Three ways to reduce single use plastic
Reusables have come a long way over the last few years. Now you can make them a beautiful and stylish part of your life, expressing your own flair in a way you just never could with single-use plastic.
Breaking free from single use culture doesn’t need to be hard either, and it can actually be a lot of fun! In fact, there are plenty of reusable products out there that offer beautiful designs to suit your mood and your outfit, so you can feel good while expressing your own style one meal (or drink, or snack) at a time.
Small changes can create big wins, so if you want to find out how to reduce single use in your life, we’ve got plenty of ways to make it effortless.
Opt for sustainable products & alternatives
Single-use plastic is so common that you probably use it more than you think, which might make the switch feel overwhelming. And while it can be challenging to re-train a lifetime of habits, doing it gradually one purchase at a time means you'll hardly notice the change at all (well, except for how good you feel!). The best part is, with so much innovation in sustainability, there’s an alternative for almost any single use plastic product out there
Environmentally friendly products come in all shapes and sizes, so here are a few ways to help you get started on your sustainable journey!
Metal straws
Something as simple as using metal straws in your favourite drinks is an easy first step to making single-use plastics yesterday’s news. They last for years (and are recyclable after that) and won’t collapse in on itself while you’re mid-drink (we’re looking at you, paper straws!).
Whether you like bubble tea, juices or smoothies (or even pina coladas when you’re caught in the rain), keeping your metal straw on hand means single-use is no longer necessary.
Travel Cups
It’s refreshing to know businesses like cafes are also moving to a more sustainable way of life. And while it’s a solid first step, some of these reusable cups are still lined with plastic—like polyethylene—as a barrier to stop your coffee leaking out the bottom. While this is good for your coffee sipping experience (and your white shirt), it means these cups can’t be recycled.
Alternatives—such as ceramic or stainless steel cups — that you can use again and again are a great way to have your coffee and drink it, too! Travel Cups are a great way to reduce your use of plastic and minimise your impact while you’re at it. Plus, if you pick a travel cup like ours—they’ll keep your drink warm (or cool) for hours, so you not only save on single use, you also get to savour your coffee for longer!
Pet Bowls
If you have a furry friend at home, consider their dining experience. Food and water bowls are a great opportunity to easily incorporate a more eco-friendly lifestyle. As an everyday essential that needs to stand up to the excitement of mealtime, plastic can be a bit flimsy, prone to developing scratches and cracks, and they can be harder to keep clean.
An easy switch out is opting for some stainless steel bowls, which last longer than a plastic bowl and can be recycled when they are no longer up to scratch.
Reusable over consumable: Opt for reusable items
When it comes to reducing environmental impact, having items that you can reuse far outweighs products that are recycled. Opting for reusable materials also helps minimise your footprint further, as the benefits of recycling include the reduced use of natural resources—such as energy and water. And that’s always a good feeling!
So making the decision from the beginning to invest in something you’ll use for years vs once is a much better way to not only help the planet, but save you money long-term. You don’t have to give up on convenience either, as having your own dedicated reusable water bottles and reusable cups means you’re always ready for a drink on the go.
Switch to brands using biodegradable packaging
As more brands are shining a light on sustainability, it’s getting much easier to be environmentally conscious throughout your purchase journey. More and more businesses are using biodegradable, eco-friendly packaging and ditching the single-use, which is itself a massive win! You can show your support for this by choosing these brands who offer planet-friendly solutions, including their packaging.
At frank green, seeing more businesses adopt eco-friendly packaging makes us proud to be part of something so important. Of course, all our packaging is biodegradable and plastic-free. Plus, we put just as much care into packaging design as we do into our award-winning products, so whether it’s for you or a loved one, you’ll get a stylish experience from beginning to end (if we do say so).
Switching out single-use plastics isn’t always easy, and can take conscious daily choice. But by making a few clever changes to your daily routine, it can make it a lot easier. If you’re looking for more reusable solutions, take a look at our collection and add a dash of flair without cramping the planet’s style.
Explore our reusable bottles, cups, homewares and more