Must-have alternatives to single-use plastics
Must-have alternatives to single-use plastics
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1/6 Swap straws
This pack of six colourful straws are made from BPA-free, food-grade silicone and last for years. They’re dishwasher safe and also come with a thin cleaning brush. Priced £12.47 here
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2/6 Long-lasting
This design features durable, toughened blown glass which won’t taint your brew and a band made from natural cork (a waste product from a wine cork manufacturer in Portugal). Priced from £19 here
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3/6 Sustainable wrapping
Cling film can’t be recycled, so replace it with this natural, sustainable alternative. Priced £19.99 for three wraps (18x20cm, 25x25cm and 33 x 35cm) here
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4/6 Bamboo brush
The Humble Brush is made from sustainably grown, biodegradable bamboo. The bristles are made from nylon-6, which has a carbon footprint comparable to wool. Priced £3.99 here
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5/6 Re-write
The Rocketbook Wave is an 80-page, spiral-bound notepad that you can use again and again with a Pilot FriXion pen. You can erase the entire book just by zapping it in the microwave with a mug of water. Priced from £25.99 here
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6/6 Heat sealed edges
Pukka teabags have been free of plastic (and staples) ever since they were founded in 2001. They use organic cotton stitches instead of plastic. Priced from £2.99 here
Scientists are searching for ways to reinvent plastics and make them more easily recyclable, meanwhile many consumers are desperate to recycle more.
But until manufacturers and retailers switch to fully recyclable packaging and products it's down to us to support those companies that already offer eco-friendly options.
The latest alternatives to cut out single-use plastic throwaways
1. Seraphina’s Kitchen silicone straws
Swap plastic drinking straws for paper straws, or reusable ones made from stainless steel or silicone.
Colourful straws from Seraphina's Kitchen, shown in gallery above, are made from BPA-free, food-grade silicone and will last for years.
Dishwasher safe, they come with a thin cleaning brush and are available in packs of six, in pastels or brights and in two widths. Priced £12.47 at uk.buymeonce.com
2. KeepCup Brew cork edition
If you often get take-out coffee or tea, a travel cup will help you cut down on a lot of single-use plastic lids as well as paper cups and is nicer to drink from, too.
This design features durable, toughened blown glass that won’t taint your brew and a band made from natural cork.
The lid is BPA and BPS free and can be recycled at the end of its life. Available in eight, 12 and 16oz sizes. Priced from £19 at uk.keepcup.com
3. Bee’s Wrap Assorted Reusable Food Wraps
Cling film can’t be recycled, so replace it with this natural, sustainable alternative, handmade from organic cotton, beeswax, organic jojoba oil and tree resin.
Simply use the warmth of your hands to mould the wrap around your food to create a seal that will stay in place as the wrap cools.
Wraps can be washed and reused for around a year, then composted at the end of their life. Priced £19.99 for three wraps (18x20cm, 25x25cm and 33x35cm) at lakeland.co.uk
4. Humble Brush
The Humble Brush toothbrush is made from sustainably grown, biodegradable bamboo. The bristles are made from nylon-6, which has a carbon footprint comparable to wool.
Each Humble Brush you buy helps to pay for oral care and education in struggling areas around the world. Priced £3.99 at hollandandbarrett.com
5. Rocketbook Wave
An 80-page, spiral-bound notepad, the Rocketbook Wave can be used again and again with a Pilot FriXion pen.
You don’t have to rub out your scribbles, as you can erase the entire book just by zapping it in the microwave with a mug of water.
You can keep notes for posterity by first taking a snap with the free Rocketbook app. It can even turn handwriting to text and you can automatically send the notes to services such as iCloud or Dropbox.
You can buy ink refills for the FriXion pen, again cutting plastic. Priced from £25.99 at getrocketbook.co.uk
6. Pukka Teabags
People went bananas when it emerged that most teabags contain plastic and can’t be composted: the paper includes polypropylene so the edges can be heat sealed.
Brands including PG Tips and Co-op are in the process of switching to plastic-free.
In the meantime, Pukka Herbs teabags have been free of plastic (and staples) since the brand launched in 2001. It uses organic cotton stitches instead of plastic. From £2.99 at pukkaherbs.com
