Plastic Action Champion ⋆ Life Diet Health

Plastic Action Champion

Whatever you are currently doing to stop our environment being overun with plastic, there is always more to be done! The Plastic Action Champion scheme runs in the County of Suffolk in the UK to raise awareness about single-use plastics. Plastic Action Champions also talk about the issues of litter and waste as well as recycling and ways to reduce your impact on the environment. Maybe you have a similar scheme where you are? Maybe you could start your own plastic action group?!

Easy actions to take

One of the easiest things you can do to help reduce plastic use is to think! Every time you buy something, think if it is the best option! Is the product made of plastic? wrapped in plastic? does it contain hidden plastic? Next, think, is there an alternative? Could I choose something else instead? A cardboard packet? Compostable bag? A tin? Loose? A very easy example of this is bananas! Bananas usually come in a plastic bag (single-use, throwaway, unrecyclable, have to buy a set number, bag makes them sweat)… choose loose bananas instead! This is such an easy start and can easily be done in most UK supermarkets with potatoes, carrots, onions and apples too! Hooray!

shopping trolley containing loose fruits and vegetables promoting plastic action chamption, plastic free shopping

Simple Steps for Shopping

There are now more choices than ever when it comes to plastic free shopping! At first, some items might seem strange as they are different to what you are used to! For example, have a look at the white cloth bag below! Do you know what they are? Have you used them?

These are soap nuts! A natural laundry detergent which you can re-use a few times and besides being plastic free, do much less harm to the environment (did you ever think where your detergent ends up or what harm it does?)!

I suggest adding a few drops of essential oils if you like your clothes to have a particular scent, but it’s not necessary. For extra whiteness (or brightness) and stain removal, try adding half a cupful of soda crystals to the drawer… much more eco-friendly and without all the harsh abrasive chemicals! We do receive a small commission if you click and purchase through these links.

Simple Plastic Free Alternatives

There are now so many products you can buy which have a plastic free alternative. Of course, even a Plastic Action Champion wouldn’t expect you to replace all of them at once, but once your current items have run out, it is worth considering if you could make any changes.

Bathroom

Kitchen

Out & About

Make your own!

Making your own can be a fantastic way to reduce your plastic use! whether that is using old t-shirts to make face masks, using white vinegar, lemons and bicarbonate of soda to make cleaning sprays or baking your own bread! All of these #MakeYourOwn products are steps in the right direction towards a plastic free lifestyle.

Cooking & Baking

Of course, Life Diet Health focuses on helping you create tasty foods, so it only makes sense that there’s a #PlasticFree element to foods!

As many of you will probably know, I last purchased a loaf of bread in September 2018! Since then, I have kept my sourdough starter going and make all of our bread and bread rolls! Once you get the hang of it, it is quite simple and fresh bread is so amazing! No more single use plastic bags for sliced bread! Here is our basic bread recipe. made with simple ingredients (no sourdough starter required)!

Bread rolls with seeded toppings, freshly baked and still joined together

Other simple swaps include making your own cakes and biscuits – again, usually packaged in single-use plastic wrap or trays. Instead, try my bundt cake, these decadent biscoff brownies or these dunkable oaty digestive biscuits!

Plate of freshly baked biscoff brownie squares

Finally something so easy to make and saving so much plastic! One of my favourites and great for customising by adding beetroot, spinach, chillis, caramelised onions or even red pepper… houmous!