Six easy eco-friendly swaps you can make to be kinder to the planet and your pocket

Circular and Co Leakproof Reusable Coffee Cup Circular and Co Leakproof Reusable Coffee Cup
Circular and Co Leakproof Reusable Coffee Cup | Amazon UK

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As someone who’s anxious about the future of the planet, I’m always looking for ways to reduce my consumption of single-use items. Here are seven easy swaps I’ve made that will help you reduce your carbon footprint and save you some money in the long run too.

Reusable coffee cups

A sure way to reduce your single-use footprint is by investing in a reusable coffee cup. There’s so many good ones on the market now and you can personalise to your own style . Plus, you’ll save a fortune making your coffee at home. But if you can’t give up your barista-made brew, most coffee shops will give you discount if you bring your own cup.

iglu Reusable Coffee Cupiglu Reusable Coffee Cup
iglu Reusable Coffee Cup | Amazon UK

I love this Circular and Co Leakproof Reusable Coffee Cup (£8.95, Amazon) - which has extra eco-credentials as it’s made from recycled paper cups. This is the 8oz version which is perfect to pop in your handbag - it’s leakproof and dishwasher safe - which is always a plus in my book. And I love the look of this 12oz Himalayan Pink iglu Reusable Coffee Cup (£18.50) if you prefer a larger cup.

Shampoo and soap bars

This Eco Warrior Dry Hair Shampoo Bar (£5.50, Ocado) is a favourite of mine. It gives a great clean and it helps you avoid throwing away endless shampoo bottles. It contains argan and coconut oil for moisturising, and marshmallow extract for healthy glossy hair. I’ve found it to be a seamless swap from bottled products and you’ll get more washes out of a bar - a little goes a long way.

Swap your bottled shampoo for a barSwap your bottled shampoo for a bar
Swap your bottled shampoo for a bar | Eco Warrior

I also love their Eco Warrior Baby & Child Gently Cleansing Hair & Body Soap Bar (£5, Ocado) for my little ones - who both have eczema breakouts but we’ve found this soap bar to give a good clean without irritating their skin. It smells gorgeous too - with an allergen-free orange blossom fragrance.

Digital magazines

I recently wrote about why a digital magazine subscription is good for the planet as well as your pocket - and Readly is currently offering a two-month free trial to its app, with 10% off for the rest of the year.

Digital magazine app Readly is offering a free two-month trialDigital magazine app Readly is offering a free two-month trial
Digital magazine app Readly is offering a free two-month trial | Readly

You’ll find 7,500 magazines and newspapers inside, from National Geographic and BBC Good Food to Vogue and Gardeners World.

And Readly says by choosing digital over print, you're not just accessing unlimited content anywhere; you're also making a significant contribution to reducing paper waste, cutting down on carbon emissions, and preserving the planet's resources.

In 2023 alone, approximately 18,200 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions were potentially avoided thanks to the digital consumption of 160 million magazine issues, Readly said.

Beeswax wraps

Ditch the cling film and switch to beeswax. These are great for wrapping veg in the fridge, packing your sandwiches or covering your leftovers. There’s plenty of options out there, and this set of seven Beeswax Wraps by Two White Bears (£11.99, Amazon) are a favourite of mine - they’ve got pretty patterns plus they plant a tree for every set sold.

Beeswax wraps are a great alternative to cling filmBeeswax wraps are a great alternative to cling film
Beeswax wraps are a great alternative to cling film | Amazon UK

Cleaning products

I’m a big fan of smol’s multi purpose spray - and what’s even better is you can claim a free trial.

The eco-friendly cleaning brand will send you the trigger spray bottle and one tablet for free - just cover the £2 postage. When it arrives, you pop the tablet in the bottle and mix with water to create an anti-bac solution.

You can claim a free bottle and tablet for smol's multi purpose sprayYou can claim a free bottle and tablet for smol's multi purpose spray
You can claim a free bottle and tablet for smol's multi purpose spray | smol

You can then sign up to a rolling subscription for new six refill tablets which costs £6.60 with free delivery - and you can set it to as little or as often as you need it. You’ll be saving a fortune on single-use anti bac bottles, plus you won’t be filling the recycling bin with a load of discarded plastic. Win-win. Sign up for your free trial here - and check out the other items you can try for free.

Make up pads

You can say goodbye to single-use cotton wool and hello to these washable bamboo pads. These ASPACES Reusable Makeup Remover Pads (£7.36, Amazon) are a great guilt-free addition to your skincare routine, as you can wash away the day without producing loads of waste.

Switch to bamboo make up padsSwitch to bamboo make up pads
Switch to bamboo make up pads | Amazon UK

You get 20 cleansing pads with a laundry bag so you can pop them in the wash and use them again and again.

These pads replace around 10,000 disposable cotton balls, the retailer says, plus you’ll save in the long run on years worth of cotton wool. It’s a no brainer.

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