MercyCare / News / Eco swaps you can do for Plastic Free July

Eco swaps you can do for Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July is a timely reminder for all of us to be more eco-conscious in our homes, workplaces and communities.

At MercyCare we are committed to championing the environment across our services, taking steps as individuals and as an organisation to reduce waste and consumption.

We are committed to educating ourselves and the next generation about how small steps can make a big difference to our planet’s future. One of the ways we do this is through our fantastic Eco Warrior program across our Early Learning Centres. 

Taking part in Plastic Free July is a great way to start your journey or up your game in reducing waste.

Not sure where to start on your plastic-free journey? Here’s some simple swaps and ideas you can put into practise at home or in the workplace to get you started.

Get yourself a reusable coffee cup

It may sound simple, but did you know that across Australia, around 50,000 disposable coffee cups go to landfill every 30 minutes? By simply bringing your own reusable cup, your daily caffeine fix is having less impact on the environment.

Try shopping at a bulk food store

If you’d like to reduce the amount of plastic packaging in your weekly grocery shop, it’s worth making a trip to your local bulk food store where you can bring your own containers. It may be a more costly way to shop but if you are able to afford it, you’re avoiding ending up with mounds of plastic in your home.

Recycle your soft plastics

Sometimes, avoiding plastic packaging is near impossible. Instead of disposing of your soft plastics in landfill, consider collecting it and depositing it in the dedicated REDcycle bins located at most Coles and Woolworths stores. Soft plastics can range from plastic bags, chip or lolly packets and frozen veggie bags to the squeezy yoghurt and baby food pouches. These plastics are then recycled into other plastic products such as outdoor furniture, playground equipment, decking and bollards.

Get on board with WA’s container deposit scheme

Want to get paid for doing your bit for the environment? WA’s container deposit scheme is a great way to encourage the family – especially children – to get on board with recycling and reducing waste that goes to landfill. Simple head to the Containers for Change website to create an account and start collecting eligible containers to earn 10 cents a pop.

Opt for reusable, eco-friendly items over plastic ones

Whether it’s swapping disposable make-up wipes for reusable make-up pads, disposable nappies for cloth nappies, plastic wrap for beeswax wraps or opting for a bamboo toothbrush over a plastic one, there are plenty of small, simple changes you can make around the home to do your bit for the environment. By opting for eco-friendly, reusable and biodegradable products, you can reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

Consider reusable coffee pods

If you’re a coffee lover and have a pod coffee machine at home or in the workplace, you’ll be aware that disposable coffee pods – particularly plastic ones – can have a huge impact on the environment. But going plastic-free doesn’t mean you have to forgo your daily cuppa ­– there are a variety of reusable coffee pod options available. A great place to start is Melbourne-based eco-conscious coffee pod retailer, Crema Joe, which sells a variety of reusable pods compatible with popular coffee machines like Nespresso and that you can assemble yourself. Head to Crema Joe for more information.