One week of single-use plastics – how much did we use?

Disclaimer: In paid partnership with The Midcounties Co-operative.

This year I’ve vowed to be more environmentally friendly. In my challenge of doing “30 before 30”, I also talked about wanting to be more conscious of the things that were so ingrained in day to day life, that I didn’t realise I was doing. So when The Midcounties Co-operative got in touch and asked us to take part in its 1Change campaign, I was more than happy to get involved.

We all know that single-use plastics are bad, right? There is SO much media attention on being environmentally conscious and cutting down on waste. I started the year thinking of ways I can reduce my waste-impact on society and one thing that came to mind was reducing the amount of plastic I throw away. As a result, I’ve started using reusable sanitary protection, re-using plastic food bags wherever I’m able and taking Tupperware to work, rather than using a plastic food box I would then throw away, or clingfilm I’d wrapped around a sandwich. I thought that was enough. I thought I was being really conscious.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, The Midcounties Co-operative asked me to save all the single-use plastics we used, and meant to chuck away, for a whole week. I will admit, I felt a little too confident – we don’t use much REALLY, right? Well, here you go, this is everything I saved.

• 

• 

What do you think? I am a bit ashamed and also very shocked at quite how much we collected. And this is just one week! It just goes to show how much you collect over a year. And then over a lifetime… that goes without saying.

I know we always think that someone else is being environmentally friendly and that means we don’t need to, but I have given my head a wobble after looking at this. I know there could’ve been more if I hadn’t thought about it during the week and saved the stuff that could be saved.

So where does all this plastic go? Well, most of it goes to landfill. I can’t even think of the space we must need to get rid of all that rubbish, and it is a never-ending battle.

However, I really don’t want to make the post preachy, so I’m going to talk about the positive changes I’m making to cut down on my impact on the world. I’m starting by buying more Tupperware to cut down on food bags and plastic single-use containers, I’m also trying to buy loose veg and fruit by taking a bag to the shops rather than using the prepacked/single-use clear bags they have on offer. I am making an effort to look at the things I buy and trying to make changes there, such as never ask for the hangers when I buy clothes.

The Midcounties Co-operative have also pledged to reduce waste as well with a whole host of aims. These are simple things like cutting out plastic straws and cutlery, getting rid of single-use cups to more ambitious ideas such as working with schools to educate the next generation and make sure their childcare nurseries have an “eco-school” status. You can find a whole host of information on their site 1Change.

On their site you can pledge to make one change to help reduce our waste, fight single-use plastics and improve our environment. I’ve uploaded mine already.

So what are you going to do? Because it is everyone’s job to help the environment our children will live in.

Disclaimer: In paid partnership with The Midcounties Co-operative.

If you like my posts please follow me on Pinterest, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Also, feel free to share my content using the buttons below.

If you fancy leaving comment, please do, they always make my day!