Do you also want to limit the plastic you consume in your day to day? Although it seems an arduous task, there are some simple changes that we can carry out in our daily lives so that we can keep our plastic waste to a minimum. At ActandBe we try every day to reduce the use of this material that invades our environment and we know that it’s not easy. That’s why we want to help you join the change.
15 tips for a life with less plastic
1. Go back to bulk: Buy weighed fresh products using your own bags and containers. Luckily there are more and more stores and supermarkets with plastic-free options. Furthermore, in the traditional local markets, not only can you buy in bulk, but also supporting the local small business too.
2. Best in a glass jar or a carton box: whenever you buy
any type of product that is packaged, try and prioritise glass containers or carton boxes. They are the easiest to recycle. For example, pasta or eggs can come in carton boxes, instead of plastic. You can preserve vegetables or sauces such as mayonnaise in a glass jar.
3. Reuse and return: there are a few, but some brands with returnable containers are making a come back if you prefer to choose this option. And of course, reuse jars and boxes whenever possible, they can be used to keep many things.
4. It’s better to choose bamboo or electric toothbrush since the plastic ones are quite difficult to recycle.
5. Solid hygiene: It’s becoming easier to find personal hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, conditioner or even toothpaste, in their solid-state.
6. Not without your bag: Take reusable bags not only to the supermarket but whenever you go to buy anything. Whether its clothes, perfume, stationery, appliances, etc.
7. Transparent beauty: Choose creams and other cosmetics in glass containers whenever possible. You can also use makeup from reusable containers.
8. Don’t use plastic straws. Choose bamboo or metal ones instead.
9. Say goodbye to single-use plastics: Don’t use plastic plates, cutlery or cups. They are easily replaceable by the normal glass or porcelain ones. Furthermore, they even look better on any table, at an event or in a meeting.
10. Take away in carton box or take your own Tupperware: limit the food to take in plastic containers, there are more and more establishments that only use carton boxes or allow you to bring your own container.
11. Recycle: If that packaged product only exists in plastic, try and make sure it’s recyclable. Identifying recyclable plastics isn’t easy, although it’s usually marked on the package with a triangle and with numbers from 1 to 7. If there is no number or if the number 7 appears, then it’s not recyclable.
12. Did you know that there are mobile phone cases made of wood and biodegradable materials? Some designs are great and 100% plastic-free.
13. Forget plastic wrapping: Store food in a Tupperware or use silicone covers or wax wraps for fresh-cut products. There are even some for snacks and sandwiches, in this way you can avoid using a plastic a day.
14. Say no to bottled water in plastic: You can bring your own refillable bottle and when you’re in bars and restaurants, you can ask for tap water, filtered or brands that use glass bottles.
15. Coffee or tea? If it is to take away, try not to forget your cup or thermos. In some coffee shops, you’ll even save some money.
The fight against plastic begins little by little
Plastic floods our planet and more and more people are aware of the environmental problem that this generates. According to Greenpeace, only in the European Union, we generate between 150,000 to 500,000 tons of plastic that ends up in the sea. The damage caused so far in the oceans and other natural areas has reached an irreversible state but… We can prevent it from continuing if we start changing our habits. It’s paramount to make a better management of plastic waste that takes thousands of years to decompose in nature. We at ActandBe recommend starting slowly by changing small habits so that there can be an improvement over time. It’s always better to do small gestures than actually doing nothing or overwhelming ourselves by trying to change our lives from one day to another. If all of us work together and aim to reduce plastic consumption, it’s a certainty that change will come and we, and future generations, will benefit from it.
