How Easy is it to Reduce Plastic in Your Home?
Four lifestyle and interiors bloggers share their experiences of aiming to go plastic-free
Want to do your bit to reduce plastic waste? Sometimes it can seem easier said than done – it’s difficult to know where to start and it can be tricky to find products that don’t use plastic. We asked four lifestyle and interiors bloggers to tells us how they’re trying to limit plastic in their homes, share their tips, and talk about the challenges they’ve come across along the way
Real-life tips and tricks from: Emma Harris of A Quiet Style; Lynne Lambourne of Love Nellie; Gina Caro of Gypsy Soul; Hannah Bullivant of Seeds and Stitches
Real-life tips and tricks from: Emma Harris of A Quiet Style; Lynne Lambourne of Love Nellie; Gina Caro of Gypsy Soul; Hannah Bullivant of Seeds and Stitches
Eco-wrap your leftovers
While you’re trying to reduce plastic usage, you won’t want to end up wasting food, but how do you keep your leftovers fresh without using plastic? “Clingfilm and plastic bags only contribute to the pollution,” Lynne says, “but there are great alternatives on the market, such as beeswax wrap. It can be reused and is much more sustainable.
“The beeswax-rubbed cloth adheres to the side of a container, and can be washed with cold water and soap, then used again,” she says.
Discover 12 more clever eco tips
While you’re trying to reduce plastic usage, you won’t want to end up wasting food, but how do you keep your leftovers fresh without using plastic? “Clingfilm and plastic bags only contribute to the pollution,” Lynne says, “but there are great alternatives on the market, such as beeswax wrap. It can be reused and is much more sustainable.
“The beeswax-rubbed cloth adheres to the side of a container, and can be washed with cold water and soap, then used again,” she says.
Discover 12 more clever eco tips
Reuse jars and containers
If you do need to buy a plastic container, don’t despair, as there are ways to turn a negative into a positive. Lynne says, “As we all do sometimes, I’ll buy a soup or sauce in a plastic container. I don’t bin them, as they make perfect storage containers – just wash and reuse.
“I also save all my jam jars and use them to store things in. They’re airtight and can even be frozen.”
If you do need to buy a plastic container, don’t despair, as there are ways to turn a negative into a positive. Lynne says, “As we all do sometimes, I’ll buy a soup or sauce in a plastic container. I don’t bin them, as they make perfect storage containers – just wash and reuse.
“I also save all my jam jars and use them to store things in. They’re airtight and can even be frozen.”
Get your gadgets to help
Think about ways that gadgets can help you use less plastic. For example, a bread-maker would prevent you having to buy packaged bread. Similarly, if you’re keen on mineral water, it makes sense to invest in a container that filters your tap water.
Emma says, “We’ve stopped buying bottled water and I now use a filter bottle, which I also take out with me so I don’t need to buy any water.”
Gina adds, “I’d love to buy a bean-to-cup coffee-maker. I could buy the beans in bulk from our local zero-waste store using our reusable produce bags. I could also use the used beans to make my body scrubs. The only reason we haven’t bought one yet is the cost. They are very expensive!”
Think about ways that gadgets can help you use less plastic. For example, a bread-maker would prevent you having to buy packaged bread. Similarly, if you’re keen on mineral water, it makes sense to invest in a container that filters your tap water.
Emma says, “We’ve stopped buying bottled water and I now use a filter bottle, which I also take out with me so I don’t need to buy any water.”
Gina adds, “I’d love to buy a bean-to-cup coffee-maker. I could buy the beans in bulk from our local zero-waste store using our reusable produce bags. I could also use the used beans to make my body scrubs. The only reason we haven’t bought one yet is the cost. They are very expensive!”
Choose toiletries without plastic
Many of the products we use in the bathroom are plastic, and it can be surprisingly difficult to find alternatives. As Emma explains, “I’d like to find a shampoo supplier that doesn’t use plastic, but that’s proving challenging. I’m sure there must be someone out there, though.”
Gina has a solution. “I buy shampoo bars instead. They come package-free and don’t leave any waste – you use them until they’re all gone. One shampoo bar normally lasts me around three months,” she says. “There are lots of different types of shampoo bars for different types of hair.”
How about those disposable razors and toothbrushes? Gina says, “I’ve switched to a safety razor, which has eliminated my need for disposable plastic ones. A good safety razor will last for years and, with proper care, the blades can last for months. So not only am I saving money, I’m also reducing the amount of plastic we use in our household.”
As for toothbrushes, there are bamboo ones on the market, but Lynne says, “I’m still looking for a great bamboo toothbrush.”
Many of the products we use in the bathroom are plastic, and it can be surprisingly difficult to find alternatives. As Emma explains, “I’d like to find a shampoo supplier that doesn’t use plastic, but that’s proving challenging. I’m sure there must be someone out there, though.”
