Chloe Zhang
Living a life free of plastic can be challenging, but it is possible to make changes that will reduce your plastic consumption and help the environment. This is especially important in a city like London, where plastic waste is a significant issue. From boycotting plastic bags to buying local produce, there are many ways to reduce your plastic footprint. This guide will explore some of the simple steps you can take to live a more plastic-free life in London, including tips for the home, garden, and even when travelling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder of Unpackaged | Catherine Conway |
| Conway's advice | Buy second hand, buy local, use leftover containers, stock up on Tupperware and tote bags |
| Zero waste shops | Morrison's, Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, Whole Foods, MOM's Organic Market |
| Avoid | Plastic sponges, plastic bags, plastic straws, plastic bottles, plastic food wrap, plastic cleaning products |
| Use | Reusable handled brush, reusable silicon freezer bags, paper-wrapped meals, glass, metal, wood or paper packaging |
| Other tips | Refillable growlers, make your own compost, buy unpackaged loose top soil, sand, gravel, use cotton bags for bulk purchases |
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What You'll Learn
- Buy second-hand, buy local, and reuse plastic containers
- Avoid eating out and takeout; cook at home with glass/metal/paper packaging
- Refill drinks at cafes or drinking fountains; avoid airport cafes and food trolleys
- Use reusable bags and containers for bulk buying at zero-waste shops
- Avoid plastic in the bathroom; use toothpaste tabs and reusable brushes
Buy second-hand, buy local, and reuse plastic containers
Living plastic-free in London can be challenging, but with some simple changes, it is achievable. One of the most effective ways to reduce your plastic consumption is to embrace second-hand and local products and to reuse plastic containers.
Buy Second-Hand
Instead of always purchasing new items, consider buying second-hand. This doesn't mean your home has to be filled with someone else's cast-offs; it's about embracing pre-loved items and giving them a new lease of life. From furniture to clothing, London has a plethora of charity shops, vintage boutiques and online marketplaces offering unique, affordable second-hand items. Not only does this reduce the demand for new plastic-packaged goods, but it also supports local businesses and the circular economy.
Buy Local
Buying local produce is another way to reduce plastic waste. Local farmers' markets and independent shops often offer loose produce, allowing you to fill your own containers and bags with fresh goods, cutting down on unnecessary plastic packaging. London has a growing number of zero-waste shops, like Unpackaged, where you can buy everything from cleaning products to dry goods in bulk, using your own containers. By supporting local businesses, you also reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting goods, and you get to know the story behind what you're buying.
Reuse Plastic Containers
Reusing plastic containers is a simple yet powerful way to reduce your plastic waste. Save those takeaway containers and invest in some good-quality Tupperware. You can use them for storing food, shopping at bulk-buy stores, and even as lunchboxes. Reusing plastic containers ensures they have a longer life, reducing the need for new plastic production and disposal. It's a small change, but it adds up, and it's a key step towards living plastic-free in London.
By combining these three habits, you can significantly reduce your plastic consumption and contribute to a more sustainable London.
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Avoid eating out and takeout; cook at home with glass/metal/paper packaging
Avoiding takeout and eating out is a great way to reduce your plastic consumption. When eating out, you have no control over the packaging used, and takeout often comes in single-use plastic containers. Cooking at home with ingredients bought in glass, metal, or paper packaging is a more sustainable option.
You can buy ingredients in bulk from zero-waste shops, bringing your own containers to refill. In London, there are several zero-waste shops to choose from, such as The Refill Larder on Teddington High Street, which is open seven days a week and offers click-and-collect and home delivery services. Jarr Market, with locations across London, offers all the basics, including toiletries and cleaning products. The Source Bulk Foods, with six stores across London, offers a rewards program where you can get 5% back on your purchases.
If you're in North London, Fair-Well is a mobile refill service that brings zero-waste products to you. They sell organic dried goods, cleaning products, and toiletries. You can also order online from shops like SWOP, which offers veggie and vegan options, and Get Loose, which brings high-quality, ethical, plastic-free food to East Londoners.
When shopping for groceries, opt for local markets, greengrocers, and whole foods. Local shops often have plastic-free produce, and you can bring your own containers for meat and cheese from the deli or butcher. You can also look for plastic-free aisles in supermarkets, like Morrison's, which has plastic-free fruit and vegetable aisles in 60 of its stores.
Remember, you don't need to buy all new glass, metal, or paper utensils and containers. Plastics campaigner Emma Priestland advises: "Keep on using the plastic items you already have, and then when they reach the end of their life, look at replacing them with plastic-free alternatives."
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Refill drinks at cafes or drinking fountains; avoid airport cafes and food trolleys
Refilling drinks at cafes or drinking fountains is a great way to reduce plastic waste. London has a rich history of drinking fountains, with the first one built in 1859 by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association, which still exists today as the Drinking Fountain Association. The Association aimed to provide free drinking water to the public, and now, London is seeing a revival of drinking fountains and bottle refill stations across the city. The London Drinking Fountain Fund, established with the GLA and #OneLess, has been instrumental in this revival, calling on landowners to bid for drinking water fountains to reduce the city's reliance on plastic.
