https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free-home daily 1.0 2021-12-10 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c8120cb9b747a7918a850ff/1551966445682/homepageimage-80.jpg Plastic Swaps https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c81223a24a69435e167b7eb/1551967131647/trash-plastic-sophie-tait001.jpg Plastic Swaps https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free daily 0.75 2019-03-23 https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/deodorant monthly 0.5 2019-03-05 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615ff3085229b582cdedf3/1551816816746/lush-plastic-free-naked-deodorant Plastic Swaps - DEODORANT - LUSH Not the most photogenic offering, but when you commit to making naked products, you have no fancy packaging to hide behind. I think this is something we all should embrace. Lush are leading the way - you’ll find naked everything there (even the staff, if you’re lucky). There are about five deodorant bars to chose from - this is is the Sunflower and it smells lovely. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7ed8c0e79c7045eb82606f/1551816904271/plastic-free-earth-conscious-deodorant Plastic Swaps - DEODORANT - Earth Conscious I’m do my best to support small brands wherever I can these days. And especially small brands who are doing big things for the environment. Earth Conscious are just that. The rub-in-with-your-fingers product is a mixture of coconut oil, sodium bicarbonate, shea butter and essential oils. These ingredients are proven to prevent bacterial growth, and thus prevent pong. But it’s not an antiperspirant - it’s not designed to keep you dry - and a lot of health-care professionals would say that’s a good thing. It comes in a totally plastic free tin, and, if you’re not into the whole rub-it-in-thing, it’s also available in a cardboard push-up tube. Natural, vegan, cruelty-free, smells nice. Oh, and it works! https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615fc48165f527b782fe6a/1551816845678/plastic-free-natural-deodorant-company Plastic Swaps - DEODORANT - The Natural Deodorant Company This is another totally natural rub-on deodorant, this time from the Natural Deodorant Company. It’s the only natural deodorant available in a range of strengths and scents. Vegan friendly, and free from palm oil (hurray!). The standard sized glass pots are totally plastic free. The handy travel sized minis do still have plastic lids, but these are being phased out soon. Save the lids and drop them off at Lush, who recycle all bottle tops as part of their closed-loop recycling. The only off-putter might be the price - over a tenner for a deodorant might feel like a stretch. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c61603eee6eb02f5351f760/1551816825962/plastic-free-primal-suds-deodorant Plastic Swaps - DEODORANT - PRIMAL SUDS In a moment of total ditz, I couldn’t work out why these were called ‘no bo bars’. Brain now in gear, I can tell you that these are solid deodorant bars, that will stop you from getting smelly. I’m a genius, I know. The bars are part of a range of body & hair products from Primal Suds. These guys make affordable products out of only natural, sustainable ingredients, and are committed to a zero-plastic promise. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615f2af4e1fc3c5264a27d/1551815488165/plastic-free-deodorants Plastic Swaps - DEODORANT https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/haircare monthly 0.5 2021-11-24 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c61599353450a883a2c2f7b/1551788214982/plastic-free-haircare Plastic Swaps - HAIR CARE https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615a49ec212d3859da83d7/1551788161037/plastic-free-funky-soap-shampoo-conditioner Plastic Swaps - HAIR CARE - FUNKY SOAP REFILLABLES I think (hope) this is going to be the future of all toiletries. Funky Soap Shop offer a range of shampoos and conditioners in refillable stainless steel bottles (as well as solid bars). You just post the empties back (at your cost) and they'll refill and return them (at theirs). If you're ever in North East London, they also have a ‘factory shop’ that you can visit in person. These are all really good value too. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615a5e4785d396611b7896/1551788133339/plastic-free-refill-shampoo-conditioner Plastic Swaps - HAIR CARE - BULK refills If the craze for bars is not your thing, you can stick to more traditional shampoos and conditioners, and find a way to have the bottles refilled. Faith in Nature and Suma products are often available in 'green'/bulk stores where you can BYO bottles and fill up as and when you need to. Or, if you’ve got space to store a biggie yourself, both brands sell in 5 litre mega sizes. Versus buying the equivalent twelve 400ml bottles, this saves money AND a lot of plastic waste. I’ve also heard of folk having bottles refilled by their hairdresser - it’s definitely worth an ask! https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615a0924a6947f23fd6dc0/1551788180009/plastic-free-wild-sage-shampoo-conditioner Plastic Swaps - HAIR CARE - WILD SAGE & Co. Wild Sage & Co products are ALL lovely. Whilst I’ve been happy with lots of different shampoo bars, I’ve found solid conditioners a bit trickier. So this is a combo I really like - a shampoo bar, and a more traditional liquid conditioner, made with broccoli oil, of all things. I’ve read it’s a complicated piece of alchemy, hence the hefty price tag. But for handmade, natural, shelf-worthy-plastic-free products - this range of gorgeous body, skin and hair is definitely worth a stretching the budget a little bit for. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6159c853450a883a2c3141/1551788202668/plastic-free-solid-lush-shampoo Plastic Swaps - HAIR CARE - LUSH solid BARS Solid shampoo and conditioners bars are the ultimate zero-waste heroes. Just like soap, but for hair. I’m pretty sure Lush can take at least some of the credit for how popular these are becoming. To my mind, they are the bar trailblazers. A store assistant told me a story about how the Lush NPD team apparently made a soap that foamed too much - waaaay more than normal - and a wise pixie suggested it might work for hair. And the rest, supposedly, is history. ANYWAY. There are now loads to choose from, whatever your hair type. Invest in the matching tins (or embrace a messy shower shelf). They last for ages and are mostly vegan. For an easy, high-street option, these are hard to beat. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7e67d953450a55713da16a/1551788030835/plastic-free-hair-styling-kite-wax Plastic Swaps - HAIR CARE - HAIR STYLING If you’re a fan of hair serums, then you might find an easy switch to a pure plant oils (different oils suit different hair types). I’ve been using Argan Oil, partly because it’s what I use on my face, but mostly because it has a reputation for being ‘liquid gold’ for hair. I don’t know about that, but it certainly tames frizz and seals split ends pretty well. Just don’t overdo it. You just need a tiny drop. If you’re looking for regular products, keep your eyes peeled and scan the shelves - there ARE options in standard ranges that come in aluminium tins and glass pots. Check out this Lush naked hair-tamer is designed for curly / afro hair, or this Kite hair wax for all hair-types. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7e6826b208fc99771c71e3/1551788103143/plastic-free-hair-ties-kooshoo Plastic Swaps - HAIR CARE - BRUSHES AND HAIRBANDS Anyone else think there must be a black hole where hairbands disappear to? (They must be hiding with all the missing socks). But, since ‘investing’ (they are expensive!) in these KooShoo one’s, I’ve hung on to all five for over two months. Maybe there’s a lesson in that. Buy things of value, and value them. Or maybe I just got lucky. The ties are made of responsibly sourced rubber and organic cotton, and come in neutrals or jazzier brights. These brushes and combs are made from responsibly sourced wood or bamboo, with soft-ended wooden pins and are a less galling price. I spotted some other ones that look good at Acala, a good resource for lots of plastic free beauty products. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7e67894e17b60fe514d6f8/1551788185522/plastic-free-shampoo-beauty-kubes Plastic Swaps - HAIR CARE - BEAUTY KUBES Beauty Kubes are a new discovery for me. It’s a big cube of 27 small cubes (sorry, kubes) - individual portions of solid shampoo or conditioner, that you smush in your palm and mix with a little bit of water to form a paste. And voila! Just the right amount for a single wash. I’ve decanted mine into an up-cycled glass jar to keep them nice and dry. Available for different hair-types, including a ‘for men’ version. I love them. The shampoo Kubes, plus the Wild Sage & Co conditioner is my absolute favourite plastic-free combo. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/suncare monthly 0.5 2019-03-06 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615bb40d929794cf60a1cf/1551872541273/plastic-free-self-tan Plastic Swaps - SUN CARE - FAKE TAN If you’d rather fake it than bake-it (v sensible) I’ve found this brilliant self-tan oil - Tan Organic. It’s organic and cruelty free and comes in a glass bottle with a bamboo lid! Even the travel size is in biodegradable plastic. Crucially though, it works really well and doesn’t pong. The only downside I can find - at £25, it’s pretty expensive. Available direct from Tan Organic - but I found mine at Ocado. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615b85e79c703cac2f1dec/1551872524465/plastic-free-aftersun Plastic Swaps - SUN CARE - AFTERSUN TBH, whatever you usually use to moisturise your body is perfectly good as aftersun. Or you could up the ante and go for something heavier, like coconut oil, to combat the drying effects of the sun. Aloe Vera gel is a classic natural aftersun, perfect for when you’ve overdone it a bit. I found it in a glass jars in my local pharmacy (same one online here). If you want to treat yourself, Herbivore Botanicals do a lovely spray aftersun, which is very soothing (especially when kept in the fridge) that comes in a glass bottle. But it’s not cheap. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76886815fcc0721dfc2c27/1551872531957/plastic-free-sun-cream-shade Plastic Swaps - SUN CARE - SHADE SUNSCREEN I’ve only found one UK product that is plastic free and reef safe. Shade is a zinc-oxide based sun-screen. ‘Screen’ being different to cream, which instead of being absorbed by the skin, forms a protective barrier on top. Zinc, plus three lovely skin boosting treats - coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax (I understand a vegan version is coming soon). The zinc used is ‘non-nano’ which makes it reef safe. It’s stocked in health-food/green shops, all the online plastic free places, or direct from Shade (via Amazon). I got mine from &Keep (one of my go-to’s for all kinds of plastic-free things) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615b2af9619ad354816555/1551872350005/plastic-free-sun-care Plastic Swaps - SUN CARE https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615ba1971a1829e803d8ab/1551872517878/plastic-free-insect-repellent Plastic Swaps - SUN CARE - INSECT REPELLENT What hot holiday would be complete without dealing with mozzies? Sigh. Badger Anti-Bug Balm is a totally natural repellent that comes in a cute metal tin. I’ve not tried it yet, so can’t vouch for how well it works. However, it gets great reviews and it smells pretty decent (rare, for anti-bug-stuff). And if you’re into essential oils, then you could give this homemade bug-spray a go. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/makeup monthly 0.5 2019-03-13 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615d1eb208fc722adab497/1549884713168/plastic-free-bathroom-make-up-cosmetics-024.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP - brushes I left the only make-up brushes I had in a hotel bathroom eons ago. And, to be honest, it’s been a struggle to find anything that I’m 100% happy are a genuinely eco choice. These Eco Tools were the best I’d found. But they’re not perfect. The brushes themselves are made from bamboo and recycled materials. But they do come in plastic packaging, which I gather is for hygiene reasons. They are lovely quality though, so I can’t see I’ll be needed any others for a long time. Since buying these, I’ve discovered Zao do very similar brushes. Same deal, bamboo handles, vegan-friendly synthetic tops. But they are not sold in plastic packaging. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c66f5c44785d3fface0cfc1/1550251499413/plastic-free-bathroom-make-up-cosmetics-026.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP - first thoughts Buying less of something is the obvious way to reduce plastic waste. Whilst this is hard in some areas, like food, it’s easy in others where the ‘something’ is more of an indulgence. Use up all the things you already have. You’ll be amazed at how long you can probably go before needing to buy anything new. Simplify your make-up. Make conscious choices. Better to buy one thing from a range you adore, than two ‘eco’ things you don’t like (& won’t use). Look within your favourite brands and see if there are any easy switches. Foundation in a glass bottle? Old school eye pencils you sharpen yourself, rather than twist up? https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615c09e2c483879c822e29/1549884439291/plastic-free-bathroom-make-up-cosmetics-019.