Creative ways to reduce plastic waste
The creative way to go plastic free
If, like me, you care about reducing plastic waste, here are a few suggestions you can use right now! This article contains a few links to products that I use personally and really like. Some are affiliate links. If you click these I get a tiny bit of commission on your purchase to help me keep doing what I love! Some of the links I get nothing from, I just love the product.
Shampoo Bars
One of the top places you’ll find single use plastic is in the bathroom. I’ve started to use shampoo bars and “old fashioned” soap bars which come in cardboard and I really love them. My favourite bar is the Soak and Float from LUSH. It’s awesome, and they are a great company when it comes to doing good stuff in the world but it is a little expensive. I’ve started to experiment with making my own. Check out this Youtube how to video if you’d like to have a go. The downside is some of the ingredients come in (recyclable) plastic! BUT if you buy in bulk you can make a lifetime supply of shampoo bars for a minimal impact.
Make your own bread
Most of us buy bread that comes in plastic wrapping. For such a natural product that seems a bit mad. I’ve been baking my own bread since uni. Anything not to study! I don’t use any special machine or bread makers, just my own hands so making bread doesn’t have to cost the earth. None of the ingredients come in plastic wrapping apart from a tiny bit on the yeast pot. If you make your own sourdough starter then you don’t even need that! I’ve read loads of books on baking bread and by far the best is from River Cottage book in the link below. It’s easier than you think, have a go!
Bamboo tooth brushes
OK so this isn’t super creative, I guess it just seems like new thinking and I love the design. When you think about it, it seems like a real no brainer. A wooden toothbrush sounds like an odd idea to start with but I promise it’s fine. I’ve used F.E.T.E ones for a while. Link below…
Make rubbish art
The first event I ran as Craft Box Club was Scrap Art Challenge. Two teams battle it out to make art from scrap. I was amazed at what people created! You can still see the photos on the Instagram feed. Check them out and be inspired. Grab whatever you have from the bin, grab some glue and tape and have some creative fun!
Refill and reuse
Last Wednesday was National Refill Day! Hopefully after that big PR push there will be way more places that welcome you in to refill your reusable water bottles So make sure you bring your favourite bottle with you wherever you go. Single use coffee cups also contribute massively to plastic waste! Get yourself a lovely Keep Cup (link to the one I use below) to do your bit. It’s also much nicer to use than a throw away one. Some coffee shops, like the lovely Nibsys in Reading, are also giving you a discount when you bring in your own cup.
Being creative can be a messy business but we do everything we can to reduce the plastic waste we create by doing the following:
Aim for zero plastic in all our boxes. I mean really aim, not like the supermarkets aim.
If we have to use plastic at all, make sure it’s good quality so it can be used over and over again.
Our plastic paint pots are reusable and you can send them back to be reused when you’re done with them. We’ll give you a discount.
We use minimal packaging in all of our boxes. Mostly we use tissue paper, card and string.
We order in bulk and try to find suppliers that don’t use much packaging themselves (we’re doing OK but this is the hardest bit right now).
We keep any plastic waste to be used in Scrap Art Challenge events so at least it’s reused and hopefully treasured as a work of art.
Plastic Free recommendations
I’ve read and loved all these books. They will inform and inspire you!
Great, clear guide to bread making for all!
The best bamboo toothbrush!
Coolest keep cup!
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