Monday 02-05-2022 - 09:00

How can you be more sustainable? Start by reading this blog by INSPIRE Intern Saskia. 

 

By: Saskia Judd

Lampeter Canolfan Tir Glas INSPIRE Intern

 

A question that my flat-mates asked me this year was: "How can I be more sustainable?" As students, this can sometimes be seen as an impossible task due to the prices of some items that are advertised. However, there are some affordable changes that we can all make to help the environment.

For makeup, a super simple and sustainable first step could be to switch to vegan makeup. Most brands now, such as Barry M, Revolution and MUA, are completely vegan or have vegan products on offer. These are some of the cheaper makeup brands, so it also will not break the bank! There are a few small changes which can be made in your makeup removal process as well. Instead of using single use wipes and cotton pads, many of which contain plastic, use reusable makeup rounds. These can be pricey, but there are some brands which are more affordable; remember these are an investment! They will last longer than a pack of cotton pads and are super simple to look after. A set of 12 on My Little Eco Shop can be purchased for £11.99 or a set with a bamboo holder is £20.00. Nail varnish remover pads are also available for around £3.50 (EcoLust). Reusable Q tips or cotton buds are also a small switch which can make a difference. These can be purchased from as little as £5. 

Another switch is bamboo toothbrushes. These are much easier to come by than they were a few years ago with big brands such as Colgate producing such products. They can be slightly more expensive than ordinary toothbrushes, but they are much better for the environment. Another bathroom switch is from bottles to bars. Shower gel and hair product bottles make up a large percentage of waste, with the average family using ‘216 bottles of hair care products per year’ (Hall, 2020). Soap bars are widely available, and quite often cheaper than their bottled counterparts. This could limit the plastic in your bathroom, even if you only switched your hand and body wash. As for shampoo and conditioner, I understand this is much harder to go plastic-free on, but shampoo is easier to find than conditioner and quite often cheaper. They are becoming more popular with companies such as Alberto Balsam now offering shampoo bars for around £2.50. A way to also support small businesses when making this change is to go to marketplaces like etsy or local markets, as they quite often have shampoo and conditioner bars for sale. Again My Little Eco Shop is also a good start, as it has a 3 for 2 offer on shampoo bars. If this is still a little pricey, a more affordable change could be Poundland shampoo bars. They are plastic-free and are a good starter change.

A change which could save loads of plastic is investing in reusable period products. These will save you money in the long run and are super easy to use. Menstrual cups can cost as little as £11 for a set of three (My Little Eco Shop), which is less than the price of 10 packs of pads! If you prefer using pads, then reusable versions can be bought, starting at around £5 from many different vendors.

Finally there are the changes you can make in the kitchen. As most of us are aware, there is much waste in the kitchen, and I am not going to tell you to go and change everything because that would be expensive, but if you start small there can be instant positive outcomes. The easiest is to change straws. Even though paper straws are better for the environment, trees still have to be cut down to produce them. Buying a metal or bamboo straw can help eradicate this waste, and if you put one in your bag you could also benefit the environment when you are out and about! Also, swapping from cling-film and tin foil to reusable bags removes a lot of waste. These can be surprisingly cheap and will last a long while. A final change which is affordable is buying a set of travel cutlery. These can be bought for £7 on Ecolust and are of incredible quality. These can just be left in your bag and be used for when you are out and about and need cutlery instead of using single use items.

For more information please feel free to look at the links below!

littleechoshop.co.uk

ecolust.co.uk

thesun.co.uk - The average family uses a whopping 216 bottles of hair care products per year and 108 loo rolls, shock survey reveals.