The world is groaning under the collective weight of discarded single-use plastic. Indeed, the average Brit will get through 242 plastic bottles and 109 single-use coffee cups in a single year. While the UK will collectively throw away 468 million spray bottles from cleaning products and 520 million shampoo bottles every year. This Plastic Free July consider the small changes and swaps you could make to reduce plastic waste.
When eating
From produce to cereal, drinks to snacks, the shelves of grocery stores can be filled to the brim with plastic packaging. zero-waste foods and household refills can offer a solution to this. Items such as flour, nuts, dishwashing liquid and more can be purchased in a way that doesn’t use single-use plastic.
Here at True Food our fruit and vegetables are unwrapped. By choosing loose fruit and vegetables instead of pre-packaged options, you can further reduce your single-plastic consumption and buy the exact amount you need. We also sell our milk and cream in glass bottles rather than plastic. The empty glass bottles are then returned to the diary to be sterilised and reused.
When drinking
Many tea brands and supermarkets use an oil-based plastic called polypropylene to seal their teabags, so they don’t come apart while you’re making your brew. This plastic is not recyclable or biodegradable and therefore contributes to plastic pollution even when you place your teabag into a compost heap, as it won’t break down completely. What’s more, the foil they come wrapped in is usually also made from plastic and non-recyclable.
Moreover, research by McGill University found that a single plastic teabag can release 11.6 billion microplastic particles at brewing temperature. Microplastics in different forms are now present in almost all water systems in the world. There is now more microplastic in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way.
At True Food the tea bags we sell are sealed with PLA a plant-based sealant which means they can be industrially composted (put in your food waste bin) or bags that are stitched and made from plant-based abaca, wood pulp and plant cellulose fibers. We also sell organic, zero-waste, loose-leaf tea from Tea People.
When out and about
In total, some 7.7 billion plastic water bottles are bought across the UK each year. About 80% of those will end up in landfill. Invest in a good quality refillable water bottle and remember to take it with you while out and about. Similarly, if you enjoy a coffee on the go, carrying a reusable coffee cup can save hundreds of disposable coffee cups ending up in landfill. At True Food we don’t sell any drinks in plastic bottles and you can always refill your water bottle here.
When in the kitchen
Common kitchen sponges found in the supermarket are made from oil-based plastics and are non-recyclable. Our LoofCo washing up pads are long-lasting, non-scratch washing-up pad made from the Loofah plant. This makes them a plastic-free biodegradable, recyclable alternative.
A circular economy is an economic system that aims to eliminate waste and keep resources in use for as long as possible. An empty washing-up liquid bottle can be bought back to True Food and refilled, saving a new plastic bottle being manufactured. By using our household refill station, True Food customers save over 10,000 items of packaging each year.
When in the bathroom
Most shampoos are 80-percent water and conditioners can be even more—up to 95-percent water. Shampoo bars are more concentrated and generally last longer than bottled versions. On average, a shampoo bar will outlast two to three bottles of liquid shampoo. If you still prefer a liquid wash, True Food has a large range of refill shower gels, shampoos and conditioners.
Purchasing and using reusable sanitary products can drastically reduce the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in landfill and save you money. Disposable period pads contain up to 90% plastic, making each pad equivalent to around 4 plastic bags. While single use menstrual products – tampons, pads and applicators generate 200,000 tonnes of waste per year in the UK.
True Food is proud to stock reusable handmade organic cotton cloth sanitary pads made by Eco-femme. Eco-femme are a global empowerment initiative run by women in India, profits made from international sales of their pads are used to help fund inexpensive reusable pads for Indian women and support and provide education on hygienic, dignified and green menstruation practices to local woman in India. We also sell reusable menstrual cups. Over its lifetime, reusable period products cost 88% to 98% less than disposables ones.