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP - LUSH If I wrote a list of my top five plastic-free superheroes, Lush would be on it for sure. More than just stinky bath-bombs, they were selling ‘naked’ products long before it became ‘a thing’. They get an extra high five now because they have just launched a range of cosmetics, which are not just plastic-free, but genuinely zero-waste. Products like foundations, concealers and all-purpose glow-sticks (not the rave variety) can be used directly out of their cardboard boxes. Or, with the lipsticks, just peel off the wax wrapper and pop it into whatever empty twist-up lippie you have. It’s genius. Not pictured, but also worth mentioning is the Lush mascara. I’ve gone around the houses researching the best option and this is what I think is best. But on one proviso - you return the empty tube to them. Keeping plastics in a closed-loop recycling scheme is one of the most efficient use of of resources and guarantees it won’t end up in landfill. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615dbcec212d3859da9c2f/1549884871913/plastic-free-bathroom-make-up-costmetics-007.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP - FAT AND THE MOON Definitely a bit of a weird name, but the products are lovely. Fat and the Moon have perfect little pots of colour for lips and cheeks, as well as dramatic black kohl for eyes, which is now in my make-up essentials bag. The range, which is made with 100% natural ingredients, also includes lovely skincare things too. They are a US brand that you can buy via Etsy, but stocked by a few UK places too. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c66f6e79140b7f76f7d0cd1/1550251759988/plastic-free-bathroom-make-up-costmetics-013.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP - lip balms I wondered if you can get actually be addicted to lip-balm. Apparently not, but it’s a close call for me. Good thing there are lots of easy-to-find options in little glass pots or stainless steel tins. I’ve even started making my own - it’s really easy. So the few pots I have (that are on a constant cycle of being lost and found) can stay in my at-home zero-waste lip-balm factory. If you’re buying, give those blue tins a swerve if you can. Vaseline, AKA petroleum jelly, is, well, petrol. Try this (Fair Squared) or this (Wild Sage) or this (Evolve Beauty) instead. Save the empty tins to take on holiday. They make perfect travel-sized pots for skincare products. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c66f6b1c830255ea45dd889/1550251716706/plastic-free-bathroom-make-up-costmetics-005.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP - DIRTY HIPPIE COSMETICS Dirty Hippie Cosmetics are a fab Australian brand. They are great value, hand-made (made to order, in fact) vegan and totally plastic-free. They stock the only only plastic free mascara I’ve come across (aside from a disastrous Etsy buy) but I’ve not got it, so can’t vouch for it being any good either. Items are coming a loooooong way, but are shipped by standard mail, weigh very little and are sent in uber-eco packaging. Personally, I think that’s okay. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c66f55071c10b40e628b4cf/1550251355316/plastic-free-bathroom-make-up-cosmetics-014.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP - zao refillables For some reason, I was a bit sceptical about Zao. I’d seen their products popping in some of the ‘plastic free’ shops, but wasn’t convinced that they could live up to that claim. I had a really positive email exchange with the Director of Zao, who was completely transparent about what they can do, can’t do, will do and won’t do. My view now is that some products are better than others. I don’t believe that a refillable mascara or lipgloss is much of an improvement (the only plastic ‘saving’ being the wand). But I do think the refillable powders, eye-shadows and blushers are truly fabulous. Overall, they definitely one of the good guys :-) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615e6deef1a13325df1531/1549885044964/plastic-free-bathroom-make-up-costmetics-009.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP - ECO GLITTER From time to time, I think we all need a bit of magic and sparkle in our lives. I was gutted when I found out about the environmental impact of glitter, AKA teeny-tiny pieces of micro-plastic. (Is nothing safe?!). But, phew, there’s eco-glitter, which is totally biodegradable and ocean safe. Festival go-ers, use it with aloe vera gel for sparkly faces and bodies. Christmas crafters, this works a treat for your creations too. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c3b9d350e2e72aee0f0505f/1547495315172/1301mixedpots.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615d8e6e9a7f58150b5f3f/1549884820787/plastic-free-bathroom-make-up-costmetics-002.jpg Plastic Swaps - MAKE-UP - RMS BEAUTY If you want to splash out, or are sensibly adopting a ‘buy less, buy better’ thing, RMS Beauty is a proper treat. The minimal packaging is made from sustainable materials, meaning it's either reusable, recyclable or compostable - and many products are entirely plastic free. I have a pot of lip colour and a cheek tint, both of which are in glass pots with metal lids. The range is organic, beautiful quality, but wowzers, it’s expensive! I discovered RMS at a sustainable Christmas pop-up event (Oooops. Happy Christmas to me) but have since found it stocked at Space NK too, which might spell danger. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/dental monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6157e64785d396611b688d/1551789077067/plastic-free-toothpaste-dentabs Plastic Swaps - DENTAL CARE - Flouride den-tabs When it comes to toothpaste, I think this might be the be the best compromise. These tiny minty tabs from Non Plastic Beach crunch down into a shot of flouride toothpaste. It takes a while to get used to the slightly dry mouth-feel (vs regular foamy toothpaste). But they are the only flouride option that I know of and they’re perfect for travel, although I can imagine a few raised eye-brows at security. Packaged in a cardboard box, they are the ultimate zero-waste hero. It’s a big thumbs-up from me. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615705ee6eb02f5351b74d/1551789051846/plastic-free-toothbrushes Plastic Swaps - DENTAL CARE - toothbrushes This an easy one. Bamboo toothbrushes are readily available everywhere now. We use them for travel, as we’ve all got electric brushes that I’m not going to just bin. My faves, based on durability, looks (I know, I know) and sustainability, are these three: Georganics Hydrophill & Truthbrush. Just remember you need to pull the bristles out with pliers before you can compost the handle. Let the old brush loose on kitchen cleaning tasks first though. Electric toothbrush devotees, if you ever need to replace it, consider this one from Geoganics. It comes in plastic-free packaging, which is already big improvement. And the replaceable heads are fully recyclable through Georganics ‘Zero to Landfill’ scheme. One of my kids has this one, and it’s great. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6156c7eb3931183201c394/1551788905329/plastic-free-dental-care Plastic Swaps - DENTAL CARE https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7e6c9d1905f4d42913d6de/1551789220725/plastic-free-toothpaste-truthpaste Plastic Swaps - DENTAL CARE - truth paste As an ex-Brighton-dweller, I love hearing about small-business success stories from my old seaside town. Truth Paste is the UK’s first zero-waste and cruelty-free mineral based toothpaste. It’s made with bentonite clay, organic neem, aloe vera, myrrh and essential oils. I was incredibly skeptical about this. But my teeth have genuinely never never felt cleaner, nor my mouth fresher (I sound like a 1950’s ad). You will need to get used to not having a mouth full of foam though - none of these natural products don’t do that. This is a good thing, when you learn what those foaming agents actually are! There is a list of stockists here or buy it direct from Truth Paste. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615728f9619ad3548149a8/1551789301919/plastic-free-dental-georganics Plastic Swaps - DENTAL CARE - GEORGANIcs Georganics are totally owning this space. The surprisingly big range is based on two oral-care super-powers, coconut oil, which is naturally antibacterial, and activated charcoal, which is a cleansing and whitening agent. Lovely natural flavours, including English Peppermint, Green Tea and Mandarin - there are toothpastes, tooth-powders, dissolvable mouthwash tablets (brilliant idea!) and dental floss - although, there has recently been a bit of hoo-ha about the discovery that there is a tiny amount of nylon in the charcoal one. The silk one is fully compostable. A one-stop clean-teeth shop from a company that is committed to being a sustainable, ethical, low-waste business. Win. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/skincare monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6152b924a6947f23fd3dfb/1551781677341/evolve-organic-natural-skincare Plastic Swaps - SKINCARE - EVOLVE ORGANIC SKINCARE Evolve Organic Beauty (AKA my weakness) will be on my Christmas list from now to forever. I love these products. Handmade in small batches, almost entirely from natural, organic ingredients, everything I’ve tried has been a joy to use. The Gentle Cleaning Melt and the 360 Moisture Cream deserve a special mention. OMG. The skincare (but not the hair or body) products are all packaged in amber glass, which are keepers. Refill and re-use at will (DYI candle makers, take note). Or recycle the glass, and drop the lids off at Lush, who collect plastic tops and add them to their in-house closed-loop recycling. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c765eceee6eb02ae93fb1e8/1551781764288/hydrophil-konjac-sponge Plastic Swaps - SKINCARE - konjac sponges I’m a big fan of these squishy Hydro Phil konjac sponges. They are made from the fibre of the Konjac plant (obvs) which is a high altitude perennial, native to Asia. It is a totally natural food source, full of skin-friendly minerals and antioxidants and, being naturally alkaline, makes it perfect to use on the face. Soak the sponge until it’s all squishy, then gently massage clean your skin. I keep mine in a little glass jar to keep it spongy, but if you accidentally let it dry out, don’t worry, they spring back after short dunk in water. They are fully compostable when they’ve reached the end of their useful life (about three months). A true zero-waste hero! https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c765dedf9619a092331d6cc/1551781153141/conchus-plastic-free-skincare Plastic Swaps - SKINCARE - conchus Conchus were founded on a commitment to fighting waste in the bathroom - being plastic-free is at the heart of what they do. The bulk of the collection is ‘bar’ based, i.e solid shampoos, facial/body cleansers. But they also have a small range of balms, oils and hair ‘rinses’ in stainless steel packaging. They also stock a few pieces from the the Zao make-up range (not plastic-free, but close). Beyond the development of lovely skin, hair and body-care products, they are active supporters of environmental initiatives. They are definitely one of the good guys :-) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6152111905f4fc9c32771b/1551780940405/plastic-free-plant-based-skincare Plastic Swaps - SKINCARE - Plant power I’m aware I’m very late to the party, but it’s been an absolute revelation to use pure plant ingredients, straight up. Three superstars will have you covered: Almond oil (or coconut) is a brilliant multi-tasker. Use it to remove stubborn eye-make up, & moisturise (face and body). Flower waters makes great toners. Gentle options are neroli, lavender, rose, chamomile or try witch hazel for tricky skin. And, depending on your skin-type, you’ll find a simple plant-based oil moisturiser that will most likely rock your world (no joke). I’m hooked on Argan oil, which I get topped up at my favourite unpacked bulk shop, BYO. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c73eb45ee6eb02c2aef715a/1551781400444/lush-naked-skincare Plastic Swaps - SKINCARE - lush naked skincare I never used to be a fan, but you’ll find me singing the praises of Lush all over this site. Lush were championing sustainable, ethical skincare waaaaay before it became A Thing. And recently, they’ve gone into overdrive. You name it, they’ve found a way to bring you that product ‘naked’. Shampoo, body-wash, body-lotions, make-up (yep, MAKE-UP!) and now, skin-care. I’m loving these solid cleansing bars, serums and moisturisers. They are balms (not soaps), which melt at body-temperature. Either apply directly, or, let a small amount melt on your fingertips and gently rub in. There are loads to choose from, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one, whatever your skin-type. