By 2050 it’s estimated that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish! Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. The team at 3 Barrington Road are committed to making our building as sustainable as possible, with a BREEAM Very Good certificate and facilities such as electric charging bays already in place.
Here, in honour of Plastic Free July, we take a look at 5 easy ways to swap out plastic in your daily routine for a more sustainable option.
5 ways to reduce your plastic consumption this month:
Take One Small Step
If you are wanting to reduce your plastic usage, One Small Step is a great place to start. Operating from their store at Altrincham Market, this independent shop sells a whole range of loose cupboard essentials, from pasta and flour to grains and seeds.
Simply bring along a re-usable container and fill it up, paying by weight. Incorporating this way of shopping into your life can be an easy change to massively reduce your personal plastic consumption. No more plastic bags of rice getting binned after a week of meals!
Find them at Altrincham Market on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 10am to 4pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm.
Clean Up
Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body scrub, toothpaste, toothbrush. Within one shower before work we have already come into contact with multiple uses of plastic! But there are non-plastic alternatives available which can be easily swapped out to make your morning routine more sustainable.
One Small Step doesn’t just stock dried and edible, they also have a great range of refillable toiletries. They also offer a great range of sustainable items such as reusable cotton pads and bamboo toothbrushes.
Take your sustainable self-care routine one step further, with local independent health store Gingko’s range of refillable cosmetics, from bath salts and natural body butters to skin toners and beard oils.
Wrap it up
Most of us are still using clingfilm and sandwich bags to wrap up our packed lunch for work. A simple switch to a more environmentally friendly reusable food wrap is a cheap and effective way to keep your food fresh.
Try these, made by local company Bee Sweet and Bumble. They offer ethically sourced Cheshire beeswax wraps and vegan-friendly wraps too. Purchase via The Makers Market online shop or visit one of the Makers Markets which pop up in Manchester and Cheshire throughout the year.
Thirsty Work
Most people are aware of the damaging effects that single-use plastic water bottles are having on the environment. Purchasing a good quality re-usable is a great way to reduce your environmental impact. One Small Step sell stock Shole bottles, a sleek and stylish alternative to single-use plastic bottles.
And not forgetting that all-important caffeine fix! Getting your coffee on the way into the office at 3 Barrington Road doesn’t need to be cost the earth, with cafes such as Gran T Coffee House using 100% compostable non-plastic cups and lids for all their hot drinks.
Or even better, bring a reusable non-plastic cup in every day to reduce your wastage even more! Gran T’s offers customers who brings in a reusable cup 20% off their drink. We love this quirky Manchester-themed bamboo travel mug one from Sass & Belle, which can be found in Gift & Home.
For more information on Plastic Free July, visit their website.
To find out more about what 3 Barrington Road is doing to reduce it’s environmental impact, visit our website.