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Reduce your plastic waste
While governments around the world are introducing methods to recycle plastic waste in homes, consider doing your bit to help the process. Plastic production and litter clean-up is costly for local governments to control. Plastic production uses non-renewable resources. The manufacturing and delivery process has a negative effect on our environment, due to harmful emissions. Plastics can take up to 1000 years to degrade and is a dangerous killer to our wildlife. It is important for consumers to reduce plastic waste in homes, and assist in the drive to become as environmentally friendly as possible.
1. Plastic shopping bags are generally the worst culprits when it comes to damaging our environment. Plastic bags often end up littering streets and seas. So, when you go shopping consider using a re-usable shopping bag. Find convenient cloth and natural fibre bags that are now being manufactured specifically for shoppers.
2. Use a lunch box when making your lunch. If you are worried about freshness, try using wax paper for your sandwiches. When storing food in the fridge, use dishes to keep leftover food fresh and sealed.
3. Many drinks, including milk, are available in glass or plastic. Choose glass bottles over plastic ones. Some plastic mineral water and juice bottles are also reusable. These are convenient for topping up and using again. If you are worried about the purity of water, try fridge chilled boiled water in a re-usable plastic bottle.
4. When out shopping, decide whether you need a plastic bag to carry your purchases. If not, go without. It is truly amazing how retailers habitually pack groceries into plastic bags, and consumers continue to purchase them. Retailers use packaging for advertising and marketing. If you don’t need it, tell them so.
5. Get into the habit of recycling your waste. Local municipalities and authorities are implementing recycling, making it more convenient for households to recycle. From New Zealand to England, recycling is becoming a part of daily life.
6. Try buying food somewhere other than supermarkets. Fresh food can be found at markets and at farm shops. Use boxes to take away your food and consider ordering a regular veggie box from a local retailer. Investigate your options, and you may find that your local store can offer organically grown fresh goods.
As governments, retailers, large corporate companies and small businesses are implementing eco-friendly measures, it is up to us, the consumers to adopt a “green” attitude toward our environment. Small adjustments to shopping habits and lifestyle are all that is required for individuals to make a big difference. Recycle, reuse and re-think your consumer habits to help the environment.
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