“I was so lucky recently to spend some time on a paradise island. It was amazing to see how beautiful this part of the world is, but even this paradise island has a dark secret… ⠀⠀
Plastic! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When the sea was rough and you walked further up the beach, you could see the plastic washing up on the beach. This is the first time I’ve seen in real life the plastic problem. For a long time, I’ve been trying to eliminate plastic from my life as I can but it’s hard when there are very limited options. But when you see plastic containers, food packaging, rubbish bags drifting onto shore it really makes you think. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So this year I’m going to do more to reduce my plastic in areas I haven’t tried as hard in. I’m also going to make a conscious effort to only visit places that take plastic reduction seriously. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When you see the results of plastic waste on a perfect beach half way around the world, it really makes you think more.
Lifestyle changes for environmental protection.
When it comes to making changes to save the planet, there are endless things we could be doing. We’ve all seen those videos of people who live a zero-waste lifestyle where they can fit their yearly waste into a mason jar, but that isn’t realistic for everyone. It certainly isn’t realistic for me. When you decide that you want to help save the planet, it isn’t just limited to creating less waste. It’s important to remember that ‘helping the planet’ goes beyond cutting out plastic/waste as much as you can (although that doesn’t hurt!) because that isn’t conceivable for everyone, especially when options are limited. For me, I look at the things I use the most in my life and see if I can make them sustainable. You’d be surprised by how many different ways there are to make a difference!
1. Ditch the plastic toothbrushes!
This one may seem obvious and simple, but it’s effective. Millions and millions of plastic toothbrushes are thrown away every year. By switching to a bamboo or wooden toothbrush, which is biodegradable (minus the bristles – no toothbrush is perfect!) you’re helping reduce the world’s plastic waste. This one is such an easy swap to make and you won’t even notice the difference.
2. Switch to a Safety Razor
Please note that this does require you to handle razor blades, so this may not be for everyone. But for me, this is one of the swaps that I swear by. A metal safety razor will last you for years, and obviously the blades are recyclable. Razors are another thing that always ends up in landfills, and I didn’t realise how awful they are to shave with until I made the switch to a safety razor. They do take some getting used to, but once you’re converted you will never go back!
3. Reduce your meat consumption
Don’t worry meat-eaters, I’m not about to storm into your home with a pitchfork telling you that you have to give up meat altogether. Maybe give meat-free Mondays a try and see how you feel. In my opinion, you can’t say that you care about saving the planet and refuse to reduce your meat consumption (even if it just a little bit). Meat production is one of the worst things for the planet, and that can only be helped by reduced demand for it.
4. Only invest in brands that are doing good
I’m mainly talking about beauty and skincare brands here. Maybe go through your make up and see if the brands you’re using are vegan and cruelty-free? If they’re not, use them up and make the switch. The Body Shop is doing great things with their plastic by using plastic recycled from India, which helps the waste pickers. You can read more about it here: Lush also have their own in house recycling system with their black pots. Basically, use your money to invest in brands that have some sort of sustainability behind them, whatever that may be.
5. Shop Vintage/Second Hand
This one comes with some searching, but can find some really great things if you know where to look! Facebook marketplace is great for finding second-hand furniture and on DePop you can find some great clothes.
6. Make your own damn lunch!
I’m definitely guilty of going to the shops to get a meal deal, but think of how much waste that adds up a week, a month, a year if you do it every day! Making your lunch at home not only makes it cheaper, but better for the environment too!
7. Download Ecosia!
Ecosia is a search engine that plants trees when you search on it! So far over 89 million trees have been planted and the numbers only go up! It’s free to download and a great way to help the planet without even trying.
8. Ditch the plastic vegetable bags for loose Veg
Let’s be honest, you don’t really need them. You’re going to wash the veg when you get home, just bring your own cotton bags or go without.
9. Loose-leaf Tea
It tastes way better than normal teabag tea. This one is a little bit of a luxury, but to me, it is worth it as I get through a lot of tea – and loose leaf lasts longer!
10. Invest in Eco-friendly period products.
There are so many different options now the possibilities are endless! There are biodegradable tampons that are shipped to your door, period pants (I love these), and menstrual cups are just a few!
I’d love to know what small changes you are making in your own home.
