Have you heard of the Plastic Free July campaign? It is designed to raise awareness of the issues around single use plastics and to encourage people to look for alternatives. Hopefully, saying no to plastic bags, cups, cutlery, straws and the like during Plastic Free July will help us develop better habits.
I have been trying to reduce the number of single use plastics that come into the house for a couple of years now. It isn’t easy! I find it incredibly frustrating how entrenched single use plastics have become in our lives. We just accept them as part and parcel of modern day living. However, most of us are becoming aware of the damage done to our environment and wildlife, as well as the sheer waste of resources, involved in letting this pervasive habit creep in.
This week’s story about Nestle wrapping a range of their snack bars in recyclable paper packaging shows what the big corporations will do if we put enough pressure on them. When we make other choices and there is potential for this to impact on their profits, suddenly anything is possible!! It is only one range, though. I will really celebrate when they get rid of their plastic packing altogether. Let’s hope this isn’t just a good bit of PR for Nestle.
Here are my frugal things for the week that have also helped to cut down on our use of single use plastics this Plastic Free July.
Farm Shop
I mentioned in my Monthly Money Wins post for June that I had rediscovered a little farm shop near to us. They sell a range of (mostly) locally grown fruit and veg loose and at very good prices. We picked up a bagful of vegetables in our own bag, so no plastic there.
Boot sale fruit
I don’t usually pick up fresh produce at the boot sale, but was drawn to the stand by the sight of the most delicious looking cherries. They are my absolute favourite and I love them in season. We bought a huge (paper) bag, plus bananas, apples and satsumas, which all went in a cloth bag.
They were quite ripe so needed to be eaten quickly, but so cheap! I will definitely be buying produce there again.
Home grown
Our own home grown produce needs no plastic wrapping, of course. This week we have been picking raspberries, redcurrants, parsley, chard and salad leaves.
I did reuse our lodger’s plastic strawberry container for the fruit. She has become a big recycler since living with us, so I am glad we are having a bit of influence. Now to stop her buying so many takeaways….
Plastic free teeth cleaning
Using natural toothpaste is a shock to begin with. It doesn’t contain the nasty chemicals that make toothpaste froth up in your mouth. Nor does it leave your mouth feeling super minty and whiten your teeth. However, your teeth do feel very clean!
I am going to go super frugal and try making my own using this recipe once it is finished. Of course, I will reuse the Georganics glass pot! Incidentally, this post from Small Footprint Family also puts an interesting argument forward about why we don’t need (and maybe should avoid) fluoride in our toothpaste.
My new office and compostable packaging
Now that I am self-employed, I have been working to make my office super organised and functional. The desk came second hand from Facebook. It is a nice big size for working at. Best of all, instead of the tinted windows of the council offices where I used to work, I have this view of our garden. It is bliss!
I think that selling second hand items online is a sustainable business idea. Items are reused rather than thrown away, people get a bargain, and I can control the type of packaging I use! I have been sending things out in biodegradable plastic bags, but I am not happy with them. It feels as if they will take an age to biodegrade. This week I have found a supplier selling robust but compostable mailing bags made from potato starch. They will compost within 12 months in a home compost heap. I am going to give them a try.
At 7p a bag, they are more expensive than the cheap plastic ones I have used in the past, but this isn’t much in the greater scheme of things. I add P&P on anyway. I need to get some little cards or labels done next to encourage them to be reused and then composted!
Are you joining in Plastic Free July? Let me know in the comments how you are reducing your use of single use plastics.
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I’m linking up with this Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Frugal Friday’ linky.
Faith says
Glad the reselling business is going well and your garden looks lovely! I wondered if there were any refill/eco shops you could recommend in Colchester or around, while I attempt #PlasticFreeJuly?
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
The one here closed Faith but there is apparently one on Tiptree I have yet to try. Natural Foods does some Faith in Nature refills for shampoo too. For most of us, I suspect it will be ‘slightly less plastic than usual’ July! It’s so hard!
Bev says
I agree wholeheartedly that single use plastic needs to be dealt with and am as frustrated as you that it seems almost impossible to buy anything without it. I have begun by making my own hand / body wash – whilst it will be dispensed into plastic bottles they will be used time and time again – a small step. Your office looks fab.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
I am sticking with solid soap. I actually prefer it!
Chrissie says
We have been making an effort with plastic for a while now, but it can be hard. We use bar soap and shampoo bars, I no longer buy clingfilm, I have some wax wraps that are brilliant, home made cleaners in spray bottles,don’t buy bottled water, when my detergent runs out I want to try making my own 2 ingredient detergent. Veggies are a pain as being vegan I buy a lot of fruit and veg and most of it comes in plastic wrap but I have found that Morrisons recyclye that sort of plastic so we save them up and take them there, I do have produce bags but it limits my selection if i don’t buy wrapped in plastic. We did try the homemade toothpaste a while ago but I found it too abrasive , I have since found out that you can use arrowroot instead of bicarb so will try that.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
How about a veg box ? I think they are a bit more expensive though and you get what you get
Chrissie says
We did used to have a veg box but on more than one occasion the quality was poor and for the amount we use it wasn’t suitable, we would probably need a couple of boxes a week ! We have put one large raised bed in our garden and are growing a few carrots, chard, kolrabi, beetroot, runner beans and lettuce, also planted some herbs in pots and I now feel almost guilty about putting flowers in our containers when we can use them for veg and some herbs and veg look quite pretty. I think we all need a little bit of the wartime spirit and grow more fruit and veg, I am sure young children would love watching things grow and then eating them!
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Totally agree. I love our home grown veg. Enjoying lots of flowers this year too though
Julia says
Plastic wrapped produce is my biggest bug-bear. Just home from the weekly shop:
Red peppers: 99p for 3 (packaged) or 55p each (loose)
Courgettes: £1.60 /kilo (packaged) or £2.10 /kilo (loose)
Not only that it took the 3rd supermarket I went into before I found loose courgettes!
Isn’t convenience supposed to be more expensive? You’re paying for the convenience after all.
Yet buying produce ready selected and wrapped in plastic so you don’t have to grapple with loose fruits and vegetables rolling away, is cheaper!
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
This came up on War on Plastic too. It’s totally ridiculous and also encourages food waste. Shame most of our greengrocers have closed!
Candy says
I hadn’t heard of Plastic Free July, what a great idea!
You could have a rubber stamp made asking people to recycle/compost your packaging. No paper labels to buy, and it saves on printer ink. You can also use one with your return address information.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Love that! Good idea
Su says
I ‘m trying hard on the plastic front even though I didn’t know it was plastic free July. Milk is a big bugbear for me, even organic milk comes in plastic bottles, the only milk delivery person around her is an absolute fruitcake and I sacked her a while ago and I can’t find milk packaged any other way.
I don’t suppose I’ll ever be plastic free, but I have cut down a lot and continue to look for other ways to cut my usage, but it is very, very difficult and expensive.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
It will get easier if we all pile pressure on our politicians and supermarkets I think