Around this time last year, I watched a documentary called War on Waste. It opened my eyes and I was shocked to find Australia is one of the most wasteful countries in the developed world.
Plastic bags, straws, takeaway containers and bottles break up, not break down. This means that are becoming a permanent pollution. Lots of plastic ends up in the ocean and scientists predict there will be more tonnes of plastic than tonnes of fish by 2050.
Since watching War on Waste I have been doing my bit to cut down on single-use plastics. My family is changing their habits so we can protect our environment for my children and future generations.
I noticed that when we are travelling or camping I was going for the easiest option and not being mindful about reducing our plastic use. So, I am making more of an effort to cut down on single-use plastics. I want to share with you a few of the things we have been doing to reduce our carbon footprint.
Here are some eco-friendly products perfect for travelling. Or for any day use really!
Reusable Coffee Cup
Like most Aussies, I have an obsession with coffee! I usually get my coffee to go and I never realised that takeaway coffee cups could not be recycled. A Reusable Coffee Cup is the perfect solution to get your coffee on the go plus many Coffee Shops actually give you a discount when you bring your own cup! Find reusable coffee cups here.
Reusable Drink Bottle
It is estimated that 38 billion disposable water bottles end up in landfill each year! Crazy isn’t it? Stop buying single-use plastic water bottles and carry your own reusable drink bottle with you. Find reusable drink bottles here.
Bamboo Toothbrush
If you put your toothbrush in the household recycling bin it will end up in landfill. Using a bamboo toothbrush is a simple solution to reducing the 30 million plastic toothbrushes that are disposed of annually in Australia. Find bamboo toothbrushes here.
Reusable Cutlery
We have cutlery in the back of our 4wd so we are ready to eat while we are out touring. I also have a cutlery set in my handbag, this way I can grab a bite whenever my tummy rumbles and refuse plastic cutlery. By refusing single-use plastic cutlery it means less waste in landfill. Find reusable cutlery here.
Eco-Friendly Shampoo
Ditch the liquid shampoo plastic bottles and use an Eco-Friendly Shampoo. A shampoo bar is ideal for travelling as saves space and can also be used as a body wash. It is a win, win! Find eco-friendly shampoo here.
Reusable Straws
Say no to plastic straws, go without or carry your own reusable straw with you. Every time you use a reusable straw it is one less plastic straw ending up in landfill. Find reusable straws here.
Reusable Shopping Bags
Take your own shopping bags with you whenever you are hitting the shops or market. Going sightseeing? Throw a few reusable shopping bags in your backpack or handbag just in case you can not resist the urge to pick up a souvenir or two on your travels. Find reusable bags here.
Giveaway
Thanks to Biome Eco Stores you can win some fantastic products to help you avoid single-use plastics.
Prize Includes: JOCO Regular Class Coffee Cup, Biome Bamboo Reusable Cutlery Set, Contigo Purity Glass Water Bottle, Biome Toothbrush & Toothbrush Holder and Dindi natural travel shampoo soap.
All you need to do is pop over to this post on Instagram for all the details on how to win.
** Some of the links in this post are affiliated links. If you click to buy an item, I make a little commission but you don’t pay any extra. **
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Let Me Be Free 
Great post Anne. We always try and re-use things when we go camping (and even at home). Such an important topic.
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Thank you. My grandparents always reused everything and they had hardly any waste. I need to be more like them!
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Awesome tips Anne….I too have been following ABC’s War on Waste. I’m starting to think more about how we can reduce our rubbish as we start our full-time travels.
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The new season starts tonight so I will be tuning in!
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Such a good post and I know some younger people in my family are paying attention to the war on waste. They picked up plastic from a pocket of water/grasses on a reserve near our house saying “these are 3 we save from the sea” and put them in the appropriate bin at our place.
Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek. Next week’s optional prompt is “If I Could” Denyse x
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It is great that the young ones are aware of our environmental issues.
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Something I’ve been agonising over is our use of water when free camping. We carry a slab of bottled water in the car as we don’t trust our van water tanks for drinking use. I won’t rest until I’ve found a better safe solution.
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In our 4wd we have a boab water tank which has been fantastic.
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I’ll check it out.
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I’ve seen heaps of great collapsible water bottles and I’ve been meaning to buy one for travelling. I think it’d make such a big difference when you think of how many bottles of water you’d go through on a summer holiday. #LifeThisWeek
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I have not seen them, I will keep an eye out for them.
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Great suggestions here. the stats on waste are mind-blowing. I’m off to find some bamboo toothbrushes – and that travel soap/shampoo.
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Couldn’t agree more, the stats are crazy.
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I had never seen the bamboo toothbrushes before. Some great ideas here and well done to you and your family for doing your bit. It’s awful to think of how much permanent pollution could be avoided! #TeamLovinLife
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Hopefully, big brands will make changes to help reduce pollution.
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Lots of really good suggestions and products here Anne. We are pretty good in our household but there is always more we can do. I use an electric toothbrush but still plastic alhough at least I am only throwing away the head not the whole brush. So many things to address and don’t start me on what I see at the supermarket!
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That is great that you have a green home!
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Great post! I’m definitely trying to be more aware as well – but it can get hard as soon as you’re away from home. Always good to read reminders like this!
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I keep slipping up but it is all a learning curve! Just have to do the best we can.
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There is certainly lots we can do each of us to help with the war on waste. It can be a bit more difficult on holidays, but there are certainly ways. I’m interested in those bamboo toothbrushes, as I have never heard of them. Have a great weekend ahead and thank you for stopping by my blog this week.
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The bamboo toothbrushes are great! You have a good weekend too.
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Some great ideas here. I love the cutlery idea as we never have any at work other than the plastic stuff! Love the idea of a bamboo toothbrush as well – never heard of them before! #teamlovinlife
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I think I need to sew up a little bag for my cutlery set so it doesn’t get lost in my handbag!
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Bamboo toothbrushes are next on my list for our family
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Awesome!
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What a great post, I do use quite a lot of reusable stuff but not a bamboo toothbrush. I will definitely look into that when our brushes need replaced.
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I have not seen the toothbrushes in the supermarket but hopefully that will change!
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This is a great post. Travelling is sometimes an excuse to use more plastic and throw it out along the journey, it’s a real challenge!
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It can be challenging but if you are organised you can avoid single-use plastics.
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Great post, and very timely. It’s even harder in the US not to use plastic. You need to speak up and refuse the plastic grocery bags for example, and then they look at you funny in most stores. Still. I’ve been using my own for years, but it’s more of a challenge when we travel. You offered some great options here.
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We have just banned the plastic bag here in Australia. Great to hear that you use your own bags, hopefully it will make other people think about single-use plastic.
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