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c73eb874e17b6627ac521ce/1551781420179/up-circle-beauty-products Plastic Swaps - SKINCARE - up-circle beauty It’s hard to argue with the story behind Up-Circle. Questioning the bonkers amount of waste generated by coffee-shops, the original premise was to take used coffee grounds and transform them into lovely skincare products. They’ve stuck to their guns with coffee, but added products using residual chai-spices as well. The result is a range of 100% natural, cruelty-free, face and body products - cleansing bars, serums, scrubs and moisturisers - that are lovely to use, with a lovely back-story to-boot. Not entirely plastic-free (frustrating sample sachets - grrrrr) but pretty-damn-close! https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615149971a1829e8039095/1551780923049/plastic-free-skincare-ideas Plastic Swaps - SKINCARE https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615236ee6eb02f535195c3/1551781749398/funky-soap-refillable-skincare Plastic Swaps - SKINCARE - FUNKY SOAP REFILLABLES The Funky Soap Shop tick a whole load of boxes for me. 100% natural, cruelty free, local (London), loads of plastic-free products, and - this is the biggie - sell a selection of refillable skincare products too. And you don’t need to be local - although they do have an IRL shop you can visit. You can order online and post empties back for refilling. I can’t applaud this enough. It’s all well and good choosing fancy things in glass bottles (guilty), but it’s this closed-loop way of doing things that’s going the future of sustainable skincare (slash everything). https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/shaving monthly 0.5 2019-03-06 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6155fd15fcc09ae51a20e5/1551269387730/plastic-free-shaving-soap.jpg Plastic Swaps - SHAVING - SHAVING soap Shaving soap differs from normal soap in the way that it lathers. It needs to make a much creamier, denser foam for it to work - which is why aerosol foam cans have been such a thing. There are lots of better options though - natural products, in sustainable packaging, made by good companies. Norse, who offer a range of grooming products, including metal safety razors, are worth a look. Friendly Soap is a great value choice. Finally, Wild + Sage (pictured) who are one of my favourites for all kinds of skin and body care products. Using a shaving brush is the trick to getting a decent lather. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c767d83971a1831f0500971/1551872683475/plastic-free-shaving-norse Plastic Swaps - SHAVING https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c767db9eb393114c86011dd/1551872704343/plastic-free-razors Plastic Swaps - SHAVING - razors Switching to a metal safety razor has to be one of the easy wins. Over time, it saves loads of money and loads of plastic waste. There are so many available I’m not even going attempt a recommendation! But here is some some good advice on how to choose one and here is as a big selection to buy. One thing, it’s really important to dispose of the blades carefully. For them to be recyclable, they must be put in a ‘blade bank’ first. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/medical monthly 0.5 2019-03-21 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6150149140b743f64d6ad1/1551867700421/plastic-free-first-aid Plastic Swaps - MEDICINE CABINET https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76b74d0852294580a73b62/1551867694742/plastic-free-natural-skin-healers Plastic Swaps - MEDICINE CABINET - three amigos These three natural skincare heroes are such useful ‘treat-all-ills’ to have to hand. Tea Tree gel is an antiseptic, and, in this format, is a bit less harsh than the pure oil above. Aloe Vera gel is perfect for sunburn and irritated skin. Arnica gel is known to sooth aches, pains and reduce bruising & swelling. I found all of these in my local pharmacy - but they can be bought direct - not sure what the packaging situation would be though. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615044e79c703cac2ed117/1551867673325/plastic-free-pain-killers Plastic Swaps - MEDICINE CABINET - PAIN KILLERS Whenever I do a neighbourhood litter-pick, I always find empty blister-packs of pain-killers. (The other thing I always find are loads of plastic disposable gloves - ewww). When I tried to buy Paracetamol in glass bottles in Boots, I got a flat no. But every independent pharmacy I’ve tried since, has said yes (but in fairness, this is only a sample size of three). However (serious point alert) since writing the original post, I’ve learnt that one of the reasons for the switch away from glass bottles is down to evidence around suicide rates. Please, of course, respect all medical advice, and keep medicines in a safe place, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c61505915fcc09ae519fdc8/1551867682637/plastic-free-plasters Plastic Swaps - MEDICINE CABINET - FIRST AID ElastoPLAST. The clue is in the name, isn’t it. For really nasty grazes, I don’t think these Patch bamboo strips quite cut (sorry) it. But for minor cuts and scrapes, they do the job just fine. There are plenty of natural antiseptics that can easily replace a squeezy plastic tube of Savlon - Tea Tree Oil being a classic choice. Or TCP - which you can still easily find in glass bottles - is another useful multi-tasker that can be used for all kinds of things. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/bathroom-essentials monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c614e4f1905f4fc9c325f03/1551871594616/plastic-free-cotton-wool Plastic Swaps - BATHROOM ESSENTIALS - COTTON WOOL Aside from the issue with with plastic packaging, growing cotton uses enormous amounts of water, and a crazy amount of chemical pesticides. It’s far from ideal. When I started this adventure, reusable cotton wool pads were a Really New Thing. Now there are loads! Check out the line-up on Etsy! To be super-sustainable, try to get some that are made of bamboo fleece, or hemp. But really, it’s the buy-once, use-re-use-re-use-re-use that’s where the good stuff happens. If you use them for eye-make up massage them with soapy water afterwards. It’s much easier to keep them stain-free if you give them a quick wash as you go. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c614e6dc83025b45f6e1c67/1551871704981/plastic-free-cotton-buds Plastic Swaps - BATHROOM ESSENTIALS - COTTON BUDS The stats around the number of cotton buds that turn up on beach cleans are horrendous! Foolish folk flush them down the loo (along with their wet-wipes I expect) and they end up in our waterways. It’s likely the UK will ban these plastic pests at some point (Scotland already has) and some brands have already made the switch to paper sticks. But a better option altogether (outside doing without, obvs) is bamboo, which is stronger AND more sustainable. Props to these two, as the packaging is compostable too: Hydro Phil & Non Plastic Beach. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c764b15eef1a1cf3177101b/1551871500708/plastic-free-bathroom-essentials Plastic Swaps - BATHROOM ESSENTIALS https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c764b52971a1831f04eb63a/1551871781941/plastic-free-toilet-roll-who-gives-a-crap Plastic Swaps - BATHROOM ESSENTIALS - TOILET ROLL Well, I didn’t imagine I’d ever photograph and write about our toilet paper. We’re clearly living in strange times people. But, this toilet paper deserves some love. It’s more than just plastic free, it’s plastic free with benefits (and I don’t just mean the jazzy paper wrappers). Who Gives a Crap donate 50% of their profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing countries. Order direct, in boxes of 40 rolls, or find it roll-by-roll in the usual eco-bulk store places. I switch between WGAC and Ecoleaf. Made by Suma, who, by every measure, are a really good company. It’s recycled, produced in the UK, comes in compostable wrapping (four-roll packs only) and is really good value. Easy to find in high-street eco-health-type places. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c764bca4e17b63b4315e6cb/1551871789420/plastic-free-reusable-wet-wipes Plastic Swaps - BATHROOM ESSENTIALS - wipes We’ve all read about the horror of ‘fatbergs’, right? It’s horrendous. And recent research has shown that many wipes (beauty / baby / cleaning) that claim to be biodegradable and flushable, are just not. Even if they are, they are just SO wasteful! My solution: Bamboo reusable kitchen roll. I soak the wipes in a mix of 50/50 boiled water and rose flower water, a squirt of castille soap and a big splash of almond oil. For travel, small Stasher Bags are the perfect size, and are dishwasher safe. At home, instead of Stashers, I keep them in two glass jars. It’s SO easy. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/menstrualproducts monthly 0.5 2019-03-11 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6154f9e79c703cac2eee61/1551791367423/plastic-free-mooncup Plastic Swaps - MENSTRUAL CARE - MENSTRUAL CUP Without a doubt, first choice for every eco-warrior. A one-off purchase that should last for years, completely eliminating waste. As the name suggests, it’s a silicone ‘cup’ that you insert inside your vagina, that you simply take out, wash, and use again. Silicone is a food-grade material that doesn’t leach toxic chemicals in the way that traditional plastics do, so it’s body-safe. They take a bit of getting used to, but once you’re down with it, you’re down for life. It’s worth doing a bit of research, as (unsurprisingly) different ones tend to suit different people. Here’s a good little guide to a few of the ones available in the UK. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7fad53ee6eb0788d90e575/1551871445914/plsatic-free-period-pants Plastic Swaps - MENSTRUAL CARE - washable pads & period pants The thought of washable period protection can initially be a be ‘eeew’, but once you get over that, these are so much better. Two ideas. Cloth sanitary pads, or CSP’s. I like the one’s from Baba and Boo which are made of an outer layer of bamboo charcoal fleece, which is very soft and super-absorbent. Inside the pad is an absorbent layer of microfibre and a layer of waterproof PUL. Even better, but r-e-a-l-l-y un-photogenic, are period-proof-undies with built in protection. My big old hip-huggers are from Modibodi, which I like because they are made of bamboo (sustainable fabric - tick). Thinx are another good option, but ship from the US. Expensive, yes, but when you consider the average woman uses 11,000 sanitary items, investing in reusables has to be the way to go. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76b674a4222f3843a36ff3/1551791459499/plastic-free-menstrual-products Plastic Swaps - MENSTRUAL CARE https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6154c0eef1a13325ded22d/1551283885239/plastic-free-tampons-pads.jpg Plastic Swaps - MENSTRUAL CARE - TAMPONS AND PADS Natracare products are widely available in health food stores and other ‘green’ places. The tampons and pads are free from plastic, and, and the wrappers are made from compostable materials. TOTM (Time Of The Month) are a company with high ethical standards. The tampons, pads and liners are made using non GM-organic cotton and are wrapped in biofilm wrappers. Sign up for a super-easy monthly subscription and they even deliver in carbon positive sugarcane mailing bags! Yoni are another one to look up. Again, the products are all organic cotton, and use compostable wrappers and backing sticker strips. Buy direct online, or they’re stocked by Sainsbury’s and Planet Organic. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/bodycare monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615377104c7bb62a1d4cff/1551780802694/refill-faith-in-nature-bodywash Plastic Swaps - BODY CARE - BODY WASH If you don’t fancy soap, or have bubble-bath loving children (me), see if you can find somewhere to refill your bottles. We like the Faith in Nature body-wash, which you can find at refill stations here. Or, do what we do and buy five litre bulk sizes, and have your own little bottle filling shop at home. It’s a bit of an upfront investment, but works out a long term money (and plastic) saver. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6153bc4785d396611b4a68/1551780818942/plastic-free-natural-body-lotions Plastic Swaps - BODY CARE - BODY LOTION Similar to where I’ve landed on facial moisturisers, it’s all about the plant oils for me now. What works, will, of course, depend on your skin type. I’m no expert, so here’s a good guide to different oils/butters and how to use them. Typically these are easy to find in health-food shops. There are lots of pre-made things to try too. Everything by Evolve is lovely. Same goes for Wild Sage & Co. And clever old-Lush have naked body moisturisers (of course they do!) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7695bf971a1831f050db30/1551780827032/plastic-free-lush-bathbombs Plastic Swaps - BODY CARE - bath bombs I promise I’m not getting any kick-back from Lush (or anyone for that matter). But, again, it’s Lush who get the shout-out here. A gift box of Lush bath-bombs has become my go-to birthday present for my girls to give their friends. And we love them in our bathroom too. You can easily and cheaply make them from easy-to-find, non-plastic-y ingredients. We use this recipe by Wellness Mama. Silicone ice-cube trays make okay moulds, but if you turn pro, you probably need something like these. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c615361085229b582cd970e/1551780756497/plastic-free+-soapdaze+-oap Plastic Swaps - BODY CARE - SOAP The solution here is so obvious, isn’t it. But at some point, soap just fell out of favour. I think this was at least partly due to how it made your skin feel - itchy and dry. But, there are SO many ‘solid cleansing bars’ around now that are super-moisturising and lovely to use. A few that I particularly like - Soapdaze / Conchus / Friendly / Wild Sage & Co / Lush I think it’s worth getting one of these Hydrophil sisal soap bags too. It works like a loofah and soap dispenser in one and keeps the soap off the side of the bath. Collect all your soap scraps inside to reduce waste. