From food containers and cans to plastic water bottles, toys and storage products – there’s no doubt that plastic is all around us. In fact, our culture depends heavily on single-use plastics like coffee cups and lids, plastic bottles, crisp packets, cigarette butts and plastic bags, to name a few. The not-so-good news is that so much of this plastic ends up in our oceans and on landfill sites as plastic pollution.
According to Friends Of The Earth, half of the plastic produced each year is single-use which is nearly the same weight as the entire human population. A lot of single-use plastic ends up in our oceans as plastic pollution, and because of this, scientists estimate that by 2050, there will be more plastic in our ocean than fish! Currently, National Geographic reports that around 73% of all beach litter is plastic.
The problem with plastic pollution
While it may have many uses for day-to-day living, plastic pollution is incredibly harmful to all living things, including us and is literally suffocating our planet.
As Friends Of The Earth explain, plastic takes years to break down and threatens wildlife as many animals mistakenly ingest it and die. Microplastics are also found everywhere in the environment and are often shed from larger plastic objects such as tyres, synthetic clothes, and carpets.
Plastic also contains chemicals that are harmful to our health such as Bisphenol A (BPA). According to the Mayo Clinic, being exposed to BPA is concerning due to possible health effects. Studies show that BPA is a hormone disruptor as it mimics oestrogen in the body. This has been linked to several health problems including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes.
How to live with less plastic
Although plastic is cheap and convenient to use, we believe that the damaging effects of this material on the planet (and our health) far outweigh any benefits it may offer, which is why we spent a fair amount of time formulating our plastic-free packaging. Why? Because small daily choices to put the earth and our health first leads to better decisions and less plastic waste, overall.
The truth is, it’s become more important than ever to reduce the amount of plastic we use daily as plastic production requires an enormous amount of energy and resources. This, in turn, causes unnecessary carbon emissions and contributes to global warming and excessive plastic pollution. And the good news is, just a few small changes to your daily shopping habits could make the biggest difference.
For instance, instead of drinking your morning cuppa with a plastic lid, use a good-quality, leakproof reusable coffee mug or travel cup like this version from Starbucks.
Here are a few more ways to thrive with less plastic:
Your shopping habits
- Replace single-use plastic bags with reusable, foldable shopping bags. They’re easy to use and keep in your handbag.
- Having an outdoor picnic? Ditch the plastic cutlery set and choose reusable or biodegradable options made from bamboo instead.
- Beeswax-infused food wraps offer a great alternative to plastic cling wrap or food covers. They seal well around just about any bowl or container to keep food fresher for longer. We love that you can get them in different styles, shapes, and sizes.
- Rather than purchasing endless plastic water bottles which are used once and then tossed onto landfill sites, switch to reusable water bottles. Not only is this better for the environment, but our health too. Get your hands on our stylish reusable water bottles in our exclusive Beauty Bundle, made from durable stainless steel and double-walled vacuum insulation technology to keep your liquids cool.
Your beauty and wellness regime
According to researchers at Forge Recycling, many toiletries as well as make-up products are wrapped or bottled in plastic containers. In fact, the norm is to pack beauty and wellness products in plastic. While it might take some effort on your part, it is possible to reduce the amount of plastic you use in your beauty regime.
Try the following simple tweaks:
1 Reduce the amount of face wipes you use as they’re one of the main culprits when it comes to plastic pollution. Also beware of some companies claiming that their wipes are biodegradable as some simply break down into microplastics, which are just as harmful for the environment.
2 Use refillable toiletries like shampoos where you can or purchase products with recyclable packaging. Companies like Plaine Products have a variety of refillable options.
3 Switch to soap rather than body wash in plastic containers
4 Choose refillable make-up products where possible. Make Up Forever has great refillable Make Up Palettes.
5 Switch to a bamboo toothbrush rather than purchasing endless plastic ones. Bamboo is ideal as it’s biodegradable and compostable.
6 Limit the number of wellness supplements you purchase in plastic containers. The good news is that we’ve done the hard work for you and made sure that all our packaging is eco-friendly and plastic-free, including the scoop we use in our beauty infused COLLAGEN, which is fully biodegradable. We’re committed to caring for your health as well as the planet and our aim is to reduce our carbon footprint as much as we can.
In our unique product line-up, you’ll find a range of products that are produced and packaged in good-quality, plastic free containers that last. Choose from:
We truly believe that taking care of yourself and the planet is the greatest revolution as one doesn’t need to come at the expense of the other.
Here are more ways to cut back on plastic waste:
- Support businesses (like us!) who are committed to plastic-free packaging
- Opt for refillable products
- Don’t use plastic bags
- Switch to soap bars rather than liquid body washes in plastic containers
- Choose reusable cotton cloths in your beauty regime rather than cotton pads in plastic bags
- Reduce and reuse wherever you can!
- Avoid purchasing single-use plastics
- Support a charity that’s committed to cleaning up our oceans
- Drink out of glasses & use airtight glass containers to store food
- Organize your household bins so that it’s easy to recycle items
- Use reusable coffee cups and water bottles
- Buy fresh fruit and vegetables in brown paper bags
- Use reusable cloth/fabric bags at the grocery store
- Purchase wooden toys and keep less plastic in your home
- Swap bathroom bottles with soap bars
- Avoid heavily packaged foods. Buy from markets
- Organize a river, park or beach clean-up with friends and family
- Support marine conservation by donating to worthwhile charities like Sea Life Trust
- Replace tea bags with loose tea
- Swap clingfilm for beeswax food wraps.