As the concerns for the environment keeps growing, the demand for all parties, especially manufacturers, is to adopt cleaner production systems. One of the best methods for protecting the environment is reducing manufacturing waste. While it is the noble thing to do, you will realize that reducing wastes also helps you to cut down the cost of production. Here are some smart methods you can use:

Proper Inventory Management

One method of cutting the waste generated by your plant is controlling the raw materials. Take a closer look at your system and recalibrate it so that only the right materials for production are used. By cutting off the excess raw materials, it is possible to reduce the waste generated with a huge margin. Further, you should order only the right quantities of raw material for specific periods to avoid wastages.

Cut Packaging Materials

If you take a closer look at the waste generated in your facility, a significant part of it will be from packaging materials. By reducing the packaging waste, they will not take a lot of space, and you will not incur a lot of cost for disposal. Here are some strategies to cut packaging related wastes.

• Go for reusable packaging content. These packaging materials can be used for cushioning the finished products or packaging your products.
• Buy products in bulk. When you buy in bulk, the quantity of packaging materials will be less compared to buying multiple pieces of the same item.

Volume Reduction

One of the main concerns of environmentalists is that waste from manufacturing is harmful to species in different ecosystems. Volume reduction involves removing the hazardous portion of your waste. This method helps to reduce waste volume and cut the cost of waste disposal. Note that when the hazardous part of the waste is removed, some of it might become recyclable.

Recover and Reuse

Try to recover as much waste as possible, both onsite and offsite, by adopting advanced techniques. By using techniques like filtration, reverse osmosis, or electrolysis, it is possible to separate materials in wastes for easy recovery.

Another method that you should try is recycling. If your system uses materials such as plastic, paper and metal, it is possible to recycle them and extend their utility. Consider recycling directly or working with recycling facilities.

Adopt Preventative Maintenance Schedule

While it is true that wear and tear in manufacturing units is a normal occurrence, your unit could end up wasting a lot of materials, money, and time on the damaged machinery. But you can keep this cost low by using preventative maintenance. This entails preventing the breakdown as opposed to fixing them. Preventative maintenance can also help to extend the life of your machinery, increase productivity, and enhance product quality.

Whether you have a food processing plant or mining  industrial facility as showcased here, among others, cutting waste is one of the best practices. It not only helps to cut associated costs, but you can also use it to get a competitive advantage against your customers.

The abbreviation HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The HVAC equipments stand for supplying all the air and temperature related functions. HVAC system helps you in forming a regulatory system that will help you get rid of different controllers you require to maintain or regulate the temperature within your house or company. There are many HVAC service providers such as blackhawk supply that help in the efficient functioning of this system with the help of their trained and skilled technicians or professionals.

The following are the 3 main components of the HVAC system:

1. Heating Process

Heating is done with the help of a boiler or furnace in residential properties. This system includes piping work that delivers heat with the help of some fluid and/or duct work for forced air pressure. This heating process is connected to the water of the house and the warm water derived out of it for bathing purposes can be supplied from the same equipment supplying fluid for radiators. The whole process is efficiently managed by HVAC system controls. There are professionals who set up programmable device such as thermostat in your house or company that helps to regulate the heat within your room.

2. Ventilation Process

Ventilation is normally natural or forced, depending on the requirement. Forced ventilation processes are used to clean the air that is supplied to your house or company naturally. Natural ventilation has a limited application particularly in warm and humid environment. HVAC professionals from many service providers such as the blackhawk supply set up this process in a very professional way so you can make the best use of the ventilation systems.

3. Air-Conditioning Process

The last component of the HVAC system is the air-conditioning. This process is the reciprocation of the heating process. In this process, heat is removed from your house or company. Furnace is not of good use here definitely for obvious reasons. Yes, you can definitely combine the functions of the air-conditioner with the furnace. Heat pumps can carry out both the processes, heating and cooling. If your calibration is right, you don’t actually need a back-up system to make this function work effectively.

