Tips for reducing the consumption of plastics in your day-to-day
Plastic has become a material that is ever present in our lives. From food packaging to clothes, through toys and utensils, plastic is everywhere. However, its disproportionate use is causing a serious environmental impact, polluting oceans, rivers and dry land, and endangering the health of ecosystems and people.
It’s in this context that the urgent need of reducing our consumption of plastic arises. Although is it an ambitious objective, there are many simple actions we can take in our day-to-day to contribute to this change, by reducing the consumption of plastics and thus the footprint we leave on the planet.
10 tips for reducing the consumption of plastic
1. Buy bulk
Choose to buy fresh products such as fruit, vegetables and legumes bulk instead of in individual plastic packaging. Take your own cloth bags or reusable containers when shopping in order to avoid using plastic bags.
2. Choose products with less packaging
Pay attention to the plastic used in the packaging of the products you buy. Prioritise those that have less or that use recyclable or biodegradable materials.
Meat, fish, fruit… Buy these by weight in bulk instead of in pre-packaged packs.
3. Reject using disposable straws and cutlery
Take a reusable metal or bamboo straw, and use your own cutlery when eating out.
4. Say no to plastic bottles
Invest in a reusable water bottle and fill it with tap or filtered water. There is a myriad of different beautifully designed models in the market.
5. Use cloth bags for shopping
Forget about plastic bags and take reusable cloth bags with you when you go shopping.
6. Avoid personal care products with microplastics
Some personal care products, such as facial exfoliators and toothpastes, contain microplastics that end up in the water. Find alternatives that don’t contain these microplastics.
7. Reuse and recycle
Give a second life to plastic containers that you cannot avoid using. Clean and reuse them for storing food or for other purposes. Remember to properly recycle those containers that you must discard.
8. Support committed companies
Look for and support companies that are working on reducing their plastic footprint and that offer sustainable alternatives to their products. Your consumption can also help them to subsist and continue to fulfil their purpose.
9. Participate in clean-up initiatives
Join beach, river and park clean-up initiatives to remove plastic waste from the environment. There are several initiatives related to this type of actions in Bizkaia, that launch calls regularly. Are you ready to participate?
10. Spread the word
Share these tips with your family, friends and work colleagues in order to raise awareness on the plastic problem and encourage them to take action.
Strategically use your social media as well to campaign in favour of the common good.
Reducing our plastic consumption is a challenge, but it is possible if we are all committed to take small actions in our day-to-day. We can all create a more sustainable future together where plastic is not a threat for our planet.
Remember
- Every action counts. Even the smallest.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle to minimize your plastic footprint.
- Support companies and organisations committed to sustainability.
- Spread the work and encourage others to also take action.