Plastic may have revolutionised the way we live, but plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues. We know that the production and use of plastic have a significant negative impact on the environment, wildlife, and public health, but how do we use less of it and why haven’t governments created better recycling policies?

The majority of plastic bottles and containers now contain a fully recyclable sign, but how much of this plastic is actually recycled and turned into something new?

According to a study by Greenpeace, the majority of plastic in the US is headed to landfills. Another report looks at how plastic waste is handled in the UK and it’s either being dumped in other countries or burned. Burning plastic can generate and release pollutants, hurting the environment and affecting air quality and public health. This sounds daunting and whilst recycling shouldn’t be stopped, it certainly is not the solution to the problem at hand.

If we are going to protect our environment and communities, governments should cut the use of single-use plastic and introduce better recycling schemes like the ones found in Denmark for example. I lived in Denmark for three and a half years and during my time there, I was introduced to an incredibly simple system in which supermarkets actually took responsibility for plastic and glass recycling.

We need to cut the production and use of plastic and here is why:

1. Plastic waste pollutes our environment: Plastic waste litters our streets, clogs our waterways, and accumulates in our oceans. Plastic waste takes hundreds of years to decompose, and in the meantime, it can harm wildlife and ecosystems. Marine animals can mistake plastic for food, leading to entanglement, suffocation, and other problems.
2. Plastic contributes to climate change: The production of plastic is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The extraction and transportation of fossil fuels, which are used to make plastic, release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Additionally, plastic production requires a significant amount of energy, which also contributes to climate change.
3. Plastic production and disposal are resource-intensive: The production of plastic requires a significant amount of resources, including fossil fuels, water, and energy. On the other hand, disposing of plastic waste requires resources like land, energy, and water. By reducing the production and use of plastic, we can conserve these valuable resources.
4. Plastic is harmful to our health: Some plastic products contain harmful chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and flame retardants. These chemicals can leach into food and beverages, potentially harming human health.
5. There are alternatives to plastic: There are many alternatives to plastic, including biodegradable plastics, glass, bamboo, paper products, and reusable containers. By using these alternatives, we can reduce our dependence on plastic and reduce the negative impacts of plastic production and disposal.

We can all take steps to reduce our plastic use, simple changes can have a big impact. For example, you can use reusable bags when you go shopping, try and choose products with minimal plastic packaging, and buy loose fruit and vegetables at supermarkets. You can also try and opt-in for plastic-free product alternatives such as using companies like Smol or adopting the use of Beeswax Wraps instead of using foil.

The circular economy model focuses on reducing waste and reusing finite resources and by doing so extending their life cycle. It is a new way of thinking about the economy that aims to create a more sustainable and regenerative system that benefits us and the planet. A circular economy helps us think of resources and raw materials as finite, and not infinite. This involves recognizing the value of natural capital and designing systems that preserve and enhance natural resources from the onset.

This means that in a circular economy, businesses should think of designing products that use fewer materials from the start and also that can be repaired or re-purposed in the future. Profits (staying true to Friedman’s definition of business) are then made from the same products, for which a lot of resources have already been used. The below image from the Porto Protocol shows how a circular economy works, emphasizing the fact that when a product arrives at its final destination it should be recycled so need for using new materials is reduced.

What is the difference between a circular and linear economy?

The traditional linear economy follows a ‘take-make-dispose’ model, where raw materials are extracted from the earth, used to create products, and then discarded once they are no longer needed. You can see how this system is inherently wasteful and unsustainable, as it relies on finite resources and creates a large amount of waste that is often not properly disposed of. The fashion industry is one such example. Whilst it produces a lot of very cheap clothing, it comes at a huge cost to the planet and to the people employed in these industries. If the t-shirt you are buying comes at a cost for you of £5 and the business needs to make a profit, how much do you think the cost of materials and labour was in the first place?

