Pre-cycling is a word that refers to the practice of avoiding items that will generate waste when you shop (such as veggies wrapped in plastic or single-use plastic), and selecting items that can be reused, recycled or upcycled several times. Not only does pre-cycling promote a more eco-friendly lifestyle, it will reduce the waste your household produces and help you save money in the long run.
Only use reusable products
One way to pre-cycle is by avoiding all single-use materials. Invest in a keep cup so you aren’t getting a disposable coffee cup in the morning, keep stainless steel cutlery at your desk for lunch, invest in some decent BPA-free Tupperware for when you bring your lunch to work and try to keep a couple stainless steel straws at home, in the office or your handbag, so you never have to use a plastic one again. Pick up a enviro-drink bottle too, so you never have to buy bottled water again.
Make your own cleaning products
You can clean almost every surface, area and stain with an all-natural cleaning kit made up of bi-carb soda, vinegar and lemon juice. There’s endless amounts of DIY cleaning solution recipes online that are easy to make, so utilise this resource and cut your cost on cleaning, but also reduce the amount of chemicals your home is flushing don toilets, drains and sinks.
Rethink your hand-washing habits
Although everyone loves the convenience of a hand soap pump pack, these plastic containers end up in landfill once they’re empty. It’s much better for the environment if your household uses bars of soap, and these days, soap isn’t the harsh product it used to be. You can now get varieties of hand soap that are vegan and cruelty free, chemical free and made from natural ingredients such as essential oils, shea butter and coconut oil.
Shop at markets or your local grocer
Avoiding the supermarket giants when you do your weekly shop can not only save you money, but it can save the environment. Supermarkets tend to encase everything in single-use plastic unnecessarily, so invest in some grocery baskets and head to your local market instead. Not only will the produce be fresher and last longer, but it gives back to your local growers, and reduces waste monumentally.
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