Single-use is the word of the year according to one famous dictionary. But, as you know, there is an terrible, terrible environmental impact from all the plastic particularly that is just being used once and chucked out. I am very glad to hear that the EU has made a pledge towards single-use items made of plastic but it isn't enough- there needs to be a lot of planning by the major companies in order to help the public in their bid to recycle or at least to save the fall out from those who don't have the correct recycling facilities in their area or lack the education to make them understand the importance of recycling.
Here are some of my chief bugbears when it comes to unnecessary packing. Do feel free to share yours in the comments.
1. Cheese- Greaseproof paper was good enough for years- why does cheese have to come in plastic?!
2. Toothbrushes:
I've swapped to Bamboo and it is great! Every toothbrush I have ever used is still somewhere in landfill. THAT is scary! It's the same for you and the same for everyone else.
3. Toothpaste:
These CAN come in reusable tubes and definitely not need to be plastic. They were metal for years.
4. Fruitshoots: The item featuring in many a lunchbox. They are basically fruit squash in a titchy bottle. Which we all know can be made from the concentrate in about 10 seconds flat and put into a reusable bottle. Seriously people, stop being conned into paying loads of money for bad quality orange squash!
5. Christmas giftpacks: Especially ones involving MAKE-UP! You get a cardboard box (or worse, plastic) and then all the items (usually plastic) are encased in a layer of clear plastic to keep them in place. I understand this with breakable objects like baubles but oooh, a bottle of bubble bath is not going to break! Just reduce the packaging size to fit the size of the items then they don't have to be encased in clear plastic moulds to make them look more fancy or generous!
6. Crisp multipacks- Ok, I know that the foil bags are supposed to keep the crisps fresher (but seriously, INVENT something that isn't plastic! See Walkers petition...) but WHY do the exterior multipack bags have to be plastic? Paper is FINE!
7. Chocolate bars: They were always FOIL and paper. They lasted fine. Why swap them to metallic plastic- something which can't be recycled?!?!!
8. Tomato tubs- Tescos used to sell their organic cherry tomatoes in these lovely stiff cardboard tubs- why do they need to be plastic now? BUT, they still used to have a layer of clear plastic over them. Why can we not have brown paper bags like the greengrocers used to do and count your own tomatoes?
9. Carton drink straws- so there is a ban on plastic straws but what about all those ones that are attached to drinks cartons AND the plastic clear layer over them? They are still ending up in landfill! We all know they are used by parents on school trips or in packed lunch boxes, they will never be recycled. Get rid of them!
10. Polystyrene takeaway containers:
If you must, and you haven't got your own container, why can they not come in thick card or thick cardboard. I bought some chips in an eco-container which was entirely biodegradable from a chipshop in Hexham- there should be a ban on polystyrene since it is SO detrimental to the environment. We all know most people who buy a takeaway burger are not me and won't carry it round in their bag in order to recycle- they will just bin it or worse, put it on the ground.
I know there are MANY more highly irritating single use items. What makes you annoyed? Do feel free to rant in the comments!
xx
Here are some of my chief bugbears when it comes to unnecessary packing. Do feel free to share yours in the comments.
1. Cheese- Greaseproof paper was good enough for years- why does cheese have to come in plastic?!
2. Toothbrushes:
I've swapped to Bamboo and it is great! Every toothbrush I have ever used is still somewhere in landfill. THAT is scary! It's the same for you and the same for everyone else.
3. Toothpaste:
These CAN come in reusable tubes and definitely not need to be plastic. They were metal for years.
4. Fruitshoots: The item featuring in many a lunchbox. They are basically fruit squash in a titchy bottle. Which we all know can be made from the concentrate in about 10 seconds flat and put into a reusable bottle. Seriously people, stop being conned into paying loads of money for bad quality orange squash!
5. Christmas giftpacks: Especially ones involving MAKE-UP! You get a cardboard box (or worse, plastic) and then all the items (usually plastic) are encased in a layer of clear plastic to keep them in place. I understand this with breakable objects like baubles but oooh, a bottle of bubble bath is not going to break! Just reduce the packaging size to fit the size of the items then they don't have to be encased in clear plastic moulds to make them look more fancy or generous!
6. Crisp multipacks- Ok, I know that the foil bags are supposed to keep the crisps fresher (but seriously, INVENT something that isn't plastic! See Walkers petition...) but WHY do the exterior multipack bags have to be plastic? Paper is FINE!
7. Chocolate bars: They were always FOIL and paper. They lasted fine. Why swap them to metallic plastic- something which can't be recycled?!?!!
8. Tomato tubs- Tescos used to sell their organic cherry tomatoes in these lovely stiff cardboard tubs- why do they need to be plastic now? BUT, they still used to have a layer of clear plastic over them. Why can we not have brown paper bags like the greengrocers used to do and count your own tomatoes?
9. Carton drink straws- so there is a ban on plastic straws but what about all those ones that are attached to drinks cartons AND the plastic clear layer over them? They are still ending up in landfill! We all know they are used by parents on school trips or in packed lunch boxes, they will never be recycled. Get rid of them!
10. Polystyrene takeaway containers:
If you must, and you haven't got your own container, why can they not come in thick card or thick cardboard. I bought some chips in an eco-container which was entirely biodegradable from a chipshop in Hexham- there should be a ban on polystyrene since it is SO detrimental to the environment. We all know most people who buy a takeaway burger are not me and won't carry it round in their bag in order to recycle- they will just bin it or worse, put it on the ground.
I know there are MANY more highly irritating single use items. What makes you annoyed? Do feel free to rant in the comments!
xx