From Thermos flasks to wooden brushes: everything that helps you use less plastic

When we asked readers of the Filter to tell us how they use less plastic, it’s fair to say few were quite as dedicated as Helen Mann. “I only buy Clipper teabags [which are plastic-free],” she told us, “and I grow my own nettles, nasturtiums, dandelions and mint, then dehydrate them and use the leaves in organic cotton teabags.

“I have replaced plastic soap dispensers with glass ones, and other household items such as clothes horses with wooden ones. My washing-up bowl is stainless steel. I buy bamboo dish cloths and use wooden brushes to wash up. I use aluminium-free bicarbonate of soda and distilled vinegar to clean the house; fresh lemon juice and bicarb for the floors.

“I garden organically, and buy grains and lentils in bulk, most of which come in sustainable packaging. I make my own bread and all my meals from scratch. The only processed things I eat are biscuits and the odd chocolate bar to give my body something to do!” It’s inspiring.

Giving up plastic is hard but not impossible

We’re only beginning to understand the damage caused by plastic waste. Photograph: Nhac Nguyen/AFP/Getty Images

Plastic waste is a huge, and growing, problem. Plastic bottles from Russia are washing up on Guernsey beaches; the health impacts of microplastics – from premature births to breast cancer – are coming into sharper focus; they’re also damaging plants’ ability to photosynthesise, according to a new study, and contaminating our bodies.

Trying to reduce your plastic usage isn’t easy. But when we asked friends, colleagues and readers for all the ways they’ve reduced their plastic use, we felt unexpectedly hopeful. Whether it’s a water carbonator that saved on buying fizzy water or period pants that actually work (and save on sanitary products), we hope these ideas inspire you, too.

But reader Liz Price has been doing all this for years. “It’s difficult to cut down any more as I started the anti-plastic trend long before it was fashionable,” she wrote to us. “Supermarket cashiers gave me strange looks when I took my own bags 40 years ago and avoided the dozens of plastic bags they’d put on the checkout for me.

“I took a Thermos to work. I’ve never bought a ‘coffee to go’ and always avoided places that didn’t serve coffee in proper cups. My tea strainer is 54 years old this year (a wedding present!) and is in daily use at home as I always make proper tea with loose leaves. So I feel I’ve been doing my bit for a very long time.”

Hats off to you, Liz. And everyone else, do let us know other ways you’re using less plastic by getting in touch through the email below.

This week’s picks

• ‘It just wasn’t very buttery’: the best (and worst) unsalted butter, tasted and rated

• The best steam cleaners and mops for a sparkling home, tested

• Everything you need to make great sourdough – and the kit you can do without

• A century of chic: the best Chanel-style jackets to rival the real thing

• The best rice cookers for gloriously fluffy grains at home: nine tried and tested favourites

Editor’s pick

Refillable beauty products can save you a surprising amount of cash. Photograph: Images By Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images

If you’ve been trying to cut down on plastic, you may have noticed how much is wasted by your beauty products, whether it’s shampoo bottles or empty mascara. But with plenty of great refillables now available, you can make your routine more sustainable with very little effort. Beauty journalist and broadcaster Anita Bhagwandas has rounded up her favourite refillable products, from a cult-favourite shower oil to a natural deodorant that actually works.

Monica Horridge
Deputy editor, the Filter

In case you missed it …

It turns out the basics are what make all the difference in chefs’ lives. Photograph: litota/Getty Images/iStockphoto

When we asked chefs about their favourite kitchen gadgets, we were half expecting a list of unaffordable sous-vide machines and dehydrators. But while not all of their favourites were cheap – Tom Kerridge swears by HexClad’s “mega” salt and pepper grinder set for £199 – most were great-quality basics that most of us could afford. We’ve all been buying Georgina Hayden’s favourite tomato knife – a kitchen “gamechanger” for less than £6.

Get involved

Excellent customer service can make you shop at the same place again and again. Photograph: Tom Werner/Getty Images

Have you ever been surprised by a brand or retailer going above and beyond on customer service? Maybe they repaired an ancient raincoat for free or brought a much-loved kitchen appliance back to life with a new part.

If so, let us know by replying to this newsletter, or emailing us at [email protected].