Reducing Plastic Supermarket Consumption
Below are some solutions on how to solve the plastic packaging problem. As we know plastic ends up in our food-chain and waterways; so what simple steps can you take to cut down your own frequent consumption at the supermarket.
Shopping for Fruit and Vegetables plastic free
Pack'd is a frozen fruit company whose products are entirely packaged in paper. This type of packaging for frozen fruit or vegetable are the first of its kind that I have seen in the UK!
It offers frozen blueberries, spinach, broccoli, garlic and many other products packed in packaging that can go directly into paper recycling….zero waste, zero plastic.
Fresh Fruit boxes can also be ordered online from Ocado, either mixed fruit or single variety and some brands are highly affordable.
Look for the Ocado Home Brand range for a cheaper option or try the Wholegood fruit and veg range: also in the Ocado organic section and packaged in a home compostable net bag.
Able and Cole, Riverford, online supermarkets, are higher end ethical options......there mantra is, no pointless plastic.
Notably they are Bcorp certified and have no PFAS present in there produce.
Finally, for an affordable priced fruit and veg box delivery, try local Independent providers like Wonky Box or Odd Box
Odd and Wonky box are innovative companies that keep prices down by utilising odd shape fruit and veg that is too askew to make it to the shop floor; Their product still mostly organic: they also deliver plastic free refills.
Dairy
Yeo milk is now available in a carton; it is fully recyclable, and uses 70% less plastic than its previous form. Organic and cruelty free, it can be found in all the major supermarkets.
The Estate dairy range, is an organic milk which is packaged in a traditional glass milk bottle, it is less processed and-like all of The Estates products-delicious....it can be found in store at;
M & S or ordered online at Ocado.
It is worth noting that Milk Rounds are back en vogue. Your local milk round offers dairy products at an affordable price and low carbon footprint. It can be booked online, paid for and delivered with minimum hassle, just like your standard online supermarket shop; Hindex Farms Dairy, The Modern Milkman or go onto Big Barn, which lists local services in the area.
....and finally, we rate CALON WEN, especially, it's organic butter with compostable at home packaging. It can be found in most supermarkets online, but may have a shorter shelf life than the standard butters preserved in foil.
Tips
An easy trick to reduce plastic packaging, is to try and take the time to choose Jars and Tins where possible…. Mayonnaise, Tomato Sauce, Cordial, Pet food, Olives, etc ...can all be used in an alternative packaging to plastic. Try and pick Tea brands like Pukka and Clipper..... unbleached and plastic free!
Biona, Marks and Spencers own brand, and Ocado online are some of the suppliers that package rice and pasta in paper packaging.
Cheeky Panda, or Reginas' are two of the few plastic free, unbleached Toilet papers' on the market at the moment; they are affordable and can be found in all major supermarkets.
Finally, it is possible to source frozen breaded fish fingers, cod, boxed chips etc, in cardboard packaging; as well as certain Ice-creams, lollies and frozen yogurt. It is just a case of finding them.
Simple adjustments to your weekly shopping habits can cut plastic waste down substantially.
Many of these changes can be made at no extra cost to the consumer. It is just a case of being aware of the alternative options and having a go.
All items in the Photos' were bought online at Ocado in my attempt to achieve an 85 percent plastic free shop.
If just one million UK families reduced their supermarket plastic by 85%, we'd eliminate 66,300 tonnes of plastic waste every single year. That's the weight of 47,357 cars removed from our waste stream.
How Toxic are your Make-up products, and Toiletries?
How to source safe beauty products and toiletries?
(left ) Products that have well earned their green credentials.
Testing for Toxins Apps
There are an astounding amount of beauty products and toiletries on the market today and buying from online ethical superstores like The Big Green Smile, Ethical Supermarket or well known High street brands like Lush or Body Shop, is going to guarantee a good choice in terms of ethics and pure ingredients; but we don't all want to purchase our products this way.
In a response to the public wanting to know ingredients to beauty and toiletry products, apps have been created to tell us.
Simply scan the barcode and a traffic light system appears; showing ingredients, potential toxins, and an overall rating.
Each app is slightly different, but they fun and easy to use.....
Some popular brands are INCI, YUKA, and Think Dirty!