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c61540415fcc09ae51a14d0/1551780548948/plastic+free+soaps Plastic Swaps - BODY CARE https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/pasta-rice-beans monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c53001a40ec9acef5395f4e/1548943394135/plastic-free-pasta-rice-beans-005.jpg Plastic Swaps - PASTA, RICE & BEANS - un-packaged online Don’t have a BYO bulk store nearby? No problemo! I’ve found two online sources that will post your goodies in compostable paper bags, anywhere in the UK. Zero-Waste-Club and the Plastic-Free-Pantry both have a really good selection of food things to order by weight. I’ve bought a random selection of things in the past - nuts, bicarbonate of soda, drinking chocolate, coffee beans, dried tofu (don’t do this) and muesli. It’s really lazy, but, hey, what of it. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d10e0ebbe892091bb066/1548932197802/plastic-free-pasta-rice-beans-004.jpg Plastic Swaps - PASTA, RICE & BEANS - supermarket PASTA I’m going to try and ignore the annoying plastic window on this Barilla boxed pasta (who doesn’t know what pasta looks like) and be happy that it means much less plastic, and that it’s easy(ish) to find. Tesco and Ocado both stock it, as does Amazon (although, buyer beware, when I ordered it as part of an Amazon Fresh delivery, I got the most ridiculous amount of those plastic air-bags in the box - more than if I’d bought the plastic-free things not plastic-free, if that makes any sense). Some of the De Cecco pasta also comes in boxes, so keep your eyes-peeled for that too. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d2c8bba2234822882c21/1548932197810/plastic-free-pasta-rice-beans-014.jpg Plastic Swaps - PASTA, RICE & BEANS - big big bags This might seem like a silly suggestion, but, if you can’t easily get bulk foods, then you can reduce your plastic waste (and save money) simply by buying bigger bags. The bigger the bag, the less plastic used. Never feel that the little things aren’t worth doing. Every small action adds up over time. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d192758d466a263b00a7/1548932197804/plastic-free-pasta-rice-beans-007.jpg Plastic Swaps - PASTA, RICE & BEANS - bulk stores I’m not sure what this says about me, but my bi-weekly trips to my favourite BYO bulk store in Nunhead - called - um - BYO - have become one of life’s small pleasures. Maybe, as someone who’s become conscious about every single thing I buy, it’s because it’s the only place I can now get a little shopping fix without feeling crushing environmental guilt (it’s A Thing apparently). Or, maybe it’s because it’s just good to be more up-close-and-personal with ingredients. Whatever it is, it’s a lovely way to shop. And one that I’m very grateful I can do easily do in my little corner of London. Check our the brilliant The Zero Waster blog for a list of UK-based un-packaged goods places. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d018aa4a9982d6d1b80a/1548932197800/plastic-free-kitchen-storecupboard-food-storage-004.jpg Plastic Swaps - PASTA, RICE & BEANS https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d2172b6a2803e8c65c6a/1548932197808/plastic-free-pasta-rice-beans-013.jpg Plastic Swaps - PASTA, RICE & BEANS - tins We have so many cans of food at home that you’d think something think bad was about to happen. Aluminium is one of the most easily recycled and resource efficient materials. Being relatively light, it’s also has a lighter carbon footprint than glass. One thing to watch out for, many cans have a plastic lining that contains BPA, which is a known hormone disrupter, linked to endocrine problems and even cancer. The jury is out, but it’s worthing looking out for brands that carry a BPA-free logo (Biona, Suma & Mr Organic all do). Or, if all you see inside the can is, well, can, not a layer of white film, then it’s all good. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/kitchen-storage monthly 0.5 2019-03-06 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d6b288251bdcc4411218/1551865353424/plastic-free-kitchen-upcycled-jars Plastic Swaps - KITCHEN STORAGE - up-cycled jars My love of an up-cycled jar knows no bounds. I have a deep kitchen drawer that I can barely close due to my obsessive hoarding of ‘just-one-more-because-it’s-a-really-nice-one’. I’ve even found myself making food choices in shops based on the shape of the jar. I use them for EVERYTHING. For storing leftovers, bringing things back from bulk stores, craft supplies, storing solid shampoo bars, mess-free, on the go-food. You name it, I’ll have a jar that’s fit for purpose. As well as jars, get into the habit of saving any plastic food bags that will (inevitably) sneak in. Wash them and they can be used to keep green leafy veg fresher for longer, or as freezer bags. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d77cb8a045df091da696/1551865416017/plastic-free-beeswax-wraps Plastic Swaps - KITCHEN STORAGE - WAX WRAPS Thank goodness there’s an easy alternative to cling-film - that useful, but environmentally horrible stuff. Abeego beeswax wraps are a bit pricy, but they last and last. Plus, if you embrace using old glass jars for most of your food storage, you won’t need many. We have a pack of three, which we mostly use for buying cheese and covering half avocados. I gave my dad a Abeego-wrapped cheese selection for Christmas - nothing like inflicting your plastic-free lifestyle on others ;-) There is a vegan version available too, or, as I’ll do when this eventually wears out, just make your own. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d73d6d2a73238d456e7a/1551865401071/plastic-free-stainless-steel-food-storage Plastic Swaps - KITCHEN STORAGE - STAINLESS STEEL Tiffin boxes, snack pots, sandwich boxes, food storers, water bottles - stainless steel is mighty fine material to choose for a few investment pieces as part of your plastic reduction kit. But really, after rushing out and buying more than a few (old habits) I wish I’d thought harder about what I actually needed. Probably because I’m a mama of minis, I find the mini pots the most useful. They are just the right size for snacking. There’s a good selection at a &Keep or a Slice of Green that should work for most. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d51eb8a045df091d6ffe/1551865329500/plastic-free-kitchen-storage Plastic Swaps - KITCHEN STORAGE https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c706360e2c4831388e60cda/1550869368087/DSC_6305.jpg Plastic Swaps - KITCHEN STORAGE - compostable bags Whilst we try to stick to reusables, we do have a stash of these which get a lot of love in our house. My children get packed off to school with a bag of popcorn for after-school-snacks, like 1970’s throw-backs. We also use them as packed-lunch sandwiches bags and playdate treat bags. The whole range of products by If You Care are worth exploring. I also like the compostable baking paper, recycled aluminium foil and the compostable cup-cake liners. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d6e870a6ada66148a43b/1551865392009/plastic-free-ikea-food-storage-boxes Plastic Swaps - KITCHEN STORAGE - glass boxes For leftovers that don’t fit in any of my glass jars, I use these glass boxes. They are from Ikea, and can be bought with a choice of lids, bamboo or plastic, depending on what you plan on using them for. Different sizes, but stackable, which makes for a neat-and-tidy fridge situation. They are oven safe and dishwasher proof too. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d7c71ae6cf0961724a3f/1551865428014/plastic-free-food-storage-stasher-bags Plastic Swaps - KITCHEN STORAGE - STASHER BAGS I love a Stasher bag. They are made from food-grade silicone, which, unlike plastic, can withstand heating and freezing without leaching hazardous chemicals. It’s also odour and stain resistant and dead easy to clean (it’s dishwasher safe). It’s basically bomb proof. We use these bags for all kind of things. Beyond the obvious food uses (freezing, storing, defrosting leftovers, sous-vide cooking, snacking) they make a great flight-safe bag for travel sized toiletries and perfect clean/dirty bags for DIY reusable wipes. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52d685f950b7d24b00a038/1551865370732/plastic-free-kitchen-weck-storage-jars Plastic Swaps - KITCHEN STORAGE - fancy GLASS jars These days we buy nearly all of our store-cupboard staples in bulk stores. I have a ramshackle collection of cotton bags and jars that I use to get things home, where they top up the big ‘fam-sized’ jars on the kitchen shelf. I’ve got a simple FIFO method for making sure that I’m using things up in the right order - it’s just a bowl I tip things out into before adding the new bounty (I know, I’m a genius). My favourite storage jars are made by Weck. They come in loads of different shapes and sizes, don’t cost crazy cash, and they just look good. Also worth considering are the kilner-style jars at Ikea, which are much cheaper than the originals. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/tea-coffee monthly 0.5 2019-03-23 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52dc64bba2234822886572/1548935863812/plastic-free-kitchen-hot-drinks-tea-011.jpg Plastic Swaps - HOT DRINKS - tea bagS Most popular UK brands are only 70-80% biodegradable, due to the use of polypropylene, a thermoplastic that helps the bags retain their shape. Given our nation’s relationship with a brew, that adds up to a LOT of plastic! PG Tips and the Co-Op have announced plans to stop using this. And there are brands that have always been plastic free, like Teapigs. Here’s a good list but It feels like this is a quickly changing situation - in a good way - so it’s worth a quick Google to check for updates, as you may find your favourite brand has made a good-news-move to being plastic free. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52e1c72b6a2803e8c6cdd3/1548935863800/plastic-free-kitchen-hot-drinks-coffee-009.jpg Plastic Swaps - HOT DRINKS - pre-packed ground coffee & beans Disclaimer: I rarely buy coffee this way, so I’m no expert. But I’ve done a bit of digging and the best I’ve found is from Percol. They are the first (only?) coffee brand to carry the new ‘plastic free’ logo, that’s being adopted by environmentally savvy brands across the UK. Percol operate a truly sustainable and ethical business model. They are a carbon neutral, Fairtrade certified and support the Rainforest Alliance. With the roll-out of plastic-free packaging across their entire range this year, it’s hard to argue with these green credentials. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52e1a04ae237c8600e540b/1548935863797/plastic-free-kitchen-hot-drinks-coffee-014.jpg Plastic Swaps - HOT DRINKS - bulk beans I’ve found three ways to get naked beans. Bulk stores. They usually have beans and ground coffee. Or, if you happen to live near the big Wholefoods in Kensington (I don’t) you’ll find lots of beans that are roasted in-store that you can fill you BYO bags with. Plastic Free Pantry sell bulk coffee beans online, delivered in compostable/recyclable paper packaging. You can set up a subscription to make sure you never run out. Lastly, just ask in your local independent coffee place. The lovely baristas at Four Boroughs happily sell me a jam-jar’s worth. I’m pretty sure many other places would do the same. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c80f3c31905f46682493a72/1551954920100/plastic-free-hot-chocolate-willies-cacao Plastic Swaps - HOT DRINKS - hot chocolate My favourite way of doing this is with Willies Cacao - a solid block of 100% cacao, which is really good in all kinds of recipes. Grate a (big) pile, add it to whatever milk is your thing, with a drop of vanilla essence and a splash of maple syrup. Warm it gently in a pan, whisking all the while. Sometimes I go crazy and add a shot of espresso. It’s delicious. Hot-choc-chocolate drops can be bought loose in bulk stores, or online from Plastic Free Pantry. Lastly, you can order (vegan!) mini-marshmallows in paper bags from my absolute guilty pleasure destination, Conscious Candy. It’s dangerous. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52da25575d1f9230d901fa/1548935863791/plastic-free-kitchen-hot-drinks-coffee-001.jpg Plastic Swaps - HOT DRINKS https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52da9a7ba7fc4a4d0123cc/1548935863794/plastic-free-kitchen-coffee-pods-004.jpg Plastic Swaps - HOT DRINKS - coffee pods We’re split in our house over coffee. My husband likes a pour-over (so hipster), which means starting with whole beans works for him. But I like a richer coffee than I can make that way - and I’m more impatient. So it’s been a mission of mine to find a capsule that gives me the coffee I crave, with eco-credentials I can stomach. There are a few worth checking out. Halo is the only one I’ve found that is home compostable, which makes them my top choice. Roar Gill are also very good - compostable, but only if you have your food waste collected. They also have a transparent policy on how they pay their coffee farmers (above and beyond Fairtrade prices). Dualit are the best budget choice, again compostable if done by the pros. But the pods are packaged in a paper/plastic liner, which is a slight bum-note. