The rewards of re-thinking plastic

Although sometimes it feels that making that choice may be outwith our control, due to government guidelines and the steep rise in living costs, making little changes here and there will start to improve our lifestyles but also the environment.

Despite popular opinion, reducing plastic pollution in your daily lives can be a very cost-effective way of living. Purchasing reusable products can often mean you get more for your money, whilst creating less waste than the equivalent purchase as single use products, which is also the case for buying locally produced products where possible, rather than having items transported across the country and the packaging that comes alongside that. If you struggle to know where to begin with reducing the plastic in your home, supporting local businesses are a great way to start, whilst also giving back to the local community.

My favourite reusable products that I have sourced locally are my reusable face pads, tote bags and my bamboo toothbrush, all of which are cost effective due to them needing replaced far more infrequently than single use items, but there are many more ways you can reduce plastic pollution within your home whilst saving yourself some money:

Tips to reduce the plastic pollution within your daily life: -

• Carrying a reusable bag with you when shopping, which not only saves having to pay for one every time you shop, but also means there is one less plastic bag in circulation
• Creating your own cleaning products using ingredients such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda can be incredibly cost effective, and is a great way to re-use spray bottles. Less chemicals and less plastic means less strain on the planet.
• Re-usable water bottles and coffee cups have become more and more popular over the years, and many places in Scotland provide free refill spots for water, whilst many coffee shops offer you a discount off your purchase for bringing your own cup.
• Zero waste food shops are cropping up in many local communities, with even big supermarkets offering the ability to buy ingredients loose. Not only does this reduce food waste and therefore maximising your budget, but also removes unnecessary packaging.
• Say no to plastic straws. With bans coming in place across the UK against single-use plastics, opting for a metal or glass straw will reduce your impact on the planet.

If you are looking to make a bigger impact on turning the tide on plastic pollution, taking part in beach cleans can also help. Although a big task, beach cleans help prevent plastic waste from being washed back into the ocean. For me, taking part in beach cleans is where I found inspiration for the sculpture and all my artwork when I was completing my final year at Duncan of Jordanstone, after finding a fishing net washed up on the shore after a bad storm. Items collected from the beach can be reused or melted down and make amazing things such as jewellery or furniture pieces, with artists such as Ally Mitchell specialising in the creation of plastic pots from discarded fishing gear.

I always say, baby steps are better than none in the effort to make a difference to the ever-growing problem of plastic pollution, and if every person made small changes to their lifestyles, we would in turn see a change start to happen not only within our wallets, but also our world.