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(Last Updated On: June 16, 2018)

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Environment impact of litter

You cannot help but know that in today’s modern world we produce far too much litter that has a negative impact on our planet. It seems far too easy to create litter, and even easier it seems to not dispose of it properly.

If you look around you as you go about your everyday life, you will see plastic bottles, cigarette butts and packets, sweet and fast food wrappers, and all sorts of rubbish just strewn over paths and in bushes.

And this has a negative impact on our environment. Screw negative – we are DAMAGING our planet.

Plastics in the sea

We have all seen videos of the islands of plastic waste floating in the seas, or washed up on exotic beaches. And it is affecting our poor ocean creatures, who are digesting bits of plastic that clog up their insides and kill them. To me, that’s not fair.

The zero waste movement

There are more and more people all the time who are thinking consciously about the amount of litter they create, and in particular reducing the amount of plastic they use. Could you do more by joining the zero waste movement?

Gifts for people who care about the environment

Here are 10 ideas for gifts for people who care about the amount of waste they produce:

1 and 2 – Books to inspire you

I’ve chosen 2 books that you can read to inspire you or your friends to take action and help reverse the years of destruction. First of all No.More.Plastic by Martin Dorey, founder of the Beach Clean Network, which looks at reducing plastic and introduces the 2 minute solution.

The second book is Zero Waste Home from Bea Johnson, who tells her story of how she downsized her big American home, saving not only money but reducing her families waste to a miniscule amount. Filled with tips for you to do the same, this is inspirational reading.

3 – Reusable straws

Plastic straws are big in the news now. They don’t break down easily, and there are millions of them – just think of all the fast food restaurants selling colas, milk shakes and juices. What do we all do – grab a straw! Ideally we would all refuse them and drink from the cups, but if you have to have a straw why not take your own?

This set of 8 stainless steel straws is enough for most families, and comes with 2 cleaning brushes. A great place to start reducing your waste.

4 – Shampoo Bar

I know for one when I am running short on shampoo I just to head out and buy a new bottle. But have you seen the amount of plastic bottles that live in your bathroom? When it comes to shampoo, there is an alternative – the shampoo bar.

You may have doubts, but these bars last up to 3 times longer, have no plastic bottles, and are much better for the environment. Check out this video from Facebook page We Need This to see the benefits.

5 – Bamboo Toothbrushes

If you follow general healthcare advice, you should be changing toothbrushes every 3 months. If we all did this can you imagine the amount of plastic toothbrushes clogging up landfill sites? So switch instead to bamboo toothbrushes, made from recyclable materials. You may also want to try teeth whitening powder in glass jars rather than plastic tubes.

6 – Dental Floss

Most dental floss is made from nylon, and comes in plastic boxes. This floss from Georganics is made from wild silk coated with wax made from the leaves of the candelilla shrub. Which means it is biodegradable. It also comes in a glass jar, which has a built-in floss cutter.

7- Washable cleaning pads

Every day we clean our faces, most of us using cleanser and a disposable cleaning wipe. What you may not realise is that a large proportion of these wipes are actually made with plastics. Earth Softly have made these reusable, washable, cleaning pads. These are made from a soft fleece front with a bamboo towelling backing. You can use, then throw in the washing machine. They come in a pack of 6, and so make a great present for someone who is environmentally conscious.

8 – Reusable bags for fruit and vegetables

We are all pretty much used to taking shopping bags since the introduction of charging for plastic carrier bags was introduced in October 2015. It’s become a way of life, and many of us carry jute bags, shopping bags or even the plastic carrier to avoid the charges of new ones. As well as being good for the planet.

But here’s an idea – why not use these lightweight mesh bags to put your fruit and vegetables in, rather than the flimsy plastic bags that the supermarkets provide. At a large 12 x 15 inches, or 30 x 40 cm for the more modern, they come in a set of 4 so one set should easily be enough for most people. The mesh allows air to circulate, but it is fine enough to keep sunlight off. The bags are washable in a washing machine or dishwasher.

9 – Compostable Food Waste Bags

Every household produces a certain amount of food waste, whether it be vegetable peelings or leftovers. A lot of people have a kitchen caddy to collect this waste, but these can become messy at times. By using these compostable food waste bags you can help keep the mess to a minimum by using one as a liner. Just put the whole bag in your compost bin or council recycling bin when full.

10 – Stainless Steel Water Bottle

No list would be complete without a replacement to the single use plastic bottle that is prevalent in modern day life. The scourge of our towns and countryside, where people buy drinks and then discard on the ground as they are too lazy to take with them. As you may have guessed, this is a pet hate of mine, and I often end up picking them up when out walking the dog, just to put in the nearest bin.

These colourful stainless steel water bottles from SHO will keep your water cold (if placed in the fridge beforehand) for up to 24 hours. If you want to use them for hot drinks, they will keep warm for up to 12 hours. As well as looking stylish they are durable, available in various sizes, and even come with a lifetime guarantee. Perfect for everyday use, whether you want them for your commute to work, use at the gym, or out on country walks.

Whether you are buying for a friend who wants to do more for the environment, or even for yourself, I hope this selection of products will help you to help save the planet.

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