The new year is just around the corner, which means many of us are already thinking about how we can make changes to ensure this one’s even better than the last. It’s easy to say you’re going to start wasting less and reusing more in 2023, but it’s much harder to work out how you’re going to translate that into your everyday life.
So, here are just a few ways you can reduce your waste next year, courtesy of Little Miss Waste Less and her friends.
Little Miss Inventor has always believed the saying that “one person’s trash is another’s treasure”, and that’s exactly what upcycling is about. We all have those bits and bobs lying around the house that we don’t really need, but we have no idea what to do with them. So, instead of throwing them away, why not take inspiration from Little Miss Waste Less and repurpose them to create something new?
If you’re into crafts, you could transform any fabric offcuts into scrunchies, pocket squares or scarves, while odds and ends from knitting projects are great for making crochet dish cloths, coasters or earbud pouches. There are also plenty of ways to use up empty containers, including candle jars, which work well as stationery holders or plant pots, and glass bottles, which can be used as flower vases, spray bottles or even bird feeders. Or you could simply take a leaf out of Little Miss Inventor’s book and let your imagination run wild.
Often when you consider the disposable items you use day to day, you’ll find that many of them can easily be swapped for reusable alternatives. For instance, if you’re constantly forgetting to reuse your plastic carrier bags like Mr. Forgetful, start keeping a few in your handbag or car so you don’t have to grab more new ones from the shop. Or, if you’re always in a rush like Little Miss Busy, try buying a couple of reusable coffee cups, instead of picking up more disposable cups from cafés. By purchasing two, you’ll always have one to carry with you when the other needs washing.
Other examples include roll-on deodorants, which are increasingly being replaced with refillable alternatives, bottled soaps and shampoos, which can be swapped for plastic-free bars, or single-use sanitary products, which can be switched with menstrual cups, reusable pads or period underwear. And, of course, you can refill your Ecover cleaning products at more than 600 refill stations across the UK, or shop the full range online here.
Little Miss Waste Less reckons it’s always better to use up your leftovers instead of throwing them away, but if you’re ever left with any inedible food scraps, composting is the best way to stop them from going to waste. To make good compost, you need a 50:50 mix of materials that are rich in nitrogen and carbon. The nitrogen comes from green waste, such as grass clippings, fruit and veg peelings and teabags, while the carbon comes from brown materials, including woody stems, straw, paper and cardboard.
By composting these materials, you can transform your kitchen, garden and paper waste into a nutrient-rich soil improver that can be used to revitalise houseplants, care for your garden and provide homes for wildlife.
If you’re anything like Little Miss Splendid, you’ll already know the joys of hunting for unique pre-loved gems from local businesses. But this is also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, as you’ll be reducing the demand for new, mass-produced items that require additional energy and resources to create. And today, there’s a huge second-hand goods market right at our fingertips. Whether you’re looking for furniture, clothing, tech, tools, bikes or vehicles, you can find endless pre-loved options on re-sale websites. Alternatively, if you want to shop in person, you could explore local charity shops, school fairs or garage sales.
As the fashion industry accounts for a staggering 2-8% of global carbon emissions*, second-hand clothing, in particular, is becoming increasingly popular. Now, you can buy and sell clothes and accessories using re-sale apps, or you could even visit a local clothes swap event if you want to mix up your wardrobe like Little Miss Splendid, without buying into fast fashion. Plus, if you’re keen to extend the life of your second-hand clothing finds, Ecover’s specialist laundry detergents and fabric softeners can help fight fading, reduce bobbling and remove stains. Explore the full range here.
Read the new book with your little ones to discover how we can all waste a little bit less #OneLessThing
* UN Environment Programme (UNEP), 2019
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