It’s no secret that we live in an increasingly-disposable world. Where once, people would have invested in quality items designed to last for years, we’re now more likely to buy disposable alternatives intended to be used just once or at most a handful of times before being thrown away.
It can often seem like there is a disposable version of pretty much everything – from plastic bags and paper plates to disposable razors and contact lenses.
Of course, there are many perceived advantages of buying disposable items – such as convenience, cost and choice. Disposable variants of everyday products can often seem cheaper than investing in a longer-lasting product and if you can throw something away after using it, it can often seem quicker and more convenient than having to wash or care for an item.
But what is the real cost of our disposable attitude? Well, it’s not difficult to see that disposable products are more harmful to the environment – with landfill sites full of products such as plastic water bottles and disposable nappies. But disposable products can also have an impact on our home environmenttoo. Constantly shopping for replacement products, having shelves bursting with disposable items and the clutter that our disposable world brings can be stressful.
Many people are therefore seeking out alternatives to disposable products – not only to help the environment but also to simplify their own lives, homes and shopping habits. Here are some of the common disposable items that you may want to consider swapping to longer-lasting alternatives:
Nappies
Disposable nappies get a bad press for the amount of waste that they produce. Of course, they are undoubtedly convenient for parents who may be changing several nappies each day but many are now returning to reusable cloth nappies which can be washed and used again. Some argue that reusable nappies aren’t that much kinder to the environment due to the energy used in the washing and drying process but investing in reusables could save money and many shopping trips as well as reducing landfill.
Plastic water bottles
If you like to have a bottle of water to hand, invest in a reusable sports bottle that can be washed and reused rather than buying expensive bottled water that’s packaged in throwaway containers. Prefer coffee to water? Then invest in an insulated reusable coffee cup, rather than using plastic cups from takeaways and vending machines.
Cleaning wipes
Ditch the disposable beauty and household wipes and go back to old-fashioned flannels and reusable cloths. Not only will this save money and cut waste but using more durable, robust cloths can often give better cleaning results too.
Shopping bags
If you’re still using plastic bags when out shopping, invest in a high-quality reusable shopping bag and keep it folded up in your coat pocket or handbag so that it is to hand when you need it.
Even though reusable items may cost a little more than their disposable equivalents in the short-term, they are usually a better quality and will pay for themselves over their lifetime.
For more information on how to live a greener life, visit: www.dothegreenthing.com
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