8 Plastic-free swaps that you can actually make
You know we love a bit of planet-friendly living at The Wyldes.
There’s our zero waste policy, our single-use plastic ban, and of course our iconic stack cups.
But what about our actual lives? We asked some of the Wyldes team members about the plastic-free swaps they’ve made that have actually worked.
We think that change starts small. Yes you can overhaul your whole house and banish plastic forever. And massive high fives if you’ve done that. But if you’re looking to start with a few small swaps that have big long term impact, here are some that worked for us.
Rach’s top picks are refilling and razors. Photo credit: Ehud Neuhaus (Image provided by Unsplash)
Rach - Team member & crafty one_
REFILLING FOOD, TOILETRY + DETERGENT CONTAINERS
Before I started doing this, I thought it would a) be expensive and b) take over my life- but it's actually made shopping easier and cheaper!
I was inspired by the BUDE REFILL SHOP, and thought I'd give it a try when it opened. At first it felt like it would take up more time than an average shop, but once I'd saved up all the containers I needed, and got to know what they had in stock, the process was a lot quicker. I now only buy dry foods and oils about once a month, and soaps/detergents once every few months. The swap has made me more organised with food shopping; I'll gather things that are empty (or nearly empty) up at home and make a list, then it's pretty speedy when I actually go in.
It's also had bonuses that I had never expected; it's made me feel really in touch with what I'm eating each month, and I have found that my monthly food spend is much lower. I buy more at a time, but often what I'm buying is cheaper per gram than most supermarkets, plus I'm not impulse buying snacks and things that are on offer that I really don’t need!
A SAFETY RAZOR
Again, before I started doing this, the idea of using one scared me, and I thought it would be more time consuming to use, but I haven't cut myself once, it's much cheaper in the long run, and it hasn't really changed my routine at all!
I was inspired to swap my disposable razors after travelling. As well as plastic toothbrushes, cotton buds, drinks bottles and plastic bags (all of which I have also now swapped as much as I can for compostable/reusable alternatives) these are the kinds of transient items you see ending up on the world's most beautiful beaches, so I wanted to change my part in that. Of course you can just stop shaving, which is probably the best option of all, but I'm not quite ready to break the societal norms just yet, and have pretty thick dark hair. I did A LOT of research on different safety razors, but ended up buying a vintage boxed one from a collector that owned a shaving shop. The blades are SO cheap, and last a long time before you have to change them, then, when it is time to change them you can dispose of the old ones in sharps recycling.
WASHABLE FACE CLOTHS/PADS
Easy peasy swap for disposable face wipes. So much less waste generated, you just pop the pads or face cloth in the wash with your clothes, and you don’t have to buy face wipes any more- just buy micellar water (which lasts a lot longer), or make your own!
Sam’s favourite swap is his water bottle. Photo credit: Benjamin Lambert Image provided by Unsplash)
Sam - Manager & eternal optimist_
STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE
I use a stainless steel water bottle that I take everywhere with me. The water tastes better from it than in plastic and having it on my desk reminds me to drink more often, which is a bonus.
As a retired watersports instructor, and living so close to the sea, you’re hyper aware of just how much of our plastic waste ends up polluting our oceans. We make sure there are taps for our event-goers to refill their own bottles all over the site, so there’s really no excuse not to use one myself.
Matt chooses to re-use bags and boxes for his groceries. Photo credit: Scott Warman (image provided by Unsplash)
Matt - Manager & veritable powerhouse_
REUSABLE BAGS
I use re-usable bags whenever I go shopping now- there’s really no need to buy or take more bags if you just keep some of the ones you already have in your car or backpack. You can use old bags that you’ve already collected, you can get netted ones to keep loose fruit and veg together, and you can ask in any supermarkets if they have any leftover boxes that you can use to take stuff home in. And you can re-use bags and boxes to fill with food from the BUDE REFILL SHOP for storing later. I also have a collection of glass containers for home storage!
Drew prefers his shower without the plastic. Photo credit: Heather Ford (Image provided by Unsplash)
Drew - Groundskeeper & dog whisperer_
PLASTIC-FREE SHAMPOO AND SOAP
My sister bought me some plastic free shampoo for Christmas which I keep in a little tin. It’s actually very good and it foams up brilliantly. I also buy soap instead of shower gel, that’s such an easy swap to make. Bathrooms can be a bit of a culprit for tonnes of plastic bottles, it’s probably one of the worst areas of the house for most of us. It’s just not always easy to find plastic free versions of the things we use in the bathroom. So that’s a good way to cut out two at least!
Washable nappies could be your proud parenting moment! (Photo is Hannah’s own)
Hannah - Team member & life guru_
PLASTIC FREE PERIODS
I never used to think about the plastic waste from my period, but I’ve switched out tampons for a menstrual cup, and sanitary towels for a combination of period pants and reusable sanitary towels, and now it seems crazy to think about the amount of waste I used to create completely unthinkingly.
I have to say, it took me a while to get used to the menstrual cup. But a completely unexpected benefit has been that my period are much more comfortable than they used to be. I was always the type to be green faced, sobbing and clutching a hot water bottle while mainlining painkillers during my period, but now, somewhat shockingly, I’ve realised that a lot of that was probably to do with all the chemicals in my darn tampons. I barely get any pain now. And I have to say that period pants are a revelation. As for washing, I sling them in on a 30 degree wash with other dark colours, and it really couldn’t be easier.
WASHABLE NAPPIES
There’s plenty I’m not particularly proud of as a parent (yes of course you can watch Peppa Pig if you will only get in the motherflipping car) But washable nappies is something I am proud of using. It took a bit of research to work out which ones worked best for us, and making the move to overnight nappies felt like a big step. We’re so in the swing of it that washing and drying really doesn’t feel like a chore, it’s just part of our routine. And we don’t sweat if we have to break open an emergency pack of disposables. Come on. Nobody’s perfect.
We use cloth wipes too, and they are absolutely ace. I hate using disposable ones now. Cloth does a much better job, and let’s face it, anything that makes time spent wiping poo off bums be less is a good thing.
Not only is an adorably patterned cloth bum extremely cute, but I think they’re comfier for my son as well. And of course most importantly, we’ve saved around ten tonnes of nappies from going to landfill (the average for a two and a half year old.)
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
If you’re not ready to make swaps, you can always take a look at your waste systems, and make the effort to get it in the right place.
Darren has reduced his family’s landfill. Photo credit: Alfonso Navarro (Image provided by Unsplash)
Darren Johns - Groundskeeper & impressions expert_
RECYCLE, PROPERLY.
I’ve become much more conscious of recycling. Now I wash all my packaging before putting it in the recycling bin. Previously after Christmas, I would have put out around six big black bin bags full of rubbish, and everything would have just gone in. Because it does take a bit of time to sort it all out into different bins. But this year I put two small bin bags out and that was it. In years gone by, it would have all gone in the black bag, but now I take much more care and time over it, and it makes a massive difference.