Zero Waste Week: On The Go
This year I have made a conscious effort to minimise waste while out and about.
Not too long ago, while I may have been doing great at home, eating out, and picnics with the kids were my downfall.
One trip to the park could easily create a fair bit of waste.
Empty bottles, coffee cups, sandwich packets…it soon adds up.
Here are the steps I have taken to reduce our waste out and about.
1. Use a Reusable Coffee Cup
I really love my takeaway coffee, but not the takeaway cups they typically come in. A lot of takeaway coffee cups are difficult to recycle due to the plastic used to laminate the cups, leading to huge amounts of waste.
A lot of coffee shops also offer as much as 50p off for bringing your own too.
There is lots of options. I have my Klean Kanteen Cafe Cup which is amazing for keeping your coffee hot all day. I also use the ecoffee cup, which is perfect me as I usually drink my coffee within half an hour of buying it…I need it due to early wake ups!
2. Reusable Bottles
We each have our own water bottles. These are an essential for us, and get used so much. The Klean Kanteen ones we use are so durable. I can imagine they most certainly will last forever!
They come in insulated/ non insulated and lots of different sizes. You can read more about the different types here.
The kids have their own and love finding places on the go to refill them.
3. Reusable Cups and Straws
I have a set of cups and straws that I take out with us.
I use the cups for tea/ hot choc or juice. I take a large flask to refill them.
When eating out with kids, we always take our straws with us.
4. Food Containers
Most of the time I will be well prepared for our day out/ picnic and take food with us.
Food on the go can come in a lot of unnecessary packaging.
I use these handy stainless steel containers for sandwiches and snacks.
While I’ll use what I have, I am slowly replacing with stainless steel. I have some Klean Kanteen Insulated food canisters on my wish list so we can enjoy hot soup in winter!
I always carry a few bits of cutlery too, I keep them in our handy planet wise pouch.
You can buy purpose made, eco friendly cutlery, especially designed for on the go, zero waste. They are on my wish list too!
On the days that making food at home to come with us is not an option, I have a back up plan…
I pop to the local bakers and buy sandwiches/ snacks/ tray bakes.
I just take our containers and snack pouches and pop them straight in there.
I always have a handy mesh turtle bag with me incase I stop to grab some fruit.
5. Reusable Wipes
I always have a little pouch of reusable wipes with me for sticky fingers/ spills.
We keep them in this handy planet wise zip pouch, but it can also be used for snacks.
All of these things pretty much covers us for a day out.
Everything fits in one handy lunch bag and our bottles and flasks go in a separate back pack.
All it takes is that little extra preparation.
Thanks Amy for sharing your top tips for reducing waste when out and about xx
