6 Simple Steps to Reducing Plastic Waste from our Lives for Good

It’s time to reduce our plastic waste, we’ve heard it over and over again and yet it’s so hard for many of us to make a lasting change, simply because we lead busy lives, we need things to be quick and easy and convenient and our supermarkets and stores cant seem to stop wrapping everything in plastic. Here are some small changes we can start to make together, that will reduce our footprint upon this beautiful earth.

Say no to plastic straws – We’re finding straws everywhere, on land and sea and the thing that really hit home for me is the thought that the very first straw I ever used as a small child is still floating around somewhere in this world and every plastic straw I’ve ever used will outlive me, this just blows my mind. . In our house we use stainless steel straws and bamboo straws, which you can find ​at Nourished Life and Biome. We also love our silicone straws from Little Earth Nest for when we're out and about. We say no to all other straws, even if that means missing out on a nice treat and having a grouchy child. Sophia is well on board though and will often tell shop keepers or food servers why she doesn’t want the straw they’re offering and suggests they buy paper straws for their customers.

Refuse to buy plastic disposable water bottles - Instead buy a reusable stainless steel or glass water bottle and get a great home filter. There have been times I’ve forgotten my water bottle and to avoid the old last minute plastic water bottle purchase, I’ve bought a glass bottle of juice or mineral water just to get me by. We have an under the counter Reverse Osmosis water filter and remineraliser from The Water Shop in Sydney, it cleans out everything, including fluoride, which is one of the baddies! It was expensive but so worth it to our family. If you’re renting or need something cheaper I love the Southern Cross Pottery Filters, with the fluoride filter added, you can find them at Biome and the Waters Co Bio counter filters, found at both Nourished Life and Biome. The Waters Co AcePot Bio and water filter jug from both Nourished Life and Biome is an even cheaper option. If you’re really stuck, a simple Britta water jug is cheap and will at least filter out some of the nasties as the first line of protection, they can be purchased at most supermarkets and really are better than nothing.

​We love these water bottles from Kleen Kanteen, Cheeki and LifeFactory Glass. some stainless steel bottles can have an aftertaste and some glass bottles can be too thin, lets just say, you get what you pay for, so invest a little extra and you’ll get great quality.
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Ban plastic shopping bags – I know, I know, you’ve already done this and our supermarkets are making a big effort to help with it BUT how many times do we still forget to take them? Plus, the reusable bags from the supermarkets are also made with plastic, they just last a bit longer but eventually they break down and form micro plastics. What about the little fruit and veg plastic bags? A lot of people are still using these too. I love using cotton shopping bags and my absolute favourites are Alexx Stuart's organic cotton bags below and these beauties from Seed and Sprout ​(left)

yes they cost money, they aren’t cheap and when I first bought some, I wasn’t really in a financial position to spend money on random cotton bags, however I wanted to make a very tangible commitment to the earth and I felt that if I put my money where my mouth was and spent big on these babies, there was no way I was going to leave them at home. Fast forward a few years and yes I still occasionally leave them at home but not nearly as much as I used to. They are also certified organic, made sustainably and they’re really strong and huge, they literally fit everything in them.

Say nup to plastic lunchboxes – they break easily and they’re full of chemicals. Evidence is now showing that even BPA-free plastic might be worse for us because the alternatives like BPF could be causing more harm to our bodies. Studies are also starting to show some plastics are obesogenic, which means they are causing us to put on weight. We love Planet Box and Lunch Bots for our lunch box’s, they last forever, are super sturdy and come in all different shapes and sizes to suit kids and adults. Biome and Shop Naturally have a great range of lunch boxes, I’m also liking the look of Seed and Sprout’s Crunch Box but I'm yet to try it.  

​Wave goodbye to cling film and Glad Wrap – gone are the days where we need to use that awful stuff, in fact I don’t think I’ve used any for several years now and I’m pretty sure no one else needs to be using it either. I either store leftovers in containers or in a bowl with a plate over the top. My other favourites are wrapping food with beeswax wraps, you can make them yourself (my 7 year old recently made some at school) or they can be purchased at your local markets, Nourished Life, Biome and Shop Naturally

​Vote with our money - Unfortunately supermarkets are still insisting on covering every item in plastic, I get annoyed when I see produce covered in plastic wrap and bundled into bags, there’s no need for it and I would rather have the choice. The best way to beat this is to vote with our money and buy locally at farmers markets and local co-ops. Look for your local co-ops online, do a Google search or ask on your local “natural parenting”, “baby wearing” and even “Buy Swap Sell” facebook groups.

Ditching plastic is all the rage but its not a one-size-fits-all and its not a quick fad. It takes a commitment to finding new solutions to old problems and spending a few extra dollars to save dollars and the earth down the track. If we do this together, we’re going to make a huge difference to our human footprint on this beautiful earth.