Start cutting back on plastic

Since plastic was introduced in the 1950s, over eight billion tonnes have been produced. Only 9% of that plastic has been recycled; the rest has been incinerated, ended up in landfills or leaked into nature. At the current rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050.

In Sweden we've come a long way with sorting our waste, yet the majority of the collected plastic still goes to incineration, where it acts as a fossil fuel that releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. By using less plastic or choosing alternatives, you can help reduce your climate footprint and protect the environment.

Here are 4 smart tips for cutting your plastic use starting today.

1. Use fewer plastic bags

Carrying a cloth bag with you (in your laptop bag, handbag, pram and so on) is a super-simple way to cut your use of plastic bags. But for it to make a real difference, you need to choose a cloth bag made from recycled material, otherwise the climate footprint of growing cotton and making new fabric will outweigh the first year's plastic savings.

2. Choose fossil-free bin bags

Bin bags don't have to be made from plastic produced from fossil fuels. Today there are eco-friendly alternatives made entirely from recycled plastic, or from bioplastic made from food-industry by-products.

3. Carbonate your water and ditch the plastic bottles

Bottled water is both expensive and a waste of resources. Carbonating your own water at home is a smarter choice for both your wallet and the environment. Need water on the go? Use a thermos flask - it's easy to wash, can be reused over and over, and keeps your water cold. Small changes like these make a big difference!

4. Choose brushes made of wood or bamboo

Most of the brushes we use today, such as toothbrushes, dish brushes and hairbrushes, we simply take for granted will be made of plastic. Today there are perfectly good alternatives made of wood or bamboo that are extremely climate-smart, since they lock up carbon dioxide during their lifetime.