Each one of us can make a difference, together we make change” – Barbara Mihulski

Each Honeywrap saves 75 metres of plastic wrap from going into landfill and our oceans every year.

So what is so bad about plastic?

• There is so much of it. Plastics are cheap, versatile and used for everything, then often thrown out after 20 minutes of use!
  
  

• Millions of seabirds and marine creatures die as a direct result of either ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it.

• Plastic doesn’t biodegrade. When it finally breaks down it is actually breaking ‘up’ into millions of tiny particles. Harmful chemicals then leach into the ground and waterways.

• Toxic chemicals used in plastic are having a harmful effect on our health. Common chemicals found in plastics have been linked to birth defects, child development disorders and cancers.

• Plastics are not sustainable. They are made from non-renewable natural resources such as crude oil, gas and coal.

• 32% of the plastic we use ends up in our natural environment.

• New Zealanders alone use over 1 billion plastic bags per year. On average, each one is only used for 15 minutes

• 268,940 tons of plastic is already estimated to be in our oceans. Noone wants to swim in an ocean of plastic!

11 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Use Right Now

When attempting a plastic-free life it is really hard to know where to start, plastic is everywhere you look and is so intertwined in our lives! I have put together a list of my top 11 essentials that help me stay away from single-use plastic.

1. Reusable drink bottles: Buy a good quality reusable drink bottle - and I say good quality because cheap plastic reusable bottles often break or get a bit icky and often end up getting binned after a few uses. I recommend glass or aluminium bottles.
   
   
2. Reusable bags: This is a biggie! Bring a reusable bag everywhere you go, I stay organised by keeping bags with me at all times. Sakitome bags are great because they fold up into a small pouch so I can keep them in my bag, car or in my bike basket and I never get caught without one!
   
   
3. Reusable straws: Apart from being super cool, glass, metal and bamboo straws save an outrageous amount of plastic from entering the ocean. The trick is to again, always be prepared and carry your reusable straw with you. Also, when you are out at restaurants or bars  make sure you ask when you order for no straws! I fell into this trap the other night when I ordered a drink at a bar and didn’t think about the fact it would come with a straw (I even had a metal one with me!!) get into the habit of letting people know that you don’t need a straw. By doing this you are also helping to educate others by refusing the plastic, it just makes people think.
   
   
4. Keep cups: You can get some awesome looking keep cups, why would you want a yucky plastic lidded styrofoam cup when you can have a super slick glass and cork keep cup? Refusing single-use plastic can be ‘cool’ too! Also, cafes will often give you a discount for using your own cup.
   
   
5. Honeywraps: Without a doubt my go-to for wrapping snacks on the go. Great for any leftovers in the fridge too- my fridge looks magical with all the different coloured Honeywraps.
   
   
6.  Produce bags: These are netted bags to put your fruit and veggies in to avoid the pointless plastic produce bags at supermarkets. Keep them inside your reusable shopping bags and you are less likely to forget them!
   
   
7. Choose cardboard and paper packaging over plastic, if shopping online, email the business and ask for no plastic packaging with your order.
   
   
8. Swap to shampoo and conditioner bars.  Each bar contains the equivalent of 5 bottles of hair product!
   
   

9. Avoid beauty products with microbeads. Microbeads are often found in face and body 'scrubs' and are tiny plastic beads that get washed down the drain and into the ocean. Choose natural skin exfoliators like sugar, coffee, pumice or sand!

10. Stop using plastic cutlery and take your own containers into your favourite takeout place to avoid single-use plastic food storage and bags.

11. Avoid excess packaging.   Choose the option with less or no plastic packaging.