Plastic Free July

I am going to do my very best with #plasticfreejuly but if I am honest, I find trying to get rid of most plastic in our home very tricky. I describe myself as 'ethically curious' ;) by that I mean I do my best to make changes to mine and my family's lifestyle. I am open minded, but also try not to be too judgey; everyone has their own stuff to deal with and all we can do is our best (for example-see @themumonamission story highlights on Instagram on why plastic straws are essential for some people).
So anyway, I have been making some swaps so I thought I would share them with you. Here are a few really easy ones:

1. Bar soap

As the plastic pump bottles of liquid hand soap started to run out we have replaced them with bar soap. Many brands do come in plastic but you can get ones wrapped in paper from places like Lush, or for a cheaper option, Dove package theirs in cardboard.

2. Water bottle

I carry my metal one everywhere with me and refuse to buy bottled water from shops. A very easy swap.

3. Coffee Cup

I have a lovely ecoffee cup that I take with me if I know I am going somewhere where I'll want to grab a takeaway coffee.

4. Deodorant

We now buy deodorant bars from Lush. They are really effective and gentle on the skin. No nasties, just natural ingredients.

5. Shampoo

Again, we buy these from Lush (not a sponsored post-haha!). These can be a bit messy and don't always last as long as bottled shampoo but again there are no sulphates or other ingredients that can damage your hair so we feel it's a worthwhile swap.

6. Veg box

We now order a weekly fruit and veg box which comes every Thursday and is packed full of seasonal produce that is wrapped in paper bags or contained in little cardboard boxes. It's helped to reduce our plastic usage massively, with the added bonus of encouraging us to be more creative with our cooking. Win win!

7. Beeswax wraps

I bought these from a local maker-but you can find her on etsy here. They are really good for covering bowls in the fridge, or wrapping bits of half eaten fruit like lemons.

8. Glass bottles

Where possible, we are opting for glass, and it isn't always more expensive!

We still have a long way to go, but I am pleased with the progress we are making. I see the whole thing as a journey, and we have only just started on the road to plastic free living! Please do leave a comment to let me know if there are any easy, sustainable swaps you have made recently.