So while it is easy to say that governments need to do more to tackle our ever changing environment and reliance on plastics, it is also fair to say that there is quite a bit that us as individuals can do to turn the tide. You may wonder what more you can do – perhaps you already recycle, but what else is there? Well here in this article we are going to take a look at some of the simple changes that you can make in your everyday life that can help to improve our usage of plastics and help to have a huge positive effect on our environment.
Reusable Cups
It is estimated that 2.5 billion (yes billion) coffee cups are thrown away every year in the UK. The vast majority of these cups are not recyclable despite significant pressure being put onto the government and vendors to change it – and the technology being available. One smart way to reduce that number is to use a reusable cup. Not only will you be doing your bit for the environment by ensuring that fewer cups go to landfill, the vast majority of coffee shops will also give you a discount on your drink for using a reusable cup. Win-win!
While there are plenty of cups available from the coffee shops themselves, there are also some fantastic options that are made out of recycled plastic – this means that not only have you used a recycled product, you have also stopped more waste going to landfill.
Solid Shampoo Bars
Cosmetic brand Lush is rightly lauded for its approach to the environment. Not only do they refuse to test their products on animals, they also have a large range of products that do not come with packaging – just like these solid shampoo bars. While it may seem like a small issue, cosmetic packaging can take many years to break down and much of it will end up in landfill. These solid shampoo bars ensure that there is no waste – only clean hair! Lush also recycle their plastic containers and offer inducements for doing so – if only the rest of the high street followed suit.
Reusable Straws
Straws are an ecological nightmare. According to a report by DEFRA, the UK uses 8.5 billion straws each year. While the report has conceded that this is an estimate, the numbers involved are truly staggering. Single use plastics such as straws have been seen as one of the biggest issues facing our environment. The pollution that can be caused by plastics being carried into the sea is a nightmare that many of us do not see the consequences of. While recycling has improved significantly, there is still a lot more to be done. Help make a stand by buying yourself a reusable straw and ensure that fewer straws end up doing harm.
Microfibre Washing Bag
Synthetic clothes contain plastic fibres that are released during every wash. By using a microfibre washbag, you can capture these fibres and put them into your rubbish. This saves these tiny plastic fibres from being released into the oceans and damaging wildlife. The bag will also ensure that your clothes shed fewer fibres, meaning that they will last longer than they would have originally, saving more rubbish going prematurely to landfill.
A Sort of Eco-Warrior!
So while you may not be fully converted into an eco-warrior just yet, most of us know deep down that plastics are not good for the environment. By instituting some of these simple swaps, you can help to do your bit and ensure that we do as much as we possibly can to stop the degradation of our environment.