Did you know the average UK household throws away around 100 billion pieces of plastic each year?
Your household might have, too. The sad thing is that around half of this figure is likely to be single-use plastic products, which means they can’t be recycled.
Be it cups, packaging, utensils, or more, plastic goes straight into our seas and contributes to the climate crisis. In fact, plastic is everywhere and abundant in our supermarkets. While we can’t avoid it, we can consciously choose the role it plays in our lives.
How?
By limiting their use in the kitchen. Dive in with us today, as we give you many ideas, tips and tricks to ensure you have a great plastic free July 2024.
Why is plastic free july important?
To have a great plastic-free July 2024, you must know the benefits first. While the environment is certainly one of them, there are a lot more advantages associated with it, such as:
Health
Over 13,000 chemicals are in plastic, and 3000 of them are harmful and toxic. When it comes to food and beverages, many of the chemicals can leak into them, causing significant health risks. So, choosing a plastic-free lifestyle can go a long way towards self-care.
Less waste
Switching to less plastics can significantly decrease the amount of waste in your life and environment. It can also prevent less waste from going into landfills and our oceans, protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
It can be cost-effective
Simply switching to a plastic-free life can significantly diminish costs and be more practical in the future. Non-plastic products and packaging often have longer durability, saving you from buying replacements over time.
4 kitchen Ideas for a plastic free july 2024
Going plastic-free isn’t difficult; it’s relatively straightforward, and to do so, you can start with the basics in your kitchen. Try doing the following:
Plastic free storage
Try switching plastic Tupperware containers to glass ones. Glass is often more durable and less likely to become discoloured and lose shape. You don’t have to go out and buy glass Tupperware either; if you have old glass jars sitting empty in your kitchen, why don’t you reuse them?
Ditch the food wrapping
How do you preserve leftover food? For most of us, one of the go-to options is cling film. This plastic food wrap is full of microplastics and can take hundreds of years to decompose. If you’re simply looking to store food in your kitchen, turn a plate or bowl upside down and cover it.
Use metal or wooden utensils.
It’s a good idea to start by replacing any plastic knives, forks, spoons, spatulas, plates, tongs, and chopping boards in your kitchen with metal or wooden ones. While they might be expensive to buy initially, metal and wooden items have a longer shelf life and need to be replaced less.
Tea Tip: Swap the plastic mug for a glass jar, add Nutra Boost, throw a few ice cubes in, and add a metal straw. It’s a perfect drink for summer.
Washing up liquid
Try being mindful of the liquid and detergent you buy when washing. Some items like washing up liquid can be difficult to avoid buying plastic, so try and buy in bulk so you don’t have to buy frequently.
How to buy tea with less plastics
Another way to have a great plastic-free July 2024 is by buying tea with fewer plastics in it. Here are some tips on plastic-free tea options:
Opt for plastic free tea bags
When you think of tea bags, it’s unlikely plastic comes to your mind. But the truth is there’s a lot of microplastic in tea bags! Scientists at McGill University in Montreal discovered that 11.6 million microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics can be released into a cup of tea when brewed at a temperature of (203 °F). That’s scary! So, whenever possible, opt for biodegradable tea bags.
Tea Tip: At NutraTea all of our tea bags are biodegradable and can be used up to three times! For instance, if you have a cough and cold teas like Nutra Throught, may be more cost effective for your throat than paying for frequent medicine.
Look for sustainable packaging
Equally as important as the tea bag is the packaging. When buying tea, always look for packaging that can be easily decomposed and, if possible, recyclable. At NutraTea, all our sachets and packaging are biodegradable and easily recycled.
Final thoughts on Plastic Free July
Overall, there are many plastic-free July ideas and activities you can do, and there are plenty of suggestions out there to help you. However, to make the switch, we suggest you stay simple, start from your kitchen, and drink plastic-free tea.
At NutraTea all of our tea bags are biodegradable, can be used up to three times and have biodegradable packaging. We’re also certified BCORP, we follow and abide by strict environmental practices and are transparent in our production, alongside using only natural and organic products in our blends.
Interested in our plastic-free and environmentally friendly tea? Check out our Healthy Wellbeing Giftbox.
