FAQ's
Why is it so important:
If you've managed to find your way to our website, it’s probably safe to assume you already have a pretty good indication of why choosing a low waste lifestyle is so important. Concerns for the environment, global warming and the amount of waste produced by us humans is quickly becoming a hot topic - and with good reason too. In Australia, each person uses on average, 130kg of plastic per year. Sadly, less than 12% of which is then recycled.
Every single day, a garbage truck worth of rubbish is dumped into the Earth's oceans, unnecessarily. This pollutes the ocean with microplastics, which sea animals then mistake for food, it also releases toxins that harm coral and other sea life. I’m sure you’ve all seen the video of the poor turtle having a straw extracted from it’s nose – I think about this every time I see a plastic straw.
But it’s not just our beautiful oceans and sea life that suffer – we are too. And so many of us are unaware. On average, humans ingest the weight of a credit card worth of plastic every week. Anything packaged in plastic is leaking toxins and microplastics into our food, drink and body products.
What are some alternatives to:
Plastic packaging – no packaging at all. Raw foods are so much better for you, and usually come wrapped in their very own natural packaging (their skin). Realistically though, there is always going to be packaged products needed for your household, especially if you have young children. My suggestion would be to look for different brands that might package in glass or tin, so it can re-used or recycled. Another great way to buy food is via a bulk food store (this is the one I love).
Drinks in plastic bottles– aim for those bottled in glass, or cans. Although these do still sometimes contain plastic, these materials are easier to recycle. Qld also runs a wonder exchange program that sees recyclable bottles and cans turned into new ones - Containers for Change
Where to start:
- Keep all your jars sauce jars, mayo jars, pickle jars, all the jars – wash them, dry them and store them away. Big, small, fat, skinny – don’t discriminate, just keep them.
- Establish which area of your life, you’d like to begin to reduce waste. You may like to focus on your body care routine, the kitchen, bathroom or wardrobe. Choosing one area at a time can make the journey less overwhelming, and you more likely to keep motivated.
- Do not go out at buy all new plastic free items. Do not throw out all of your existing items that you’d like to switch. This does not help reduce the amount of waste. Instead I challenge you to think of alternative ways to use or dispose (possibly give to those less fortune) of your items.
- Next time you run out of an item within your chosen area, don’t rush out to buy more of the same. Look into alternatives that will allow you to re-use your container, or are more inline with your new expectations.
- Take your time, go easy on yourself. Changing to a low waste lifestyle is a journey – any journey can come with ups and downs, and a journey worth travelling takes time.
How does it work:
Online purchases: If purchasing bulk supplies through the website, you will be prompted to choice between:
- BYO – where you will be contacted to arrange drop off of the container
- Purchase a container – prices vary depending on size
- Select from storage – this is for customers who have pre-arranged to store containers at the shop. All containers will be labelled with the customers name too ensure they are not used for anyone else.