Simple steps to reduce plastic packaging

These days many more people are becoming concerned with protecting our environment. One simple step we can take is to use products with minimal packaging, thereby reducing how much waste we produce. Many of you have been requesting such products, and we’re encouraging our suppliers to think about this too. In the meantime, below are some products and services we offer which will get you started.

You can now refill body care and household products at our refilling station. Simply bring in your empty bottles and have them refilled. There’s washing up liquid, laundry liquid, toilet cleaner, multi-surface cleaner, and fabric conditioner, body wash, shampoo, and hand soap. These are also available in a 5-litre container which you can dispense to smaller bottles at home.

We stock water packed in glass bottles or in fully recyclable cardboard packaging. A more economical way in the long run to reduce packaging is to choose a stainless steel drinking bottle so that you can reuse your bottle over and over again. If you drink a bottle of water each working/school day then that’s 260 bottles per year approximately. That’s a lot of plastic per person in one year. We stock Cheeki stainless steel drinks containers for water, coffee, or a smoothie mug.

We stock fully compostable bags for food waste, and vegetable bags, and 100% degradable refuse sacks. Also, reusable straws made from bamboo, and compostable straws made from wheat. We stock plastic free cleaning sponges, scrubs, and brushes to clean your pots and pans

The Cheeky Panda Company makes toilet rolls, tissues, and reusable kitchen roll from virgin bamboo. Their packaging is biodegradable and recyclable.

Crisp packets are currently not recyclable. So we are very excited to be part of the Terracycle Recycling scheme. Drop your empty crisp packets into us and we will return them to TerraCycle who recycle them into plastic pellets that can be moulded into a variety of products like benches, picnic tables, and even playground equipment.

We will host a Zero Waste workshop in June; this should be an interesting event, keep an eye on our Facebook page for date and times.

We are delighted that we recently won the County Wexford Business Green Award for Best Environmental Practice. Together we can make a difference, one product at a time.

Wicklow People
Sourced: Clair Whitty
www.independent.ie