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Images (c) Danikm taken at Polartec | 66 North event in the Lake District.
It’s #PlasticFreeJuly this month and we thought you’d appreciate a little recap of what our clients are doing that will reduce your plastic consumption. These guys have all pitched in and are keen to reduce their plastic consumption through using recycled content but what do they produce that can help eliminate plastic from our lives altogether? Quite a bit it turns out. Here are some solutions to your daily problems …
A reusable coffee cup – get into the habit!
You may be able to create a habit in just 18 days or perhaps you’re a little more resistant and you take up to 254 days. The truth is, it takes, on average, 66 days for a new habit to stick. Taking a Hydro Flask refillable Coffee Flask to the coffee shop for your daily dose will instantly reduce the use of plastic-lined, single-use cardboard cups. Could you make this your new routine? For the seven million single-use coffee cups we use daily, there are only three recycling centres in the UK that can recycle them. Of that seven million, only one in 400 gets recycled – that’s 0.25%! So, whilst it might take a while to develop, it’s worth it, in more ways than just reducing your plastic use:
- Pave your way to a free coffee: Costa for example will reward you with an extra bean every time you buy a barista-made drink in a reusable cup. This means your sixth drink in a reusable cup will be free. Starbucks will knock 25p off the cost of your drink (and add on 5p if you use a paper cup) and Café Nero give you two free stamps on your loyalty card (nine stamps = a free drink).
- With a leakproof lid and flexible handle, the Hydro Flask Coffee with Flex Sip reduces the chances of spillage and is more convenient to carry. Say goodbye to coffee-stained shirts!
- You can manage the temperature of your coffee. If you want it to last longer, keep the lid on, for more immediate satisfaction remove the lid.
- You don’t need to hand over your name when you order your coffee!
#RefillForGood is Hydro Flask’s rally cry to encourage people to make the switch and do our part for the planet. What’s more, the Brand’s Parks For All giving programme supports charities focused on maintaining, building, restoring, and providing more equitable access to green spaces. This includes river and beach clean-ups, which is essential given that 12 million tonnes of plastic waste is dumped into the ocean each year.
Ditch Bottled Water when travelling
LifeStraw is a B-Corp and Climate Neutral-certified brand that makes fresh water safe to drink through purification products – without the use of batteries or chemicals. Whilst tap water here in the UK is okay to drink, when travelling you can’t be too sure. It’s easy to reach for sealed plastic bottled water but at what cost? In its 2023 Responsibility Report, LifeStraw were proud to announce that almost 135 million plastic water bottles were offset through the use of LifeStraw products.
What’s more, these products remove 99.999% of microplastics from water sources through their filters and purifiers. What an achievement!
Replacing your waterproof? Switch to plant!
Polartec recently launched Polartec Power Shield Pro, a nylon-based waterproof technology that uses between 45-48% GMO-free, bio-based input from a non-food source. Its manufacture has a 50% smaller carbon footprint than that of traditional nylon too. If you want to check out this new fabric a number of brands are using it. Cyclists can head to British brand, Le Col’s website for the Pro Jacket. For hiking, commuting and everything in between look no further than the 66° North Snæfell Jacket. (Pictured).
Reproof before you replace
When you start to feel wet inside your waterproof it doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t work anymore, it might just need a good wash and a reproof. The good news is this is easy to do and a fraction of the cost of buying new. The reason your waterproof isn’t keeping you dry could be because the moisture build up inside your jacket can’t get out. Why? Because the jacket is dirty. BUT don’t wash it with traditional washing powder as this won’t solve the problem. Traditional washing products contain bleaches, brighteners and other additives that will exacerbate the problem. Use a PFC-free, water-based technical wash such as Nikwax Tech Wash and then follow this with TX.Direct which will restore the waterproof properties of your jacket. Job done and all for under £15 (or £25 if you buy the bundle pictured). A lot easier to swallow than a brand new waterproof jacket!
