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
YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to get the best performance from your solar panels

How to get the best performance from your solar panels

5 small ways you can be more eco-friendly this year

5 small ways you can be more eco-friendly this year

10 ways to reuse an old leather belt

10 ways to reuse an old leather belt

6 of the most beautiful eco-friendly homes in Australia

6 of the most beautiful eco-friendly homes in Australia

{headline}

{headline}

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

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

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

{headline}

{headline}

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

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

3 ways to have an eco-friendly Easter

3 ways to have an eco-friendly Easter

How to make your backyard more eco-friendly

How to make your backyard more eco-friendly

Hobart is the first major Australian city to ban single-use plastics

Hobart is the first major Australian city to ban single-use plastics

 Where to shop for sustainable homewares and furniture

Where to shop for sustainable homewares and furniture

The massive change coming to Qantas and Jetstar flights

The massive change coming to Qantas and Jetstar flights

How to declutter your home and do some good this summer

How to declutter your home and do some good this summer

  1. Home
  2. Better Life

What is pre-cycling, and why should you be doing it?

An easy way to be eco-conscious. - by Laura Barry
  • 16 Nov 2018
What is pre-cycling, and why should you be doing it?

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.

keep cup on peach background
Getty

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.

bi-carb soda and lemon cut in half
Getty

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.

hands being washed with a bar of soap
Getty

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.

basket of fresh vegetables
Getty

You might also like:

6 stylish alternatives to plastic straws

Four easy ways to become more waste-free today

2 out of 5 Australians don't care about going green

  • Better Life
  • Cleaning
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.

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to get the best performance from your solar panels

How to get the best performance from your solar panels

5 small ways you can be more eco-friendly this year

5 small ways you can be more eco-friendly this year

10 ways to reuse an old leather belt

10 ways to reuse an old leather belt

6 of the most beautiful eco-friendly homes in Australia

6 of the most beautiful eco-friendly homes in Australia

{headline}

{headline}

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

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

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

{headline}

{headline}

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

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

3 ways to have an eco-friendly Easter

3 ways to have an eco-friendly Easter

How to make your backyard more eco-friendly

How to make your backyard more eco-friendly

Hobart is the first major Australian city to ban single-use plastics

Hobart is the first major Australian city to ban single-use plastics

 Where to shop for sustainable homewares and furniture

Where to shop for sustainable homewares and furniture

The massive change coming to Qantas and Jetstar flights

The massive change coming to Qantas and Jetstar flights

How to declutter your home and do some good this summer

How to declutter your home and do some good this summer

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

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

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Instyle
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Shop This Offer
Get your mag delivered!