Over the last few months plastic has finally been getting the media attention it deserves (thanks David Attenborough) and it's brilliant to see people and companies starting to make changes to how they consume to reduce plastic use.
To help you along the way we wanted to introduce you to some great brands who are working to offer plastic-free alternatives to everyday items, and encourage you to make some plastic-free swaps today
.
1. Soap Daze: plastic-free soaps
One of the simplest ways to reduce your plastic waste is to move from bottles of shower gel and hand wash to bars of soap. Soap Daze soaps are handmade in small batches by owner Sharon, in her garden workshop in Devon, UK. She uses only natural ingredients, and all her soaps are vegan and palm oil free.
Plus, get a 10% discount on purchases when you sign up as a Well-spent member.
2. Plastic Free Pantry: plastic-free cupboards
If you don’t have a zero waste shop local to you, then shopping for groceries without unnecessary plastic waste can be tricky. Plastic Free Pantry delivers wholefoods and pantry staples to your door, using paper, glass, or Natureflex (biodedegradable, plant-based film) packaging.
3. OrganiCup: plastic-free periods
The average person uses 9600 tampons or pads throughout their life. They can’t be recycled, so they go straight to landfill. OrganiCups are menstrual cups which collect menstrual flow rather than absorbing it, like tampons and pads. They’re made from 100% medical grade soft silicone, so you don’t need to worry about what nasty chemicals might be in them, and you can reuse your cup every month, so they’re good for the environment too.
Plus, get 10% discount on purchases when you sign up as a Well-spent member.
4. Yuhme: plastic-free bottles
There are lots of reusable water bottles out there on the market, but Yuhme’s is a little different. It’s made from sugarcane, a renewable material which captures CO2 from the atmosphere during growth, meaning that it’s the bottle with the lowest CO2 footprint on the market. They design and produce the bottle in Sweden on a no waste production site. They’re also committed to working with the charity Water For Good, and every Yuhme water bottle that you purchase provides 6 months of clean water to someone in the Central African Republic.
Plus, get a 10% discount on purchases when you sign up as a Well-spent member.
5. Georganics: plastic-free toothcare
Georganics produce their toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwash, and dental floss from completely natural materials, with no synthetic chemicals or preservatives. Their packaging is plastic-free and biodegradable, to make minimal impact on the planet. They also use local suppliers and manufacturers, with their products made in West Sussex.
6. Elephant Box: plastic-free containers
Elephant Box has a range of stainless steel lunch boxes and containers, inspired by the tradition Indian tiffin box, and designed to be durable and long-lasting to offer a viable alternative to plastic containers.
Plus, get a 5% discount on purchases when you sign up as a
7. Who gives a crap: plastic-free loo roll
2.3 billion people, roughly 40% of our global population have no access to a toilet. That results in 289,000 children under the age of 5 dying every year from diseases caused by poor sanitation. Who Gives A Crap makes sustainable toilet paper from recycled paper, bamboo, and sugarcane and they donate 50% of their profits to build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world.
8. Ecoffee: plastic-free cups
Disposable paper cups have only been around for 30 years, but in that time we’ve got through over 2 trillion of them, only 1% of which have been recycled. Ecoffee cups are made from bamboo fibre, the world’s fastest growing, most sustainable crop, with food-grade silicone lids. With so many coffee shops now offering discounts when you bring your own cup, it’s definitely time to get yourself one!