Part of my New Years resolution was to produce less plastic waste.
Maybe last year I was a little conscious of this as I bought a stainless steel reusable bottle for myself, I very rarely bought a bag and would just put the shopping in the boot of my car, family and friends said it was laziness, now I know it was my conscious! I also changed to re usable sanitary products after suffering another reaction to a brand I thought I was fine using. I started swimming and for more room I bought a shampoo bar, I’ve not bought a bottle of shampoo since September. I also got Z on bath bombs instead of bubble bath. If I have been out for a drink I have refused a straw. I have been using a cloth wipe for Z’s nose and he constantly has a runny nose! So for a few months I’ve been using less plastic than I was.
This year I’ve upped my less plastic mission.
So the first week of January I’m quite pleased with smaller choices I’ve made. I bought some reusable kitchen roll, alongside some sponges for cleaning. Shopping I’ve bought my sauces in glass bottles instead of the plastic ones, when I finish the ketchup that will be in glass too. I bought glass bottles of lemonade and got Z a new stainless steel bottle, now to get him to drink from it! I’ve also ordered him a tin lunch box so when his plastic one breaks I won’t buy another. ( they are all cheaper this time of year as it’s not something people need in January!) I’m trying dry deodorant and miswak for my teeth. When I went and got my fruit I choose some that wasn’t in plastic and didn’t put it in a plastic bag either, 10 mushrooms later! I’ve bought a bar of soap, and must remember to take my cup with me, along with my bags.
I’ve also attempted to cut down on my meat so have tried to substitute things for vegetarian meals instead. So far I’m doing ok! I can’t give up my fish and eggs yet so won’t be vegan! I have changed my cheese and milk for vegan and soya but that was due to allergies, but now I can’t go back!
Yes, I have a long way to go, but one step and one month at a time right?
I love the fact that chatting away to my mates some think I’m crazy but one actually bought me some paper straws to go out with! How cool is that!
Can’t wait to come back in a few weeks and show you how much plastic I’m not using any more!
Week one of less plastic
Wow, I admire your commitment!!
Thank you, still have a lot more to do!
I hate the amount of plastic that stuff comes in – it’s ridiculous!
This is quite a mission, it sounds as though you are already doing wonderfully at it x
You have to start somewhere and it sounds like you’re doing fabulously! Well done and keep up the awesome work ♥️
Well done you! Any suggestions for shopkeepers? We already have loose fruit n veg (with paper bags (except cherry toms and soft fruit in punnets – some salad things are wrapped to extend shelf life), and provide boxes to reuse for carry out. We also have bulk refill for laundry liquid and wash up liquid. I don’t have washing up facilities, so am wondering what to do about my coffee machine.
Selling glass bottles instead of plastic? Coffee machine for staff or shoppers? For staff they could bring their own cups? I never wash my coffee glass I just keep on filling it!
The coffee machine was bought for customer use, however I tend to use it, with my own mug, since it keeps the water hot all the time, rather than running backwards and forwards repeatedly boiling a kettle, which then is cold when you get back to it! We do sell new shop mugs, so maybe we could do a fill or refill with customers’ own mug? I’d have to work out how to keep it tidy and minimise food waste. Maybe we could start with simple coffee and move onto latte later….
Glass bottles are available, but they tend to be the smaller sizes – mixers rather than drink now, or premium brands (We do stock some of the Fentimans range which tend to be glass) so more expensive. I actually don’t have too much trouble with plastic bottles as long as they are disposed of properly (both glass and plastic are quite recyclable locally here…). Actually that goes for most plastic, I believe it’s the litter droppers and flushers that are most at fault. Do you think stocking refillable water bottles would be a good idea? Visitors don’t seem to trust the tap water – we sell a lot of bottled water!