10 Ways To Begin Going Plastic-Free

With local shops, supermarkets, and even restaurants doing what they can to ban plastic, it’s time to begin thinking about the changes we make in our day-to-day life. It’s a challenge, but with plastic harming our wildlife and polluting our oceans, it’s time to consider changes we can make. In this guide, we at Protect The Planet hope to help you begin on your journey to living plastic-free, putting a spotlight on little changes that have big impacts.

When it comes to beginning something new, the hardest part is starting. We hope with these ten easy switches, you can begin your journey with little impact to you, but a huge one on the world around you.
 

Reusable Shopping Bags

In the UK, there is now a charge to purchase a plastic bag from the supermarket, so switching over to reusable bags is not only cost-effective but better for storage. Many of the bags sold can be folded into tiny triangles or squares, fitting in handbags, boots of cars and even kitchen drawers, rather than clunky plastic, which you never get rid of. Check out our range by Kind Bag with different patterns that are machine washable.
 

Paperless Billing and No Junk Mail

Think of all the post you receive daily, including local leaflets and takeout menus. Popping a ‘No Junk Mail’ sign on your door not only reduces these going in the bin but opting to change all your billing to email or online will also save on envelopes and additional leaflets coming through your post. Switching to online services helps the environment and tends to be quicker when receiving important documents and statements.

Consider Your Local Milkman

Upgraded from the time of yesteryear, your local milkman doesn’t just drop off milk but rather a sea of other alternatives, with many being completely plastic-free. Not only will you be surrendering plastic, as they come in glass containers you return, but ordering your milk, juices, and other options from your local milkman will also mean they’re organic. If you don’t have a local milkman, look for glass milk bottles instead of plastic cartons in your supermarket.

Purchase A Reusable Coffee Cup

If you’re a huge fan of a morning coffee or a hot drink on the go, purchasing yourself a reusable coffee cup will help cut out all unwanted plastic such as the container and even the lid. For most of us, it’s the ease of grabbing a drink on the go, which means we stop off on our commute to purchase one. Having a reusable cup, you can carry with you may even help you save money by making drinks at home.

Use A Reusable Water Bottle

Like above, choosing yourself a reusable water bottle that matches your coffee cup or mix it up and choose something more daring. A reusable water bottle made from glass or stainless steel means it’ll be more durable and lightweight. They also limit the chemicals from plastic in your water and give you a cleaner, fresher taste.

Visit A Farmer’s Market

While you may have to search for them, farmer’s markets are more popular than advertised in the UK and visiting them is a sure way to cut out plastic. With their produce usually fresher than the supermarkets because they are freshly picked, you can also grab what you need without being packaged in plastic.

Swap To Reusable Sandwich Wraps

It’s a small change for your daily lunch switching to sandwich wraps, but it’s a profound one for the environment. Ridding yourself of cling film, pre-packaged sandwiches and tin foil, purchasing sandwich wraps are a fun way to jazz up your lunch break and are lighter than plastic tubs for transportation. We stock a range of them by ‘Keep Leaf’ and are both washable and dishwasher safe.

Use Reusable Containers/Tupperware

Following the above, consider swapping them all for plastic-free alternatives if you usually need to take a plastic container to work or for leftovers. There are so many around, with some even flattening to make it easy to have one in your bag. Making this switch will limit how often you throw plastic leftovers or takeaway tubs swapping for a fun, personal lunch break.

Move To Use Reusable Pads or Menstrual Cups

Menstrual products use so much plastic without realising from the packaging to the wrapper to the product itself. With most of it flushed down the toilet each hour. However, with reusable pads, period pants, organic tampons as well as menstrual cups, there’s something for everyone. Making the switch will not only save you money, especially if you go down the reusable path, but they are also kinder to your skin.

Buy In Bulk

Lastly, it can be hard to throw away the brands you know and love completely, and we understand. So, where you can, buy in bulk to help reduce the amount of plastic used per item purchased. Some brands are beginning to create re-fill options available in supermarkets and online, so keep an eye on those to help step over from excess plastic purchasing - check out our range of reusable bulk buy food bags available instore now. 
 

We hope this guide has helped you be able to begin the switch to a new plastic-free life. If the idea of switching becomes daunting, begin in one room in your house and focus on how you can reduce or rid plastic from it. From there, spread out to the rest of your house and daily routine. Thinking smaller will help make the task seem less daunting and stressful and aid you in making a practical and manageable change you won’t go back on.