Gina has a solution. “I buy shampoo bars instead. They come package-free and don’t leave any waste – you use them until they’re all gone. One shampoo bar normally lasts me around three months,” she says. “There are lots of different types of shampoo bars for different types of hair.”
How about those disposable razors and toothbrushes? Gina says, “I’ve switched to a safety razor, which has eliminated my need for disposable plastic ones. A good safety razor will last for years and, with proper care, the blades can last for months. So not only am I saving money, I’m also reducing the amount of plastic we use in our household.”
As for toothbrushes, there are bamboo ones on the market, but Lynne says, “I’m still looking for a great bamboo toothbrush.”
Be creative
“I make my own beauty products rather than buying them from a shop,” Gina says. “I make things such as toothpaste, mascara and body scrubs.
“I buy the ingredients I need in bulk, package-free. Then I make them up at home and store them in air-tight glass containers,” she says.
Hannah adds, “We try to make as much stuff at home as we can, from our own washing powder to packed lunches and coffee in flasks to our own hummus, marmalade and pickles.”
Find architect tips on making your home more eco-friendly
“I make my own beauty products rather than buying them from a shop,” Gina says. “I make things such as toothpaste, mascara and body scrubs.
“I buy the ingredients I need in bulk, package-free. Then I make them up at home and store them in air-tight glass containers,” she says.
Hannah adds, “We try to make as much stuff at home as we can, from our own washing powder to packed lunches and coffee in flasks to our own hummus, marmalade and pickles.”
Find architect tips on making your home more eco-friendly
Kit out your hallway
There are a few things you need to grab quickly when you go out, so keep them to hand near the front door. “There are three things I always make sure are in my bag,” Lynne says, “my reusable coffee cup, my water bottle and a fabric tote.
“I always have my own water bottle with me, as we use 38.5 million plastic bottles every day in the UK and only roughly half of these are recycled. I’m also a coffee addict, so I always carry a reusable coffee cup with me.”
Emma adds, “I always carry a canvas shopping bag with me whenever I leave the house, so I don’t need to buy plastic carrier bags. Some of them fold up really small, so they can fit in the tiniest of handbags.”
There are a few things you need to grab quickly when you go out, so keep them to hand near the front door. “There are three things I always make sure are in my bag,” Lynne says, “my reusable coffee cup, my water bottle and a fabric tote.
“I always have my own water bottle with me, as we use 38.5 million plastic bottles every day in the UK and only roughly half of these are recycled. I’m also a coffee addict, so I always carry a reusable coffee cup with me.”
Emma adds, “I always carry a canvas shopping bag with me whenever I leave the house, so I don’t need to buy plastic carrier bags. Some of them fold up really small, so they can fit in the tiniest of handbags.”
Do what you can
All of our bloggers understand how tricky it can be to reduce plastic usage in our homes. Hannah offers some wise words: “To reduce plastic, you need to spend time sourcing much more carefully, and make a lot more stuff, too. It can also be challenging getting family members on board with it.
“I think the key is to discuss it with the rest of the household and make sure everyone is at least up for helping a bit,” she says. “Just do what you can, even if it’s small changes here and there, and don’t pressure yourself too much.”
Tell us..
How have you reduced plastic in your home, and what have you found most challenging about it? Share your thoughts and tips in the Comments section.
All of our bloggers understand how tricky it can be to reduce plastic usage in our homes. Hannah offers some wise words: “To reduce plastic, you need to spend time sourcing much more carefully, and make a lot more stuff, too. It can also be challenging getting family members on board with it.
“I think the key is to discuss it with the rest of the household and make sure everyone is at least up for helping a bit,” she says. “Just do what you can, even if it’s small changes here and there, and don’t pressure yourself too much.”
Tell us..
How have you reduced plastic in your home, and what have you found most challenging about it? Share your thoughts and tips in the Comments section.
Our bloggers all relate to how hard it is to find food with no packaging. Gina Caro says, “Almost all supermarkets use plastic packaging. If you want to buy package-free food, that generally entails shopping around at local stores. They seem to be more open to the idea of no packaging.
“There are bulk stores in the UK where you can take in your own containers,” she adds. However, she says these can be hard to find, and acknowledges, “You don’t always have time to go to lots of different shops.”
Lynne Lambourne agrees. “It takes time to shop sustainably and, as a busy working mum, I often wish I had more time to do this,” she says. “The supermarkets need to offer a more sustainable, zero-waste shopping experience that allows us to bring our own containers.”
In the meantime, what’s a possible solution? Emma Harris has one. “We get our vegetables through a veggie box scheme, so they come loose. It means the veg trays in our fridge get a bit messy, but it’s a worthwhile trade-off.”
Hannah Bullivant agrees. “I had a baby last year and one of my top mum tips is to get your shopping delivered to save time and stress. However, my baby is nearly one now and I’d like to wean us off that supermarket shop, or at least heavily edit it to just the essentials and instead buy locally, or increase our vegetable deliveries.”