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Caring for the planet is cool. And here’s the good news: there are a few easy-peasy ways to use less plastic in your everyday life and practice sustainability. Your weekly grocery shop is the perfect place to start.
These 6 products will help you to be a little more eco-conscious while you’re shopping – and when you get home. Because every little bit counts!
#1 Onya Reusable Shopping Tote Bag
Did you know a single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to break down? During that time, marine life such as dolphins, whales and turtles can easily get tangled up in them. With that in mind, ditch plastic bags at the shops and buy a reusable shopping bag, like this one from Onya. It’s big enough to carry bulky items, and folds up into a small pouch when you’re not using it. The best bit? It’s made from recycled plastic bottles!
Pro tip Don’t toss fruit and veg into those mini plastic bags, either. Instead, use the brown bags that are meant for mushrooms.
#2 Multix Produce Bags
Speaking of fresh produce, the Multix Produce Bags can store anything from fruit and veggies to meat and fish. In fact, the nifty bags can hold up to 3kg worth of produce. With drawstrings at the top, they’re a great alternative to traditional ziplock bags. Did we mention they’re reusable? When you want to switch up your produce, just pop them into the washing machine on a gentle cycle.
#3 The Swag
Just when you thought the health and wellness world couldn’t get more creative, it does! The Swag is a good example. The brand has created multi-layered cotton pouches to protect your fruit and veggies from drying out or wilting before you have the chance to eat them (so say goodbye to waste and guilt!). Think of them like produce bags, but made with cotton. The material is machine-washable, and helps fresh produce to last 2-4 times longer than it would in the crisper. There’s a range of sizes on offer, along with a Swag for fresh bread.
Pro tip If you can, buy bread straight from the bakery or farmers market – they usually put their loaves into paper bags.
#4 Sustomi Beeswax Wraps
Move over, cling wrap. Beeswax wraps are all the rage right now, and for good reason. Made with food-grade beeswax, cotton and jojoba oil, they’re waterproof and breathable, and they stick to surfaces (just like cling wrap). We like the Sustomi Beeswax Wraps. They’re reusable and sustainable, and perfect for wrapping up everything from snacks to baked goods. You can also mould them into pouches to store delicate foods that don’t need to be completely wrapped up, such as loose-leaf lettuce.
#5 Sustomi Silicone Food Covers
You’ll wonder what you did without Sustomi’s Silicone Food Covers. The stretchy silicone lids are a much better alternative to plastic wrap for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, they’re environmentally-friendly. The covers are reusable, food-safe, and can withstand temperatures from 0-230° C – which means you can pop them in the fridge, freezer, oven and microwave. Secondly, they create an airtight seal around any plates, bowls, glasses and containers to keep the contents fresh. No sticky wrap necessary!
#6 Full Circle Zip Tuck Reusable Sandwich Bags
Packing lunch for the kiddies? Or yourself? The Full Circle Zip Tuck Reusable Sandwich Bags are fuss-free and leak-proof, and stand upright so you can easily stuff them. They’re made with plant-based materials, and can be washed and reused. They’ll keep your food fresh until you’re ready to eat it, and are big enough to store sandwiches as well as snacks and fruit. That’s not all: they’re strong enough to hold liquid, too! For the little ones, the brand has bags with fun designs, like animals and emojis.