Renewable energy is an inexhaustible energy source. Available at will, these sources are diverse and varied, ranging from solar to wind through geothermal energy. Thanks to these low-polluting energies, we can envisage a prolific energy production system that is more respectful of nature. If renewable energies have many advantages, there are also some disadvantages to their exploitation.

Advantages Of Renewable Energy Sources

In general, renewable energies are cleaner than the fossil and fissile energies currently exploited worldwide. They are more ecological, available in mass around the globe, and are ” free ” once the production facilities are profitable.

To be more specific, we should look at the advantages and disadvantages of each renewable energy source. Here are a few examples:

The wind energy is clean energy par excellence. Without rejection or waste of any kind, it allows with a good coefficient of performance to ensure proper energy independence. On land or off-shore, wind turbines demonstrate excellent production capacities and are a viable alternative for the most remote areas where access to electricity is difficult.

Biomass Energy: Biomass energy is related to the combustion of wood. Wood is a widespread fuel, especially in some countries where it is widely established. If this energy still releases greenhouse gases, the emissions are less compared to the amount of CO2 that a tree will have absorbed during its life. A well-managed and renewed forest makes it possible not to exhaust the wood reserves. The biomass is, therefore, energy that participates in local development while being very cheap (the logs and wood pellets are the fuel most affordable on the market). You can visit Ecoforest for related products.

Solar energy is widely acclaimed in the energy sector and develops unbelievable speed production of electricity through the photovoltaic system. Also, heating through solar panels, solar power can be used widely in parks provided for this effect or on a small scale in individuals. Even if solar panels perform better in very sunny areas, they are ideally suited for homes.

Disadvantages Of Renewable Energy Sources

As with everything, renewable energies also have their little faults. As a priority, there will be a relatively large cost to purchase the installations, the profitability of which can be expected for years. Also, most of these green energies are subject to the whims of Mother Nature. Indeed, days without wind or great light can strongly thwart the production of wind and solar.

As the original ‘rule breaking’ fair trade wholesaler, Traidcraft is proudly committing two of its single origin coffee blends to the Transparency Pledge, as well as launching its own Transparent Organic Coffee. Through this move, the brand has proposed a challenge to the unresolved issue of the staggeringly low commodity price of coffee, which is driving many farmers and their families into financial turmoil.

Traidcraft are defying branding norms by publishing exactly how much farmers are paid, how much goes into shipping, roasting and packing and how much profit the brand will make. Sarah Main from Traidcraft said “Coffee plants are being cleared on a massive scale and replaced by coca cultivation or other crops. The coffee industry has not yet found any effective answers to this catastrophic development; and so we’re urging our customers to think about how much their coffee really costs.

By committing to the pledge, Traidcraft is demonstrating its commitment to informing customers about the value of choosing both organic and fair trade goods.Through the launch of the Transparent Coffee, the brand is defying norms and taking a revolutionary stance, developing a product which is entirely honest and not afraid to disclose truths on the production of such a popular commodity.

Traidcraft is committed to supporting the livelihoods of its suppliers, and this product along with the pledge commitment are key indicators of how Traidcraft is dedicated to raising awareness. This embodies the key objective of the brand: to encourage consumers to be conscious of their purchasing habits.

Ringtons in Newcastle is roasting the impactful blend, keeping the process close to home for the Team Valley-based Traidcraft.

Break the rules with Traidcraft and make your morning brew go further with ethically sourced, Organic goods.

Commercial buildings face various difficulties by the pest’s infections because of common sharing working area, toilets, and food courts. Even a small pest problem may rapidly become a larger issue and cause major risks.

Pests present in the common work area arises crucial distribution to the workers and it causes headaches to the building owners and business owners.

The pests found in lobby and toilet area crawling into the working areas and cause damage to the building products and electrical wires.

Common Pest issues 

• Rats and mice are the high rated issue facing in commercial buildings.  These pests enter your block depending on the location of other affected buildings. A property owner should take necessary control measures to decrease the problems created by the rodents.