In contrast, the circular economy is a closed-loop system, where waste is minimized and resources are used and reused as much as possible and profit is made from the same products. If we stick with the fashion example, this will mean that the leading brands are also creating second-hand marketplaces for their audience or offering repair services for their clothing (We love you Patagonia). This model is already proven with places like eBay, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace, so why are big brands reluctant to offer this? Perhaps they don’t want to take focus away from new lines or perhaps the sheer size of their market and the logistics involved in creating such a marketplace are too complicated.

What are the principles of a circular economy?

The circular economy is based on three main principles:

• Designing out waste and pollution
• Keeping products and materials in use
• Regenerating natural systems

Examples of circular economy solutions from different industries

It’s one thing to talk about it as a circular economy, but another to implement it. Theory always sounds so much easier than practice. Below, I have included a few examples of brands from different industries that have adopted sustainable solutions and have aimed to keep products and materials in use, adhering to the principles of a circular economy.

• The Danish system of returning and reusing bottles at supermarkets prompts people to recycle and keep the streets clean. I lived in Denmark for three and a half years, and I have to tell you, this system works!
• IKEA’s mission is to become a circular economy and climate positive by 2030. One of their top goals is to design circular products. They have identified over 9,500 products that are suitable for the circular economy and also plan to create markets for second-hand items.
• Patagonia has been at the forefront of climate activism for a long time, designing and creating products from sustainable materials and creating timeless pieces that you won’t want to throw away. Their dedication shows in not only speaking about the subject but also delivering on their promises and working hard to make a difference.
• Innovation brands like Discarded Spirits use discarded fruit to make delicious banana peel rum, chardonnay vodka, and vermouth. They are taking fruit that would have otherwise ended up in landfills and therefore creating more methane (which is worse for the environment than carbon dioxide), and recreating some of the nation’s favourite spirits.
• Osprey backpacks offer a repair surface and also sell second-hand products on their website. This shows that they value their products and want to find a home for their pre-loved backpacks.

Other examples of circular economy initiatives include composting and waste reduction programs, creating products from recycled materials, the use of renewable energy, the development of sustainable supply chains, and the creation of new products and services that are designed with the circular economy in mind.

What are the benefits of a circular economy?

By reducing waste and minimizing resource use, the circular economy can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution, which can help to mitigate the effects of climate change. It can also reduce the reliance on finite resources, such as fossil fuels, and create new opportunities for job creation and economic growth. In this sense, a circular economy offers a plethora of benefits:

• Protecting the environment
• Reducing the use of finite raw materials
• Creating jobs
• Providing benefits to the consumer
• Opening new business opportunities

What are the challenges facing a circular economy?

While the circular economy has many benefits, there are also challenges to implementing this model on a large scale. One of the main challenges is changing the way we think about consumption and production. In a linear economy, the focus is on producing as much as possible, and also on consuming as much as we can. This is literally how the GDPs of countries are measured.

On the other hand, in a circular economy, the focus is on reducing waste and maximizing resource use. This means less but more conscious shopping and requires a fundamental shift in the way we approach economic growth and development. This is why promoting circular behaviour and continuing to talk about sustainable solutions is crucial to help consumers understand there are already brands they can support.

Another challenge that the circular economy is facing is alignment with business interests, especially around who is going to heavily invest and foot the bill in research and development to build new infrastructures and improve existing supply chains.

What can we do as consumers to help a circular economy become the norm?

The first and foremost thing we can do is educate ourselves on the matter. As Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world’. Beginning to familiarise yourself with this topic and the complexities that come with a circular economy and the challenges that companies are facing will help you understand how intricate but essential this model is.