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52dc3d758d466a263b4065/1548935863805/plastic-free-kitchen-hot-drinks-tea-005.jpg Plastic Swaps - HOT DRINKS - loose leaf tea I’m very lucky and have a few places nearby that sell loose tea, loose. Bring Your Own in Nunhead has the very lovely Good & Proper Tea. The Store Cupboard at Crystal Palace Farmers’ Market has a really good selection of all kinds of weird and wonderful infusions. As does Brixton Wholefoods. Online, order from The Loose Leaf Tea Company, and specify that you’d like your order sent plastic-free, and they will happily oblige and send your tea in paper (which you must decant into something airtight when it arrives, otherwise it won’t stay nice for long). https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/fresh-produce-fruit-veg monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c80ba214785d342b6dec026/1551940156511/plastic-free-fruit-veg-supermarket Plastic Swaps - FRUIT AND VEG - supermarkets All of the fruit and veg in this picture came loose from a big Sainsbury’s. Switch off your trolley’s auto-pilot and look along the aisles with fresh eyes. Aside from a few things (soft fruit & salad leaves) it’s usually there, in all its naked splendor. It would be worth investing in some re-usable produce bags (I like these) but often I just dump it all directly into the trolly and then enjoy my colourful produce parade at check-out :-) Annoyingly, this doesn’t work if you shop supermarket’s online. Nor will you get far in any of the ‘metro/local’ branches, or in M&S (c’mon guys). But, if you can get to any big supermarket, and you go with an open mind rather than a fixed list, you’ll most likely be rewarded with an unexpected abundance of choice. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c80bb1c9b747a7918a59b00/1551940408205/plastic-free-produce-delis Plastic Swaps - FRUIT AND VEG - markets, deli’s & greengrocers This is an encouraging nudge to explore the many places you probably have close by, but haven’t thought to shop from. In my corner of SE London, I’ve found so many brilliant gems that aren’t making a Big Thing of selling produce plastic-free - it’s just what they’ve always done. Farmers’ markets, obviously. Ethnic deli’s are brilliant, street markets, ditto. Greengrocers - get stuck in! Most have brown paper bags (and usually an annoying roll of plastic one’s too) or BYO bags. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c80b988ec212d71174227a6/1551939997934/plastic-free-fruit-veg Plastic Swaps - FRUIT AND VEG https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52ebcd4d7a9c391e484803/1548938332441/plastic-free-kitchen-produce-fruit-veg-012.jpg Plastic Swaps - FRUIT AND VEG - farmdrop If you live in London, Bristol or Bath, you can shop with the lovely Farmdrop. They operate a ‘farmed to order’ system directly with producers, meeting real demand with actual supply, thereby reducing waste. Sourcing only from those with the highest ethical & environment standards, they also ensure the farmer gets paid a decent price too. Check the ‘plastic-free’ or ‘no packaging’ boxes when you order, and they’ll drop off totally naked produce, or things in jazzy home compostable bags. If you’re lucky, they’ll unpack it all on to your worktop. Sadly I’ve not yet persuaded them to stay and put it all in the fridge. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c80b9fc15fcc09592a5edd4/1551940115547/plastic-free-riverford-delivery-box Plastic Swaps - FRUIT AND VEG - veg delivery boxes This is one of my top five recommendations. Whilst not 100% plastic-free, all the box delivery schemes are committed to reducing, substituting or eliminating plastic packaging. This simple switch will slash the amount of plastic you get versus a supermarket delivery. It’s such an easy win and there’s nothing lovelier than a rainbow in a box on your doorstep. Three to check out: Riverford - trailblazers in sustainable organic farming, and environmental campaigning, they claim to reduce like-for-like supermarket plastic by 80% (and they definitely do) Organic Delivery Co - with an option to select an entirely plastic free box Oddbox - these heroes rescue wonky or surplus produce, and give it a good home in your weekly box. This is a great value option if you aren’t fussy about guaranteeing organic produce. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/soft-drinks monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52fcf7758d466a263c3905/1548943471262/plastic-free-kitchen-dairy-milk-000.jpg Plastic Swaps - SOFT DRINKS - milk & more DELIVERS JUICES It’s not just the plastic bottles I’m trying to avoid, those Tetra Paks aren’t much better. Which was making it hard to track down juice as part of an easy weekly shop. There are a few glass-bottled juice brands you can find in independent delis (look out for Duskin & Biona), but I wanted something more reliable. Milk & More is, without a doubt, the simplest way to get plastic-free juice. If you order the normal juices that come in milk bottles, the empties will get collected and re-used. The perfect circular solution. They also have fancier juices and delicious smoothie - also in glass bottles - but these need to go out with your regular recycling. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52fdc77ba7fc4a4d022241/1548943471268/plastic-free-kitchen-soft-drinks-water-001.jpg Plastic Swaps - SOFT DRINKS - soda stream I discovered this out of ‘necessity’ during the crazy hot summer last year, when we had a house full of builders, demanding constant cold fizzy drinks to keep them going (I’m aware how ridiculous this sounds, btw). It was far too expensive to buy loads of glass-bottled fizzy water, and there was no way I was going to buy the amount of plastic bottles needed to keep them hydrated. So in a fit of nostalgia, I invested in a Soda Stream. The builders have long gone, but this remains a work-horse in our kitchen (and amuses me every time, with the farty ‘ENOUGH GAS’ noise it makes). It’s not cheap, but I think it’s paid for itself already. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52fbf540ec9acef5393986/1551816999117/plastic-free-straws Plastic Swaps - SOFT DRINKS https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52fd510e2e72d75312660a/1548943471264/plastic-free-kitchen-soft-drinks-orange-juice-010.jpg Plastic Swaps - SOFT DRINKS - FRESHLY SQUEEZED JUICE Not for everyone, or for every day, but nothing beats a freshly squeezed juice, right? Before I found Milk and More, we invested in a home juicer, and still do this most weekends using juicing oranges we order as part of our weekly fruit & veg box. Out of interest, I bought as many oranges as I could for the equivalent price of a bottle of (fancy-ish) freshly squeezed juice, and it worked out almost the same. You can spend loads on a juicer, but I’ve found this one does the job perfectly well. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52fd9a7ba7fc4a4d0220ce/1548943471266/plastic-free-kitchen-soft-drinks-water-003.jpg Plastic Swaps - SOFT DRINKS - charcoal water PURIFIER Somewhere along the line, someone convinced us we should shun our perfectly good tap water and start buying it from far-flung places - in plastic bottles. It’s the ultimate Emperor’s New Clothes story, explained brilliantly here by the awesome Story of Stuff. It can take time to shake off that level of corporate nonsense, so, to bridge the gap, this simple solution might do the trick. Charcoal acts like a sponge, soaking up any impurities (moot point) in our water. Many claim it also improves the taste. These filters are made from bamboo charcoal (for added eco points) and come in a re-usable cotton bag. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fbaa69140b799443406d7/1550826173353/plastic-free-soft-drinks-lemonaid.jpg Plastic Swaps - SOFT DRINKS - LEMONAID There’s a lot to like about this brand, beyond how nice those pops of colour look on my kitchen shelf. Lemonaid is a brand on a mission to do good in the world. Not content with supporting farmers with a commitment to Fairtrade and organic ingredients, money from every bottle purchased supports local initiatives in developing countries, working to improve social, economic and ecological structures. We need more of this in the world, don’t we. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fbadde2c4833b6aa14ec8/1550826215087/DSC_6666.jpg Plastic Swaps - SOFT DRINKS - rocks squash What I particularly like about Rocks, is that they haven’t tried to dodge the sugar tax by adding artificial sweeteners. That sneaky move by the big brands feels more likely to be about protecting their bottom line than protecting our health. I digress. Rocks squash, which is just squished fruit (and sugar, obvs) comes in glass bottles, can be found in most supermarkets, and it tastes as it should - i.e. of actual fruit! Add it to fizzy water for a fake Tango. Also, look out for Belvoir and own brand ‘cordials’ (AKA posh squash). https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52fc8121c67c217bbed674/1548943471259/plastic-free-kitchen-soft-drink-soda-coke-cola-007.jpg Plastic Swaps - SOFT DRINKS - NON-COCA-COLA-PEPSI-COLA-COKEs Yes, you can get Coca-Cola in cans. But The Coca-Cola company is the world’s biggest plastic polluter (followed by Pepsi Co and Nestlé) which is unsurprising, given the world drinks a million bottles a minute. Production is set to increase by a crazy billion bottles a year. Just what the ocean needs :-( So far, Coca Cola’s response to the plastic crisis - and their part in it- falls waaaaay short. So this is one of the rare moments on this website where I’m going to be a bit of a bully, and tell you to (please) try and step away from the bad guy and get your cola fix elsewhere. Karma Cola is where it’s at. They have been named the one of the world’s most ethical companies two years in a row, and were awarded the World’s Fairest Trader, by the Fairtrade Foundation. You really can’t say fairer than that. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fcc44e79c707101258bf5/1550830669426/plastic-free-living-out-straws-003.jpg Plastic Swaps - SOFT DRINKS - STRAWS Given the Trash Plastic logo is a straw, and given the iconic status of straws as the demon of the ocean plastic problem, it would be weird not to mention them somewhere on Trash Plastic. There is good news. In October 2018 The European Parliament voted to ban straws (and other single use items like cutlery) by 2021. Until then, we could just say no, no? But, if you have kiddos (my excuse) here are a few to try: Stainless-steel straws, in two sizes (thin ones for normal drinks, thick ones for smoothies). I like these. Paper straws, which I keep for when I’m dealing with a house-full of additional small humans (AKA play-dates). Stroodles! Yup, straws, made of noodles! Love these - just don’t use them in hot drinks! https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/kitchen-cleaning monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fb6e7085229f142405a66/1551780445162/ecoleaf+plastic+free+dishwasher+tablets Plastic Swaps - HOUSEHOLD CLEANING - dishwasher tabs Is it just me, or do you curse those individual wrappers on dishwasher tablets? Even the most eco-brands do this. It’s just dumb. I’ve tried a few things with dishwashing - I even attempted making my own dishwashing tabs (not recommended). Happily I’ve found these little wonders from Ecoleaf. Ecoleaf is a Suma owned brand, which means they are made by one of the most ethical brands out there. And, OMG, they actually really work. Don’t be put off by the shiny wrappers in the pic - this is a totally biodegradable, ocean-safe film that dissolves in the dishwasher. Genuinely better than any other brand I’ve ever used. Fact. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fb28415fcc061efede699/1551780350500/Splosh+refillable+cleaning+products Plastic Swaps - HOUSEHOLD CLEANING - splosh I’ve written about Splosh in the laundry section, so you might already know I’m a fan. The premise is simple. You buy the spray bottle once, then buy refills. These are sent in letterbox friendly pouches. My only concern was that the pouches themselves are not recyclable. But they can be returned to Splosh’s closed loop-recycling. The refill products are super concentrated, and safe for humans and fish. It varies by product, but when mixed with water, one pouch will refill the bottle three-four times. Concentrated liquids = less weight = less carbon emissions. What I like is that you can sort all your kitchen, bathroom, dishwashing and laundry needs in minutes online. This is a really good option if you don’t have somewhere close that does refills. Or, if you just want to make life a bit easier. Try it. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fb497104c7b6ae289260b/1551780428676/plastic+free+toilet+cleaning Plastic Swaps - HOUSEHOLD CLEANING - TOILET CLEANING Oh hey, here’s my toilet brush. Nothing weird about that, right? Toilet cleaner is another product that we now buy in five-litre ‘bulks’, and top up. I’m a big fan of Bio D. The packaging is 100% recycled plastic and the products themselves contain no ingredients that are going to cause problems for aquatic life. And the loo brush - its wooden with plant-based bristles, making it 100% compostable. Seen here with a random plant pot, but I think the terracotta pots with a draining hole and saucer would probably be better). https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52ed351ae6cf096172d009/1551780369327/plastic+free+cleaning+brushes Plastic Swaps - HOUSEHOLD CLEANING https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fb74e15fcc061efee0340/1551780470053/reusable+kitchen+paper+towel Plastic Swaps - HOUSEHOLD CLEANING - KITCHEN ROLL There are two things we do differently now. Firstly, we’ve got a roll of re-usable bamboo cloths. Sized the same as kitchen paper, each sheet can be washed 80 times and then composted. I use this for all sorts of things - DIY cleansing face-wipes, baby-wipes (for my nine year old ‘babies) as well as all the usual kitchen and bathroom jobs. I wash it and store it in a cotton mesh produce bag, and stuff the dirties in a jam jar under the sink. We also keep a few rolls of back-up regular kitchen paper. It’s better than normal kitchen paper because it’s made from recycled paper, or super-sustainable bamboo, and packaged either in paper or compostable wrap. I’m a fan of Who Gives a Crap and Ecoleaf. