Using reusable bottles are just one measure you can take in the name of a more sustainable future.
BUOYED by its successful initiative to "ban the bag" last year, retailer Healthy Life is on a mission to convince everyday Australians to be more eco-friendly.
The health retailer recently removed single-use plastic bags from its 45 stores across the nation, but marketing officer Simon Cheng said bags were far from the only plastic related problem.
The retailer has compiled a list of simple steps everyday Aussies can take to reduce waste and live more environmentally friendly lives.
- Sink your teeth into a more eco-friendly alternative: Hundreds of tonnes worth of plastic toothbrushes are currently filling up landfill sites around Australia. Bamboo toothbrushes are biodegradable, recyclable and can even be tossed into the compost once bristles have been removed.
- Eco essentials: Bamboo is a sustainable, eco-friendly product that produces 30 per cent more oxygen than an equivalent area of trees. Eco clothing brand Boody makes a range of eco-friendly clothing including socks and singlets out of the eco-friendly material.
- The last straw: There is a growing move to ban plastic straws, with an estimated 10 million used in Australia each day. Stainless steel straws come with a cleaning brush and provide a sustainable, long term alternative.
- Bottling the issue: Reusable drink bottles provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to disposable plastic ones, with 100,000 tonnes of plastic drink bottles consumed each year.
- Environmentally friendly nappies: Nappies, bags and baby wipes make up a large percentage of plastic waste for many new parents. Reusable or 100 per cent biodegradable and compostable nappies present much more sustainable options.
- Go green to clean: Chemicals from laundry detergents and fabric softeners inevitably become part of household waste water, damaging fish populations and the natural environment. The shells of soapberries contain high concentrations of saponin, foam when contacted by water and contain natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
- Safe sunscreen: Many popular sunscreens contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, despite concerns these chemicals impact coral reefs. Natural sunscreens provide UV protection, nourish the skin and prevent damage to water environments.
