Plastic Free July - Our simple plastic swaps

We asked our colleagues to find out what simple plastic swaps they’re making to help reduce their plastic waste. We’ve noticed some common simple swaps, such as green fingers growing their own veggies, taking a reusable bag to the shops and going to farmers markets to purchase loose products.

Tanya:

• I use a reusable water bottle
• Buy loose fruit and veg un-bagged
• Have a bag for life/tote in my bag to use instead of plastic shopping bags
• Shop at retailers like Lush who are leaders in plastic-free/eco packaging

Jocelyn:

• I’m proud to say I’ve been growing my own vegetables and herbs in some of my planters since lockdown!
• I’ve started using the local green grocers (fruit is fresh, not in bags or any packaging at all).

Carey:

• Always mindful of buying fruit/vegetables loose without plastic bags.

Dan:

• I’ve returned to blocks of soap rather than bottled soap
• Moved to who gives a crap toilet paper – no plastic packaging
• Buying local from the farm shop – take in your own containers for meats, fruit and veg
• Milk delivered rather than buying at the supermarket
• Rather than using plastic plant pots I use toilet rolls cut in half!

Rosie

• I use soap instead of buying shower gels.
• I’m also going to make more effort to go to those refilling stations for my everyday products

Miriam

• Instead of using Sellotape when wrapping presents, I try to wrap in tissue paper without tape and use reusable giftbags instead.
• Many teabags used to contain plastic although I think most companies have got better with this. I try to drink loose leaf tea or buy Clipper/Pukka which have been plastic free for a while.
• I carry around reusable cutlery when out and about so don’t have to use the plastic disposable ones provided in supermarkets.
• I’m also growing my own tomatoes on the windowsill.

Alice

• I have swapped from buying toilet roll at the supermarket to having ‘Who Gives A Crap’ plastic free toilet roll delivered as it’s plastic free.

Emma

• I swapped to metal straws as a reusable alternative to paper straws.
• Compostable coffee pods from GRIND that can be put onto the compost heap.
• In beauty products I am very aware of unnatural/ plastic ingredients and packaging and have started making my own natural body scrubs from sugar, salt and oils.
• I try to buy from local and UK based businesses. Loads of these sell their groceries, fruit and veg in loose form, which reduces plastic.

Clare

• I have swapped out cling film for beeswax.
• I have let myself run out of cling film and now only use beeswax. I rinse them after use, fold, and store in my kitchen drawer.
• I also carry a handy fold-up bag in my handbag at all times.

We'd love to hear your own swaps in the comments below.