Plastic-Free Products: 7 Easy Eco-Friendly Swaps that will make an Impact

7 Easy Eco-friendly Swaps – Plastic-Free products

I chose this week to publish this post as it was Earth Day yesterday, so the health of the environment is front of mind of so many,  but that doesn’t mean the crisis of pollution and eco health should be forgotten any other day. I wanted to highlight 7 easy eco-friendly swaps so that folk can implement more plastic-free products in their daily lives, without it feeling like a big chore or transition that costs a lot either.

It’s easy to think that the problem is so big that us as individuals can’t make a difference, but if everybody had that idea then there would be no change at all

I was listening to Fearne Cotton interview David Katz from Plastic Bank on the Happy Place podcast recently and he made a great point. Plastic Bank* is an organisation that incentivises people to recycle plastic, while empowering them and earning them.

Be a part of the solution, not part of the pollution. 

David Katz – PlasticBank

We can all be a part of that change and a part of the solution. And doesn’t it feel great to feel a part of something big?

I’ve made a quick list of 7 easy eco swaps for plastic-free products, so that you can get single use plastic out of your home and make more sustainable eco-friendly changes in your life, in fact you’re probably doing some of them already.

Easy Eco-Friendly Swaps for Plastic-Free Products

1. The Bag for Life

Most supermarkets offer a plastic-free shopping bag, in the UK it is the law to charge shoppers for plastic shopping bags, I wish they would just remove them completely.

Every now and again end up in a the shop without a shopping bag because it’s a spur of the moment purchase. I’ll either end up carrying my goodies out in my arms or if the store has a compostable bag, i’ll buy that (I know Aldi and Co-Op stores have these)

Although it’s single use, the compromise is it’s compostable, so I use it in my food waste bin.

If you’re like me you’ll find a favourite style of shopping bag, in fact, I still have favourite reusable shopping bags that I have from South Africa (we moved to the UK 7 years ago) just because I like style, like the shape and they were well made, so have lasted. And that’s the point, isn’t it, to reuse them over and over again.

2. Drink Bottles

One of the biggest contributors to the single-use plastic problem in this throwaway culture is  plastic water bottles.

If you live in a place where you can’t drink the tap water, put a filter on your tap or use a filter jug in your fridge and refill a reusable water bottle. They’re relatively inexpensive, and worth it in the long run if you look at how much bottled water you buy.

I recently bought a stainless steel drink bottle* that keeps cold drinks super cold but also be used to keep warm things warm.  Great for a cold drink of water on those long nature walks, but also handy for hot soup, lunch on the go

 3. Solid Bars – the soapy kind

How many plastic bottles of shampoo and conditioner have I gone through in my lifetime? It’s a horrible thought, and I’m only one person. That all changed last year (yeah I know a bit late to the party) when I began researching and testing solid shampoo bars and developed the Nettle Shampoo Bar and I haven’t looked back.

I now only use the Solid shampoo bar on my hair, completely natural so I know that I’m not putting any chemicals and sulfates and parabens and my hair.

I also swapped plastic bottles of shower gel for Natural soap bars, I love handmaking the nettle soap as I know exactly what goes into it and what I’m putting onto my skin.

The bars last so much longer so are much more cost-effective, and I wrap them in compostable wrapping, so they are a truly plastic-free product. I put the wrapping straight into the food waste bin. Job done.

4. Suck it up, baby –  let’s talk straws.

This is a big one, and such a simple swap to make.

I generally don’t use straws at all but do have a box of paper straws at home for the kids’ fun drinks every now and again. For a reusable straw, there are a few plastic-free products on the market. Glass, metal and bamboo straws* have quickly become the preferred choice for the eco-warriors out there and can be purchased online quite inexpensively.

There’s really no longer any excuse for anyone to use plastic straws. Ever.

5. Second time around – Pre-loved clothes and furniture

In the spirit of reduce, reuse and recycle, this is one of my favourites. Not technically a plastic-free product solution, however it’s an eco-conscious choice to reduce waste and this throw-away culture that is so prevalent today.

I love a rummage through the local charity shops, especially for seasonal things that are only going to be worn for a short time (see Christmas jumpers or Halloween outfits).

Besides saving you loads of money, I’ve found some really good quality clothes in great condition.

The other way I put this into practise is passing down too-small clothes to friends with younger children, and happily accepting the pre-loved items from them for my children. Of course it’s only good condition things I’m talking about. Everything else goes to the textile recycle bins, never to landfill.

Also, second-hand furniture!  If you know me at all you’ll know I love to find vintage and classic furniture items. Sometimes they need a little bit of TLC, like recovering a seat or touching up scratched wood.

I go back to my Interior Design experience and crafting supplies and happily have a go reupholstering seat cushions and headboards. It’s very satisfying to give an old piece of furniture some new life, and space in a new home.

6. Cuppa Joe on the go (or tea)

I do love a ‘proper’ coffee. I don’t have a fancy coffee machine at home, and although I’ll have ground coffee in a cafetiere, there’s something special about having a barista coffee on the go, that I just can’t quite replicate at home.

But so many takeaway coffee cups… with plastic lids !! So unnecessary.

There are beautiful reusable takeaway-style coffee cups* available on the market. I bought myself a bamboo coffee cup that has a silicone top and a silicone wrap holder, so it’s not too hot to hold. Any of the high street coffee shops will gladly make coffee in your cup for you if you ask, and may even offer you a discount for using your own cup. Another money saving win! Why wouldn’t you do that?

7. Natural detangling Dinglehopper, or Hair Combs

The last pretty easy eco-swap I have today is to switch out your plastic hair combs with wood or bamboo alternatives.

A bamboo comb is my first choice because it’s such an eco-friendly crop to grow, produces so much more oxygen than trees, grows faster, and in a smaller space so it can be harvested.

A wooden comb, or even stainless steel is also a great plastic-free product and will of course last a lot longer than plastic, I remember them to break quite often.

8. Fresh produce packaging (alright, I’ll give you 8)

The amount of single-use plastic in the fruit and veg aisles is still alarming, in the UK anyway. If you shop somewhere that has loose produce to select and weigh, use paper cloth bags instead of plastic.
Even better if you have a market nearby, rather support the small businesses and take your own basket or bags. Veg boxes from local farms are a great source too.

The produce is likely to be grown near to you, you are supporting local farmers and growers, and you’ve bypassed another plastic situation. Another double win. Often if I buy fresh produce from a supermarket and don’t have a bag, I will ask for an empty veg box to use instead.

So, how inspired are you to change to plastic-free products?

I have given you 8 simple eco-swaps that are easy enough to implement. I hope you’ve enjoyed the read, and are ready to make some changes in your day-to-day life that will help the environment, even in a small way.

There are so many more! Do you have any suggestions to add? Leave a comment, or get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.

I’ve added a list of links to some of the suggested products below.
*Here are links to some of my favourite plastic-free products

Cloth Shopping Bag – Pack of 3 Heavy Duty Grocery Tote
Stainless Steel drink bottle
Solid shampoo bar
Natural Solid Soap bars – Handmade Nettle Soap
Reusable Bamboo Straws
Bamboo Coffee Cup – I love this Set of 2
Bamboo comb

Read more about PlasticBank.com and how they are changing lives, and the planet

xx Bronwyn