Eco-Friendly Tips from the ABC War on Waste

After watching the ABC War on Waste, I've been thinking even more about how we can all change our daily habits and choices to make more environmentally friendly decisions. Reducing waste is simple when you start to consider just how unnecessary the disposable items we often use really are. What many of us maybe don't realise is that it's often easier and more cost-effective to replace disposable everyday household and personal items with sustainable, reusable alternatives. By swapping out needlessly wasteful habits for eco-friendly ones, even small steps can make a big difference!

How bad is our waste problem?

Did you know Australia is one of the most wasteful countries in the developed world? In Australia alone, we use over 10 million plastic bags a day. Nearly 14,000 tonnes of plastic litter is generated every year, and a quarter of that ends up in the ocean and in our waterways. But our waste problem doesn't just stop with plastic. Approximately a fifth of all bought food is thrown away before it's eaten. On average, one third of household rubbish is food waste - this is a real problem because when food rots in landfill it lets off methane, which is 25 times more potent than the C02 produced by cars.¹ Read more about the environmental lessons I think Australia could learn from other countries here.

How can we minimise waste?

Make a start by consciously thinking about how much you throw in the rubbish each day, week and month. You'd be surprised how many reusable, biodegradable and toxin-free alternatives and environmentally friendly options are out there to help you minimise waste easily! Try to change certain habits and minimise single use items wherever possible by opting for reusable food storage, shopping bags and everyday items. Where reuse simply isn't a possibility, opt for biodegradable items and materials to minimise the burden on the environment. Just by replacing a few household items, you can make a huge, positive impact on the environment. For more tips on how you can help save the environment from home, read my blog post here.

Everyday habits you can change

1. Sustainable food storage

The Swag range
Changing the way you think about food storage can help the problem on two levels - the food storage you use won't be thrown out to become landfill, and the food will stay fresher for longer, meaning less unnecessary food waste. The Swag is an incredible brand that offers effective way of keeping your produce fresher for longer. They offer 4 different cotton bags that are designed to keep your bread, fruit and veggies from wilting or perishing, allowing them to thrive in your fridge for 2-4 times longer than they would in plastic. The bags can be machine washed and will save you from throwing out unused produce each week! Read more about how The Swag works here.

The Stasher
I love using The Stasher for food storage because they can be washed and used over and over and are a sustainable alternative to plastic sandwich bags. Microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe and made from 100% platinum silicone, these handy bags can be used to store sandwiches, fruit or veggies, and keep contents fresh with an air-tight, pinch-press seal.

Life Basics Eco Friendly Silicone Food Lids
To help minimise plastic use in the kitchen, I actually created my own range of Eco Friendly Silicone Food Lids are an alternative to plastic cling film. Made from soft and flexible 100% food-grade silicone, these stretchy, rounded lids fit snugly onto bowls and cups to help create an airtight seal and keep your food fresh and nutritious. With no need to buy cling wrap, you're saving money while helping the environment.

Porter Bowl Ceramic
We are all crazy about this Porter Bowl in the office. Taking it with us for all our takeaway plans or just as a container for food at home. Using the bowl to take your lunch from home or taking the bowl with you when you buy your lunch is an easy and environmentally friendly idea as it helps to reduce the number of single-use, takeaway containers going into landfill.

2. Eco-friendly everyday products

KeepCup Brew
Created so that you'll never need to throw away a non-recyclable disposable coffee cup again, the KeepCup range is the perfect alternative for your takeaway coffee runs. Made from durable glass and BPA and BPS-free plastic lid, these environmentally friendly coffee cups are available in a range of colours to suit your taste and are ideal for taking to work or keeping in your bag when you're on the go. Best of all, if you do eventually need to replace it, the entire cup is fully recyclable!

Photo: KeepCup

Onya Stainless Steel Drink Bottle
The Onya Stainless Steel Drink Bottle is a safe, BPA-free and sustainable alternative to plastic water bottles. Ergonomically designed and made from food-grade stainless steel, this sleek bottle holds one litre and is durable enough for school and work bags. Lightweight with a wide mouth for ice cubes, this water bottle comes with a flip and flow lid and straw.

Life Basics Silicone Baking Mat
These silicone baking mats are the solution to replace foil or traditional baking paper that we use one time and throw away. These Silicone Baking Mats mats fit perfectly on oven trays and can be used OVER and OVER again. Super easy to clean, just pop them in the dishwasher or run under warm water.

