Plastic is all around us and we use it more often than you might think. In our average daily routine, plastic is the key to many tasks.
Statistics show that in one year alone, the global beauty industry generates more than 142 million units of packaging and much of it is made of plastic.
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Bathroom products
The average person uses 12 plastic-packaged products for their everyday beauty and hygiene routine, yet research shows that an average 50% of Brits don’t recycle their used bathroom products. This means 2.7 billion plastic toiletries bottles are heading to landfill sites annually!
There are several ways consumers can reduce the amount of plastic waste in the bathroom. For example, instead of using bottles of shampoo and conditioner, try using plastic-free shampoo bars. They look like a bar of soap, but once you've wet your hair, lather the shampoo bar on to your head, then rinse it out as you would normal shampoo.
You can also buy ethical conditioner bars that work in the same way. There are quite a lot of different products on the market, so you may need to try a few out before you find the one that works best for you. They will leave your hair tangle-free, soft and fresh-smelling.
Buy body and face wash bars too, so you can reduce the need for plastic bottles in your beauty regime. You can buy natural sponges, bamboo cleansing cloths, eco-friendly dental floss and even wooden toothbrushes if you're serious about cutting down on plastic.
Looking for somewhere to store your part-used shampoo and body wash bars, rather than leaving them on the bath-edge to go soft? Try putting them in a watertight and airtight storage box to keep them fresh.
Unlike throwaway plastics, a sturdy box can last for many years and isn't contributing to the single-use plastics that are damaging the environment.
If you're not a fan of bars, buy refillable glass bottles and then use refill products from your local ethical beauty store. The bottles can look eye-catching in your bathroom and you can refill them time and time again.
Cleaning products
Removing excess plastic waste from your cleaning products can also mean detoxing in other ways, such as using fewer chemicals. It's possible to make your own cleaning products from everyday alternatives that don't damage the environment, rather than stocking your cupboard full of harsh chemicals in plastic spray-bottles.
Make an all-purpose cleaner by mixing distilled white vinegar with water and tea tree or lemon essential oil. The mixture should be half vinegar and half water, with ten drops of your chosen essential oil.
If you don't fancy making your own, a good eco-friendly option is Ecover washing up liquid mixed with hot water to make a soapy cleaner for your kitchen surfaces. Buy Ecover refills when you run out, rather than new bottles.
Essential oils are ideal for cleaning purposes. Several are said to have antibacterial properties and can be added to your household kit including tea tree, peppermint and rosemary. Some have fragrant scents which are great for adding to your laundry such as geranium, cedarwood and eucalyptus. They come in glass bottles, rather than plastic.
If you want to try making your own washing powder, the main ingredient is washing soda, also known as soda crystals. Look for a brand sold in a cardboard box, such as Ecodoo Soda Crystals. Instead of buying fabric softener, use distilled white vinegar mixed with a few drops of the essential oil of your choice.
Dining products
There are some obvious things to avoid when it comes to eating and drinking, such as plastic straws. In the UK alone, an estimated 8.5 billion plastic straws are thrown away every year. It's also estimated that 82 thousand tonnes of plastic straws are used in EU countries annually.
Be careful what products you buy when food shopping at the supermarket. We're often faced with the challenge of buying food that isn't surrounded by unnecessary plastic packaging. Your food doesn't need to be wrapped in multiple layers of thick plastic, with polystyrene and an outer layer of cellophane for good measure!
Buy the food items with the least plastic packaging - if consumers let their views be known through their spending habits, food producers will get the message. Take your own bags and reusable boxes when you go shopping to carry your food home.
Buy dry foods that are sensibly wrapped from wholefood stores and then transfer them into storage containers when you get home. Consider buying loose pasta, rice and cereal to store, rather than the pre-packaged variety.
Avoid buying any multi-packs that contain several individually-wrapped portions inside, as invariably, they will be wrapped in excess plastic packaging.
Rather than buying throwaway plastic bottles of water, invest in a reusable steel water bottle - all mains tap water in the UK and Ireland have to pass stringent quality tests. It's unnecessary to spend a fortune on plastic bottles full of water.
Together, people can help to reduce the excessive use of plastics in the home by cutting out small, everyday uses that you won't even miss!
As a responsible and ethical supplier, Solent Plastics produces storage solutions that will last a lifetime. We also stock plastic Euro containers made from recycled polypropylene and recycling waste bins to aid home and work recycling initiatives.