Guide

15 easy ways to use less plastic at home

Plastic is useful, but single-use plastic is the problem: we use it for minutes and it lasts for centuries. You do not need a perfect plastic-free life. Start with the items you use most often.

In the kitchen

1. Use a reusable bottle and fill it at home; carry it everywhere.
2. Replace cling film with containers, plates over bowls, or beeswax or silicone covers.
3. Buy loose produce and bring your own bags or mesh.
4. Choose bulk or refill for pasta, rice, nuts and cleaning products.
5. Swap sponges for cloths or natural-fibre scrubbers.

In the bathroom

6. Bar soap and shampoo bars replace bottles.
7. A bamboo toothbrush or a refillable electric head reduces waste.
8. A safety razor replaces a lifetime of plastic razors.
9. Skip microbead products (most countries have banned them, but check ingredients like polyethylene).

On the go

10. Carry a reusable bag, cup and cutlery set. Keep a bag in your car, coat and backpack.
11. Say "no straw, no lid" when you order, if you can.
12. Pack lunch in reusable containers.

Shopping and beyond

13. Choose products with less packaging, or in glass, metal or cardboard.
14. Buy fewer things, and repair what you have.
15. Recycle properly - clean, dry and sorted according to your local rules (see our recycling guide).

Tips for making it stick

• Change one habit a week rather than everything at once.
• Use up what you have before buying replacements - throwing away plastic items to buy "eco" versions can create more waste.
• Do not feel guilty about the imperfections. Collective action and policy change matter most, and every habit helps.

Track your progress with our plastic swap checklist.