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20 Super Easy Tips to support Fair Trade Principle #10 and start your Plastic Free Future!

What ways do you show our environment a little extra respect? 🌱

Environmental Respect is one of the 10 Principles of Fair Trade set by the WFTO - so we really should incorporate it into our lives a lot more.

Have you started?

That's where Plastic Free July comes into it. The @plasticfreejuly crew themselves put it like this: 'Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities.'

Are you ready to give away single use plastic in your household this July? If you've already done this - Fabulous!! Congratulations, you've passed the first challenge. Now it's time to take your plastic free efforts into the year. You can make 2019 the first year of your plastic free future. To help kick start you off, I've made a list of super easy tips and intend to get on with it. Check out these tips to help your environment - make your house a #plasticfreehome anytime of the year.

EASY TIPS TO GO PLASTIC FREE ALL YEAR ROUND!

DITCH THE CLING WRAP

Once an essencial kitchen item for every 1970's house wives. Let's make cling wrap a thing of the past, just like we've now opened our kitchens to everyone in our families. Grab a container with a lid and wash up instead of covering a bowl with cling wrap.

BIN THE BAG

The bin is an icky thing, let's face it! We can all find an alternative for bin liners. Try lining your bin with the weekly free newspaper, or use the paper bags that are starting to be given out when you purchase shopping.

GET NAKED - NOOD FOOD

Don't get fooled! Your food can be naked when you buy it. It's not about keeping it hygenic, the supermarkets just want to sell more. It's called 'bundling'. Buy the naked fruit & veg and wash it!

BOX IT

Forgetful me! Anybody else always forget your green bags? Supermarkets have always got a spare packing box around. Pick one up as you go through the isles and use it instead of a dreadful thick plastic aka 'reuseable bag'.

NO CUP / NO COFFEE

Apply this to your daily mantra and live by it. You'll soon pop the cup back in your handbag or car as soon as it comes out of the wash. You can even try applying this to all your takeaway purchases. 

SIP WITH STYLE

You've seen the turtle and the straw..... right? Then i'd suggest you switch to a stainless steel one. Better still, do as my Mum did! ⁠Buy a bulk box and add them to every gift you give. You can even get little covers and teeny tiny cleaning brushes for them too now!

MAKE PLASTIC DEAD ON BREAD

I've got a big mouth sometimes, I'm the first to admit it. There is no reason why you need to buy bread in single use plastic. My tip for the lady at the bakery who 'needed' a plastic bag so her bread didn't go stale in the fridge was - keep it in a tupperware container in the cupboard, the celery length containers work best!

WE GIVE A CRAP

DO YOU? Of course you do or you wouldn't be part of my email list. The only toilet paper that seems to be available without the single use plastic packaging is.........Who Gives A Crap! CLICK HERE for a $10 voucher to use on your first - no one said a tip couldn't involve a gift as well!

READ IT! DONT WRAP IT.

Reading a magazine is so much more organic than screen time. Scrap your mail subscription for your favourite magazine and reduce single use plastic. Go back to dropping into your newsagency and support a local, small family owned business.

DITCH THE SPONGE

Suds are luxurious. It doesn't matter if you choose a shower or a bath, but a sponge or loofah makes the experience become unbelievably soothing. Now the problem is that most loofahs are made from plastic - an alternative does exist. Try a bamboo or natural spnge instead.

LET'S HIT THE BAR

It's time we start to ditch the bottled shampoo and condition. There is such a beautiful variety of shampoo bars that it's really to heavenly to pass, not to mention it can eradicate your single use plastic too!

A WOMAN'S TIME TO SHINE

We all go through it. It's what brings us the beauty of children and womanhood. Curse it or embrace it, the fact is we can all make it a lot less plastic. The thought is not big bulky pads but modern alternatives. I'm checking out ModiBodi to place an order for some plastic free sanitary options.

GET YOUR BAKE ON

Everything that we buy for school lunches, work snacks and weekend treats comes wrapped in some form of single use plastic. I'm no baker, so we fake it! Do it the easy way and look for recipes that dont involve a mixer. The kids love being able to mix, crush and lick - who doesnt love licking the bowl, no matter what the ingredients.

BUY IN BULK

A friend gave me the heads up about Nom Bulk Foods. I had no idea there was a wholefoods store within 5 minutes of where i live. Tomorrow I'm off to see if I can get oats in bulk without single use plastic. Google what's near you or a location search on instagram.
Note to self remember to take my own container!

PICK FROM YOUR GARDEN

Have you noticed they're most likely wrapped in single use plastic? Try picking greener from your own garden or ask your next door neighbour to swap some of your home baked goods from yesterday's tip. Or just select a florist who uses paper wrapping. 
Leave the plastic behind, it'll hellp your whole world change.

NATURALLY CLEAN

Make your cleaning a hell of a lot cheaper and watch your house sparkle! Next time you need to refill your spray bottle try a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. It makes a fab all-purpose spray cleaner and fresh produce wash. Make sure you store it in a reused spray bottle.

MAKE 'EM SHINE

Your teeth - that is! People have had teeth forever but plastic is only recent, yet it's time to ditch plastic toothbrushes and top a bamboo brush from The Toothbrush Project with your toothpaste - they're a social enterprise and plastic free!!

CLOTH CUTENESS

Changing nappies is no parents pleasure. It hurts your wallets, is icky and just plain painful. But there is very much an element of cuteness in using cloth nappies. You can win back hundreds of dollars a year and get to see those cute little crawling tushies on the run!

MAKE YOUR ICE-CREAM COUNT

It might be an evening treat or a weekly splurge, but did you know that the gourmet icecream range tastes a whole heap better! Not to mention it comes in a cardboard box so you can add another item to your plastic free challenge.

LIFE'S BETTER WITH FRIENDS!!!

Have you got your friends onboard yet? They'll get the hint when you start buying them a keep cup for their birthday present or a stainless steel straw as a thank you gift. Maybe its going so far as to just make sure that you all catch up for lunch once a month and make sure that nothing comes wrapped in plastic - homebaked goods, wine in glass bottles and stylish table ware. Perfect really.

 

I know you can do it. Start small, each little part makes a difference. Build your awareness of the plastic around you. I've found that this will help you see the simple things that can be changed in your purchasing, your habits and your household. Pop in the comments what change you have made in your efforts for going #plasticfree. I'd love to hear how you're going with it.

BONUS TIP: You can start going plastic free anytime of the year. 


2 comments

  • Thanks Vanessa! I love that you’re into the bulk foods type shopping experience too. I’m loving the Source Foods in katoomba as well as Nom Bulk Foods. Hope to bump into you there!

    Modimade
  • Nice one Anna. How was Nom Bulk Foods? I need to check them out, too. I refill things at the new(ish) place in Lawson now, too. Plus they have a lovely cafe and kids room. :-)

    Vanessa Jones

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