What does plastic free look like?

As we come to the end of "Plastic Free July", I took some time to look back over the month, and the small changes that can be made around being “Plastic Free”.

Sustainability is something that I'm really interested in, I'm not perfect, or close to it, but I try. I am a founding member of the Cpl Greenworks Committee, our internal team driving sustainability issues through the business, and have sat on the Board of Directors of Global Action Plan Ireland, a not-for-profit environmental and sustainability organisation.

Ireland is producing the highest volume of plastic waste per person in the EU, while having the fourth worst recycling rate for the material, new European statistics show

New European statistics show that Ireland is producing the highest volume of plastic waste per person in the EU, while having the fourth worst recycling rate for the material. We are generating waste at?54 kilos per capita, substantially more than the EU average of 33 kilos per capita, according to an article in The Business Post in January 2021. And we know now, or hope we all know, that recycling more is not the solution. We have to change our behaviours and consumerism patterns to reduce waste first, and re-use what we have already have. Recycling is one of the last options we should be considering.

This level of waste has a financial cost and an environmental cost, both for us as individuals as our waste charges increase, and more importantly, on the environment.

The?EU has introduced the Single-Use Plastics Directive?which is a strict set of rules for reducing the type of products and packaging which are among the top ten most frequently found items polluting European beaches.

Under the directive, where alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use plastic products will be banned from the market, such as cutlery, plates and straws. For other products, efforts will be made to limit their use through design and labelling, and clean-up obligations for those who manufacture them. (https://www.thejournal.ie/single-use-plastic-directive-ireland-5484427-Jul2021/)

When you factor in how pervasive plastic is in our every day lives, it can seem a monumental task to be “Plastic Free” however the key thing to remember is that we don’t need a handful of people doing plastic free perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly.

Here’s some of the parts of my life where I’ve been able to make quite easy swaps, that are all making a little inroad to a more sustainable, and plastic free, lifestyle:

1. In the bathroom

Shampoo Bars

I have been using shampoo bars consistently for the past 15 months, and ad hoc for about 3 years. After reading a blog pointing out just how much plastic is in our bathrooms, I decided this was an area I could certainly make a difference in. Having once been such a fan of huge retail pharmacy stores, and perusing all the brightly coloured bottles of potions and lotions, I came to realise just how much plastic waste they were creating in my life. I made the switch to shampoo bars, and after a little trial and error finding a brand that suited me, I haven’t looked back! Just like finding a shampoo that suits your hair, one brand does not suit all. I spoke to Pat Kane in Reuzi and sent her a photo of my hair and described it, and the water quality in my area, and she made the perfect recommendation for me. I find zero difference to how my hair feels or looks, if anything, it’s in better condition now, but saving those bottles of shampoo and conditioner from being in my house, is definitely a good outcome!!

Teeth

Another win for cutting out plastic in the bathroom, was my discovery of Toothpaste Tablets! These little minty tablets are a complete replacement for tubes of toothpaste, and all the waste that comes with them. When you consider the waste from both toothpaste and toothbrushes, it really adds up.

And when it comes to the toothbrush itself, think of all those sticks of plastic that just end up in landfill when we’re done with them, with small kids who like to just chew the head of the brush rather than actually brush their teeth, we were replacing toothbrushes every few weeks for the kids. We discovered lovely, colourful, bamboo brushes and have all found the swap to be a good one! The toothbrushes are being stocked more and more widely now, including in the “Eco Friendly” section of most major supermarkets. The toothpaste tablets can be a little harder to source, I’ve found supermarkets and some pharmacies sell small packets of them, that would last you a month, but some of the main “Refill” stores like Reuzi sell them in much bigger batches.

There’s also great plastic free alternatives to be found for many other things, including deodorant, reusable nappies (did you know it takes 500 years for a nappy to degrade?), sanitary products such as Moon Cups or Cloth Sanitary Pads, bars of soap instead of liquid hand wash, single blade razors instead of plastic disposables and solid soap shaving pucks rather than shaving foam.

2. In the kitchen

Plastic Water Bottles

I live in an area with extremely hard water, which is very unpleasant to drink. As someone who talks a lot (!), I find I fly through the water. We were buying at least 4-5 5litre bottles of water a week, and the waste was really clear to see. I looked into lots of different options, including getting a water filter fitted, but given the hard water in the area, the reviews suggested that I might have to replace the reverse osmosis filter on a fairly regular basis. After a bit of research, I discovered Binchotan Charcoal Sticks which are a natural filter. The difference in water quality has been incredible I haven’t had to buy a plastic bottle of water since!

And of course, whenever I’m out and about, I bring my stainless steel reusable bottle with me!

Reusable Kitchen Roll

I’m painting a great picture of my life with messy small kids, but we used to go through a huge amount of kitchen rolls for all the inevitable spills and mess in the kitchen! And while a cloth is never too far from hand, the kitchen roll was also flying out the door. Then we discovered reusable kitchen roll! It comes on a roll, and is made out of towelling and cotton, pull off a sheet and soak up the spill or mess, into the washing machine with your regular wash, and reattach to the roll once it’s dry! Easier to keep a pile of them to hand, more aesthetic to look at, and more sanitary as they tend to be washed as soon as they’re used.

Cleaning products

Much like the bathroom full of plastic bottles of lotions, the kitchen can quickly become full of bottles of potions – to clean every different kind of stain or spill! Aside from literally not having room for all the different bottles, the waste of the different spray bottles was getting ridiculous. That’s when I discovered Dr Bronner’s Liquid Castille Soap. It can be diluted and mixed with other ingredients, and used for a hundred different uses (18 officially but I’m sure there’s more!). I haven’t investigated them all, but I have created my own excellent window cleaner, all purpose surface cleaner, houseplant aphid controller, and fruit cleaner! A few amber glass spray bottles, or well washed reused plastic spray bottles, and my kitchen cupboard is transformed!

Other little switches that I’ve made over time in the kitchen are using beeswax wraps instead of clingfilm, changing my baking cups and baking paper to a biobased alternative, making sure I bring reusable cutlery and straws with me if I am going to be eating on the go, and making sure to remember my reusable bags and cloth bags for loose fruit and veg in the supermarket.

3. For fun!

Water Balloons

Not on everyone’s radar I’m sure, but with 2 small children, and the glorious weather we’ve had over the past while, my reusable water balloons have come into their own!! I’ve such great memories as a child of the seemingly endless summer days, the hot weather and the fun and laughter of water fights! The thoughts now though of throwing that kind of plastic waste around the garden or park gives me the shivers!! Instead, I came across these wonderful crocheted water balloons, made by a local stay at home parent, who has set up his own business AJ’s Rainbow Creations. Not only are they gorgeously made, they look so colourful – and are so incredibly fun! We spent an hour playing with them last weekend with a 65 year old and a 1.5 year having just as much fun and delight with them!! Or if you’re crafty yourself, there are lots of patterns online to crochet your own.

If you come to my house, you won’t think it’s a plastic free house – I still have a very long way to go to achieve that, and realistically, with young kids, I probably won't ever – but with small, meaningful changes – I am definitely reducing my impact on the environment, in sustainable ways for me and my lifestyle.

If each of us take some small steps, we can make a giant collective stride.

Ultimately, the most sustainable way to be, is by using what you already have, but if you do need to make a purchase – try make it a plastic free one!?

What are you doing on your journey to plastic free, or maybe plastic much less?