9 Tips for Reducing Plastic Waste

Australia produces 3 million tonnes of plastic every year, with a staggering 130,000 tonnes finding its way into the ocean annually. Below are 9 tips you can implement straight away to help reduce your plastic footprint and protect our oceans.

1. Seek Knowledge
   Watch documentaries, follow conservation groups on social media, read articles, sign petitions.
2. Ditch Biggest Offenders
   Plastic Bags – Get in the habit of taking reusable bags when you go to the shops
   Plastic Bottles – Use a reusable drink bottle, we recommend Fit Flask of course
   Plastic Straws – When ordering drinks, say “no straw please!”
   Coffee Cups – 2.7 million single-use coffee cups are used in Australia DAILY. Use a keep-cup instead.
3. Pack a Waste Free Lunch
   Reusable lunch containers or biodegradable sandwich bags can be purchased from the supermarket.  Also, opt for fresh fruits and veggies and bulk items instead of products that come in single serving cups.
4. Be Responsible
   Sometimes buying plastic can be unavoidable, and that’s okay. But if you purchase it, ensure you dispose of it correctly to help to safeguard our waterways and marine life.
5. Buy Boxes Instead of Bottles
   Often, products like laundry detergent or dish-wash powder have the option of plastic or cardboard containers. Cardboard is more easily recycled than plastic.
6. Buy in Bulk
   Purchase food, like cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins and fill a reusable bag or container. You save money and unnecessary packaging.
7. BYO Containers
   Bring your own containers to restaurants to package leftovers and be sure to request they don’t pack plastic cutlery.
8. Use Cloth Rags
   For clean up around the house, not paper towels – reduces your waste and need for rubbish bags.
9. Buy Fresh, Not Frozen
   Buying frozen foods and produce uses a lot of unnecessary plastic packaging. Even the frozen pizza boxes that seem to be made of cardboard are actually lined with plastic. By avoiding the frozen foods section and buying fresh, you are cutting out the plastic packaging used to preserve such options.