Pass on using plastic straws Plastic straws do not biodegrade and they fill our landfills and oceans. Straws are especially damaging in a marine environment. Take your own reusable bag when shopping Plastic never breaks down and it can take up to a thousand years for one plastic bag to split into pieces but never fully biodegrade. Choose recyclable packaging Switching to products that use cardboard are often a more environmentally friendly choice over plastic packaging. To take an either further step, consider using a bag made from organic and fair-trade cotton. Buy your groceries in bulk Consider buying food like pasta and rice in bulk and storing them in jars. Buying these foods less often means less plastic packaging. Bring your own coffee cup Take your own reusable cup or flask when you get coffee to go as most takeaway cups are not recyclable. Most places even offer a discount for taking your own cup. Avoid disposable products Buy refillable lighters or use matches to reduce plastic waste. Similarly, buy a razor with replaceable blades instead of disposable razors. Take your plastic packaging back to the shop If you often take a trip to a farm shop or local green grocer, you can take back the plastic punnets so that they can be reused. Use a lunchbox or lunch bag Pack your lunch in a reusable box or cool bag rather than using plastic bags everyday. Use a reusable water bottle Refill a jazzy water bottle instead of buying them. This is a great way to save money and reduce plastic waste – lots of places will even refill your bottle for free! Buy loose fruit and vegetables Buy your fresh produce loose to avoid unnecessary packaging. Stop using cling film Cling film is not recyclable and ends up in landfills all over the world. Consider buying reusable food wraps. Although many contain beeswax, vegan wraps are available that use either candelilla wax or soy wax. Use a bar of soap over a bottle Opt for a bar of palm oil free bar of soap over a bottle. This can also be done with solid moisturisers and perfumes! Reuse packaging Some packaging makes for great storage items, like storing odds and ends in jam jars or using yoghurt pots as planters. Use a menstrual cup Tampons and sanitary pads contain unnecessary packaging and so much waste. By switching to a menstrual cup you can reduce waste and save up to £60 a year. Stop using wipes Whether it’s baby wipes or facial wipes, you can buy reusable wipes. They are widely available online and avoid the plastic packaging regular wipes come in whilst reducing the amount of wipes in landfills.