Practical Tips For A Plastic Free Summer

I always assumed that Christmas (including the whole festive period and lead up to it) would be an ‘expensive’ time of year when we consider plastic waste.  Think of the costumes, food packaging, gift wrapping and the sheer numbers of unwanted gifts or unnecessary purchases.  HOWEVER, according to a report by the WWF, tourists and holidaymakers cause a 40% increase in marine litter in the Mediterranean Sea every summer.  95% of this litter is plastic.

So with vacation and staycation season in full swing, and the summer holidays fast approaching, we thought we’d share a few tips to help reduce our impact.

 

4 ways that we can reduce our plastic waste this summer:

*Travel light on holidays

Packing solid bar versions of soap, shampoo and conditioner can not only save you weight and space in your cases but is also the perfect way to ditch those plastic bottles.  So many people leave partially used products behind when heading home, so swapping to a travel pouch means no wasted products or packaging.   Try a travel pouch from a small business called Marlamade (we do sometimes stock these on our stall at markets and events) at Soap and Shampoo Bar Waterproof Travel Pouch – Etsy UK 

 

*Homemade picnics

Instead of buying your lunches when out and about, make one at home beforehand to take with you.  This way it is easier to avoid single-use plastic packaging in favour of reusable options.  Remember to take your rubbish home with you so it can be washed and sorted.

 

*Eco-friendly BBQs and parties

There are a few ways to make your summer BBQS and parties more sustainable and planet friendly.  The first is to try to buy products from butchers and local shops that allow you to use your own containers.  Reuse decorations and buy preloved when possible to reduce waste.  It can also be too easy to buy single-use plates, bowls and cutlery, but this adds to the waste pile very quickly.  The best way to avoid this is to use what you have.  Or, partyware can be hired from local sources such as PartyKind by We’d Rather Lather (FB link) for a small fee (often cheaper than buying single-use plastic options.

 

*Preloved clothing

We often feel like we need a new wardrobe when the warm weather comes along.  A lot of the clothes we buy contain plastic, so buying preloved or unloved, can reduce our environmental impact.  This is especially useful for our children, who have usually grown, so only wear their clothes for one summer season.