10 Top Tips To Say No To Plastic

Plastic use and production continue to grow despite us knowing the detrimental effects it has on Earth’s ecosystems, especially marine animals. Plastic waste from the fishing industry plus discarded items that wash down rivers and into the ocean has created huge garbage patches covering around 1.6 million square kilometres!

The first step to solving the plastic crisis is to stop producing so much plastic! Show corporations you won’t support their reckless ways by refusing plastic as much as possible. As plastic is so engrained in our very existence it is an impossible feat to stop consuming plastic entirely but even a 50% reduction by millions of people will help and send a message to businesses that we demand better.

Disclosure: Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase.

Simply Plastic Free acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

1. Stop Buying Bottled Drinks

Drink bottles are a huge polluter. PET is the most recyclable plastic type but only a small portion is actually recycled. The infrastructure to process the amount of plastic recycling produced does not exist to the scale we need so cutting back on producing virgin plastic products is critical.

Ways To Cut Back On Bottled Drinks

• Take a water bottle with you everywhere
• Swap out carbonated drinks to homemade using a Sodastream
• Install a filter system in your home
• Use a water bottle with an inbuilt filter
• Choose glass and metal if you must use single-use (it’s easier to recycle)

Finding drinking water while on the go can sometimes be a challenge. But here’s a handy tip: many restaurants offer free drinking water and are more than willing to refill your bottle. It’s a simple and sustainable way to stay hydrated.

2. Start A Veggie Garden

Growing your own produce at home means you will have super fresh produce with no plastic. Eating seasonal produce is a lower-impact way to live sustainably.

How To Garden Sustainably

• Research which vegetables are best to grow in your area depending on the season
• Start a home compost to recycle your food scraps
• Try companion planting – a companion plant is used to either confuse or deter plant pests in a garden or attract beneficial critters
• Learn to use all parts of the plants you grow
• Keep seeds to regrow next year
• Collect water when you shower to water your garden
• Mulch your garden beds to slow down evaporation and the amount of water required

3. Use Solid Toiletries

Solid toiletries are a great way to reduce plastic waste. These products are a condensed form of liquid products so with no extra water they are lightweight, which is perfect for travellers.

There are loads of solid products which you can buy with minimal packaging – shampoo, conditioner, body wash and deodorant that come in the form of a bar.

4. BYO Coffee Cup

Coffee is a huge part of the morning routine for many of us, but how many times do we use disposable cups? It is estimated that Australians go through 1 billion disposable cups every year. The waste from these cups piles up in landfills, polluting our environment and harming wildlife.

A reusable coffee cup can help reduce this problem by cutting down on the amount of waste created. These cups are made from materials like glass, stainless steel or recycled coffee husks. Instead of using a single-use cup, you can bring your own reusable coffee cup to work or order your coffee to dine in with a reusable mug at your favourite coffee shop!

5. Take Reusable Shopping Bags

It is important to take reusable shopping bags when you go grocery shopping. The use of disposable plastic bags has been a problem in the environment for decades now. They are made from petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource.

Australia has banned single-use plastic bags but buying the heavy-duty ones when you forget a bag is not great as they need to be used 37 times to equal the thin plastic bags in terms of environmental impact.

6. Bulk Food Shopping

Zero-waste food shopping is a way of buying groceries that minimizes the number of plastic bags used. Bulk food stores where you can bring your own jars and containers and pay by weight eliminate the need for plastic packaging.

It can also be a way to save on grocery costs. Buying in bulk can be more expensive than buying groceries from the store, but if you are able to use your own containers and bring your own bags, it could make for some cheaper shopping trips. Bulk food shopping is also an environmentally friendly way to shop because it reduces food waste as it allows you to only buy the amount you need.

7. Refill Liquids

The use of refill liquids is on the rise. This is a trend that is becoming more popular due to people caring about the environment and wanting to do their part in reducing plastic waste. Retailers are offering more refillable products which makes it easier for consumers and lowers the price.

Things To Refill

• Personal care – Shampoo, conditioner, body wash
• Cleaning products – Detergent, laundry liquid, bathroom cleaner,
• Sauces & oils – soy sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, mirin
• Beer – check with your local brewery

8. Dine In Instead Of Takeaway or BYO Containers

The restaurant industry is one of the biggest contributors to our environmental crisis. The amount of food waste, single-use plastic and in particular Styrofoam containers that are used, is staggering. Restaurants have transitioned to biodegradable or compostable containers but the biodegradability of bioplastic is questionable and has even been banned in some Australian states.

Avoiding any single-use is the best strategy. Say no to plastic by dining in or taking your own container to fill.

9. Look For Fabrics Made Of Natural Fibres

Fabrics made of natural fibres are becoming more and more popular. They are sustainable, slow fashion and often more durable than synthetic fabrics. Fabrics made of natural fibres are an environmentally friendly and sustainable option for clothing garments. Plant-based natural fibres include cotton, linen, hemp and jute.

Synthetic fibres such as polyester, rayon, acrylic, nylon, and spandex are used a lot in fast fashion because they are cheap to produce but they do not break down and end up polluting our natural environment. The use of synthetic fibres in the fashion industry is a major cause of microplastic pollution. The environmental impact of the fashion industry has been under scrutiny for years, with many brands attempting to make their products more sustainable however greenwashing is very common.

10. Refuse Receipts & Try Paperless Billing

The problem with paperless receipts is that they are not recyclable. The main reason for this is that most receipts are thermal paper coated with either Bisphenol-A (BPA) or its chemical cousin Bisphenol-S (BPS). Not only does this make them non-recyclable but these chemicals can also be harmful to your health.

Refusing receipts when shopping. Unfortunately, some retailers have outdated systems that will print a receipt regardless of if you refuse it but always ask if they have the option to email you a copy.