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52eec340ec9acef538cf51/1551780387953/homemade+kitchen+cleaning+spray Plastic Swaps - HOUSEHOLD CLEANING - d.i.Y spray Sometimes it’s the simplest of things that are the biggest revelations. This homemade cleaner seems to deal with all kinds of grubby jobs and it’s just it’s basically just a mix of 50/50 water and white vinegar (white vinegar that’s had citrus peel steeping in it for a couple of weeks is best, or add a few drops of essential oil to take away the vinegar smell). You can also add a squirt of castile soap if you like, but don’t do this for glass. One caution, we have a lot of concrete in our house - don’t use this on that! Vinegar and citrus are the number one enemy to porous stone surfaces. Everywhere else, spray at will. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52f08c21c67c217bbe7555/1551780318951/plastic+free+dish+soap Plastic Swaps - HOUSEHOLD CLEANING - refillables Because bigger sizes = far less plastic, we’ve been gradually investing in five litre bulk-sizes of cleaning and bathroom products - including this washing up liquid. I’m a big fan of Bio D, who tick all my eco boxes, but there are plenty to choose from. Pay-as-you go top-ups are also easy to find in many health-food stores, eco-shops & zero-waste-bulk stores. There is a handy refill locator tool on the Ecover website, but given Ecover is now owned by SG Johnson, this might not be your thing. Finally, a special small-brand shout out to Roots and Cycles. If you’re in SE London, grab your empties and make a bee-line to Crystal Palace. You’ll find the most sustainably sourced line-up of refillable household products I’ve seen anywhere. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52ef16bba223482288de49/1551780407341/plastic+free+brushes+cloths+and+scrubbers Plastic Swaps - HOUSEHOLD CLEANING - brushes & cloths Dish brushes with replaceable heads are a win. The bristles of this Eco Living one are made of biodegradable plant fibres, so you can chuck the whole head in the compost when it’s knackered, and pop a new one on. To replace scourers, look out for Loofco and Ecoconut products, both made with coconut husks and natural loofah. Non-scratchy, but still abrasive enough to get the job done. We’ve had a bunch of e-clothes for over five years that finally needed to be replaced. They have been brilliant, but, because they are made with a synthetic material, they shed plastic micro-fibres every time they are used I didn’t want to buy them again. I’ve found these from Eco Egg instead. Same deal - long-lasting, and designed to kill germs with just water. But, made from wood fibres. It’s the small things, right. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/dairy monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52e4d0c2241b2891a4bee0/1548937504933/plastic-free-kitchen-dairy-milk-004.jpg Plastic Swaps - DAIRY - milk This is both difficult and easy. Difficult, because I don’t think you’ll find milk in anything other than plastic in the supermarket. Easy, because you can get it delivered in glass by Milk & More. It’s more expensive, for sure. But just think of all those plastic bottles that won’t be on your watch. While you’re at it, search by ‘plastic alternatives’ on the site, and you’ll find there are lots of other good things that they can leave on your doorstep - juices, granola, yogurt - things that are tricky to get without plastic elsewhere. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52e5961ae6cf0961729f65/1548937504936/plastic-free-kitchen-dairy-butter-000.jpg Plastic Swaps - DAIRY - butter (Sorry for the greasy picture.) This is the only butter I’ve seen anywhere that’s not wrapped in a plastic/paper/foil composite, which is never recyclable (although if you’re keen, apparently you can soak the wrapper and the films come apart and it can be dealt with that way). I found it in Dugard and Daughters in Herne Hill, but it looks like it’s stocked in a few other places too. The other option is to use ghee, which you can find in glass jars. Ghee is clarified butter, often used in Indian cooking and revered in Ayurvedic medicine. I’m not sure whether it’s better or worse for you than normal butter. I guess, like most things, it prob comes down to moderation no? https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52e61cc2241b2891a4c6db/1548937504941/plastic-free-kitchen-dairy-yoghurt-002.jpg Plastic Swaps - DAIRY - yogurt Like the rest of the dairy things, plastic-free yogurt isn’t easy to find - especially in supermarkets. In bigger stores, you might get lucky and find Liberté yogurts in glass pots. The pots are keepers (see pic). We’ve got a stash that we use for chocolate mouses, fancy granola parfait things, and I even knocked up a few homemade candles in them at Christmas. Or, you can hunt down River Cottage yogurts. We get ours delivered by Milk & More, which couldn’t be easier. Finally, a lot of people (not just hippies) swear by homemade yogurt. I’m tempted to get one of these makers and give it a go myself. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52e4886d2a73238d45c401/1548937504931/plastic-free-kitchen-dairy-milk-000.jpg Plastic Swaps - DAIRY https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c52e55bcd83669b42f76974/1548937504939/plastic-free-kitchen-dairy-cheese-003.jpg Plastic Swaps - DAIRY - cheese One of my kids is a cheese-a-holic, the other hates it with a passion (so they’re not identical in every way!) I can’t promise you this will work, but I’ve yet to fail in any of the places I’ve tried it. Just BYO beeswax wraps (AKA the new cling-film) to a cheese deli, and they’ll (probably) happily sell you a chunk in your own wrapper. Some places use wax paper to wrap but most wax paper is coated in a (petroleum based) paraffin wax, which makes it non-recyclable or compostable. If feta’s your thing, I keep spotting a fancy one in glass jars in some of the fancy places I sometimes spend too much money in. It’s made by the Blackwoods Cheese Company. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/meat-chicken-fish monthly 0.5 2019-03-05 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c53424feef1a12985b56122/1551789781387/plastic-free-kitchen-meat-fish-chicken Plastic Swaps - MEAT, FISH AND POULTRY https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/herbs-spices monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c5302e888251bdcc4425370/1551873167281/plastic-free-kitchen-spices Plastic Swaps - HERBS, SPICES & OILS - refillables It’s easy to find spices in glass jars. But did you know it’s also pretty easy to find places where you can refill them? There are bulk stores popping up all over the UK and most of them will have herbs and spices. Take your own empties (I’m a fan of Sainsbury’s spice pots - they look nice on the shelf) or most have jars for sale. You can also order spices in compostable paper from the brilliant Plastic Free Pantry. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c53055d032be4448ff502fb/1551873159364/plastic-free-oil-vinegar Plastic Swaps - HERBS, SPICES & OILS - oil & Vinegar The moral of the story is look along the shop shelf and you’ll find what you need. About a third of oils come in glass bottles. Rule of thumb seems to be that bigger bottles and lower quality oil tends to come in plastic. If you’re ordering as part of your weekly online shop, it’s not always clear in the pic. Check the product details. Oil is also readily available in BYO bulk stores. I’m filling up my empty gin bottles (because they are just too nice to put in the recycling) at Bring Your Own in Nunhead, AKA my favourite place to shop. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c5303d3cd83669b42f853f8/1551873346513/plastic-free-kitchen-spices Plastic Swaps - HERBS, SPICES & OILS https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c530265898583431b61dd00/1551873287908/plastic-free-herb-jars Plastic Swaps - HERBS, SPICES & OILS - pots and jars This is a good back-up for when you can’t find loose fresh herbs. The coriander paste works well in all kinds of Asian dishes. A dollop of basil paste, or even good old pesto, is a brilliant sub for fresh basil in tomato based Italian dishes. And mint sauce, mixed with yogurt and cucumber, makes a pretty decent raita or tzaziki. You’re welcome :-) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c53023d352f53c1b8581d99/1551873297887/plastic-free-fresh-herbs Plastic Swaps - HERBS, SPICES & OILS - fresh herbs Herbs were definitely one of my bad kitchen habits. I bought them often. Then they would vanish into the black hole of the fridge, only to be found rotting in their plastic bag weeks later. These days I buy them bunched and unpackaged and store them in a jar of water in the fridge door. This keeps them fresh AND visible. You’ll find them loose in lots of places - greengrocers (often out the back - ask), street-markets, big Sainsbury’s. Even my local corner shop has bunches. Just not as part of an online shop. In the summer, it’s worth buying potted basil, as it will last for ages (winter ones are grown hydroponically so will die too quickly in your kitchen). https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/pet-care monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c53107db914431fede5c046/1551872217463/plastic-free-living-pets-toys Plastic Swaps - PET CARE - toys Clearly this is a low-priority item. Unless I’m depriving my cats of a world of fun other kitties get, then it’s a once a year ‘Christmas present’ (I know, I know) purchase at best. I imagine it might be more of a thing for dogs though. But next time you’re in the market for such things, Beco Pets is where you should go. There are cute catnip stuffed fish, birds and mice, made from recycled plastic bottles. And natural rubber balls and hemp rope strings for pooches. Oh, and biodegradable bamboo food bowls, poop bag holders and bags. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c530fe7c74c50734e621856/1551872134944/plastic-free-dry-pet-food-lilys-kitchen Plastic Swaps - PET CARE - dry food A plastic free option will come down to what/how your fury friend eats and what you’re happy to spend. There are easy-to-find cat/dog biscuits in boxes, but if you want a ‘complete’ dry food, the only one I have found is Lily’s Kitchen. Our cats love it, it’s ticks all the ethical boxes and the packaging is home compostable. But the price is eye-wateringly expensive! As in, more than twice the price per 100g than anything else. We’re saving money on other things, so for us, it balances out. But, ouch. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c53103b21c67c217bbf981d/1551872204325/plastic-free-living-pets-cat-litter Plastic Swaps - PET CARE - POTTY TALK First up, I never thought I’d be posting something on the internet about cats and dogs’ toilet habits. But, secondly, I’d never really considered what happens to their mess. Standard litter is headed straight for landfill. After a few failed attempts at finding something a, compostable b, flushable, c, non-stinky, d, long lasting and e, accepted by our cats, we’ve found this stuff - Cat’s Best - to be brilliant, which we use it with a biodegradable bamboo scoop. The litter box in the picture is compostable, but it’s only really useful if you’re travelling (it’s tiny). Beco Pets make a proper sized one made out of recycled bamboo! Dog-people, three words: biodegradable poop bags. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c530f03bba223482289fd29/1551872024832/plastic-free-pets-toys Plastic Swaps - PET CARE https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c530f8c4d7a9c391e497c94/1551872087193/plastic-free-living-pets-food Plastic Swaps - PET CARE - wet food We’d got into the habit of always buying those single serving pouches. I’d fallen for the no mess, no fuss thing. But, BUT those pesky pouches are not recyclable. And with two hungry cats, we were getting through a lot. The solution is, of course, to do what we did in the world pre-pouch. TINS. Your pet’s tastes will likely dictate what you end up buying. But there are lots to chose from. From big cans to small fancy one’s. Look out for Thrive, Purina Gourmet, Lily’s Kitchen, Encore, and supermarkets own-brand. For bonus points, track down Yarrah, who score highest overall in Ethical Consumer’s rating for pet foods. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/dairy-free-alternatives monthly 0.5 2019-03-06 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c5341786e9a7f6e72e8ee98/1551864747752/plastic-free-homemade-nut-milk Plastic Swaps - DAIRY-FREE-DAIRY - homemade NUT mylks I really really want you to try this! If you have a Nutri-bullet, or other powerful-ish blender, it’s a total doddle. Soak the nuts overnight. Rinse. Blend with fresh water, a pinch of sea-salt and a date (optional). Strain through a muslin cloth, nut-bag or old tee-shirt. For small amounts, use a coffee plunger. Bosh! It’s nuts (sorry) how easy it is. To avoid waste, se the leftover nut pulp in all kinds of recipes. I’ve found oat milk is trickier - it needs to be strained through something more closed-weave than muslin, and it has a tendency to go a bit gluey. I’ve tried countless times and it’s always slimy. If anyone knows what I’m doing wrong, I’d love to know? https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76a7504785d33b29434873/1551864773856/plastic-free-vegan-cheese Plastic Swaps - DAIRY-FREE-DAIRY - ‘cheese’ If a bacon sandwich is the achilles heels of a vegetarian, cheese must be it for a vegan. This is definitely true for me. It’s fair to say I’m loving finding all the new nut-based-cheese innovations (something I never thought I’d write). Two favourites: Kinda Co - which you can pick up IRL in various places (mostly in London). They do deliver UK wide, but you’ll get a box full of plastic packaging (I learnt the hard way). The other one, local to my corner of SE London, is Palace Culture. But I think you’ll only track it down if you visit my ‘hood. BUT - see above. These types of cheese - particularly the spreadable one’s - are realistic for most of us to make at home. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c533f87e79c704bd3ebc73d/1551864688925/plastic-free-vegan-dairy Plastic Swaps - DAIRY-FREE-DAIRY https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c5340e54e17b675082ad078/1551864801681/plastic-free-vegan-yogurt Plastic Swaps - DAIRY-FREE-DAIRY - YOGURT There’s a business opportunity here for sure. Currently La Cremerie is the ONLY dairy-free yogurt I can find that is plastic-free - and I’ve looked pretty hard. In my opinion, it’s a bit of an acquired taste. But I’ve only tried it once, and only tried one flavour, so I might be being unfair. If I haven’t totally put you off, there are plenty of ways to get hold of a jar to try. Let me know what you think! I’ve been trying - with v limited success - to make my own COYO. When I finally unlock next-level-hippie, I’ll report back with a recipe that actually works. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c534020104c7b6bc2600fb8/1551864721728/plastic-free-mlkman-nut-milk Plastic Swaps - DAIRY-FREE-DAIRY - M*lk-man PLANT ‘MILKS’ Mlk Man plant milks are delicious. At 12%, they have a higher nut content than anything else store bought. And they are fresh, not long-life. They make all the usual suspects - nuts, coconut & oat (the weak link in my opinion because it’s too thin to make a decent coffee). Plus chocolate, turmeric, matcha, sweet chai….you get the picture. Best of all, sustainability is at the heart of the business. Totally plastic-free - it’s sold in two sizes of glass bottles, which they collect and re-use. I’m afraid getting it might be a bit London-centric. If you can get deliveries from Farmdrop, you’ll find it there. Or from selected actual shops. You can now order direct, but I can’t vouch for a refrigerated courier delivery being plastic free. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76a9baa4222f3843a2d281/1551864762722/homemade-vegan-cheese Plastic Swaps - DAIRY-FREE-DAIRY - parmesan cacheeze If this sounds like a bold suggestion, bear with me. Dairy free cheese is really easy to make. It’s typically made from nuts and something to turn it sour, or cultures to initiate fermentation. The easiest of all is a parmesan alternative, and you don’t need to worry about any of the aging stuff. It’s just three ingredients, all of which can be picked up in bulk stores. Just blitz cashew nuts, nutritional yeast (AKA ‘nooch’) and sea-salt in a food-processor or bash with pestle and mortar. It’s really good. If you’re keen to experiment, this book has loads of dairy free cheese recipes. Skip past the pages that required dehydrators and other weird equipment. There are plenty of easy ones. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/snacks monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6c69069140b72e06c0aec2/1551260677451/plastic-free-snacks-popcorn.jpg Plastic Swaps - SNACKS AND TREATS - POPCORN I mean, what could be easier? You’ll find plain popping corn almost everywhere, then all you need is a saucepan. Even if you buy a bag of kernals in plastic bag, the amount of popcorn you’ll be able to make, means it’s still a very low-plastic option. It’s easy to find in unpackaged in bulk stores, if you’re lucky enough to have one nearby, or, order it plastic-free from Zero Waste Club or Plastic Free Pantry. If salty or sweet feels a bit boring to you, Pinterest is overflowing with ways to jazz it up. Or next level, use it as the base to make these rather delicious looking rocky-road bars. My kids are totally happy to be sent off to school with this as their after school ‘club day’ snacks, even if they do look like 1970’s throw-backs (it’s the brown paper bags that do it). https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6c67ca652dea9fd5cd2e09/1551260655545/two-farmers-plastic-free-crisps.jpg Plastic Swaps - SNACKS AND TREATS - TWO FARMERS CRISPS If you’d asked me a few months ago, what was the plastic thing that I couldn’t give up. Without pause I would have said crisps. So learning that I could now get crisps in home compostable packaging was like being told I’d won the raffle (I did originally type the lottery, but maybe that’s pushing things). To the best of my knowledge, Two Farmers Crisps are the only compostable packs out there, but surely it’s only a matter of time before others catch on. (Hurry up Hula Hoops.) They are not cheap. But they are delicious. One to file under buy-less-buy-better, perhaps. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6bcec624a6941ef573a6db/1551260649070/plastic-free-crisps-two-farmers.jpg Plastic Swaps - SNACKS AND TREATS https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6c6969ec212d26f5ef8900/1551260699028/plastic-free-snacks-bulk.jpg Plastic Swaps - SNACKS AND TREATS - BULK STORE FINDS Maybe it’s just a me thing, but decanting things into smaller pots immediately makes them better. We are really lucky - we have a BYO bulk shop nearby that has loads of things that make great snacks. There are the obvious ones like nuts and dried fruit, but we’re totally spoilt, with things like wasabi peas, salt and vinegar fava beans (sound weird, taste amazing) chocolate buttons and japanese rice crackers. You can also get this type of thing (and loads of other store-cupboard essentials) delivered by The Plastic Free Pantry. Failing that, just buy your usual things in as big a bags as you can find/store. Bigger bags always means less plastic versus single serving anything. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6c68bb652dea9fd5cd3c6d/1551260660958/plastic-free-snacks-snact.jpg Plastic Swaps - SNACKS AND TREATS - SNACT Well, this is good. Snact are taking on two issues with these little bags of fruit ‘jerky’ (a bit like fruit wind-ups / Yo-Yo Bears). Firstly, they are made from wonky produce, rejected by supermarkets, to help tackle the criminal amount of food waste in the UK. And secondly, the packaging is 100% home compostable (the word ‘home’ is key - a lot of compostable bio-plastics only break-down in industrial composting facilities, which renders them pointless if you don’t have your food waste collected). You can get the fruit jerky, and fruit and seed bars, online from Amazon, Ocado and various IRL shops. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6d6a87e4966be40d44848e/1551260718125/plastic-free-snacks-bakery-donuts.jpg Plastic Swaps - SNACKS AND TREATS - bakery treats I’m a newly recruited uber-fan of the pockets of independent food shops and street markets I have near me. A mooch along Lordship Lane in East Dulwich can pretty much sort my weekly shop, with minimal dodgy packaging. And a dangerous ten minute stroll from home takes me to The Dulwich Bakery, home of piles of these enormous ring donuts. It’s lucky I’m vegan, or this would be A Problem. My roundabout point is there are lots of packaging free treats to be found when you simply avoid the supermarket and explore the littler shops you probably have nearby. Just remember to keep a cloth produce bag with you for sprinkle covered ‘emergencies’. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/bread-cereal monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6c8c444785d3997380bece/1551787820650/plastic-free-pimhill-farm-oats Plastic Swaps - CEREAL - OATS Oats are an easy one. Look out for Flahavan’s, which are easy to find in all the big supermarkets. Or, Pimhill Organic, sold in compostable paper bags, are a good choice and can be left of your doorstep with your Milk and More order. They also do muesli in the same paper bags, which isn’t something I’ve found elsewhere. Or, finally, anywhere that sells un-packaged bulk things will definitely have oats - even toasted one’s, if you’re lucky. If you don’t have somewhere close, order from the Plastic Free Pantry. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7e5fe84785d394cee01270/1551785983105/plastic-free-cereal Plastic Swaps - CEREAL https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6c8b98f9619aa1ccdb308a/1551787827803/plastic-free-cereal-troo-granola Plastic Swaps - CEREAL - GRANOLA & Muesli Troo Granola comes in compostable packaging, something I’ve not seen before for cereal. There are three varieties, all of which are much lower in sugar than standard granola, which may be a bonus for some. Order direct, from Milk and More, Ocado or Waitrose. BUT, granola is also dead easy to make, and can be thrown together using ingredients that are easy to find loose in bulk shops. Everyone has their own way of making it - but here’s a pretty good base if you want to give it a go. Muesli lovers, Pimhill Organic do one in paper packaging. Again, get it as part of a Milk and More order. Also, easy to find in local bulk stores, or online from Zero Waste Club. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7e63ee24a694d3df71e30c/1551787012438/plastic-free-cereal-bulk Plastic Swaps - CEREAL - normal CEREAL As a mama of kiddos who basically just want Cheerios, I wanted to find alternatives that they would actually eat, that are not in dodgy packaging, or made by Nestlé. It’s not been easy. Even my fabulous local bulk store has limited options. Plastic Free Pantry has the best selection of cereals I’ve found and will post to anywhere in the UK. We’ve got quinoa puff and cornflakes, but the cornflakes win every morning. Lastly, not that my picky pair will eat it, but Weetabix is an easy-to-find plastic-free option. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/laundry monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6adbbf419202ebf601e40b/1551788261481/plastic-free.laundry-guppyfriend Plastic Swaps - LAUNDRY https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6ae9819140b77a89d932c2/1551788355518/laundry-refills-biod Plastic Swaps - LAUNDRY - refills You’ll find refill stations for laundry products in all the bulk stores, plus many health food shops / eco stores. There’s a good list of bulk stores here, although it will be almost immediately out of date as so many new one’s are popping up all the time! You can also do what we’ve done, and empty out a kitchen cupboard and give it over to setting up your own in-house refill shop. Lots of household and bathroom products are available in massive five-litre sizes, not dissimilar to those in bulk stores. Look out for Bio D, Ecoleaf and Ecover (there’s a big selection here). We’ve gradually built up quite a collection so if you’re ever in the area, BYO bottle and I’ll top you up :-) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6aefbe971a18703561dc80/1551788380778/plastic-free-stain-remover Plastic Swaps - LAUNDRY - stain remover This is very little I need to write here (but I’ve got a grey block to fill, so um). This is a great little product. Just wet the stain and massage a bit of this stuff in. Works well. Get it from Boobalou, a great online shop selling lots of plastic free eco things. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6ade59c83025d4db432c55/1551788279376/plastic-free-microplastic-guppyfriend Plastic Swaps - LAUNDRY - GUPPY FRIEND The first, most obvious, but not always realistic solution is to avoid synthetic fabrics. It’s a tricky one though, as there are pros and cons around the sustainability and ethics of most fabrics. I’m not expert on this - Fashion Revolution is a good resource. But fabrics to avoid are things like nylon, polyester, acrylic (think gym kit, fleeces and nearly everything in H&M). Things to look out for are bamboo, hemp, organic cotton (although this is complicated) and wool (again, this depends on your ethical red lines). For the synthetics we already own: Wash less often (duh). Wash at lower temperatures. Wash on a gentler spin cycle. And DEFINITELY get a brilliant Guppy Friend, a big drawstring clothes-washing bag that catches micro-fibres - just don’t rinse it after using it. This should be on our must-have list, up there with a keep-cup and water bottle! https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7e69231905f4d42913b6c4/1551788336623/plastic-free-laundry-splosh Plastic Swaps - LAUNDRY - splosh The premise is a strong one. You buy the original plastic bottle (or use your own, they provide instructions on how) and then just order refills which get mailed in letterbox friendly pouches. The pouches aren’t recyclable - which meant I was initially a bit un-keen. But they now operate a zero-to-landfill pouch return program, so store ‘em and send ‘em back. Where this works best, is for products that are concentrated - so one pouch, mixed with water, makes five refill bottles. Or with the washing powder / dishwasher tabs, where the refill packaging is compostable. They make big claims about their plastic reduction which makes for impressive reading. Worth a look for the other household cleaning products too. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6aef6e4785d32318c711eb/1551788371129/plastic-free-laundry-powder-ecover Plastic Swaps - LAUNDRY - washing powder Isn’t it funny how we sometimes think we’ve made great progress and then realise that things were better the way they were? It hadn’t even crossed my mind until very recently that the reason plastic has become so omnipresent, is partly because we've got all these things in liquid form that we didn’t used to have. Soap became shower gel. Washing powder became liquid. Makes sense then that the answer is to be found by looking backwards to what our Mum’s did. If you’re not rolling your eyes at my stupidity, maybe just see if you can find your favourite laundry brand in powder form. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/books-reading-resources monthly 0.5 2019-03-06 https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/vegan-meat-alternatives monthly 0.5 2019-03-05 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76a564a4222f2f1ec6468e/1551789465271/plastic-free-vegan-sausages-linda-mccartney Plastic Swaps - MEAT-FREE-MEAT-ALTERNATIVES - LINDA MCCARTNEY & QUORN The trick here is to swerve the chilled section and make a beeline to the freezer and look at what you can find in boxes. I can’t vouch that this is true of all the products (I learnt the hard way with a box of ‘facon’) but most of them are plastic-free. For Quorn, this is definitely the case for sausages, fish-less-fish-fingers, breaded-fillets and burgers. Linda McCartney sausages, pies, burgers and sausage rolls are also all plastic free. Thank goodness - my vegan junk-food cravings are safe! https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76a4fe971a1831f051901c/1551789395434/plastic-free-vegan-tempeh Plastic Swaps - MEAT-FREE-MEAT-ALTERNATIVES https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c769b7a4785d33ced70a131/1551789603793/plastic-free-kitchen-tempeh-vegan Plastic Swaps - MEAT-FREE-MEAT-ALTERNATIVES - tofu & tempeh This is one of the few posts where I have to admit that the plastic-free alternative IS a bit of a disappointment. And not easy to source either. Tofu and tempeh typically comes vacuum packed in plastic. But you CAN find it preserved in water in glass jars. Yakso and Biona both sell it this way. But, it’s just a bit, well, soggy. Zero Waste Club sell dehydrated tofu, which is probably best used in stir-fries and miso-soup. Next on my agenda - making my own tempeh! I attended a workshop last year at 10 Cable Street, with the don of tempeh, the founder of Tofurkey, Seth Tibbott - the most genuine hippie I’ve ever met. It’s happening again this April. Go! https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/bread monthly 0.5 2019-03-05 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fcf18eef1a1d839710fe2/1550617972269/plastic-free-condiments.jpg Plastic Swaps - BREAD & OTHER BAKED THINGS https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76df21e79c70f6b653d94a/1551294307536/DSC_6563.jpg Plastic Swaps - BREAD & OTHER BAKED THINGS - cakes I’m a newly recruited uber-fan of the pockets of independent food shops and street markets I have near me. A mooch along Lordship Lane in East Dulwich can pretty much sort my weekly shop, with minimal dodgy packaging. And a dangerous ten minute stroll from home takes me to The Dulwich Bakery, home of piles of these enormous ring donuts. It’s lucky I’m vegan, or this would be A Problem. My roundabout point is there are lots of plastic free treats to be found when you simply avoid the supermarket and explore the littler shops you probably have nearby. Remember to keep a cloth produce bag with you for sprinkle covered ‘emergencies’. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fcf18eef1a1d839710fe4/1550617865425/plastic-free-brick-house-bread.jpg Plastic Swaps - BREAD & OTHER BAKED THINGS - BREAD The kicker for me was how often I chucked away uneaten sliced bread. The pesky bags would lurk at the back of the cupboard and make a moldy reappearance weeks later. So much plastic. And so much food waste! But really, trying to find a more sustainable loaf has mostly just been an excuse to only buy delicious sourdough bread from Brick House Bakery. The trick is the planning. I stock-up every other week and freeze the loaves in halves, or sliced, for a constant supply of the freshest bread for toast. Zero packaging. Zero food-waste. Maximum bread love. Win. As the BBC would say, ‘other local bakeries are available’. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c6fcf18eef1a1d839710fe6/1550617840575/plastic-free-pastries.jpg Plastic Swaps - BREAD & OTHER BAKED THINGS - PASTRIES All I have to say here is that pastries freeze brilliantly! Make a beeline to your local bakery, or the in-store bakery bit at the supermarket, and fill up your cloth bag. Or, if you’re lucky, you’ll have a supermarket or bakery that uses paper bags. (I spotted that Waitrose have recently changed their paper & plastic film ones for just paper ones. Hurray for every small victory!) Sling the pastries in the freezer then re-heat at 170-degrees for about ten mins. I promise they will taste every bit as good as the day you bought them. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/condiments-sauces monthly 0.5 2019-03-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7445be7817f719bd518088/1551869509712/plastic-free-ketchup Plastic Swaps - CONDIMENTS ETC. - KETCHUP etc. Ah, yet again, the solution here is in the past. When did we decide we needed upside-down plastic squeezy bottles? It probably ages me, but slapping the bottom of a ketchup bottle is surely part of the fun? Happy to say that Heinz ketchup and HP sauce are both still available in glass bottles - you just need to keep your eyes peeled. And there’s a load of fancy ‘artisanal’ sauces, also sold in glass - Stokes, Tiptree, The Foraging Fox (seriously) to name just a few. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c74442815fcc0960f24c7c7/1551869516303/plastic-free-condiments Plastic Swaps - CONDIMENTS ETC. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c744571652deaac40c51381/1551869496473/plastic-free-condiments Plastic Swaps - CONDIMENTS ETC. - THINGS ON TOAST Too many chilli-jams, and too many pots of peanut butter! Again, this isn’t hard. It’s more about what to avoid that what to pick. Honey in squeezy bear shaped bottles - cute, but no. Pip and Nut - gah - such a shame - but no. I’m trying to up our game and wean us off regular Marmite (owned by Unilever - not great) and onto the one made by Meridian (much better, and no plastic lid). Peanut butter choices are all about avoiding palm oil. Meridian, Biona and some of the Whole Earth varieties are good. ALSO, if you have a Nutribullet, you can make your own! https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7facf4ee6eb0788d90e154/1551871269642/rubies-in-the-rubble Plastic Swaps - CONDIMENTS ETC. - rubies in the rubble This one gets a special mention. If you’re into sauces and condiments (yep) and keen to fight plastic waste AND food waste (yep yep), then go out of your way to find Rubies in the Rubble sauces. The products - sauces, vegan mayos and chutneys - are made, using surplus produce - wonky fruit and veg that would have otherwise ended up in landfill. I don’t think there’s a more sustainable way to get your condiment kick. Buy direct, or from any of these places here. https://www.trashplastic.com/plastic-free/male-grooming-products monthly 0.5 2019-03-11 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c83c2dce2c48349ec6f24b6/1552139038635/plastic-free-mens-toiletries-lush Plastic Swaps - MALE GROOMING - LUSH If you can fight your way past the neon-glitter bath-bombs, there is a serious line-up of serious skin, body and hair-care products, most of which come naked. If you buy the products in the black-pots, these can be dropped back to Lush to go into their closed-loop recycling scheme. This keeps precious resources in circulation and totally out of the waste-stream - which is the only way plastic is ever okay in my book. Men’s products to look out for include specialist facial soaps, cleansing balms, shampoo and conditioner bars, solid facial moisturiser balm, body washes and pots of shaving soap. Too many to list to be honest. There’s a good round-up of their men’s products in a blog post here. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76eba0971a18349c52571e/1551297593677/DSC_6766.jpg Plastic Swaps - MALE GROOMING - beauty kubes Beauty Kubes are a big cube of small cubes (sorry, kubes) - 27 individual portions of solid shampoo/bodywash, that you smush in your palm and mix with a little bit of water to form a paste. And bosh. Just the right amount for a single wash. Of all the solid shampoo products I’ve tried, these are my favourite, by far! All products are free from plastic packaging, contain hair loving natural and organic ingredients and biodegradable, sulphate-free surfactants. Long words, that basically mean they are ingredients that are safe for humans AND marine life. These are cruelty free and suitable for vegans too – like all my recommendations. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7fb5b6eb39315a2485ff8a/1551873498507/plastic-free-bathroom-soap-016.jpg Plastic Swaps - MALE GROOMING - LATHER BOX This has to be the easiest way to cut back on bathroom plastic. Lather Box is a monthly delivery of plastic-free bars - shampoo, conditioner, shaving foam and body wash. A subscription costs £19 a month, which seems pretty reasonable for a cleans-everything-kit. It’s definitely a no-frills solution though. Hard working, all-natural, basic ingredients & no packaging. Also, nothing is scented - which may suit some, but put others off. But, for a low-maintenance bathroom routine and even lower-maintenance shopping, this is a damn fine (plastic-free) way of doing it. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c7653f941920255731daf7f/1551258628951/DSC_6764.jpg Plastic Swaps - MALE GROOMING https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c83c4c7eef1a1afdbbd42b9/1552139574661/plastic-free-mens-skincare-pure-chimp Plastic Swaps - MALE GROOMING - pure chimp I don’t know which came first - Pure Chimp skincare or the matcha tea products. Not exactly obvious bed-fellows, I know, but somehow it hangs together! The products are made using the best, natural vegan-friendly oils and other natural ingredients. The range includes gentle face cleansers, soothing skin oils, soap bars and rub-on-deodorant balms. The products have a common scent. Can you guess? Yup, banana! Don’t let this put you off though - it’s subtle, and much nicer than you might imagine! Pure Chimp are a member of 1% For The Planet, where businesses collectively support environmental initiatives all over the world, as well as giving 5% of profits to Save the Chimps. This is feel good skincare, in every way. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c83c471652dea6737d720d9/1552139416328/plastic-free-mens-skincare-conscious-skincare Plastic Swaps - MALE GROOMING - conscious skincare This brand is a new discovery for me. I was trying to find some plastic-free, natural skincare products that were specifically for men and bumped into Conscious Skincare. Whilst the brand isn’t just for men, they have a specially curated section of products that are recommended for men’s skin. All the products are made in small batches to ensure optimum freshness (therefore potency) of the carefully selected, natural ingredients. And whilst the range isn’t entirely plastic-free, much of it is, and their general approach to sustainable packaging is admirable. So far, this little pot is the only one in our bathroom. But if this one is anything to go by, my hunch is we’ll be adding more. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76591008522964ddc693b9/1551259928472/DSC_6788.jpg Plastic Swaps - MALE GROOMING - norse Norse offer a range of natural, male-focussed grooming products. They make beautiful stainless steel safety razors, which I have heard are a joy to use, and not as scary as safety razors can initially feel. In addition, Norse make a range of natural shaving soaps, that give a perfect creamy foam, as well as vegan-friendly brushes (not pictured). And if shaving isn’t your thing, have a look at the products for keeping beards looking beautiful - oils, balms and waxes. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76edc8ec212da34206a264/1551298007731/plastic-free-bathroom-deodorant-000.jpg Plastic Swaps - MALE GROOMING - Primal suds In a moment of total ditz, I couldn’t work out why these were called ‘No Bo Bars’. Brain now in gear, I can tell you that these are solid deodorant bars, by Primal Suds, that will stop you from getting smelly. I’m a genius, I know. Primal Suds were founded on a premise to offer a range of affordable natural alternatives to paraben and additive-pumped products. They are committed to sustainability, with products and packaging with zero-waste in-mind. As well as the No Bo Bar, there are naked shampoos, body cleansing bars and facial products. All of these come with a dose of Primal Sud’s ‘no fux given’ (their words) attitude, which is a refreshing voice in the often over-virtuous natural skincare space. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a646dd7cf81e0b0a0f47860/t/5c76577c9b747a717982edfd/1551259527285/plastic-free-bathroom-shaving-razors-001.jpg Plastic Swaps - MALE GROOMING - RAZORS Switching to a metal safety razor has to be one of the easy wins. Over time, it saves loads of money and loads of plastic waste. There are so many available I’m not even going attempt a recommendation! But here is some some good advice on how to choose one and here is as a big selection to buy. One thing, it’s really important to dispose of the blades carefully. For them to be recyclable, due to understandable safety concerns, they must be put in a ‘blade bank’ first. If you don’t have one, the blades need to be carefully wrapped and put in general rubbish, which is, well, a bit rubbish. 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