It’s Plastic-Free July… and whilst I don’t usually jump on these content marketing calendar dates, this is something that’s been half-written in my notes for months, so I figured now was the time to post. I’ve included some things that I do to be a little kinder to the environment. It’s not an exhausted list but hopefully this post will be useful to somebody looking to become more of a conscious consumer.
1. Use a bamboo safety razor instead of disposables
2. Make your own natural cleaning products
3. Use a bamboo toothbrush
4. Buy recycled/biodegradable loo roll
5. Make use of refill jars and dispensers
6. Take cloth and string bags with you when buying fruit and veg
7. Shop locally and at farmers markets
8. Clean the kitchen with a natural loofah
9. Embrace remote working
10. Do a 2-minute beach clean whenever you can
11. Walk if it’s less than 30 minutes
12. Invest in a wooden brush and metal dustpan – it’ll last you longer
13. Stop using disposable sanitary items
14. Wrap presents in brown paper
15. Avoid buying products with plastic micro-beads (post on this coming soon!)
16. Always carry a reusable water bottle
17. Buy bar soap instead of body wash or use a multi-use refill alternative
18. Use natural wood pellet pet litter
19. Support brands that have a strong sustainability mission
20. Buy pre-loved when you can
21. Stop buying fast fashion and buy from sustainable brands
22. Use paper-based cotton buds
23. Bake your own bread or purchase more a local bakery
24. Grow herbs, fruit, and veg at home
25. Never throw away newspapers, they have so many uses
26. Keep reusable bags in the car
27. Buy matches, not lighters
28. Have a small bag of makeup that you regularly use and don’t buy anymore
29. Use an all-natural deodorant
30. Make recycling easier so you do it MORE
31. Choose plastic-free produce and food
32. Request zero-waste packaging when ordering online
33. Buy less than you think you need
34. Gift experience or charity memberships like the National Trust
35. Use up food in your cupboard from rebuying
36. Remove yourself more mailing lists to reduce junk mail
37. Don’t use disposable coffee cups
38. Try to use eco-friendly cleaning products where you can’t use natural
39. Avoid using aerosol cans
40. Buy biodegradable doggie bags for your pet
41. Use only natural skincare and makeup products
42. Collect rainwater for watering your plants
43. Reuse some of your empty glass bottles and jars to store leftovers
44. Teach your friends and family nifty tricks to be more sustainable
45. Read more eBooks and buy less physical books
46. Buy organic produce and avoid using pesticides when growing veggies
47. Buy digital music instead of CDs
48. Make banana bread or smoothies from old uneaten fruit
49. Grow herbs from home instead of buying in from the supermarket
50. Opt for LED lightbulbs wherever possible
51. Don’t buy another product until you’ve finished using the last
52. Turn the water off when you’re brushing your teeth
53. Drink loose tea or buy environmentally-friendly tea bags
54. Regrow veggies from scraps like celery
55. Eat less meat or go vegetarian
56. Use rechargeable batteries
57. Ditch the plastic and use beeswax wraps
58. Use a Keepcup and reusable bottle
59. Compost food waste or use as plant fertilizer
60. Pay household bills online
61. Buy pre-loved items or borrow
62. Cancel your paper bank statements
63. Collect rainwater and shower water
64. Feed your coffee grounds to your plants
65. Use reusable bamboo cosmetic pads
66. Swap paper towels for reusable rags
67. Shop at the zero-waste store making use of their refill station
68. Continue to educate yourself on how to be kinder to the planet
What’s your favourite sustainability hacks? 🌿