It’s no secret that we are polluting the planet.
One in eight Brits admit to illegally fly-tipping, 74% continue to buy plastic-bottled water, despite knowing most won’t be recycled and of the 39,000 coffee pods produced every minute, 29,000 of them end up in landfill.
But there is also some hope: apps like OLIO are being created to help tackle food waste. Online tools like Furniture Choice help people easily find their local recycling centre. And, according to new research by BRITA, 80% of us want the government to introduce new laws to tackle the plastic problem.
In the meantime, there are companies tackling the task head on.
Here are seven sustainable products that you can simply swap out for your existing ones around the home.
1. Coconut bowls (and spoons)
What’s the big idea?
Upcycling discarded coconut shells from coconut oil plantations. I love the story behind these Vie Gourmet Coconut Bowls: that local savvy craftsmen in Thailand salvage these unwanted shells and then finish them off by hand to create a beautiful and unique bowl. That’s pretty good entrepreneurship skills. Plus the bowls don’t just look pretty, but can do hot or cold food and are pretty durable.
Any good?
There’s two things to adjust to here: the lip of the bowls curve inwards so the opening is narrower, and the bottoms aren’t perfectly flat so they wobble a bit when you pop them down on a surface. I tried eating ravioli out of them but found that tricky, but for most other things – breakfast, snack bowls etc – they’re easy peasy. Just don’t put them in the dishwasher because they don’t like that and won’t last for long if you do.
Where can I get my hands on them?
A set of four bowls and spoons costs £19.95 and are available from via Global 1st here.
2. Wooden coffee capsules
What’s the big idea?
Saving the planet from millions of non-biodegradable aluminium coffee pods. Each pod from Lost Sheep Coffee is made from lignin (which comes from wood bark) and contains 100% Arabica single-origin coffee, which come straight from Brazil and are roasted in Whitstable. Plus they pay their farmers nearly five times what they would get through third-party distributors. That calls for a celebratory espresso.
Any good?
As I don’t drink coffee, I handed these over to the expert: my mum. She’s mad for her Nespresso machine so the fact that these are compatible meant she had no resistance to giving it a go. Super easy to use and compost. Her only complaint? She looks forward to more flavours which, I should imagine, will happen soon enough.
Where can I get my hands on them?
Prices start from £3.95 for a pack of 10 and currently come in three different flavours (including decaf). And shipping is free when you spend £15. Time to change your coffee game here.
3. Bamboo straws
What’s the big idea?
Eradicating the world of plastic straws. Like anything made from bamboo, Vie Gourmet’s Bamboo Straws are sustainably grown, 100% biodegradable and do not transmit heat. Which is always handy when drinking hot drinks (though why you’d want to drink a hot tea through a straw I’m not sure). Zero chemicals are used and the product is then shipped by sea, so have a lower carbon footprint.
Any good?
I much prefer these to the stainless steel straws I’ve tried in the past – they feel more…natural, and less like I’m in a dentist chair. But, as they’re not dishwasher safe, you’ll have to use the brush they come with to give them a quick wash by hand. All in all though, they get a big thumbs up.
Where can I get my hands on them?
A set of six straws (with cleaning brush and pouch) is £4.95 and are available via Global 1st here.
4. Beeswax wraps
What’s the big idea?
An environmentally-friendly replacement for single-use cling film. Spurred on by her own bugbear of wasteful plastics, the founder of BeeBee did some research and discovered, as if often the way, that things were better before we messed things up. Back in the day, people used beeswax-coated cotton to keep things fresh and so this age-old method has been brought back. These wraps are washable, reusable, and their cotton is organic. Plus, when you’re done with it you can just pop it on the compost and it’ll completely break down.
Any good?
Yes. Like with most things, you make it into a bigger deal or hassle in your head than it actually is. I guess the only limiting thing here is that the wraps come pre-cut and not on a roll where you can pick and choose your size as you go.
Where can I get my hands on them?
Admittedly, this is one of the pricier things to switch to when you compare to what roll of cling film costs, BUT, arguably, you can get years of use out of one single wrap. Prices start from £9.50 and can be bought via Mamoq here.
5. Solid beauty bars
What’s the big idea?
Beauty products that use zero plastic. Kiwi brand Ethique has been trying to rid the world, the ocean, and the beauty industry of plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles since 2012. They’re Fair Trade, palm-oil free, tight on water usage, and vegan. Plus, because the bars are concentrated, it means they can last up to five times longer than their liquid counterparts. Not to mention all their packaging and in-shower bamboo containers are compostable or recyclable.
Any good?
It took me a while to get round to giving this a go, largely down to failing to break the habit of just reaching for the shampoo bottle. I also thought that rubbing what looks like a soap bar on my hair would not go well. Turns out I was wrong. I didn’t get to try their conditioner but I did try their body butter. Bits of it fell off as I rubbed the bar up and down my legs, so I’d recommend doing this in the bath or shower to avoid unwanted clear up, but I did feel cocooned in moisture and edible by the end of it. When I run out of supplies next, I’ll happily consider switching to this in the long-term.
