Reduce plastic with 6 simple supermarket shopping choices
Go for glass
Only around 7% of the plastic ever produced has been recycled and it takes hundreds of years to break down in landfill, so where there’s a choice, choose glass over plastic.
Go big
Single-serve items require much more packaging than when you buy items in bulk. For example, grab 2 x 3 litre bottles of milk rather than 3 x 2 litres.
Stay loose
Go for unpackaged fresh fruit and veg (and take your own reusable produce bags if you can). A recent Choice investigation also found that you’re paying a premium when you buy pre-packaged items.
Use your tap
In Perth, the stuff that comes out of your tap is good to drink! If you prefer filtered water, try a filter jug or have a water filter installed. For sparkling water, buy an at-home carbonator with reusable bottles.
Buy less
Australians throw out about a quarter of the food they buy so the best thing you can do is shop with a list and buy only what you need.
Reuse your razor
Upgrade to a stainless-steel, reusable razor. This can make a huge dent to the plastic you throw away over the course of a year.
Plastic - not so fantastic
Plastic is cheap, versatile and a part of everyday life. Unfortunately, we have developed a disposable lifestyle and it is estimated that around 50% of plastic is used once and then thrown away.
Here are 4 facts you might not know about plastic:
- An estimated 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced since the 1950s — and only 9% has been recycled.
- A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute.
- More than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped in our oceans every year.
- Over 90% of all seabirds have plastic pieces in their stomachs.
The good news is that if each person makes a small effort to reduce their use of plastic, it can make a huge difference.
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