Top tips to Switch up and Ditch the Plastic

PLASTIC FREE AMBITIONS!: Mortified by the amount of plastic water bottles I was getting through I made a plastic pledge in July. I decided to try and make my plastic load lighter one easy step at a time, and I started by no longer buying plastic water bottles - when I realised the stark truth about recycling and the plastic mountain building. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/30/tackling-the-plastic-bottle-crisis-and-our-wider-disregard-for-nature The damage to the planet, to us and our children by the hormone disruptors in plastic is enough to want to stop using it so much. So I've got a little list of the worst offenders by far and the easiest things we can do to change up our habits are swapping out the following single use plastic:

1. BOTTLES
2. STRAWS
3. BAGS
4. CLING FILM
5. PARTY CUTLERY

CLICK ON ANY PICS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEM AND WHERE TO GET THEM DITCH THE BOTTLES If you want to use tap water, which is not housed in plastic bottles, but make it taste great, and rid it of all the chlorine and toxins it can come with, these charcoal sticks are my favourite discovery of last year.

WATER FILTER EXTRAORDINAIRE + MINERAL ADDING!

Black + Blum Charcoal Filter, Black By simply placing a stick of this wonder Carbon into a large bottle or jug of tap water, it purifies it for you. And when it's spent - after 6 months - it works by sitting in your trainers and drawing the stink out of them! (See number 5 below!) The ones we bought to switch for our Brita Plastic we'd had for eons are these: Sagaform Water Carafe with Oak Stopper

Read all the amazing things it adds to your water as well as everything it takes away here: What is Binchotan Charcoal? These sticks are really inexpensive and they last for 6 months - so much cheaper than keeping a Brita Filter up to date! And doing so much more. Black + Blum Charcoal Filter, Black They also have individual, portable, bottles with filters if you want to take them on the run: Black + Blum Charcoal Filter Water Bottle, Blue And if you want the whole chic look, they do beautiful carafes with a wooden stopper that come with their own charcoal stick: black + blum eau carafe Jug Or these recyclable bottles, there are tons on the market now. I love these for keeping things cold/hot and not being breakable (Click on pic to see more):

Or go glass with a silicon protection:

REUSABLE STRAWS Plastic straws are big culprits in the single use, thrown away, end up in landfill category. And it's so easy to stop using them. Easier, cheaper and better for everyone. Thats what I'm trying to aim for with all of these changes. There are stainless steel options that look pretty and my kids seem to love: Or gorgeous bamboo ones for mega sustainability points and an island vibe for a cocktail!: CLINGFILM SWITCH Again, as soon as I realised how much I use this and how nasty it is, in landfill as well as touching all my food, I was desperate to rid my house of it, but what on earth does the same job?? This genius invention - Bees Wax Wrap - does everything cling film does, without the plastic landfill or ocean destruction. Made of beautiful patterned cloth, beeswax and resin, it is:

1. All Natural
2. Re-usable
3. Clean - Anti-bacterial
4. Bio-degradable
5. Perfect as sandwich bags, bread wrap, fruit pockets it folds into anything!

https://www.beeswaxwraps.co.uk/our-wraps/ And I'm going to be giving away a whole batch of these beauties on Instagram, so stay tuned. REUSABLE BAGS I feel like my home is overrun with lovely, cloth totes, but in case yours isn't, and to make sure you can get to the shops without using a TON of unnecessary plastic bags, keep these in your handbag, or in the boot of your car, or the underbid of your buggy, and you'll never forget them. SAY NO to the plastic bags! These are some basic everyday ones everywhere, I like the net/mesh ones for their expandability and they're as cheap as chips: And then there are some really beautiful ones like these made from recycled Sailcloth, so you're already recycling! Bonus points all round. And they double up as a mean beach bag or tote.

PLASTIC CUTLERY Whether in restaurants and cafes or for kids parties, it's another use once, chuck in the landfill that we can do without. So either take your cutlery in your bag with you - avoiding the bendy forks that break anyway - or if it's for parties and picnics here are some alternatives if you don't want to lug around loads of metal: Take it everywhere: Pretty coloured ones: Plain and wooden in a big pack: Or made of bamboo!