Where can I get my hands on them?
With their shampoos starting at £12 and body butter at £11, it’s perhaps a little pricier than you’d expect but, remember, there’s a lot of uses in that one block. Check out their full range on their website here or you can find them in Holland & Barrett.
6. Toothpowder (not paste)
What’s the big idea?
Toothpaste that is both good for you and good for the environment. Unlike other toothpaste brands that use a bunch of chemicals, everything in Activated Charcoal Natural Toothpowder by Georganics is natural so, when your body absorbs traces of it as you use it, there’s nothing toxic in it. Plus the packaging is plastic-free, recyclable and compostable. Win win.
Any good?
Opening a jar of black paste and dabbing my (bamboo) toothbrush in it does feel like something my granddad might have done. And, while using it, the black foam does give me the appeal of a Bond henchman. But, once you get over that, you’re home and dry. It doesn’t have any of the nasty and sweet flavourings of mass-marketed toothpaste brands and it feels kind of nice on the old gnashers.
However, if you have sensitive teeth or soft enamel like I do, I would recommend one without the activated charcoal as it can be quite abrasive.
Where can I get my hands on them?
Prices start from £6.90 for a jar which will last one person four weeks and can be bought from Mamoq here.
7. Bamboo loo roll
What’s the big idea?
Toilet roll that aims to slow down deforestation. With 27,000 trees being felled everyday for the sake of wiping our butts, aptly named Bumboo is aiming to do their bit – one roll at a time. Made from bamboo, it’s tree-free and sustainable. The grass only takes five years to mature and can then be harvested every year for the next 70. What’s more, it uses little to no pesticides and produces 35% more oxygen than trees, while absorbing 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. It’s both good for the soil and, in China, helps to support rural development and small farmholds. Plus, like anything made from bamboo, it’s surprisingly soft.
Any good?
Didn’t notice the difference in quality or comfort. Which is a good thing, considering there’s a clear decline in softness when using loo roll made from recycled paper (the softness is normally down to using a virgin wood source). I even managed to convert my brother in the process. Though I do think the individually-wrapped rolls is somewhat defeating the point.
Where can I get my hands on them?
You have to go big or go home when buying Bumboo. But their direct-to-door delivery service makes life easier. It’s £40 for a carton (which contains 48 rolls) or £36 per carton on subscription. You can order yours here.
8. Refillable hand soap
What’s the big idea?
Bath and beauty products that come in large containers – up to 5 litres – so you can refill your own bottles at home. Bramley has a real focus around sustainability. All packaging is 100% recycled, recyclable or biodegradable. Aside from the 5 litre bottles, big 1 litre bottles help reduce plastic waste. Ingredients are 97% natural and contain no harmful or unethical ingredients – things like petrochemicals, sulphates, microbeades, pthalates.
Any good?
We tried the grapefruit, lavender and sweet orange essential oils body wash from the 1 litre bottle. Admittedly the larger containers are pricey – £42 for a 1 litre bottle – but the large hand soap and shower gel bottles last a seriously long time. 8 weeks after starting the Bramley shower gel in the 1 litre pump bottle, there is still half left. For context, I usually replace 250ml hanging bottles of shower gel once a week. The upright pump delivers the right amount into your hand – unlike the hanging gel bottle, which splurges far too much into your hand with each squeeze – and the intense essential oils go a long way. It has a lovely, fresh fragrance that creates an energising sensation in the shower and lasts on the skin.
Where can I get my hands on them?
At the Bramley website, £8 for 100ml, £42 for a litre bottle, £132 for 5 litres.
9. Glass food storage and lunch containers
What’s the big idea?
It’s widely accepted now that glass is preferable for cooking and storing food. Some plastic contains chemicals that may leak into food and even those that are ‘safe’ for food use can degrade when scratched or put in the dishwasher. The new crop of plastic containers are pthalate and BPA-free and have eliminated many problems with old school plastics – but new studies still find glass is preferable for storing and reheating food.
Glass doesn’t leach any chemicals into food and is far more durable – so you shouldn’t have to replace them like you do plastic containers.
Any good?
I have been meaning to make the switch to glass food storage for a while – and now I have I am a convert. I had grown increasingly uncomfortable reheating food in plastic – watching the plastic melt or warp in the microwave, smelling plastic while heating. Even the new wave of ‘safe’ plastics usually have a safety shelf life and come with conditions (don’t leave in sunlight, don’t microwave or put in dishwasher) so you can’t be sure if their integrity is intact – and they and often still have that plastic smell.
The robust plastic lids clipped on very well and there was zero leakage when I carried a casserole upside down in my handbag to work.
Every single plastic container I have used ended up leaking liquid into my bag, so this is a win.
