How YOU can Fight in the War on Plastic
Plastic is undoubtedly an amazing material. It’s strong and durable; think of plastic chairs, plug sockets and ironing baskets. Unfortunately, this strong and durable material has been adopted by almost all industries and is now being used for purposes that last a matter of weeks. These dispensable plastic products include plastic shampoo bottles, plastic toothpaste tubes, plastic bags for cheeses, broccoli, meats, tofu and crisps!
Plastic used for these single purposes (aptly named single use plastics) wind up in colossal rubbish mountains or just littering our streets. There’s an estimated 19.5 billion single use plastic items in UK households every day. Whether they get recycled or end up in landfill, it is a shockingly large amount.
It can feel like we have no choice in using single use plastic. It’s hard to know how to minimise purchasing single use plastic items without great inconvenience. Luckily, knowledge is power. The following tips are simple ways you can choose plastic-free options with minimal effort! Let’s all try to lower our use of single use plastics to force the institutions to take rapid action.
Drink tap water!
Use bar soap to get clean
Bar soaps are equally as effective as liquid soap in removing germs from your hands (and body). It can even be more effective at removing dirt because of the friction created when lathering. Bar soap is also the more economical option. If you have dry, sensitive skin you can find bar soaps with higher glycerin percentages and fragrance free, which have a lower PH level locking in moisture and leave your hands silky smooth.
Swap liquid detergent for powder detergent
Similar to bar soap, the cleaning power between liquid and powder detergent is the same. Powder detergent is cheaper per load, better for your washing machine and plastic free. If you have a strong preference for liquid detergent, see if you can refill your existing container in the many refill shops across the UK or opt for detergent pods in a sustainable packaging.
These tips were inspired by War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita, which airs on Together TV 3rd February 2021.