Looking for companies that are already implementing a circular approach to their business and are striving to improve their supply chain and also help share the message with their customers, should be the first step. You don’t have to be a customer to help these businesses grow. You can help them by sharing their story and their products with their friends, liking their social media posts, and sharing their journey. This can open the floor to new audiences and help them grow their business and by doing so, increase their environmental impact. For example, I came to know the brand Discarded Spirtis through my work and I instantly fell in love with their mission and journey to make waste beautiful again. I bought a number of their products and when I hosted a party people loved their Banana Peel Rum. They didn’t know it existed and loved it so much, they are now purchasing it instead of the usual Banana Rum they used to buy. This only cost me the price of the products but by sharing their story with my friends, they have grown their brand presence and won a new customer. I do the same with any other sustainable product I try and will aim to share my journey with you all on this platform.

Reducing your use of plastic

Plastic may have revolutionised the way we live, but plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues we face today. The majority of plastic bottles and containers now come with a fully recyclable sign, but how much of this plastic is actually recycled and turned into something new? Not as much as you may think.

According to a study by Greenpeace, the majority of plastic in the US is headed to landfills. Another report looks at how plastic waste is handled in the UK and it’s either being dumped in other countries or burned. Burning plastic can generate and release pollutants, hurting the environment and affecting air quality and public health. This sounds daunting and whilst recycling shouldn’t be stopped, it certainly is not the solution to the problem at hand perhaps we as individuals can’t control plastic production, but we can control our own use of it.

Here are a few ways you can reduce the use of plastic that will help you live more sustainably:

• Carry out a bottle of water when you go on walks. This will help you stay hydrated and you won’t need to purchase water in a plastic bottle.
• Opt-in for beeswax wraps instead of clingfilm.
• Say goodbye to balloons as unfortunately they are made of single-use plastic.
• Remember to take a cloth bag when you go shopping or reuse your previous plastic bags.
• If you have local shops selling food in bulk, choose to use food containers and shop plastics-free if your budget allows it.
• Choose products that are either sold loose or do not include plastic packaging. Food retailers are selling a lot more loose vegetables and fruit.

Eating a plant-based diet

Eating a plant-based diet is most likely the best thing you can do to live more sustainably. Livestock emissions include both carbon dioxide and methane which is more damaging to the environment. It is suggested that beef has the biggest carbon footprint, but meat is not the only culprit. The production of chocolate, farmed fish, and cheese are also top contributors to climate change.

Animal agriculture is a water-intensive industry, requiring vast amounts of water to grow crops to feed livestock and to provide drinking water for the animals themselves. By reducing meat consumption, we can reduce the amount of water used to produce our food. Large areas of land are also cleared for grazing and feed production, which can lead to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity. Moreover, animal agriculture is a significant contributor to water and air pollution, particularly through the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and manure. The overconsumption of meat and processed food is also linked to poor health which means that reducing the amount of processed meat in your diet will help your health as well as the planet.

That said, I am not an idealist and I know people would never stop eating meat, and maybe they shouldn’t, but focusing on quality over quantity will be good for the planet and yourself. Avoiding fast food and processed meats could be one of the best things you can do to live more sustainably and improve your overall health.

Reducing food waste

According to The Eco Experts, 40% of food gets wasted globally, with the UK throwing away 9.5 million tonnes of food every year. That’s devastating and it feels almost sinful. This not only contributes to the waste of manufacturing costs but also to greenhouse emissions, not to mention the ridiculousness of overconsumption in the West and starvation in other parts of the world.

I have been guilty of not using the food I have in the cupboard too. In the past, I wouldn’t calculate exactly the number of ingredients I need or I will not cook a recipe for which I already have the needed products and will opt out for an easier option like a takeaway. Whilst it is difficult to avoid this at all times, reducing your food waste is good for the planet and your pocket. Unfortunately, when food is wasted, it goes to a landfill where it rots and contributes to the release of methane, a gas that is 25% more potent than carbon dioxide. Because of the lack of oxygen, organic matter such as food waste, paper, and wood is stuck is trapped and releases methane, which contributes to climate change and pollutes the air. This makes food waste of the biggest problems contributing to climate change.

To reduce your food waste, you can try and prepare a list of meals for the week and only buy the ingredients you need. You can also try and sign up for meal subscriptions such as Hello Fresh. Receiving Hello Fresh boxes that contain both the ingredients and the recipes has really reduced my food waste because I only use the ingredients I need.

