Choose plastic-free household products

Why this pledge is so important

On average we use 378 pieces of hygiene and cleaning packaging per person every year. Most of the products we use around the home come in single-use plastic packaging. They are made from fossil fuels, which don’t decompose naturally so they stick around for hundreds of years. By making small changes to the products we use in our homes we can significantly reduce this number. 

5 Plastic-free household swaps

1. Washing dishes 
   • Dishwashing liquid comes in plastic bottles, they’re made from fossil fuels and can take centuries to break down. Swap to a bar of dishwashing soap and use a wooden scrubber instead of plastic. 
   • Dishwasher tablets often come in soft-plastic film packaging which can’t be recycled. It’s easy to buy tablets in cardboard boxes instead.
     
2. Storing food 
   • Cling film is difficult to recycle and will take hundreds of years to break down with the risk of chemicals released sinking into the groundwater supply.
   • Luckily, there are a variety of eco-friendly options to switch to. Try these Vegan Wax Wraps, containers or just re-use old jars to store food in the fridge or when you’re on the go.
3. Wiping up
   • Although kitchen roll is paper, because we’re normally using it to wipe up mess it’s really hard to recycle. 
   • We love these washable wipes instead, zero waste and plastic free. 
4. Cleaning products
   • Start to make your own cleaning products in reusable spray bottles, check out Friends of The Earth for product recipes. 
   • Use ZeroCo, their refillable bottles minimise single-use plastic waste. 
5. Bin liners 
   • Bin liners are as bad as single-use plastic bags, they end up in waterways and harm marine life. The microplastics make their way into our food chain, contaminating the food we eat. 
   • Use newspaper, liner-free or biodegradable alternatives. 

There are plenty more swaps you can make, check out Banish for a great selection of planet friendly household products.