• The small cracks in the pipeline makes a way to the pest like spiders and ants. The spider creates spark of fear among the working people and sometimes your customer got disturbed.

• Some infects cause due to waste food and ripped fruits thrown by the working employs or by the people from the other buildings.

• Common flies that makes nuisance in commercial buildings and it makes bad impression about your business place among the customers or regular visitors.
• Some pests cause dangerous viral infection to the working people and to customers, this ends with the loss of productivity in your business.

• Even the working people also became the transmitter for pests to the commercial buildings. While coming for work from home , some pests flows unknowingly with their things or in a car and spread in the commercial blocks

CONTROL MEASURES

 Spot the entry location

• No one prefer the pest entry to the commercial buildings, always keep your working area clean to get rid of pests

• The most common spots are outdoor lighting. Pests are easily gets attracted to the lights. So, make sure to switch of the outdoor lights on night time to reduce the presence of pests.

• Keep cleaning trashes in all cabins to keep way the pests from the commercial buildings. Even the decayed food smell in trash attracts the pests.

• Regularly clean the dining area, commercial buildings mostly have common dining, make sure to clean the dining area after every meal to avoid small files problems.

• Bathrooms, the most important place to consider in cleaning. Clear out all drains and debris and always keep your bathroom and toilet area clean to avoid the spreading of pests in bathroom area .

Outdoor maintenance

• Keep cleaning fencing area to avoid the entry of reptiles and rodents.

• Check the outdoor garbage area regularly

• Trim your outdoor plants in a routine basis, because some pests make nest on the plants and leaves. Regular trimming keeps bugs away from your commercial blocks.

• Change the outdoor lights colour to yellow to avoid some pests infect during the night hours

• Keep lawns height to the basement area. Never allow it to overgrow, the you couldn’t able to inspect the presence of pests on lawn side. These pests make a entry easily in to the commercial building.

The best way to fight with pests is to do the inspection regularly and meet with other commercial building owners and get/ spread  the awareness about the pest control measures . Or you can get in touch with the best pest controllers in London like Pest Exterminators.

According to London Air, London had already breached the air pollution limits for 2019 by March. If it wasn’t already apparent enough, low air quality is one of the biggest issues we face today, especially in built-up areas. Something must be done to tackle it. Anything, small or large, that we can do to tackle this problem will make a great difference. With the current yearly pollution-related death toll hitting around the 40,000 mark, it is more important than ever that we make some big changes.

It is easy to feel small and insignificant in the face of such a big problem. However, even the smallest changes that we make to tackle air pollution are of incredible importance. If you’re a keen gardener, then you can help! Your green thumb can help maintain the health of your garden and your local area. With the help of some air-cleaning plants, you’ll be one more step towards improving your local air quality. Read on the find out the very best plants that will help you on your way to cleaner air.

Conifers

Although all hedge plants are good for combatting pollution, conifers come most highly recommended. Homes & Property name the western red cedar hedge as your very best bet. Because of its easy maintenance and evergreen nature, the yew tree comes in at a close second place — ideal for those who have slightly less space to work with.

English ivy

English ivy also does an amazing job of purifying the air. According to scientist at Goldsmiths, University of London, the wide leaves that are characteristic of ivy plants, trap particulates, making them perfect air-purifying machines!

Although some reduce ivy to the status of ‘weed’, they are charming plants that really add character to a garden.

Wallflower

Also known as Erysimum, bright and beautiful wallflowers add a splash of colour to your garden, while purifying the air! These lovely flowers also featured in the Goldsmiths study. They were placed up there with ivy as the plants with the best purifying powers. The most popular colour choices for wallflowers are yellow and purple, but you can get them in a wide variety of colours! They showcase a beautiful display of petals for the first half of the year which are guaranteed to brighten up your garden.

Gerbera daisies

Gerbera daisies come NASA recommended. What more could you want? In a recent study regarding clean air, NASA named many colourful plants, such as these gorgeous daisies. These bright little flowers specialise in cleansing the air of damaging toxins, such as benzene.

