Simple swaps to cut down on plastic

Trying to do your bit for the planet? Start with small, simple steps – every change we make adds up. Here are 10 super simple plastic-free swaps you can try today.

With many countries aiming to ban single-use plastics over the next decade, items such as shopping bags, straws and food packages will soon be relegated to the past. However, there’s no reason to wait years to quit plastic. With all the amazing sustainable alternatives to disposable products on the market, you can start cutting single-use plastics out of your life right now.

1 - Reusable water bottles
Millions of plastic water bottles are landfilled every day, so why not save money, time AND the planet by investing in a reusable water bottle. They now come in a range of sizes, colours, patterns and materials, including hard-wearing plastic and stainless steel. Local councils are also increasingly adding drinking fountains and water re-fill stations in town centres and parks.

2 - Eco toilet rolls
Be kind to the planet and never run out of toilet paper again by switching to a more earth-friendly alternative. Pure Planet Club bamboo toilet paper is 100% plastic-free and tree-free, and is made from renewable bamboo. It’s also packaged in a box, instead of plastic wrap, which is delivered straight to your door.

Pure Planet Club Earth Range Recycled Toilet Paper

3 - Reusable Straws
It’s estimated that in the US alone, around 500 million single-use straws are used each day. There’s a great range of alternatives on the market, including paper, stainless steel, silicone, glass and bamboo.

4 - Plastic-free lip balm
A whopping 200 million plastic lip balm tubes are binned every year and the vast majority of them end up in landfill. Our Pure Planet Club Organic Lip Balms are chemical-free, handcrafted and as gentle on the environment as they are on your lips, with plastic-free packaging made from 100% uncoated PCW paper that can be recycled or added to your compost.

Plastic Free Eco Friendly Lip Balm

5 - Reusable coffee cups
500 billion disposable coffee cups are made every year, so switching to a reusable cup is a no-brainer, plus they make great gifts for coffee-loving friends. As well as being an easy eco-swap, once you’ve rinsed out your cup it can double as a water glass or tea mug once you’re in the office.

6 - Loose leaf tea
If you’re a tea lover it may come as a surprise that tea bags are made from plastic which can actually release particles into your cup. Switch to a loose leaf tea made from a sustainable brand instead (we all know it tastes better anyway!)

Loose Leaf TeaAnna Shilonosova via Shutterstock

7 - Bamboo toothbrushes
Ditch the plastic toothbrush and opt for a bamboo brush instead. Bamboo is technically a grass and it is one of the fastest-growing plants on earth so as well as being an eco-friendly plastic alternative, it is also sustainable, self-regenerating and low-maintenance, and does not contribute to deforestation.

8 - Glass food jars            
Swap out your old plastic containers by gradually replacing them with glass jars. You don’t need to splurge on fancy mason jars though, just wash and reuse old glass jars that contained pickles, olives and jams.

Glass food jars bonchan via Shutterstock

9 - Reusable cotton buds
Can you remember the picture of the seahorse holding onto a cotton swab that went viral a few years ago? Sadly, most cotton bud swabs are made with plastic that end up in landfill or the ocean, but there are plenty of reusable alternatives that can be used up to 1000 times and can be used for cleaning or makeup application.

10 - Plastic-free floss
Regular floss is typically made of plastic, so why not consider an eco-friendly alternative. Earth-friendly dental floss is typically made of biodegradable materials such as silk and corn.

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