Did you know...
It’s estimated that globally, people consume the equivalent of a credit card of plastic every week... and it’s expected that there will be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050. Now's the time to take action before it's too late!
Whether you're giving up unnecessary single-use plastic for 1 week, 1 month, or forever, we've got some tips to help you on your journey to becoming more eco-friendly.
The big four
They’re the single-use plastics that are everywhere – plastic bags, plastic bottles, takeaway coffee cups, and plastic straws. Not only will it save you a lot of money by saying no to the top four single-use plastics, but you'll also be doing great things for the environment. You could end up halving your recycling, and putting out the landfill bin each week might end up a thing of the past.
Small changes, big impact
Many people simply don’t realise the positive environmental impact they can make with small changes to their everyday habits.
Swap your teabags for loose leaf tea
Swap liquid soap for soap bars. You can even get shampoo and conditioner bars as well!
Buy loose fruit and veg, and buy cereals, rice, and pasta in bulk to reduce packaging
Find your local zero waste shop, and stock up on your products there. (Don't forget to bring containers with you!)
Simply buy less. When you go out shopping or are browsing online, think twice before you buy. Do you really need it? Is it disposable? And if you do need it, is there somewhere you can get the item second-hand, or without the plastic packaging?
Swap tampons for sustainable and reusable pads, period pants, or a menstrual cup
Say no to plastic bags! Plastic bags break up into micro pieces that easily blow into nature and, if mistaken for food and ingested, can be fatal to animals. Get into the habit of writing a reminder to yourself at the start of each grocery shopping list to bring a bag with you
Other tips!
Do a bin audit
Did you know that composting helps food scraps deteriorate instead of producing methane from anaerobic landfill? Are you composting, recycling, or avoiding waste correctly? Do some research to find out the best and most efficient ways to dispose of things
Plastic-free picnics!
Going plastic-free doesn't mean fun-free. If you go to your local park or beach and take a picnic with you, make sure everything you bring is reusable and that you can take it back home with you. It might be a challenge but it'll feel good to not have to throw anything in the bin!
Get crafty with your bin-liners:
There are some great alternatives to plastic bin liners and bags, including:
Lining the bin with a few sheets of newspaper
Using certified compostable bin liner bags
Using the bin as a ‘naked bin’, and simply washing it out as needed
If you do use a ‘naked bin’, you can ward against extra smells by:
Wrapping the “icky” stuff in newspaper first
Freezing ‘wet’ scraps (in paper or a reusable container) until bin day
Home composting food scraps
Join a beach, river, or park clean.
If you can't find one on the onHand app, let us know and we can set one up for you!