Top 10 Eco Swaps
Plastic can crop up in the most unlikely of places, in your morning brew for example – yep we’re talking tea bags! We’re all making a conscious effort to reduce our plastic use, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. But don’t fear, we’re here to help you out with our top 10 eco swaps that will get you on your way to sustainable living.
1. Tea bags > Metal Tea Strainer
We weren’t joking when we said there’s plastic in your tea – the bags are often made from polypropylene plastic. So why not invest in a metal tea strainer, which you can use with loose leaf tea time and time again. The quality of loose leaf tea is often much better anyway, so its win-win!
https://www.whittard.co.uk/equipment/tea-equipment/infusers-strainers
2. Plastic Cutlery > Bamboo Cutlery
If you’re lunching on the go, you can swap out plastic cutlery for bamboo – its all natural and usually heat and stain resistant too.
https://ethicalshop.org/bamboo-cutlery-set.html
3. Dish Sponge > Coconut Scourers
Make washing-up more eco-friendly, by swapping out traditional cellulose foam sponges for natural coconut husk scourers.
https://www.theplasticfreeshop.co.uk/coconut-fibre-twin-pack-scourer
4. Cellophane > Bees Wax Food Wrap
Cellophane can’t be recycled, tinfoil can but it has to be 100% free of food residue which isn’t exactly practical. Why not swap these out for reusable beeswax wraps – they let your food breathe and keep it fresh.
https://www.beeswaxwraps.co.uk/
5. Bin Bags > Biodegradable Waste Bags
Whatever you need to bag-up, there’s usually a biodegradable version available - making this swap is great for the planet. Here at Världen, we only use 100% biodegradable tags and packaging.
https://www.polybags.co.uk/packaging/biodegradable-bags.htm
6. Dryer Sheets > Dryer Balls
Wave goodbye to chemical softeners and non-biodegradable dryer sheets, by using dryer balls. These all-natural nifty little wool balls will leave your clothes super soft and they last for thousands of washes. Seriously.
https://www.littlebeausheep.com/products/swaledale-sheep-100-wool-tumble-dryer-balls/
7. Bottled Shampoo > Solid Shampoo
We go through tons of bottled shampoo each year, luckily most bottles are recyclable but if you want to go that extra mile, try out shampoo bars. They’re great for your hair, the environment and your pocket with each bar lasting around 80 washes.
https://www.peacewiththewild.co.uk/product-category/haircare/solid-shampoo-bars/
8. Cotton Buds > Paper Stemmed Buds
I think we all get sad when we think about that famous image of a little sea horse carrying around a cotton bud – need I say more? Make a simple swap to paper stemmed cotton buds, they do the exact same thing as traditional cotton buds.
https://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/products/simply-gentle/simply-gentle-organic-cotton-buds/
9. Disposable Wipes > Reusable Wipes
If the individual packaging alone wasn’t bad enough, face wipes are usually made from nasties such as polyester and polypropylene. You can swap these out for cotton reusable face cloths – bung them in the washing machine when needed.
https://www.cheekywipes.com/reusable-make-upremovalwipes/washable-bamboo-make-up-remover-pads.html
10. Tampons > Menstrual Cups
We saved this one until last for a reason, but ladies hear us out. You’ll personally use around 240 tampons each year! That’s almost 10,000 in your lifetime. Though a little fiddly at first, many women now swear by these super-soft silicone cups – simply pop them in, empty when needed, wash and re-use.