Composting is a terrific way to help the environment and also keep your plants happy because of the extra nutrition they get as part of the freshly created soil. Composting means that you can use your food scraps and wood products such as egg cartons and dry leaves or grass to recycle in your own home and reduce your carbon footprint. It’s now been a whole year of using my compost bin and it’s amazing to see how much food waste I can add to it. It’s fantastic being able to compost food scraps instead of adding them to the usual bin, which otherwise will get sent to a landfill and result in more methane pollution. I completely understand that composting can be easy when you live in a house because you have extra space. However, this can be an issue for people living in smaller places who don’t have a garden. In this case, look for communal compost paces or invest in a small compost bin that you can keep in the outside area of your flat.

Supporting sustainable businesses

We as consumers have the power to change the business landscape. As big as corporations can get, we have the purchasing power to change the game by simply changing our purchasing habits. This is why how and where we spent our money matters. I am aware that some sustainable alternatives cost more compared to everyday products but if you can make the switch, the planet, and future generations will be better for it. I feel extremely lucky to live in the UK, a country where sustainable and planet-friendly businesses have seen such a surge that it’s in fact quite easy to support companies that are paving the way to zero-waste living.

Speaking from experience, here is my list of favourite UK brands that will help you live more sustainably.

• Wild — I have been using Wild for a few weeks now and I have completely fallen in love with this product. This sustainable natural deodorant is naturally vegan and is available in several gorgeous scents. You need to purchase the case and then schedule your refills on the site. The process is super easy and you won’t be disappointed!
• Smol — I have been a customer of Smol for over one year and have been using their washing pods as well as their fabric conditioner and I don’t want to ever look back. The washing pods arrive through the letter box and I can even return the empty fabric conditioner bottles to be reused. The company has grown immensely over the past few years and you can easily see why. Their amazing products speak for themselves.
• Bide Planet — This is a revolutionary company that works with a local workforce to produce planet-friendly and sustainable cleaning products.
• Wideye — This is a local company that produces skincare that is good for both the environment and your body. Their products are both vegan and cruelty-free and offer bottle exchanges in their local stores.
• Who gives a crap — A 100% recycled toilet paper that comes in plastic-free packaging and it’s good for the planet and your cheeks.
• Discarded Spirits — If you are in the mood for rum and coke but don’t want to harm the planet, this brand is for you. Discarded Spirits is a zero-waste brand, that uses discarded products to create delicious cascara vermouth, banana peel rum, and grape skin vodka.

Reducing energy consumption

Reducing your energy consumption could be one of the hardest things you do because of how much we rely on electricity to heat our homes, cook our food, go to work, work from home, or take care of our family. However, there are small steps we can take to reduce our energy consumption and help the environment. Here are some examples.

• Switch off lights when you leave a room and save electricity
• Use your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures
• Avoid using a tumble dryer, especially on a bright sunny day, and if you have an open space where your clothes can dry
• Spend less time in the shower, this will save you both water and energy
• Be smarter when you cook and use cooking lids to preserve energy
• Don’t run the dishwasher when it’s only half full, potentially wasting both energy and water.
• If you are working from home, don’t leave your laptop charging throughout the night.
• Turn down radiators when rooms are not in use
• Close curtains in the winter to keep the warmth in the room
• Change your lights to energy-efficient bulbs
• If you can and your budget allows it, update your appliances to more energy-efficient models

In summary

We can all make small changes to our lifestyles and live more sustainably. You can also look to buy plastic-free soap, and cycle or walk when you can instead of driving. It’s also really important to spread the message and talk about how we as a society can be more sustainable. Talk to your family and friends, ask for advice, or simply discuss the topic of sustainable living. Conversations like this can spark ideas, and inspiration, and spread awareness.

If you have ideas on how to live more sustainably, please get in touch. I would love to discuss them with you.