5 Simple Swaps for Plastic-Free July
‘simple swaps’, make a significant difference. If like us, you can’t completely eliminate plastic this month, we’ve found five simple swaps to help you make environmentally conscious swaps, and even save some money.
We have no affiliations with any of the companies below; we just love these products!
Shampoo Bars
Shampoo bars have boomed in popularity in recent years, and we can see why. Firstly, shampoo bars are great value; they last much longer than bottled shampoo, saving you money in the long run.
Shampoo bars are biodegradable, most are made of natural materials and tend to come packaged plastic-free. Not only are you eliminating plastic, but you’re also reducing the chemicals that go down the drain and into the water systems too.
We’re a massive fan of the shampoo bars from that scented haven, Lush. With a huge range of bars for all hair types, you’ll find the perfect one for you. We love the Seanik bar for incredible volume. Team with the Cork pot to make it last longer than bottled alternatives.
Image Credit: Lush UK
EcoEgg Laundry Egg
We LOVE Laundry Eggs! This eco-friendly laundry detergent alternative not only reduces your plastic consumption but also saves you money. A leading liquid-tab laundry brand will cost you £8 for 38 washes and is coated, and packaged, in plastic. The Laundry Egg is £9.99, lasts 70 washes, and it’s reusable. Plus, all the packaging is recyclable.
Made with sensitive skin in mind, the mineral pellets within the Laundry Egg contain no harmful chemicals, and you won’t be compromising on quality. By switching to the Laundry Egg, you can save up to 40 bottles of plastic every year. It comes with a ten-year guarantee, it’s vegan, cruelty-free and you can even use it for hand-wash only items. Learn more here.
Image Credit: EcoEgg
Loo Roll
The team at Who Gives a Crap loo roll really are a bright bunch. They’ve created a toilet roll that comes in funky, 100% recyclable packaging, is entirely plastic-free and 50% of their profits go to building safe and sanitary toilets all over the world. So far, they’ve helped 2.3 billion people get access to proper sanitation facilities.
We’re a big fan of the 100% recycled toilet paper. Not only is it cheaper than the leading brand (40p per 100 sheets for a branded loo roll versus 18.8p per 100 sheets with Who Gives A Crap), but it’s also made with 100% recycled paper. There’s no inks, dyes or scents and they say their paper is as soft as unicorn kisses…we can’t vouch for the unicorn kiss, but at Curlicue, we’re devotees!
Image Credit: Who Gives a Crap
Wrapping Paper
Now that we’re all squeaky clean, let’s talk wrapping paper - our favourite subject! At Curlicue, we believe in the joy of giving gifts without harming the earth. We’ve created beautiful gift wrap that is vegan (thank you vegetable ink), plastic-free, made from recycled paper and is recyclable after your gift is given. Every element of our wrapping paper is sourced in the UK, keeping our carbon footprint low and supporting local businesses.
Our founder, Hema Chauhan, was tired of seeing her living room littered with plastic infused wrapping paper on Christmas Day, knowing that it would all end up in landfill. But the eco-friendly options didn’t have the same design and aesthetic value as the non-recyclable options. And so, Curlicue was born. We believe in beautiful wrapping paper that won’t cost the earth or hurt it either. We’ve got many more designs to launch in the coming months so keep your eyes peeled! In the meantime, have a browse of our wrapping paper here. If you’re giving a gift this July, why not make it plastic-free?
Curlicue - Baby Dragons
Beeswax Paper
Cling film is a faff. It sticks in the wrong place, curls around on itself and ultimately, ends up in landfill long after the food is gone. Beeswax wraps use the warmth of your hands to mould the wrap around your bowl, jar or plate. Once it begins to cool, the wrap forms a seal around the container, keeping your food fresh.
The bonus of these wraps is that they’re reusable. With just a little soap and cold water, your wrap will be ready to reuse. These wraps can last over a year if looked after and can even go in the freezer. Plus, when the time has come to throw them away, they’re entirely biodegradable. The Beeswax Wrap Co. offer different sizes as well so you can get the perfect fit for you. We love the children’s lunch packs, perfect for when the kids (finally) get back to school! Have a look at them here. They’re also currently donating some of the proceeds of these packs to NHS charities.
Image Credit - The Beeswax Wrap Co.
It’s making simple swaps, that eradicate single-use plastics, where we can start to affect positive change. We don’t have to be perfect, but we can be better.