These helpful plants come in a great variety of colours, so they will suit every garden. You can get your hands on white, orange, red, and pink varieties, all of which provide a pop of colour while cleaning up your garden air. One final tip about these little flowers: they love the bright light and some open space, so don’t hide them away in a corner!

Other helpful tips

There are many other aspects of green gardening that you should consider. Planting purifying plants is just the starting point!

Take some of SmilingGardener’s advice and implement the following tips and tricks:

• Start composting.You can turn many waste products into compost to stop it going to the landfill. Compost can also improve your growing abilities, especially if you use growbags.
• Avoid corn gluten meal. SmilingGardener notes this meal is made up from genetically modified corn, so best to stay away from using it, if possible.
• Quiet equipment. This one’s more for noise pollution, but it’s certainly an added bonus for the pollution-conscious gardener to take note of!
• Stay away from using pesticides. This one is probably a given, but if you can avoid using chemicals on your garden, please do.
• Consider indoors as well as outdoors. As well as planting outdoor plants to combat air toxicity, consider bringing in some houseplants to cleanse the air in your home.

Sources:

https://www.smilinggardener.com/introduction/5-unique-ways-to-decrease-pollution/

https://www.gold.ac.uk/news/phyto-sensor/

https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/home-garden/gardening/clean-air-save-your-home-from-harmful-pollution-with-clever-garden-hedge-choices-a114961.html

https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/reduce-your-exposure-to-air-pollution/

http://www.itv.com/news/london/2016-10-12/how-london-is-embracing-the-vertical-garden-or-living-wall/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/11035106/Green-walls-how-to-grow-a-garden-vertically.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/30/london-reaches-legal-air-pollution-limit-just-one-month-into-the-new-year

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gerbera-daisy/growing-gerbera-daisies.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedera_helix

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/11278.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/25.shtml

Over the years, we have become increasingly aware of how much human activity can affect the environment. Narratives such as climate change have become harder to dismiss.  This gradual surge in awareness has targeted aspects of life with an amplified call for a change in behaviours. Even the smallest aspects of our daily routines can be associated with causing harm to the environment.

With many women taking the disposal of sanitary products for granted, this is a huge contributor to environmental damage. In fact, the Women’s Environmental Network has found that, on average, a woman will use more than 11,000 disposable menstrual products over her lifetime. This produces a staggering amount of waste. While periods are a reality that we cannot avoid, we could be managing the waste they are associated with in a cleaner, eco-friendlier way. Join Lil-Lets and explore this idea further.

How do periods have an affect on the environment?

How the likes of single use straws, cotton buds and drinks stirrers effect the environment has been brought to attention by the public, sanitary towels have not received the same response since these too have damaging qualities about them in terms on environmental welfare. These other items are all set to be banned in 2020 in a bid to clean up our oceans. But findings from the Marine Conservation Society revealed that for every 100m of beach cleaned, there are an average of 4.8 pieces of menstrual waste found. This amounts to four panty-liners, pads, backing strips, plus at least one tampon and an applicator.

Being green when choosing what to buy is relatively easy. But what about recycling? While emphasis has always been placed on recycling, sanitary products do not fall under this practice as they are used to collect human waste. But plastic applicator tampons can last up to 500 years in the environment. How do we deal with this issue when recycling isn’t possible?

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the carbon footprint involved in a women’s menstrual cycle. A carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of human activities. The idea of a ‘menstrual carbon footprint’ might seem strange, but the way we manage our monthly cycle can actually have this kind of direct impact on our climate. Various studies have deciphered the scale of this impact.

Friends of the Earth established that one year’s worth of single use sanitary products amounted to the equivalent of 5.3kg of carbon dioxide produced. This is due to the fact that many cotton tampons contain small amounts of dioxin, a by-product from the creation of the synthetic carbon fibre rayon. They also contain a whole host of pesticides from the cotton harvesting process.

Let’s not forget about plastic. Research has revealed that some sanitary towels have up to 90% plastic content. Meanwhile, 6% of the average tampon is made up of plastic. Non-applicator tampons contain 97% less plastic than their plastic applicator alternatives, and are an easy way to make a greener choice.