Life Basics Bamboo & Charcoal Toothbrush
Toothbrushes do need to be replaced every few months as a matter of hygiene, so it's best to opt for a toothbrush made of biodegradable materials to minimise environmental impact. The Life Basics Bamboo & Charcoal Toothbrush is 100% biodegradable, packaged in 100% plastic-free recycled brown paper, and is made from environmentally sustainable bamboo, one of the fastest growing plants on earth. Thanks to the antibacterial and absorbent properties of Activated Binchotan Charcoal-infused bristles, this toothbrush can also help to absorb toxins from the mouth as well as tap water.

Nourished Life Compost Bin
This compost bin is so convenient! 5L size is large enough for a few days worth of food scraps but small enough to not get in the way. Position it on the counter, under the sink, outside, anywhere you see fit! Hidden under the lid is a double charcoal filter that traps and control odours naturally. Each carbon filter lasts a year!

Ethique Bathroom Spray Eucalyptus Concentrate
This spray concentrate is a new innovative product from Ethique. All you have to do is simply mix the concentrated bar with boiling water, and you've got a fresh batch of multi-purpose bathroom spray – minus the plastic bottle! You can use any empty bottle you see fit.

3. Reusable shopping bags

Loqi Reusable Shopping Bag
Plastic shopping bags wind up as landfill, so swap them out for an environmentally friendly alternative such as a Loqi bag. These bags are made of durable, washable polyester and are reusable to ensure you'll never need to use a plastic bag again! Loqi bags are created with sustainable materials, and come in a range of fun prints and designs to suit your personal style. Water resistant and able to be rolled up into a small size, these bags can carry up to 20kg of shopping! I always keep a couple in my handbag so I'm never without them on a last minute shopping trip.

Onya Life Reusable Produce Bags
Even if you already use reusable shopping bags, it's easy to forget that the supermarket bags that we use for fresh produce are also made of plastic. I haven't had to use plastic produce bags since discovering the Onya Life Reusable Produce Bags. These mesh bags are BPA free, reusable and washable, and they weigh less than 10 grams so they won't add any extra weight to your shopping! They come in a handy little drawstring bag with a carabiner ring clip so you can keep them attached to your reusable shopping bags.

Life Basics Stainless Steel Pegs
Finally, strong and sturdy pegs that won't break easily! No worries, made in stainless steel they won't mark your clothes either.

Nourished Life Eco Home Natural Cleaning Starter Pack
We have built this bundle to help you make the switch to healthier cleaning products both for you and the environment. Clean the house from top to toe with vegan and greywater safe products from Koala Eco, Ethique, Ecostore, Resparkle and Life Basics.

Nourished Life Plastic Free Kitchen Bundle
If you are a bit lost among the eco friendly alternatives we offer on the website, picking this bundle is a good place to start. Our Plastic Free Kitchen Bundle makes it super easy to swap conventional products for an eco-friendly option. Minimise waste and say goodbye to single-use plastics!

Environmentally friendly kids products

WOTNOT Biodegradable Baby Wipes
Looking after a family, particularly if you have young children, can mean a whole lot more waste is generated every day, so it makes a huge difference to use biodegradable alternatives wherever possible. The WOTNOT Biodegradable Baby Wipes are some of the safest nappy wipes on the planet as they're totally free from sulphates, petrochemicals, parabens, artificial preservatives and fragrances and are completely biodegradable and compost-friendly. Made from 100% natural and biodegradable fibres, these gentle wipes are safe for sensitive skin as well as the environment, and are great to keep on hand to wipe up spills and sticky fingers when you're on the move.

Little Mashies Reusable Food Pouches
Little ones love those squeezy tubes of yoghurt and puree but the tubes often end up in the rubbish bin, creating a lot of extra waste. The Little Mashies Reusable Food Pouches are designed to be filled with foods like yoghurt, puree, smoothies, chia puddings and even ice-cream so your child can take them wherever they go, then bring them home to use again instead of throwing them away. Designed with a curved shape, these pouches are easy to clean, durable and have an anti-leak ziplock seal.

Onya Reusable Sandwich Wraps
Made from recycled PET bottles, the Onya Reusable Sandwich Wraps are a great eco-friendly replacement for single-use plastic wrap and can hold anything from large rolls to small sandwiches for the kids. With an easy to clean lining, these make a great alternative to bulky school lunch boxes while providing more protection than cling wrap or plastic sandwich bag alone.

Earlier this year I went on Channel 10 to talk about practical tips for eco-friendly living to celebrate Earth Day. Read my Top 10 Tips for Living Sustainably here!

Source: ¹ABC War on Waste.