Forum Topic

Plastic Free July is here - Make an effort to at least reduce the plastic in your life

See front page article and join the Challenge.  You can aim really high - but just REDucing is a success you can build on!There's lots of info now out there and single-use plastics is a good place to start.http://www.actonw3.com/default.asp?section=info&link=http://neighbournet.com/server/common/conplasticfreejuly001.htmYou can start by making the point of saying "No thank you" to plastic straws when you order your drink in a pub or restaurant because generally you won't have ordered the plastic straw it just arrives uninvited with your drink.  Paper ones still exist if you really need one or bring your own:https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/food-drink/best-reusable-straws-for-environment-hot-drinks-coffee-a8369031.html

Philippa Bond ● 2856d8 Comments

So the foreshore of the Thames is littered with plastic wet wipes.  Read this from cw4.com:http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=community&link=http://neighbournet.com/server/common/conthames061.htmCome on Londoners - stop flushing those wet wipes - they have plastic in them - and not only block toilets and drains and make massive fatbergs in the sewers but are changing the river banks!

Philippa Bond ● 2849d

It's a shame that Anita Roddick was too far ahead of her time with the scheme at the Body Shop where you could return your bottles for refilling! Apparently it wasn't popular enough.  Or was that after the Body shop was sold to L'Oreal?Lush has unwrapped soaps but I haven't been there for a while.  They also used to recycle some types of plastic bottles tops.

Philippa Bond ● 2852d

Yes like bars of soap! quite revolutionary. I went to Source to fill up on WU Liquid. They have a good selection of store cupboard goods. And most cleaning products and soaps. A good start to reduce plastic in the bathroom and under the sink. The location is fine if you have a bicycle, you happen to cycle through Chiswick regularly and you can carry filled bottles in your paniers, but I can't see the great shopping public carrying heavy bottles home on foot. Parking is quite risky around TGT.

Kim Rugg ● 2853d

Shampoo bars?  I hear they're the in thing.

Philippa Bond ● 2853d

I think they do liquid soap. Not sure about shampoo.

Apple Leiper ● 2855d

Thanks for that, I haven't been to TG for ages but will visit source!Do they do shampoo and soaps?

Kim Rugg ● 2855d

Also source,  the fantastic newish store at the top of Turnham green terrace in Chiswick.  You can stock up on amazing granola, flour, washing up liquid etc. Plus lots of things you may have never heard of! Take your own containers or buy an empty jar if you forget.  Paper bags also available and the staff are LOVELY!

Apple Leiper ● 2856d

Great initiative.A couple of easy ones, use a refillable water bottle and coffee cup. Remember the single use cup is not recyclable and it invariably comes with a plastic lid. Take your bags to the supermarket and chose loose fruit and veg instead of pre-packed with a plastic tray. Support your local butcher and buy sausages without plastic trays! A bar of soap does the same job as the stuff in a push top bottle and contains far fewer chemicals. Change will come from the consumer, industry will always 'give us what we want' it's up to us to tell them we don't want single use plastic by favouring the alternatives.

Kim Rugg ● 2856d