As Christmas approaches most of us will be thinking about the shopping we need to do in order to prepare for the holiday period. As you do, spare a thought for the packaging you will inevitably acquire and where it will end up.
Almost everything we buy is packaged, often unnecessarily and often in plastic. Most of that packaging goes into our red bin soon after purchase, then directly to landfill. Eight million tonnes of plastic waste end up in our waterways every year – that’s one garbage truck of plastic waste being tipped into the ocean every minute of every day. This plastic never leaves the planet, simply degrading into ever smaller micro-particles that enter the food chain.
It is time to consider what packaging we really need. Lightweight plastics such as cling film, takeaway food and drink containers, balloons, plastic bags and straws are the most life threatening to our marine life. 100,000 marine animals die every year by mistaking plastic waste for food, often dying painfully and before reaching reproductive age. Much of Europe has now banned plastic packaging on fruit, vegetables and magazines. Sadly, this is not the case in Australia.
What can you do?
Firstly, accept that sometimes there is no alternative packaging. Milk is one example, though milk in glass bottles used to be the norm. Secondly, consider whether you can buy the same or similar item without the plastic packaging. Thirdly, where possible, choose alternative packaging such as glass, cardboard, paper or tins which are 100% recyclable. Plastic is not.
Packaging alternatives when grocery shopping
Choose glass over plastic containers for peanut butter, honey, mayonnaise, sauces, salad dressings and the like. Select paper wrapping and cardboard boxes for sugar, flour, toilet paper, laundry powder, pasta, crackers etc. Avoid packaged fruit and vegetables. Take your own produce bags or use mushroom paper bags and select the fruit and vegetables you want in the quantities you need.
Zero waste gift suggestions
Shampoo and conditioner bars: Contain less water and can outlast two to three bottles of liquid shampoo or conditioner. One bar can last up to 80 washes! Keep cups: Australians discard 2.7 million takeaway coffee cups to landfill daily. Give a reusable cup to those people in your lives who rely on takeaway coffee to get through their day. Stainless steel straws: Each of these attractive and festive straws means one less plastic straw threatens the life of a turtle. Bamboo items: Toothbrushes, razors, cotton buds and reusable paper towels can be disposed of in the green bin and composted. Gift vouchers: Manly Co-op, Scoop, Naked Foods and The Source are all zero waste stores with a vast range of products and membership discounts.
What about decorations?
Balloons…the number one killer of sea birds. In the 2021 February and September editions of The Tawny Frogmouth, Malin Frick sets out compelling reasons for never buying balloons for any occasion. If children know that balloons make sea animals sick, they will happily embrace alternatives. Paper decorations can become a craft project for children. Wrapping paper: This can be purchased without plastic wrapping, reused, repurposed and decorated by the kids.
Disposable Crockery
When entertaining large groups, disposable plates and cutlery are often unavoidable. However, you can avoid plastic. Bamboo plates and cutlery are compostable and can go in the green bin. Remember anything made of bamboo, coconut fibre or corn starch is compostable and can go into the green bin.
Merry Christmas and Happy Sustainable, Zero Waste Shopping!!
Recommended Zero Waste Suppliers: Manly Co-op, Source Bulk Foods, Naked Foods Australia and Scoop Wholefoods