How can sanitary waste be monitored?

Firstly, we should all become ‘binners’. Not flushing tampons down the toilet might seem like an unspoken rule, but it seems as though we do need to speak about this more in light of the consequences that being a ‘flusher’ rather than a ‘binner’ can have.

Small changes such as becoming a ‘binner’ of non-applicator tampons can make a significant difference in reducing the environmental harms sanitary products cause. The Journal of The Institution of Environmental Sciences found that around 2.5 million tampons, 1.4 million sanitary liners, and 700,000 panty liners are flushed down UK toilets every day.

Blockages further down the sewer system can be caused by flushing tampons down the toilet.  It also contributes to the ‘fatberg’ epidemic which is growing in our sub-street level waterways. This is where fat, oil, and single use products such as sanitary items and face wipes have accumulated to form huge masses. One was recently discovered which equalled the length of six double decker buses in Sidmouth, Devon.

If you are committed to becoming more environmentally conscious, then consider changing your conventional tampon for an organic alternative. Alternatively, if you are still using applicator tampons, you should swap to non-applicator or cardboard applicator products. Lil-Lets range of non-applicator tampons includes an absorbent core made using viscose, ensuring that it is entirely plastic free.

The likes of organic cotton tampons have not been washed in any harmful products such as chlorine, bleach or other chemicals, therefore are eco-friendlier alternatives to switch from. The cotton used is free from pesticides, omitting any potential ecological effects. In turn, the growth of organic cotton can also help to lessen the development of climate change as the farming practices lock carbon dioxide into the soil.

In order to align with environmental concern, a sense of openness from sanitary brands is a key facilitator to allow consumers to adjust their choices.For example, now there is the option of using non-applicator tampons that have 97% less plasticin them. This narrative certainly needs to be communicated on an even larger scale to provoke change. Groups such as The Women’s Environmental Network are leading the way in promoting their #PeriodsWithoutPlasticmovement, to educate and share ideas on how we can tackle the issue of the sanitary sector’s role in ecological damage.

In terms of the disposal of sanitary products, more action is needed. We must all commit to making small changes and substitutions to our own cycle routine. This could be by stocking up on non-applicator or organic products or by binning rather than flushing our pads and tampons!

Sources:

https://www.wen.org.uk/environmenstrual-campaign

https://friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics/plastic-periods-menstrual-products-and-plastic-pollution

https://friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics/plastic-periods-menstrual-products-and-plastic-pollution

https://news.sky.com/story/plastic-straws-stirrers-and-cotton-buds-to-be-banned-in-england-11725704

https://www.shethinx.com/blogs/womens-health/life-cycle-of-tampon-biodegradable-period-products

We don’t often think of the print industry and its abundance of paper when we think of sustainability. Back in the days of The Gutenberg Bible, the first ever printed book, this was less of a worry, as the print industry began its life and was enshrined as a revolutionary development accredited to the works of Johannes Gutenberg. he tide has changed slightly, and most of us are taken aback by the sheer volume of printed marketing materials that filter through our letterboxes on a daily basis, browsed through rarely and doomed to the recycling bin.

Over the past decade, the demand for sustainability has been amplified intensely and it is now a narrative that the print industry cannot afford to ignore. From deforestation to the natural oils used to create inks, the industry is facing an unprecedented challenge, but here’s how we are at the forefront of overcoming and embodying new values. Let’s look at some of the most environmentally friendly innovations sweeping through the sector:

Plant based inks

In recent years, a few of us have made the switch to plant milk in our tea, but did you know that our printers could also be using the plant derivative? Traditional inks are made using petroleum, which release volatile organic compounds (or VOC’s). They are linked to a whole host of negative environmental affects, and they’ve even been linked to causing some adverse health conditions under long periods of exposure. As well as this, petroleum oil is ultimately derived from one of the earths finite resources: oil. Vegetable and plant-based inks are more sustainable, with properties that lend themselves to easier de-inking meaning they can be readily recycled. Suppliers of these alternatives tend to embody a more conscious perspective towards the printing industry, so this could certainly be a viable option for any business that is looking to make its digital printing eco-friendlier.