They’re freezer-safe and oven-safe – so you can cook and store or pop the lid on to take out. I was worried they would seem heavy in my bag, but the extra weight really didn’t make much of a difference and I felt much better about heating the food up in the microwave than I used to with the plastic containers.
Where can I get my hands on them?
Lakeland sell Lock & Lock glass containers with clip on lids from £6.99, with both round and rectangular containers on offer. Find the collection at Lakeland here.
10. Wood and horsehair dish-washing brush
What’s the big idea?
An alternative to non-biodegradable plastic and nylon bristles, this dish brush combines natural beechwood from responsibly managed forests with microfibre and horsehair bristles.
The brush is made by Swedish firm Smart Microfiber, whose philosophy is to create cleaning utensils and cloths with microfiber technology that require only water to clean, limiting the need for chemical cleaning products.
Any good?
The horsehair bristles are softer than expected – this isn’t the coarse, horsehair oven dish scrubber you might be expecting. The gentle bristles do mean you can clean metal and delicate glass scratching and will manage a regular post-meal wash-up, but real baked-on stains still needed tackling with a scraper or scourer, or a dishbrush brush that has stiff bristles and a sharp, square end to it for scraping.
The round head means it fits nicely into glasses and jars and it was the perfect utensil for getting into the coils on my milk frother, which a sponge or larger, stiff bristle brush cannot touch.
This is a good supplementary brush but need to keep an additional scourer by your sink for the tough jobs.
Where can I get my hands on them?
At Lakeland, £1.99 for a replacement brush head.
11. Environmentally friendly cleaning products
What’s the big idea?
Tincture make 100% natural cleaning products using essential oils, botanical extracts and active silver, a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial agent. They use refillable glass bottles and antimicrobial spray bottles that can be used again and again. Packaging is biodegradable and recyclable and made with 100% recycled plastic. Tincture is part of the World Land Trust charity, which purchases and protects endangered rainforests. Ingredients are checked to source to ensure they are cruelty free.
Any good?
The packaging is lovely. Never have I felt more aligned with Hinch’s Army than when I actually got excited opening cleaning products. The brown glass bottles and white hexagonal sprays with neat black type are elegant and made me want to clean.
But do they work? Tincture was started by a mum who wanted safer alternatives to cleaning products that actually worked – the word is she worked with scientists to find natural products that are as effective as chemical ones. And to her credit, the cleaning power of these products was excellent. The natural beeswax furniture polish uses pine, caraway and chamomile for aroma left a high shine – as good as the usual spray I use that leaves a very potent artificial scent hanging in the air. The multi-purpose cleaner took grease off the hob and shined up the draining board, including tough water stains. The glass spray I used on the TV – which it is always contentious to clean – and after some elbow grease, initial streaks vanished. The cost, while of course more than a bottle of Cillit Bang, for instance, is not as much as you might think. £3.99 for 375ml of all-purpose cleaner, washing up liquid or bathroom cleaner and £10.80 if you buy all three together.
Where can I get my hands on them?
Eco refill bundle of washing up liquid, all-purpose cleaner and bathroom cleaner, £10.80 (3 x 475ml). You can get 10% off your first purchase now at tincturelondon.com.
12. Eco-friendly candles
What’s the big idea?
Many mass produced candles on the market use paraffin wax, synthetic fragrances and lead/metal wicks that have been found to emit toxins and carcinogenic substances into the air as they burn, as well as leaving soot behind. While the true effects of paraffin burning candles is still debated, petrochemical-free alternatives are becoming more popular. The trend is to move away from paraffin and synthetic fragrances and turn to alternatives like soy and beeswax and natural essential oils. It’s easy to see why synthetic fragrances are so widely used – as Eym co-founder Poppy Wells illustrates, a kilo of synthetic rose fragrance costs £100 – a single teaspoon of natural rose oil costs £150.
Eym candles are 100% natural, using soy wax, cotton wicks and essential oils. Eym was set up by candle-loving Poppy and husband Sam Wells, after Poppy decided while pregnant she wanted to burn candles without subjecting herself to potentially harmful toxins. Packaging is ethically and sustainably sourced and British made. Six scents – Home, Soul, Man, Rest, Create and Laze.
Any good?
They really are. I burn candles every day so goodness knows how much paraffin byproduct and synthetic fragrance I’ve huffed over the years. In past apartments, the walls have been blackened by soot – and that’s just the part you can see. The fragrance of Eym candles when not lit is lovely – complex but with the clarity of each individual oil. When burning, the fragrance is lighter than some synthetic candles I have, whose fragrance is often stronger – but the fragrance has a real intensity and a good ‘throw’ that fills the room without being overwhelming. I only needed to burn for one hour to benefit from the scent and put it out to save for the following day. The burn time of soy is also much slower than paraffin, so you get more burn time for your buck.
Where can I get my hands on them?
Eym candles are £39 for a 220g candle from eymnaturals.com
source https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/07/7-sustainable-game-changers-for-your-home-10787013/
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