Plastics and packaging
- Take the Pesky Plastics Quiz
-
Recycling is key, but it’s important to remember that recycling uses energy and produces carbon emissions from transport and processing.
Where possible, we should try to reduce our use of plastics in the first place!
Take the Pesky Plastics Quiz to find out all the plastics that ‘sneak’ into your shopping.
- Reuse and refill
-
Using reusable alternatives to single-use plastics can reduce the amount of plastic waste you produce and save you money in the long run.
From food to cleaning products, there are lots of options to reduce the amount of plastic packaging we buy.
The Refill app shows places where you can refill your water bottle as well as shops offering products loose or in reusable packaging. Supermarkets and lots of local hardware shops now offer refill services, too!
Inspired to take action? Make your Reuse and Refill Pledge today!
- Buy your fruit and veg loose
-
Research shows that buying the correct amount of food such as fruit and veg loose, rather than pre-packaged, can significantly reduce the amount of food wasted in our homes, as well as reducing the need for plastic packaging.
If all apples, bananas and potatoes were sold loose, and people bought just the amount they needed, it could save 60,000 tonnes of food waste and could reduce plastic packaging by 8,800 tonnes per year - a combined saving of more than 80,000 tonnes of CO2!
See more top tips and recipes for easy ways to reduce food waste in your kitchen.
- Find sustainable alternatives to plastic
-
When swapping from plastic to other materials, think about the land and water used to produce the material, as well as how far it has had to travel. It’s not just the recyclability of the material that matters - these factors all have an environmental impact.
The key thing to remember is it’s usually better for the environment to use what you already have, before buying something new.
For example, using a plate to cover leftovers in the fridge instead of buying a reusable cover, or using a bag for life you already own, rather than buying a fabric shopping bag.
When you’re buying gifts for birthdays or Christmas, consider giving experiences rather than items. Check out our Green Gift Guide for lots of ideas.
Many people are worried about microplastics from clothing which can be released during washing. Try spot treating stains or hanging clothes out to freshen them up, rather than popping them straight in the washing machine.
Some retailers now provide biodegradable or degradable plastic bags, packaging, hygiene items and nappies. None of these materials, including those labelled as ‘home compostable’, are suitable for home composting, as the temperatures needed for these to break down can only be reached in a specialist, industrial composting facility (according to research from UCL). To cut down on waste, use reusable alternatives instead and dispose of these single-use items in your household waste bin.
- Reusable nappies
-
As well as food and household items, there are many other ways to incorporate reusables into your life. Reusable nappies and other sanitary items are a hygienic and
sustainable alternative to disposables.We have partnered with a number of online retailers to secure Hampshire residents a 15% discount on reusable nappy products.
- Find out more
-
Find out what Central and Local Government, retailers and manufacturers are doing:
• reducing food waste through the Courtauld Commitment,
• reducing plastic packaging through the Plastics Pact,
• preventing problematic single-use items through bans, e.g. straws, stirrers and cotton buds.