Deforestation

14% of all deforestation is done to meet our demand for paper products, equaling the destruction of almost 4.1 million hectares of forest every year. This statistic is under scrutiny by environmentalists, making the print industry a focal point for implementing change. Trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen — something which was drilled into each and every one of us in science classes a school, but the gravity of this is becoming a cause for concern as more and more areas of green face the chop. An astounding 502,000 square miles have been cut down in the period 1990 – 2016, impacting biodiversity massively.

Recycled paper

The question remains: how do we combat deforestation? Recycled paper has been increasingly brought into the mainstream of the print industry, and it is a proactive step towards becoming more sustainable. Currently, the UK recycles 12.5 million tonnes of paper and cardboard annually, and many more print industry businesses should be prepared to make the switch to really get the most out of this figure. Recycled paper is the greenest option, requiring less water and energy to produce, and contributing far less to overall carbon emissions. Paper fibres can be recycled repeatedly, up to 5 times, which will help the print industry to cut down on how much paper goes to landfill sites. Many brands in the sector have already committed to the eco-friendlier alternative, demonstrating proactivity in the print industry towards increasing sustainability. Plus, recycled papers have been developed to replicate the bright white quality of conventional sheets — making it even more feasible for the digital printing industry to adopt them into their strategy.

More positively, the print industry is making some notably positive steps in achieving a good sustainability rate, listening to the demands and concerns of both the client and the consumer.

In recent years, more people are now prioritizing environmental issues when planning events. Whether it be a social gathering or a business conference, the planet is becoming more and more of a concern. Conferences can be wasteful and environmentally damaging if not done right, but there are numerous changes that can be made. With the help of Wyboston Lake resorts, winner of a Silver status Green Tourism award and your go-to option for conference venues in Milton Keynes, this article analyses whether conferences are eco-friendlier than they once were.

Paperless conferences

We often underestimate the amount of paper waste produced during conferences. Leaflets, invitations, schedules and name badges are all usually made from paper or plastic and are generally only used once. In response to this, many eco-friendly conferences are now choosing to go completely paper-free.

With the help of emails and smartphones, it is now easier than ever to send invitations and get in touch with your attendees without wasting paper. Furthermore, advertising for conferences can now be conducted through social media channels rather than sending out physical leaflets. These instant, eco ways of keeping in touch benefit both parties. Keeping your conference information online will take away any printing and distribution cost. This will save you money for other elements of the conference. As for your attendees, they will know exactly where all the information about the conference is, resolving any risk of misplaced invitations and consequent confusion.

Another cause of plastic and paper waste at conferences is lanyards and name badges. Luckily, many events are now opting for eco-friendly alternatives such as name tags made from bamboo or rice husk. These materials should also be considered when it comes to conference goody bags. Often, people leave conferences with a bag full of branded pens, mugs and other merchandise— most of which is plastic and likely to be thrown away. Bamboo alternatives are a great way for many conferences to become more environmentally friendly. Bamboo reusable coffee cups are one option.

Food choices

Your source of catering can make a big impact to the carbon footprint of your event. Eco-friendly conferences will choose food from local sources in order to minimize the airmiles and support local businesses.

Providing food for a variety of diets is essential. Conferences that aim to be more eco-friendly must always cater to vegan attendees. They could also consider eliminating foods that have a large carbon footprint, like meat, from their menus completely.

You should also consider disposable packaging when organizing the catering. This should be kept to an absolute minimum if you’re concerned about your carbon-footprint. Reusable plates and cups are a much better option and they will also look much smarter than their plastic counterparts.

Locations

Another key element of an eco-friendly conference is the location. Many conference spaces will work with you to create your perfect environmentally friendly event, so it is important to pick an event space that shares your vision.

