Our #SwapForGood top 10

Say no to single-use for Waste less, Live more

09/09/19

This month, from the 1-30 September 2019, we have been saying 'no' to single-use plastic and swapping for good as part of our annual campaign Waste less, Live more. We want to help you discover all of the simple ways you could make a simple #SwapForGood.

According to recent research from Keep Britain tidy and YouGov, 51% of people are very concerned about the amount of waste produced in the UK^. When asked how often people try to avoid single use plastic in the home, only 24% said “always”^ which means there is much room for improvement!

We've been sharing the simple sustainable swaps we could all be making to help reduce single-use. Reducing our waste helps the environment and saves us money.

Here are our #SwapForGood top 10 simple yet effective sustainable swaps to help you on your Waste less, Live more journey. Once you've read our top 10, keep scrolling to find out how and why you should also share your top #SwapForGood too!

1. WATER BOTTLE

Have you got your bottle?

A total of 7.7 billion single-use bottles are still used every year in the UK. Our research shows even among those who own a reusable bottle, half still buy bottled water, because they forget to take their reusable bottle out with them.

With FREE tap water refills available at over 20,000 British businesses, what are you waiting for?

Get yourself a BRITA Fill&Go Active bottle for life here (use code SWAP19 for 15% off your Fill&Go Active bottle - ends 31.10.19)​.

2. COFFEE CUP

Seven million disposable coffee cups used in the UK every day, yet less than 4% are recycled. 

Many coffee shops now offer a discount to encourage you to bring your own reusable cup instead.

Choose a Klean Kanteen coffee cup for life here.

3. LUNCH BOX

Everyday seven million ‘Meal Deals’ are sold in the UK, most in plastic that isn’t easily reusable.

A lunch box for life not only helps you use up your left overs, reducing food waste and saving you money, it also helps towards decreasing the amount of packaging sent to landfill.

Swap your meal deal for lunch prepared at home, or take your reusable lunchbox, like these from Sistema, to your local lunch shop and ask them to fill it instead of using disposable packaging.

4. SHOPPING BAGS

Did you know nine billion less single-use plastic bags have been used in the UK since we campaigned for the bag charge in 2015?

Most of us have at least one reusable shopping bag in our house by now, so don't forget to carry it with you - pop it in your handbag or backpack so you don't get caught out next time you're at the supermarket.

Order your own reusable The Outdoor Guide Litter Hero bag for life here (they make great bags for 2 minute litter picks too!).

5. RAZORS

Waste and single-use packaging exists in the bathroom too!

Millions of disposable razors are sent to landfill every year, because currently in the UK they're not recycled. 

Swap your disposable razor for a safety razor instead, we love these from Mutiny. They may look a bit intimidating, but we promise they are a total doddle to use. You’ll save money in the long run too!

6. SOAP

More than 29 million people use antibacterial soap and hand wash in the UK.

That's a lot of people, but also a lot of packaging - with liquid soap using around 20 times more packaging on average than solid soap.

These days, you can find a soap bar for everything - from shampoos, to face wash, hand wash and for babies. So switch things up and choose a solid soap bar instead.

7. FOOD WRAPS

The saying goes 'used once, lasts forever' and that couldn't be more true of conventional cling film!

More than 1.2 billion metres of single-use cling film is used by households across Britain every year.

Reusable wax wraps are a joy to use, they're so versatile and last over a year, saving you - and the environment - from oodles of rolls of single-use plastic.

Try them for yourself and then why not share some of your favourite uses for wax wraps to enter our #SwapForGood competition too!

7. STRAWS

'One straw, said 8 billion people' couldn't be more true right now - with the UK currently using an estimated 8.5 billion plastic straws every year.

Straws are also among the top 10 most littered items found on the beach.

The good news is, earlier this year the government confirmed a ban on plastic straws, drinks stirrers, and plastic cotton buds in England, starting from 2020. 

Go a little further and say 'no' to all single-use straws, plastic or not, and get yourself a stainless steel straw for life - they're fab!

9. PENS

Did you know an estimated 15 million plastic ball point pens are purchased around the world every single day?

​Pens are simple tools that we use on a daily basis, whether it be at home, school or work. But unfortunately, once the ink runs out, most regular plastic pens are not recycled.

You only ever really need one pen, so invest in a refillable pen for life instead, refills are readily available and simple to use.

10. CUTLERY

Most single-use cutlery is not recyclable, sadly often ending up in landfill or even the ocean, where they will take hundreds of years to decompose. 

A reusable cutlery set is the sustainable, plastic-free solution to single-use cutlery when eating away from home.

Get a set of reusable cutlery in a handy carry pouch - that you can use in the office, on-the-go, camping, festivals, food markets, picnics and parties.

Now it's time for you to share your top #SwapForGood

Enter our competition and bag yourself some reusable goodies.

WHAT'S IN THE BAG?

We’ve teamed up with some amazing sustainable brands to offer five lucky winners a Waste less, Live more goodie bag! In the bag you will find:

• Keep Britain Tidy cloth bag
• Brita Fill and Go Active water bottle
• 12oz Klean Kanteen TK wide 
• Mutiny shaving set  & shaving soap
• Outdoor Guide Coffee Notes note book, made from recycled coffee cups
• Outdoor Guide #LitterHeroes Bag
• Sistema lunch box

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow @KeepBritainTidy on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

2. Share your favourite #SwapforGood – whether it’s a new reusable water bottle, wax sandwich wrap or – we want to hear about your top tips to avoid single-use plastic!
   To enter on Facebook, comment on our competition post. 
   To enter on Instagram or Twitter, post using the tags @KeepBritainTidy and #SwapForGood.

3. Tag a friend and ask them to share their #SwapForGood too, easy!

The competition runs from 1 - 30 September. Full terms & conditions available here.

 

Thanks for getting behind Waste less, Live more. By wasting less and reducing our impact on the environment, we can improve our own (and others) health and happiness. It's a win-win.

 

^Figures are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2070 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 5th - 7th July 2019.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).