7 Ways You Can Avoid Single-Use Plastic Today!

Originally published in January 2019. This guide has been lightly refreshed with current links and context while keeping the original seven ideas intact.

Of all the things going on around us, one of the biggest topics that drove us to set up an eco-conscious and ethical marketplace was our reliance on wasteful and unnecessary plastics, and what we can do to avoid single-use plastic in our daily lives and go plastic free.

We have some avid scuba divers in our team at Friendly Turtle. They love to get out into the water and play in their new paradise world 20 metres below sea level. When they began to notice more pollution in the water and washed up on our coastlines, they started to see first-hand the damage single-use plastics can cause to oceans, underwater ecosystems and marine life.

Alarming Facts About Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution remains a serious global problem. The US Environmental Protection Agency highlights the harm plastic pollution can cause to ecosystems and wildlife when it enters rivers, lakes and oceans.

Public awareness has grown significantly since this article was first published. More people are trying to reduce unnecessary disposable plastic, particularly the everyday items that are used briefly but can remain in the environment for far longer.

Where does so much concern around ocean plastic come from? Our earlier Surfers Against Sewage article explains why marine pollution became such an important issue for Friendly Turtle.

So what can we all do to avoid single-use plastic and help reduce the problem? Communities across the UK continue to take action, and Surfers Against Sewage offers current ways for people to get involved. Many everyday swaps still begin with a little forward thinking before leaving home.

1. Ditch Plastic Carrier Bags

Since charges for single-use carrier bags were introduced, reusable shopping bags have become a much more familiar part of everyday life. Remembering to take a bag to the supermarket is one of the simplest habits we can build, and it helps reduce the need to keep taking another disposable bag each time we shop.

2. Carry a Reusable Water Bottle

Plastic drink bottles are another common disposable item. An easy way to reduce how many you buy is to carry a reusable water bottle with you. By making this simple switch and refilling when possible, one bottle can replace many single-use ones over time.

3. Forget About Single-Use Coffee Cups

Many takeaway coffee cups are difficult to recycle through ordinary paper recycling because they can include a plastic lining. Carrying a reusable coffee cup gives you an option that can be used again and again, provided you remember to bring it and keep it in regular use.

4. Say No Thank You to Plastic Straws

Rules have moved on since this guide was first published. In England, certain single-use plastic items are now banned or restricted, including plastic straws in many circumstances; current details and exemptions are set out in the GOV.UK guidance. Where you do need a straw, a durable reusable option can be kept and used many times.

5. Use Reusable Produce Bags

When you're at the supermarket choosing loose fruit and vegetables, try to avoid taking a new single-use produce bag each time. Keeping reusable produce bags ready for your regular shop can make the lower-waste option much easier to remember.

6. Make Your Reusable Lunch Box Work Harder

Most of us already have a food container or lunch box at home. Using reusable food containers instead of disposable wrapping or zip-lock bags can help reduce waste, and they can also be useful for packed lunches or taking restaurant leftovers home.

7. Say No to Disposable Cutlery

We've all been caught out before: you buy lunch while you're out and the only cutlery available is disposable. Carrying a reusable cutlery set in your bag can make it easier to avoid taking another single-use set when you do not need one.

So that brings our top seven ways to avoid single-use plastic to an end. All seven are realistic changes that can become easier with repetition. A little preparation before leaving the house can make reusable choices feel normal rather than inconvenient, helping us move towards a lower-waste everyday routine.

Friendly Turtle