Simple ways to reduce plastic

Plastics are made from non-renewable natural resources such as crude oil, gas and coals. If this in itself isn’t detriment enough for our environment, it also takes about 1000 years for plastic to breakdown.

Globally we are producing and using plastic at a debilitating rate.

It is estimated that in Australia alone we use 3.92 billion plastic bags a year, which equates to 429,000 bags being dumped in landfill every hour.

But of course this is only a drop in the pool of our demand for plastic; you only need to look around to realise how wide spread our use of plastic is.

Plastic is not only a hazard to our environment, it may also be a hazard to our health. Plastic containing BPA have long been suspected of causing cancer, obesity and type 2 diabetes and many other plastics are similarly suspected of leaching chemicals which may cause the same ill health.

Due to increasing consumer concern over these risks many products are now labelled BPA free however we should also look out for the recycle numbers 3 (PVC), 6 (polystyrene) and 7 (other – including BPA). These plastics are also suspected of leaching dangerous chemicals, are generally not high temperature heat stable (so should not be used to heat food), and do not recycle well. Plastics labelled with the recycling number 1 (PET) should also only be used once and may not be safe for use multiple use.

Don’t completely panic as many plastics are still considered safe.

Look for the recycle numbers 2 (high density polyethylene), 4 (low density polyethylene) and 5 (polypropylene), these are not suspected of leaching but always follow manufactures instructions for use and cleaning and where possible reduce your plastic use, after all it’s good for the environment.

Simple steps to reduce your plastic:

Switch to glass: glass jam or coffee jars can be re-used to store food or you can pick up ball jars in most supermarkets. These also have a fantastic vintage look.
Ditch the cling wrap: instead of covering leftovers in cling wrap store it between to ceramic plates
Opt for Stainless steel: heaps of great stainless steel lunchboxes, containers and water bottles are now available
Go Green: Green bags are a great way to reduce plastic bag use – keep them in the car so you don’t forget them
Re-useable food pouches and vegetable storage bags are available online for use at home and to take to the supermarket
Ditch the straw: from 6 months babies can drink from a cup, so I don’t see why adults can’t too

Many of these strategies will not only help you to reduce your plastic but also help you eat less processed and more whole and homemade foods.

“glass bottle” image from Shutterstock

118 Comments

- - sisterhood27 said
  - 20 Apr 2014
    3:27 pm
Thanks for such an informative article

- - fizgig said
  - 20 Apr 2014
    12:59 pm
We have a mountain of Tupperware that is reused. I don’t buy cling wrap at all. I even just get my fruit and veg loose and don’t use plastic to buy from the shop!

- - fruitwood said
  - 18 Apr 2014
    10:59 pm
The tip about cling wrap is really good 😀

- - priyachirag said
  - 18 Apr 2014
    9:19 am
There need to be more recycling & reducing plastic initiatives for companies that manufacture & process food.

- - rachkap said
  - 18 Apr 2014
    4:54 am
There’s a lot of waste in Australia!

- - teak said
  - 17 Apr 2014
    10:19 pm
We use a lot of reusable plastic.

- - curlytops said
  - 17 Apr 2014
    5:09 pm
south Australia has the right idea of recycling. You get 10c for every bottle plastic or glass and you have to pay for shopping bags so you bring your own reusable ones. the rest of the states should follow suit.
- shazzbot replied
  
  20 Apr 2014 , 1:25 pm
  I found it hard at first with no plastic bags in the supermarkets, but now I am use to it and I hardly use any plastic bags anymore, we also do the 10c refunds for the cans and bottles. It’s great! Yes, all the other states should follow us.
- - pakeko said
  - 17 Apr 2014
    12:49 pm
Reading this makes me really aware how as a family we are doing ok with our lack of plastic use

- - damish70 said
  - 17 Apr 2014
    11:09 am
Reading this article makes me realise just how little plastic I use. I think its something that I’ve adapted over the years.

- - BellaB said
  - 16 Apr 2014
    9:42 pm
We do a lot of these things. Saves money, too.

- - mumzee said
  - 16 Apr 2014
    5:13 pm
Never use plastic in a microwave!

- - maureen3 said
  - 16 Apr 2014
    4:41 pm
Some useful and great tips to follow

- - not_amanda said
  - 16 Apr 2014
    1:51 pm
My mum must have been a pioneer, or just a throwback to earlier times. She always stored leftovers in the fridge without using clingwrap. I remember all my school friends having clingwrapped sandwiches and I’d be so envious because mine were just in a box.

- - rachkap said
  - 16 Apr 2014
    3:58 am
Some OK tips here thank you.

- - yummymum said
  - 15 Apr 2014
    10:46 pm
Tupperware is plastic but I never throw it away. Wash and reuse. Glass with small kids worries me so nudie lunch boxes are great for lunch and there is no rubbish, they bring it home, it’s washed and reused.
- hopefullyheidi replied
  
  16 Apr 2014 , 8:32 pm
  Totally agree about nude food range. They have amazing things to save on plastic. I also live their yoghurt container that has a removable insert that you pop in the fridge or freezer and then pop it inside an outer container that holds your spoon as well, so you can enjoy yummy cool yoghurt.
- - mrsdew17 said
  - 15 Apr 2014
    10:32 pm
Using containers still means they have to be washed which means using hot water, detergent etc. Maybe using cling wrap sparingly would be ok?

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 15 Apr 2014
    10:03 pm
We use the Smash brand Nude food range, which requires no cling wrap in one of its lunch boxes as it has a sandwich holder. We also use a great wrap
Container that has a reusable and washable wrap holder with Velcro on it and holds your wrap in place inside the container and while you eat it.

- - cherz said
  - 15 Apr 2014
    8:53 pm
I am very guilty of using to much plastic. Interesting article makes one stop and think. Thanks for sharing.

- - deangunna said
  - 15 Apr 2014
    7:38 pm
We have to buy bags where ever we go in tassie so we reuse plastic bags and have canvas bags for our shopping already.

- - missworstencroft said
  - 15 Apr 2014
    7:14 pm
Sad that Target have gone backwards from charging 10c for a shopping bag to also providing free bags again – a customer demand problem?