To help stem the flow of single-use plastics entering landfill, this July we're being challenged to go #PlasticFree. But what practical steps can you take to cut the plastics?
Brunel’s Bridget Boylan has been exploring this question for the past nine months, looking at areas of her life where the little changes can make a big difference. So far, she’s been able to remove a remarkable 800 pieces of plastic from her life per year by swapping out just 16 everyday items – a feat she first revealed at TedXBrunel back in February.
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Below, Bridget shares with us how she did it. These swaps can not only slash your plastic footprint, but save money too!
Bridget's Favourite Swaps
All of Bridget's swaps so far
|
Area
|
Product
|
Brand / from
|
To
|
Supplier
|
Saving in plastic items per year
|
|
General
|
Plastic shopping bag
|
Supermarkets / shops
|
Cotton bag
|
Various
|
100
|
|
|
Plastic water bottles
|
Supermarkets / shops
|
Glass and aluminium bottles
|
Butler
|
50
|
|
|
Take-away paper cups
|
Coffee shops
|
Plastic reusable and collapsible cup
|
Pokito
|
20
|
|
|
Plastic straws
|
Supermarkets / shops
|
None or metal and paper straws
|
Various
|
30
|
|
|
Pocket handkerchiefs
|
Kleenex multipacks
|
Cotton handkerchiefs
|
Market stall
|
120
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bathroom
|
Shower gel
|
Radox
|
Bar of Soap
|
Various
|
4
|
|
|
Shampoo
|
John Frieda
|
Hard bar format
|
Lush
|
6
|
|
|
Conditioner
|
John Frieda
|
Hard bar format
|
Lush
|
6
|
|
|
Deodorant
|
Davidoff
|
Hard bar format
|
Lush
|
2
|
|
|
Toothpaste
|
Colgate
|
Make my own
|
Me
|
6
|
|
|
Plastic toothbrush
|
Various
|
Bamboo toothbrush
|
Waitrose
|
4
|
|
|
Plastic cotton buds
|
Boots
|
Paper cotton buds
|
Boots
|
365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holiday
|
Sun Tan Lotion
|
Nivea
|
Hard bar format
|
Lush
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kitchen
|
Cling film
|
Various
|
Cotton Bees Wax Wraps
|
Various
|
2
|
|
|
Orange Juice
|
Tropicana
|
Squeeze 2 fresh oranges daily
|
Various
|
52
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Work
|
Plastic pens
|
Various
|
Wooden Pencils
|
Various
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
775
|
Reported by:
Tim Pilgrim,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 268965
tim.pilgrim@brunel.ac.uk