*In collaboration with Oceans Plastic Free.
The amount of plastic waste we create going about our daily lives is an absolute eye-opener. Did you know that there is over two million metric tons of plastic waste in the UK each year, the equivalent to approximately 36kg per person? Shocking isn’t it?!
But there are ways in which we can help to keep our oceans clean, as they should be.
We have teamed up with Oceans Plastic Free who have recently worked on a fantastic campaign – Reimagining oceans: movies in polluted waters. It cleverly uses Hollywood movies to show how they would look today with the amount of plastic pollution that our oceans face.
With that in mind, here are just a handful of ways in which we can all play our part to keep plastic waste to a minimum.
Use more eco-friendly products
Use more eco-friendly products at home where you can. Here are just a few ways to do so –
- Swapping your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one.
- Using glass canisters for storage.
- Make your own reusable products like these handy crochet face scrubbies.
- Use a bar of soap instead of a plastic bottle of handwash.
- Introduce more wooden toys or BioPlastics if you have children.
- Try reusable sanitary products.
- Use bags for life when you do your grocery shopping.
- Ditch single-use water bottles for a more sustainable option.
Collect Litter On Your Next Walk
We quite often take a few bags along with us on a walk on the canals and you would be surprised just how much rubbish is discarded by boaters and people passing through. The number of times we have had to fish plastic bags from the canal or from out of the weir that runs around our home. It’s just awful.
Be Mindful Of Accepting Single Use Plastics
Try to use brands that are sustainable where possible. Leave good reviews for brands that are eco-friendly. That could be that they use paper straws, zero plastic takeaway packaging or perhaps offer a refillable service.
It all helps to get the message across that manufacturers and brands should all be trying more to be sustainable and eco-friendly.
And finally the most obvious of all……….
Recycle!
Recycling does help keep plastic waste from entering our oceans. Recycle everything where you can, which keeps any new plastic in circulation to a minimum.
If you have children get them involved in the recycling process too, after all, it’s their future you are trying to better.
I try to use less plastic around the house and when we are out and about. I just have to get it through to the kids that they will save money and reduce waste if they take a drink out with them instead of buying one. Grr! x
Great ideas to help. It is getting really bad isn’t it. I try to use soap but if I do use bottles then I obviously recycle.
So important – i try and really avoid single use plastics now
In our household we do try our best. I’m already trying to educate the kids to recycle and why mummy and daddy refuses to buy them chocolate, magazines and children meals with plastic toys in them. We always bring our own water from home to avoid buying bottled drinks outside. Once the kids are older we do plan to go out with a bag to collect waste around the streets in our local area. We did it once with the kids but because they’re young it was hard keeping an eye on them.