The items we need to cut back on and eventually eradicate from daily use, are those that only have one life.
‘Single use’ is a term that has been used a lot in the media in relation to demonising plastic. But we should also be mindful of a lot of other single use items, such as cardboard; they may be made from different materials but they equally use raw materials, energy, water etc in their manufacturing processes.
Single use items are those that cannot be repurposed into a new item. The worst offenders are items such as food wrappers, because they are used for a very short period of time and you then have no choice but to throw them away. Other items may only have a single use, but we will use them for a lot longer before discarding them. The ideal Holy Grail to work towards is that, as a society, we are manufacturing things which can be recycled or reinvented into other items or composted at the end of their purposeful life.
But as Monty Python taught us, getting to the Holy Grail is a very difficult journey. So let’s start with some easy changes.
The easiest things that I have found to swap have not involved buying anything new, rather swapping to different practices at home. Cling film is often said to be a terrible plastic by the eco-warriors out there as it is used very quickly and then thrown away. It is very difficult to re-use and is therefore more often than not simply thrown in the bin.
I bet all of us have a ‘Tupperware cupboard’ full of either bought containers or old ice cream and soup tubs. And I bet all of us have sworn on more than one occasion when you opened the cupboard door and it all fell on your head, or you found a perfect tub but couldn’t find the lid. Well, spend a few moments this weekend giving it a good tidy up! Because you are going to need it.
Put the cling film in the bottom draw and pledge to use it only in extreme emergencies! Start using your Tupperware to store leftover food in the fridge, rather than covering the top of a bowl with cling film. Find the perfect tub to hold your sandwiches to take to work or the 4 smaller pots that you could make the kids some jelly in.
If you find you do regularly need a cover, invest in a Beeswax Wrap. These have been flying off the shelves of Eco shops recently as they have become more widely known. It is a piece of fabric that has been covered in beeswax. It enables you to use the heat of your hands to mould the wrap into shape. You can then cover the top of a bowl or wrap up half a tomato or a piece of flapjack and it effectively seals by sticking together. When you are done, flatten it out and wipe with a damp cloth (not too hot otherwise it will melt the wax). Leave it to dry before putting it back in the drawer. Only one don’t – no raw meat.
I have never lied to anyone and said that these changes don’t cost money. Anyone who says this is a cheaper way of living is unfortunately lying to you. Beeswax wraps will cost you around £14 for a set of three different sizes, which is probably the equivalent of around ten rolls of cling film which would last a very long time.
However, with many sustainable items there is the factor that they will last longer and I have found that when I pay more for an item, I do look after it better. For example, my favourite click lid Tupperware, that I use for my lunch, doesn't go in the dishwasher as it can affect the rubber seal. I also have a fantastic spatula from Colourworks in the kitchen that is brilliant when baking. As a result of this plastic free challenge, I’m conscious that I won’t be buying anymore and therefore look after it more carefully.
In the future, plastic will still serve a purpose in manufacturing as it is lightweight, durable and multi-functional: all reasons it became so popular in the first place. However, hopefully manufacturers will reach the Holy Grail and produce items that are created with a plan for recycling them effectively when they have finished their productive life.