Saving the planet is not one person’s responsibility. It is a collective responsibility and the only way to tackle climate change is to do our bit. Every single individual can make a huge difference. There are so many issues we’re facing; ocean garbage, micro-plastics getting into the food chain, global warming, sea-levels rising, and the extinction of some of Earth’s most important inhabitants (for example, Honey Bees), and the way we live affects every single one of these issues.
So, how can you live more sustainably and make changes in your life to ensure you’re living as eco-friendly as possible? I’ve highlighted the simplest ways to do your bit – because it’s simply not possible to do everything you *should* be doing (and if you do, kudos to you!), but it is possible to do a few things that will help drastically even though they seem small and minor!
1. Switch your deodorant
The majority of deodorants are in bulky plastic containers that are non-recyclable and will take thousands of years to biodegrade. There is no getting away from the fact we have a huge plastic issue on our hands, and one simple way to help is by cutting down on your plastic use – specifically the things you need and use regularly that are contained within plastic.
I made the switch from my standard Dove deodorant to Nuud Deodorant a few months back, and not only is it amazing for the planet (the packaging is made from sugar cane bio-plastic which is 100% recyclable), but it’s free from aluminium and nasties, and you only need to use it every other day because of the way it neautralises the bacteria!
Another great deodorant is the Ben & Anna bicarbonate of soda deodorant which comes in a cardboard container. My favourite scent is Persian Lime and it is AMAZING – it literally smells like holidays and summer!
2. Refillable packets
Lots of brands now offer refillable packets of things you use in everyday life; from soap to hand sanitiser, and even shampoo and conditioner! Look out for the refillable packets as they use far less plastic and are much better for the planet. For example, you can purchase Carex hand wash refills from Ocado.
3. Bamboo toothbrushes
It’s estimated that toothbrushes take up to 1000 years to decompose. If there are billions of people and a large percentage of them are changing their toothbrush every 3-6 months, think about how harmful for the planet that is over the course of a lifetime!
According to The Independent, it’s estimated that 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes are used worldwide every year, with the average person using 300 in their lifetime, with roughly 80 per cent of these ending up in the sea, where they pose a risk to marine life and habitats. However, you can get Bamboo toothbrushes everywhere these days, and they’re just as good as normal ones!
Purchase a Humble Bamboo Toothbrush
4. Beeswax food coverings
I absolutely love using my Beeswax food coverings rather than plastic cling-wrap. They smell lovely (but don’t worry – they don’t make food smell!), and they’re reusable, hand-washable, and good for the earth as you’re not throwing away plastic every time you need to wrap or cover food in the fridge.
Purchase an assorted pack of Beeswax food coverings
5. Shopping jute and tote bags
You probably know by now that plastic bags are a major culprit for the plastic issue we’re facing. Keep jute tote bags in your car and kitchen, and a cotton tote bag in your handbag for emergencies, and make sure to take them with you to the supermarket and shops instead of using plastic bags!
6. Use paper cotton buds
After the devastating photo of a seahorse clinging into a plastic cotton bud, Johnson & Johnson have thankfully changed the product so the stem is now made from paper instead of plastic. Unfortunately some companies and brands are still producing plastic cotton buds, so make sure you buy the Johnson & Johnson paper ones (they have ‘paper cotton buds’ on the front of the container)!
Purchase Johnson & Johnson paper cotton buds
7. Use recycled products and products made from garbage
Brands like Dr Bronners make their containers from recycled plastic, and huge brands such as Adidas are making products from ocean garbage. Purchasing these sorts of products rather than a less sustainable alternative not only helps create less waste short-term, but also shows brands that people want more sustainable options which helps with long-term waste reduction.
Purchase Adidas trainers made from ocean garbage
8. Recycle
Recycling is the simplest thing you can do to help! Make sure you separate out the products depending on what time they are (plastic, cardboard/paper, aluminium, glass etc), and make sure they are definitely able to be recycled as putting an item in for recycling that can’t be recycled can mess up the entire batch that it’s with. Also remember you can recycle aluminium tin foil!
9. Don’t buy plastic bottles and carry a reusable one on you
Instead of buying a plastic water bottle when you’re out and about, buy a Chilly’s bottle and carry it around with you! You can get a small or large one, and they hold both cold and hot drinks meaning you can put your coffee in it instead of buying a coffee and having it in a non-recyclable takeaway cup! Most coffee shops also give you a discount if you bring your own cup! If a Chilly’s is too big for your coffee, how about a Keepcup?
10. Use a metal straw or no straw at all
If you’re an able-bodied adult you really shouldn’t need to use a straw, but if you really can’t sip from a glass or have lipstick that can’t be smudged, carry a metal straw on you! You can buy all sorts, including ones that fold-up so they’re pocket sized, and most of them come with a carry case and tiny cleaning brush to ensure things stay hygienic!
Purchase a set of metal straws in a protective pouch
11. Use reusable make-up remover pads & face cloth
Make-up remover wipes are the actual worst. Not only do they not actually get rid of all the make-up on your face, but they’re super bad for the environment, taking up to 500 years to decompose! And it’s not just wipes, but cotton make-up remover pads are also bad for sustainability as the farming of cotton has a big impact on the environment, especially when it’s not organically sourced. The chemicals used can pollute rivers, damage local wildlife and impact our ecosystems.
So, purchase a reusable Make-up Eraser face cloth, or these reusable bamboo make-up pads!
