22 SMALL CHANGES YOU CAN START MAKING NOW!
1Buy a beautiful reusable takeaway coffee cup Choose a material that is not plastic: bamboo, ceramic, glass or stainless steel are best. Ecoffee has a beautiful range available on Yuppiechef. If you’ve forgotten it, try to buy your coffee from a café that uses compostable disposable cups (like EcoPack). And if you do take a cardboard cup, skip the plastic lid. Say no to straws!
2 Ask for a cocktail stirrer instead or use a knife to mix your drink. Once you say no it becomes second nature to sip without a straw. If you can’t go without, buy a reusable glass, stainlesssteel or bamboo straw and carry it around with you in your handbag in a pouch – find them online at www.faithful-to-nature.co.za. 3 Don’t take plastic disposable cutlery from retailers with your takeaway Carry your own set, or choose disposable cutlery made of biodegradable products. Take reusable shopping bags to the supermarket Stop forgetting them at home: put sticky notes at the door and keep a stash in your car and at the office. Make a rule for yourself: if you forget to take one, you have to buy an expensive reusable one. Buy loose fruit and veggies Don’t put them in the thin single-use bags to weigh them:
put them on the scale and keep the various stickers. You’ll also find loose fruit and vegetable options at local farmers’ markets. Try to choose products in glass, cans and cardboard packaging
Buy in bulk and go for refills
Buy large quantities to use less packaging, and try to choose packaging that is not plastic, such as glass dispensers, which are much prettier than plastic anyway. Ditch chewing gum
Or swap it for mints. Most chewing gum has plastic in it (yikes!). Take your own Tupperware to restaurants Have your own container handy for takeaways or when you know you’ll get doggybags. Many restaurants are switching to cardboard, but always ask first. 10 Switch to matches Disposable plastic lighters are not worth it. 11 Use an epilator
Instead of buying disposable razors, switch to an epilator or waxing. 12 Buy a menstrual cup
Instead of using pads or tampons, especially the ones that come in single-use plastic wrappers, use a silicone cup like the Mooncup. 13 Don’t buy bottled water Rather buy your own refillable glass bottles.
14 Stop using a plastic toothbrush They keep for only a couple of months and then have to be discarded. You can buy an ecofriendly bamboo one from faithful-to-nature.co.za. 15 Recycle all plastic
Find out where the nearest drop-off site is and make it a regular mission to drop off your recyclable plastic. Visit my waste. co.za if you’re unsure where your nearest drop-off is. 16 Look for ‘poly’ in cosmetic products Look for polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate or polystyrene in the list of ingredients. SA has no legislation stating that manufacturers need to clearly identify products containing microbeads, so it’s tough to make an informed decision. It’s best to opt for ranges that are organic and natural. Rain offers refills from bulk decanters at its stores. 17 Swap single-use plastic nappies for cloth ones 18 Use resealable containers instead of cling wrap 19
Treat yourself to a cone
The cups and tubs that ice-cream come in are often made of single-use plastic, so go for the waffle or sugar cone. 20 Buy bread in paper bags instead of thin plastic 21 Say no to frozen foods in plastic bags Unfortunately, even cardboard boxed foods often come lined in plastic. Rather make your own bulk meals and freeze them. 22 Stop and think: do I have to buy this item?