As well as this, it is encouraged that you take your attendees’ travel distance into account when picking a location. If you can cut down the distance your guests have to travel, you can decrease the environmental impact of your conference. As it stands, many guests fly to conferences from all over the world and this is a major eco concern.

Considering all these new and innovative ideas, conferences are undoubtably more eco-friendly than they once were. The ability to connect online and the minimized use of paper has been a massive part of this change. Saying this, there is still a lot more that many organizations could do to ensure that conferences are doing their part for the planet.

Household waste is becoming more of an issue for homeowners across the nation. As budgets get tighter and the country becomes more conscious of limiting the amount of waste we send to landfill, many people are looking for practical ways to cut down on our weekly rubbish pile. A professional skip hire service combats the tendency of local authority waste disposal to simply add the waste to landfill rather than recycle it — and cheap skip hire are certainly budget friendly nowadays.

So, let’s change our household waste habits, get started in your day-to-day with these simple changes.

Smart buys

Many people need to tackle the habits they’ve developed on a weekly basis, making the food shop a good place to start. Some of the most common grocery store habits are serious contributors to the declining quality of our environment. While single use plastic is hard to avoid especially in supermarkets, the UK government has pledged to enforce a ban on the sale and distribution of single use items such as straws, stirrers, and cotton-buds, coming into effect between October 2019 and October 2020. An estimated 4.7 billion plastic straws are used in the UK each year, and a staggering amount is likely to end up in our rivers and oceans. By omitting these products and finding alternatives that are now widely available — such as metal straws and stirrers, helping people to stop relying on single use versions.

Another idea is to make sure that you are buying products that will last longer, to simply reduce the frequency of purchasing them. Products such as diluting juice and washing up detergents are sold in double concentrate form, meaning that you will get more uses out of them than the ordinary, single concentrate alternatives. Bulk buying essentials is also a helpful way to cut down on single use plastic, as similarly these products need replacing less often. Something as simple as making a shopping list can also prove invaluable if you are committed to reducing your household waste, rather than taking straight to the aisles, check your cupboards before you go and decide what it is that you need. Buying surplus will simply lead to more waste, so a list provides a reminder to yourself of the things that you need — try to view anything else as impulse buys and try to limit how many of these purchases you make.

Meal plans

Meal plans aren’t only for the uber health conscious amongst us! In a similar way to making a shopping list, a meal plan helps you to buy enough food to get you through the week. Many of us are susceptible to doing one or two small shops as the week goes on, but this amounts to a greater consumption of plastic products. By thinking ahead, you can ensure that you are only buying what is necessary. Often, lunchtime can mean a trip to the nearest café or fast food outlet where Styrofoam is rife — a widely used food container that is not yet recycled on a widespread scale. With the takeaway industry set to grow to a value of £80 billion by 2020, a new approach is needed to scale back on this rate. A meal plan can remove that midweek visit to the café downstairs from the equation, and it is also a more budget friendly approach. Make your lunches for the week on a Sunday night and enjoy less waste, as well as skipping that early morning panic of ‘what am I going to buy for lunch today?’.

The 2 important R’s

Reuse and recycle. This is perhaps one of the most important actions that we can do in helping the reduction of household waste. Throwaway culture has become all too common in the UK, and it applies to everything from kitchen waste to clothing. Reusing materials across your entire household is a proactive step towards reducing the amount of waste you produce, whether it’s by keeping food containers or upcycling clothes that you would’ve otherwise thrown in the bin. By doing so, less products will go to landfill sites, and you will also find yourself buying replacements far less often. Repurposing used items is an increasingly popular trend, why not have your children get crafty with some empty cereal boxes and cartons? In fact, with a bit of creativity, reusing plastic and other products can create entirely new items, so it’s worth giving it a go.

In 2017, the UK achieved a recycling rate of 45.7 per cent, help to improve this figure by making some small changes to your normal waste routine.

https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/uk-government-ban-single-use-plastics

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/takeaway-containers–the-environmental-cost-of-packing-our-favourite-fast-foods/