This Plastic Free July, we invite you to join us in making simple yet impactful changes to your daily routine. By swapping everyday items for environmentally friendly alternatives, we can all contribute to a healthier planet. Here are some easy and effective swaps to consider:
Reusable Bags and Borrow Bags
One of the simplest changes you can make is replacing plastic carrier bags with reusable alternatives. The impact of the plastic bag charge in the UK has been remarkable:
The policy has led to over £200 million being voluntarily donated by retailers to good causes since 2015.
Since the introduction of the 5p charge in 2015, plastic bag usage at major retailers has dropped by a staggering 97%.
The average person in England now buys around 3 single-use carrier bags a year from main supermarkets, compared to about 140 in 2014.
Overall, the number of plastic bags used has decreased from 7.6 billion in 2014 to just 133 million in the most recent recorded year – a 98% reduction.
We understand that sometimes you forget your bag or didn’t know that you would need one, so we also run our Borrow Bag Scheme, an innovative initiative to reduce plastic waste one bag at a time! Our Borrow Bags are made by local sewing volunteers using reclaimed materials like old curtains and fabric remnants, giving new life to textiles that might otherwise end up in landfills. These bags are distributed to participating shops, where customers can borrow them if they’ve forgotten their own bags and return them on their next visit.
By using a Borrow Bag or bringing your own reusable bag, you’re not just avoiding single-use plastic – you’re part of a community effort to create a less wasteful society. Each Borrow Bag has the potential to replace up to 50 single-use plastic bags, making a significant impact on plastic pollution.
Our Borrow Bag scheme is just one example of how we’re working together to create change. We invite you to join us in our workshops, where you can learn to sew Borrow Bags, enjoy free hot drinks, and connect with like-minded individuals.
If you’d like to volunteer with our Borrow Bag scheme, we always need helpers and would love for you to get involved! Pop over to our website here to learn more – here
Reusable Coffee Cups
For coffee lovers, investing in a reusable coffee cup is a great way to reduce waste and make a significant environmental impact. The scale of disposable cup usage in the UK is staggering:
- The UK uses an estimated 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year.
- This is enough to stretch around the world roughly five and a half times.
- Shockingly, less than 1 in 400 of these cups – just 0.25% – are recycled.
- Around 500,000 cups are littered every day, creating an unsightly and damaging blight on our environment.
By switching to a reusable coffee cup, you can help reduce this enormous waste. Many coffee shops offer discounts for bringing your own cup, making it a win-win for your wallet and the environment. Over the lifetime of a reusable cup, you could save up to 10.3kg of CO2e compared to using single-use cups. If everyone in the UK made this switch, we could potentially save 52,000 tonnes of CO2e each year.
Bamboo Toothbrushes
Let’s talk about something we all use daily – toothbrushes! Did you know that the average person goes through about four toothbrushes a year? That’s a lot of plastic ending up in our landfills and oceans. But don’t worry, we’ve got a solution that’ll make you smile! Enter the bamboo toothbrush – your teeth’s new best friend and the environment’s hero. These nifty brushes are just as effective at keeping your pearly whites clean, but with an eco-friendly twist.
Made from fast-growing, renewable bamboo, these toothbrushes are the sustainable alternative your bathroom’s been waiting for. When it’s time to say goodbye to your bamboo buddy, it’ll biodegrade naturally, unlike plastic brushes that hang around for hundreds of years. So, next time you’re due for a new toothbrush, why not give bamboo a go? It’s a small change that can make a big difference.
Beeswax Wraps
Say goodbye to wrestling with clingy plastic wrap and hello to the charming world of beeswax wraps! These colourful, reusable sheets are like a warm hug for your leftovers. Made from cotton infused with beeswax, they’re flexible enough to cover bowls, wrap sandwiches, or bundle up that half-eaten apple!
Not only do beeswax wraps keep your food fresh, but they also add a touch of eco-friendly chic to your kitchen. Plus, they’re a breeze to clean – just a quick wash with cool water and mild soap, and they’re ready for their next food-saving mission. It’s like having a sustainable superhero in your kitchen drawer!
Reusable Straws
Reusable straws are sleek, they’re funky, and best of all, they’re saving our oceans one sip at a time. These durable little heroes come in all shapes and sizes – straight, bent, wide for bubble tea (yes please!)
Toss a few in your bag, and you’re ready for any beverage adventure. And cleaning them? It’s a breeze with the nifty brush that usually comes with the straws when you buy them. So next time you’re sipping your favourite drink, you can feel like an eco-warrior, all while looking effortlessly stylish!
Reusable Water Bottles
Let’s talk about your new best friend – the refillable water bottle. It’s not just a container; it’s become a bit of an accessory! Whether you’re a gym enthusiast, an office warrior, or just someone who likes to stay hydrated (go you!), a reusable water bottle is your trusty sidekick.
These bottles come in so many fun designs, you’ll want to show them off everywhere. Plus, think of all the money you’ll save by not buying bottled water! So fill it up, drink up, and strut your eco-friendly stuff!
Bar Soap and Shampoo
Bar soaps and shampoos are making a splash in bathrooms everywhere. These package-free wonders not only leave you feeling squeaky clean but also help keep our planet clean too.
From luxurious lathers to heavenly scents, there’s a bar for everyone, so lather up and feel good knowing you’re creating suds sustainably!
Reusable Fruit & Veg Bags
Picture yourself at the farmer’s market, selecting crisp apples and juicy tomatoes but instead of reaching for those flimsy plastic bags, you pull out your own reusable produce bags. You’re not just shopping; you’re making a statement!
These lightweight mesh or cloth bags are the perfect sidekick for your grocery adventures. They keep your fruits and veggies fresh, and they’re easy to wash and reuse. It’s a simple swap that makes you feel like an eco-hero every time you shop.
Join Our Community Effort
At Final Straw Foundation, we believe in the power of community action. This Plastic Free July, why don’t you challenge yourself to try some of these changes and inspire others to do the same. We understand that sustainable choices can be more expensive, but even changing one thing will contribute to a huge collective impact! Together, we can reduce plastic waste, protect our oceans, and create a cleaner, greener future. Whether you’re borrowing a bag, attending a workshop, helping at a beach clean or trying your own eco-friendly swaps, every action counts in our collective effort to combat plastic pollution.
Join us in making a difference – one bag, one straw, one small change at a time.
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