You can find drinking water fountains and refill stations at various locations across London, including Liverpool Street and Holborn Viaduct. Additionally, the Refill app can help you locate places to refill and reuse your drinks, connecting you to a global network of cafes, restaurants, and bars that support the refill and reuse initiative.
When it comes to airport cafes and food trolleys, plastic waste has been a significant concern. Airports and airlines are taking steps to reduce single-use plastic waste, with some notable initiatives in place. For example, Birmingham Airport has partnered with Severn Trent and City to Sea to encourage passengers to reuse their water bottles, providing a water station for refills. Gatwick Airport has achieved a 'Zero Waste to Landfill' accreditation, recycling all plastic bottles and implementing measures in its food and drink outlets.
Some airlines are also making efforts to reduce waste, such as Iberia Airlines, which aims to recover 80% of cabin waste through waste separation and low-packaging meals. Ryanair has also committed to eliminating non-recyclable plastics within a certain timeframe. While progress is being made, it's always a good idea to bring your own reusable water bottle and avoid purchasing drinks in single-use plastic bottles when travelling through airports.
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Use reusable bags and containers for bulk buying at zero-waste shops
Living plastic-free in London can be challenging, but it's certainly possible, especially with the recent spike in zero-waste shop openings. These shops are a great way to buy in bulk and reduce your plastic waste.
Zero-waste shops are an excellent alternative to traditional supermarkets, offering a wide range of products, from pantry essentials to personal care items. Many of these shops, such as Jarr Market, allow customers to bring their own containers and buy in bulk, paying by weight rather than unit price. This not only reduces plastic waste but also food waste, as customers can take only what they need.
When visiting a zero-waste shop, remember to bring your own reusable bags and containers. If you forget, some shops like Refill Therapy also offer a selection of reusable jars and bottles for purchase. Before filling up on products, weigh your empty containers to determine the 'tare' weight. This weight will be deducted from the total weight at checkout, ensuring you only pay for the product itself.
Some zero-waste shops in London include Refill Therapy, with locations in Hackney Wick and Stratford East Village, and Earthly Matters in Stratford. There's also Harmless Store, a vegan refill store in Crouch End, and Re:Store, which offers delivery via electric cargo bicycle if you live within 6km of the shop. Kilo, a female-founded zero-waste shop, even has a unique app that remembers your container weights, making shopping quick and convenient.
By supporting these zero-waste shops and embracing the concept of buying in bulk with reusable containers, you can significantly reduce your plastic waste and live a more sustainable lifestyle in London.
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Avoid plastic in the bathroom; use toothpaste tabs and reusable brushes
A plastic-free bathroom can bring many benefits, from being environmentally conscious to saving space and money. One way to achieve this is by switching to reusable products and reducing waste.
For oral care, you can opt for toothpaste tablets, such as PÄRLA's PRO 62 Toothpaste Tabs, which are supercharged with Hydroxyapatite (HAp) and enriched with essential vitamins. These tablets can be conveniently delivered through your letterbox every four months, reducing CO2 emissions. Alternatively, you can explore other plastic-free options like bamboo toothbrushes.
When it comes to shaving and cleansing, consider safety razors, which provide a smoother shave and reduce plastic waste compared to disposable razors. You can also explore the option of laser hair removal, with deals available on Groupon in London. For cleansing brushes, London Lash offers reusable metal handles with disposable brush inserts, providing a more sustainable and eco-friendly solution.
Shampoo and shaving soap bars are also great alternatives to their plastic-bottled counterparts. You can find a range of these at Lush, including their popular Jason and the Argan Oil shampoo bar, which lasts for months.
Remember, you don't need to aspire to an "Instagram-perfect" plastic-free bathroom. Embrace the practicality and sustainability of reusable products, and feel free to reuse containers for storage.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some simple ways to practice a plastic-free lifestyle in London:
- Use a heavy canvas tote bag instead of plastic bags when going shopping.
- Avoid eating out to prevent the use of takeout containers and utensils.
- Buy foods from bulk bins and use your own bags or containers.
- Buy second-hand products.
- Avoid single-use plastic products like plastic bags, plastic straws, and plastic water bottles.
Some plastic-free alternatives to common household items include:
- Reusable handled brush for washing dishes instead of plastic sponges.
- Reusable silicon freezer bags instead of plastic disposable bags.
- Toothpaste tabs instead of toothpaste in plastic tubes.
- Glass, metal, wood, or paper packaging instead of plastic packaging.
Yes, there are a few resources that can help you find plastic-free shops and products in London:
- The BULK Mobile app helps you find stores in your area that sell bulk products and allow you to use your own containers.
- Zero Waste Locator has a map that shows your nearest plastic-free shops.
- Unpackaged is a sustainable shopping solution founded by Catherine Conway, which offers cleaning product refills and other plastic-free products.
Here are some tips to reduce plastic waste while travelling or on holiday:
- Take your own food and drinks in reusable containers when travelling, especially on planes and long motorway journeys.
- Shop at local markets and continental holidays, as they often offer plastic-free options.
- If staying in a self-catering accommodation, bring your own unpackaged or zero-waste food items like coffee, tea, pasta, rice, and spices.
