Summary of the ‘Reducing Plastic’ Talk

Plastic, as we know it, is made from crude oil using a variety of processes. Crude oil is a limited resource and a fossil fuel. Plastic doesn’t biodegrade at all; it stays in landfill for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Sadly, new research has shown that today micro-plastics are found literally everywhere; from the remotest parts of Mongolia to the deepest oceans, it is also found in animals and even in plants. What’s even more shocking is that studies from around the world have found the presence of micro-plastics in human stools.
I don’t want to scare you, but it is clear something needs to be done - now.

Starting with a few small changes we can all make a difference. Firstly; don’t throw away all plastic items you have in the home. The first step is to keep using plastic tubs, plastic seeding trays, plastic toys etc. You don’t have to buy everything again brand new!
All food grade plastic is suitable for reusing over and over again, but single-use plastic, like, plastic water bottles, is not!!

Luffah, or loofah, is the inside of the fruit of a Luffa plant. And it is fully compostable!

Even on a small space you can grow vegetables, reducing plastic packaging!

The second step is to become more aware of when and where you are more likely to use plastic. Do you buy coffee on the way to work? Why not invest in a reusable cup? Or make coffee at home or at your workplace - you’ll save around £600 a year if you stop buying on-the-go coffee! Are you planning to go shopping? Don’t forget to bring your own carrier bag. Are you going to buy olives or other foods from a deli counter or buy a takeaway soup? Simply bring your own tub and have that filled. We will be giving away Vegware tubs for free in the shop from Monday 18^th March (but hurry, quantities are limited).

Then there is the issue of food wrapped in plastic. There are several things you can do: sign up to a vegetable box scheme, grow your own food where possible, sign up to become a member of the Neighbour Food Stirling (leaflets in our shop) or just take loose fruit and vegetables to the supermarket checkout (bananas are already wrapped in their own skin and you’ll end up washing it all anyway). Or seek out a milk supplier who uses glass bottles.

A lot of plastics are used in the home too and thankfully there are lots of alternatives available. As a shop we refill washing-up liquid and laundry liquid bottles from Bio D and Ecover, we also stock and can supply 5 litre sizes of various other household products from these brands. Don’t use clingfilm, apparently you can easily make it yourself using beeswax (or soy wax) and cotton cloth (beeswax blocks can be found in the back of our store). For the ladies: Natracare is a plastic free sanitary range, but we also stock Mooncup and washable pads. Ditch the plastic dish brush; use a luffah sponge instead, these are made from natural plant material and when they are worn out, you simply chuck them on top of the compost heap or pop them in the food recycling bin.

All of this information - and a list of natural household cleaning products - can be found in our shop, along with leaflets about Forth Environment Link and Hub G63; a food & sustainability hub based in Drymen.

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Stirling Health Food Store · 29 Dumbarton Road · Stirling, Stirling FK8 2LQ · United Kingdom