
    • Natural New Age Mum says

      July 15, 2015 at 2:42 pm

      Hey Sarah, I always throw in the washing machine if they are really bad but if just crumbs, a light rinse is fine!

      Reply
  2. Kate Bowern says

    July 15, 2015 at 8:31 pm

    We love the stainless steel straws. I am also looking at bamboo products for our picnics instead of disposable plastic like we used in the past. Thanks for this article, it’s super helpful 🙂

    Reply
    • Natural New Age Mum says

      July 15, 2015 at 8:35 pm

      OH yes! I just noticed at Resuables that they have bamboo bowls and plates!!

      Reply
  3. Kirri White says

    July 16, 2015 at 5:43 pm

    That spoon analogy is fantastic! I’ve come a long way with my use of plastic but I still have a ways to go.(Working on it and you’ve provided some great reminders and incentives here).

    Reply
    • Natural New Age Mum says

      July 16, 2015 at 7:27 pm

      Yeah it’s always a work in progress here. You are winning for just making an effort and being aware! xx

      Reply

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