In January 2015 we attempted to go plastic free to help highlight the problems of plastics in our environment. While this plastic free status was only for the month it has helped us to significantly reduce our use of plastic in the long-term. Here we hope to highlight some of the problems, the solutions and ways that all of us can help reduce plastics in our environment.
It should be emphasised that we are particularly keen to avoid single use plastic items as it is almost impossible to avoid the use of plastic items that occur everywhere (phones, computers, cars etc.). By single use we include bottles that claim to be recyclable as opposed to re reuseable.
It may contain US figures and statistics but this link provides a valuable visual idea of the problems with plastics.
By 2018 we are continually frustrated about how hard it still is despite huge amounts of information and publicity on the problem.
Going Plastic Free 
Wow, great idea. I’m looking forward to following your journey!
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Hi, I’m in Sunderland and have just made the same decision. I’m finding it really hard though. Fast running out of food so if you know of a good source of dried food products like nuts, grains, seeds. beans and pulses, preferably organic/fairtrade I would really appreciate knowing where to source them. Lidle do some nuts but they are roasted and salted and I’d like to find them raw if possible. I currently buy Riverford fruit and veg which is very good and almost all plastic free but their dried beans come in plastic. I also decided to become vegan so that’s why I’m finding it so tough. We lived in Kenya recently and the problem of plastic rubbish is huge. Coming back here I am amazed how easy it is to buy, use and discard plastic and because it’s out of sight it’s out of mind. I’ll be very interested to hear how you are getting on.
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We’ve tried to give some tips on the where to shop page (although we’d welcome information on other local suppliers as our areas of coverage are relatively small). The weighouse on Shields Road (until May) has a good selection and the similar shop in the Grainger Market (Fruit and Nut Co.) is good too. In Newcastle the Grainger Market is actually quite good with herbs and spices at stalls like Matthews Cheese. My main tip though is to take tubs and paper bags as not everywhere has them. None of us are vegan so I imagine this adds some complexity though two are vegetarian. I know beans have proved tricky though lentils are OK in the weighouse type shops but I can’t vouch for their provenance. The lager Holland and Barrett have loose nuts and things but they are not cheap. Tins or jars may be an option if you can accept the small amount of plastic as a compromise to the larger amounts in bags. It is hard to be plastic free, harder still to be plastic free and organic and fair trade, local etc. If you do find other good sources for things please let us know so we can share the information. Good luck – and don’t starve!
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