1. Choose re-useable coffee cups

They may look like they’re made of paper, but most takeaway coffee cups are lined with plastic, not to mention sealed with plastic lids. It is estimated Australians use 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year, generating over 7000 tonnes of waste for landfill. As an alternative, glass, ceramic and stainless steel re-usable cups are available in a range of shapes, sizes and designs that your barista can use instead. 

Source: University of Queensland Sustainability Office

2. Don’t forget your re-useable shopping bags

Almost 7 billion plastic bags are used by Australians every year (that’s about one per person per day), and while this only accounts for two per cent of the total plastics produced in the country each year, it amounts to over 36,850 tonnes. Capable of remaining in the environment for up to 1000 years, plastic bags pose a range of adverse social and environmental impacts including turtle mortality, when turtles mistake them for food in the form of jellyfish. To reduce these impacts, refuse plastic bags at the supermarket or clothing store, and bring your own re-usable bag.

Source: Plastic Bags Working Group Report to the National Packaging Covenant Council (2002)

3. Farm fresh

In almost every aisle of the supermarket, items are packaged in plastic, often even in the fresh produce section. Support both the environment and local producers by buying what you can at farmer’s markets, where your food has travelled less kilometres and is free from plastic packaging. (Remember to bring those re-usable shopping bags!)

4. Go glass

Most drink fridges are filled with soft drinks, juices and flavoured milks, but most are packaged in – you guessed it – plastic. Opt for the drinks in glass containers and feel better knowing you are making the more environmentally friendly choice. Glass bottles or containers can also be re-used for storing foodstuffs at home.

5. Do-it-yourself

Much of the food we purchase from supermarkets is pre-made and packaged in plastic for our convenience – such as snack bars, bread and muesli. But these are things that (when we can find the time) we are able to make ourselves. Research recipes, pick up unpackaged fresh produce at the farmers market and allocate an hour or two each week to make your own food – plastic-free.

6. Stop using products with microbeads

They may look interesting and be marketed as a wonder-product, but next time you go to the shops, avoid shower gels and face washes containing microbeads.

Microbeads are actually tiny particles of plastic, which you are lathering all over your skin and then rinsing down the drain to enter the environment. Choose the environmentally friendly option and purchase a soap bar instead!

7. Come prepared

Not only does buying food out during the work day put strain on your wallet, but also the environment, as many options are packaged in plastic.

Wake up 15 minutes earlier and prepare your own lunch and snacks for the day. It’s a win-win situation – you’ll save money and also reduce your plastic use. And if you forget or don’t have time, keep re-usable cutlery at work to at least minimise your impact.

8. Ditch the bottled water

Tap water costs about one cent per litre, while bottled water can cost more than $2.50 per litre. So not only is buying a re-usable glass or stainless steel bottle a sustainable solution, but also cost-effective.

9. Say no to straws

Next time you purchase a drink ask yourself, do I really need that straw? Plastic straws are one of the most common forms of rubbish found during the annual Clean Up Australia Day collections and, in most cases, are not necessary to consume our beverages.

10. Put your butt in the bin

Cigarette butts were the number one most common rubbish item found in last year’s Clean Up Australia Day collections. The butts contain plastic (in the filter), which hangs around in the environment for years. Make sure you don’t throw your butt on the ground when you’re finished, place it in a bin.

http://ecigarettereviewed.com

11. Buy in bulk

Bulk-buy stores are popping up all over the place – where you can bring your own containers and buy as much unpackaged food as you like – offering a sustainable solution to grocery shopping.

Buying in bulk is easier for larger households, but singles can always get together with friends, shop in bulk and then divvy out the produce.