FOOD AND DRINK

There are many ways to avoid plastic waste when it comes to food and drink – from ditching cling film to reusing takeaway tubs.

Drinks bottles and coffee cups are the main culprits when it comes to waste – with a staggering 35 million being used each year in the UK alone. That coffee cup might look like cardboard, but it’s lined with a plastic so it can’t be easily recycled. Combat this by carrying a reusable drinks cup wherever you go – you may even get a discount at your local coffee shop.

Last week, businesses such as Waitrose, Morrisons and Wagamama vowed to phase out plastic straws. Jump on the bandwagon and avoid asking for one with your drink unless it’s metal or made out of paper.

Why not extend your no-plastic lifestyle into your weekly shop? Supermarkets have recently come under fire for using super-sized packaging on small items of food. Try visiting local markets and picking loose fruit and veg. Or, if you’re feeling green-fingered, get in the garden and grow your own. And always avoid paying 5p for a carrier bag by taking your own.

Hollyoaks actress Stephanie Waring, 39, admits that she’s loving how ice-skating is transforming her body – and that she’s hoping to leave the competition with a pert behind. She says, “I’m noticing changes in my body – you are constantly trying to keep warm so you’re burning loads of calories and you’re constantly tensing your muscles when practising. I’m hoping my bum will lift a little bit higher than it is now. That’s my main priority – my bum!”