Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Travel
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
  • Podcasts
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Travel
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
  • Podcasts
Subscribe
Vegemite Villa
Watch 0:31

Vegemite Villa

{headline}

{headline}

2 in 5 Australians don’t care about going green

2 in 5 Australians don’t care about going green

7 easy ways to live a more sustainable life

7 easy ways to live a more sustainable life

Macca’s phasing out plastic straws by 2020

Macca’s phasing out plastic straws by 2020

Choose to refuse for plastic-free July

Choose to refuse for plastic-free July

{headline}

{headline}

Six easy ways to reduce your plastic use today

Six easy ways to reduce your plastic use today

The alternatives to plastic bags: pros and cons

The alternatives to plastic bags: pros and cons

Coles and Woolworths take steps to reduce plastic, waste

Coles and Woolworths take steps to reduce plastic, waste

{headline}

{headline}

6 of the most beautiful eco-friendly homes in Australia

6 of the most beautiful eco-friendly homes in Australia

How you can snoop through Australia’s most sustainable homes this weekend

How you can snoop through Australia’s most sustainable homes this weekend

How to choose non-toxic furniture

How to choose non-toxic furniture

3 reasons why you should never release a balloon into the sky

3 reasons why you should never release a balloon into the sky

Why you should never buy peanut butter in plastic jars

Why you should never buy peanut butter in plastic jars

5 reasons why you should be buying eco-friendly toilet paper

5 reasons why you should be buying eco-friendly toilet paper

Easy changes to live a more sustainable life at home

Easy changes to live a more sustainable life at home

  1. Home
  2. Better Life

This is how much money you could save by giving up single-use plastic

Better for the environment, and your wallet. - by Laura Barry
  • 01 Jul 2019
This is how much money you could save by giving up single-use plastic

Plastic-Free July is the perfect time to go green. Single-use plastic currently accounts for huge amounts of waste and environmental problems. In fact, each person uses around 53kg of plastic each year and most of it is single-use, such as plastic food containers, knives, forks and wrap. But with a few simple swaps for sustainable alternatives, you could help make the world a better place, reduce waste and save yourself money – all at the same time! By going green you could save yourself up to $800 per year.

 

Tracey Bailey is the founder of Biome Eco Stores and an environmentalist, and Tracey says that with the rising cost of living affecting many Australians, it’s a great time to not only make lifestyle changes that benefit the environment but your household budget too.

“Plastic Free July, which aligns with the new financial year, presents the perfect opportunity to start your new money and planet saving routine,” says Tracey. “By reducing the use of everyday plastic items, you’re not only reducing waste and saving money, but you’re saving the resources used to produce those items in the first place.”

The average Australian could save (on average) up to $763.05 and 797 plastic items from landfill per year just by swapping these five common household products with plastic free alternatives.

Takeaway coffee: average takeaway coffee in a disposable coffee cup costs $4.00.
Sustainable alternative: KeepCup 8oz costs $14.00 from Biome.
Receive up to $0.50 discount when you use your reusable coffee cup at Responsible Cafes.
Waste saved? 250 single use coffee cups
Annual savings: $111*

Bottled water: Mount Franklin Spring Water Bottle 600ml costs $2.15.
Sustainable alternative: Biome Stainless Steel Water Bottle 750ml costs $34.95.
Waste saved? 250 plastic water bottle
Annual savings: $502.55

Zip lock plastic sandwich bags: Hercules Click Zip Resealable Snack Size Sandwich Bags 65 pack costs $2.90.
Sustainable alternative: Lunchskins Reusable Sandwich Bag $13.95 from Biome. A reusable sandwich bag can last over ten years with care.
Waste saved? 250 single use plastic zip lock bags
Annual savings: $9.75

Disposable razors: Gillette Venus Disposable Shaving Razor, three razors per pack, costs $10.
Sustainable alternative: Parker 95R Unisex Safety Razor including five blades, costs $44.95 from Biome. Replacement blades cost $5.95 for a pack of five. A safety razor can last a lifetime with care.
Waste saved? 39 plastic razors
Annual savings: $78.91

Laundry Liquid: Omo Active Clean Laundry Liquid Detergent Front and Top Loader one litre (20 washes) costs $10.00 = $0.50 per wash.
Sustainable alternative: That Red House Soapberries one kilogram bag (365 washes) costs $41.95 from Biome = $0.11 per wash.
Waste saved? 8 plastic bottles
Annual savings: $60.84

“These calculations show how easy it can be to save hundreds of dollars while reducing plastic waste, but there are many other money and waste saving alternatives,” says Tracey.

You might also like:

Eco-friendly alternatives to try for Plastic-Free July

The pros and cons of plastic bag alternatives

Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

Gift 6 months for free-Plus a Free $50 voucher*

Subscribe to Better Homes and Gardens.

Subscribe Now
Gift 6 months for free

Gift 6 months for free-Plus a Free $50 voucher*

Subscribe to Better Homes and Gardens.

Subscribe Now
Gift 6 months for free

Recommended to you

Vegemite Villa
Watch 0:31

Vegemite Villa

{headline}

{headline}

2 in 5 Australians don’t care about going green

2 in 5 Australians don’t care about going green

7 easy ways to live a more sustainable life

7 easy ways to live a more sustainable life

Macca’s phasing out plastic straws by 2020

Macca’s phasing out plastic straws by 2020

Choose to refuse for plastic-free July

Choose to refuse for plastic-free July

{headline}

{headline}

Six easy ways to reduce your plastic use today

Six easy ways to reduce your plastic use today

The alternatives to plastic bags: pros and cons

The alternatives to plastic bags: pros and cons

Coles and Woolworths take steps to reduce plastic, waste

Coles and Woolworths take steps to reduce plastic, waste

{headline}

{headline}

6 of the most beautiful eco-friendly homes in Australia

6 of the most beautiful eco-friendly homes in Australia

How you can snoop through Australia’s most sustainable homes this weekend

How you can snoop through Australia’s most sustainable homes this weekend

How to choose non-toxic furniture

How to choose non-toxic furniture

3 reasons why you should never release a balloon into the sky

3 reasons why you should never release a balloon into the sky

Why you should never buy peanut butter in plastic jars

Why you should never buy peanut butter in plastic jars

5 reasons why you should be buying eco-friendly toilet paper

5 reasons why you should be buying eco-friendly toilet paper

Easy changes to live a more sustainable life at home

Easy changes to live a more sustainable life at home

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Pacific Network

  • marie claire
  • Instyle
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Health
  • Men’s Health
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7travel
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
© 2019 Pacific Magazines
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Gift 6 months for free-Plus a Free $50 voucher*

Shop This Offer
Gift 6 months for free