The summer holidays are in full swing, and we’re here to help you find ways to keep the kids entertained sustainably! Whether you’re planning on going to the park for a picnic, having a day out at the beach, or heading off on holiday, here are our top tips on how to enjoy a sustainable summer.
Be prepped for picnics
Whatever the weather, Brits love a picnic! In the sun it’s important to keep hydrated, so water is a must, but by swapping that single-use plastic bottle of water for a reusable alternative you’re helping to stop more unnecessary plastic from being created. Small actions can make a big difference. In the UK the average Brit now consumes a shocking 150 plastic water bottles every year, adding up to one huge plastic problem.
Another easy alternative is to drop the disposables, whether it be cutlery, cups or plates, bringing along reusable ones from home can mean less goes in the bin after your picnic. And from October this year, the UK Government’s ban on single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers will be coming into effect. This is another step forward toward a more circular economy, so get ahead of the ban and bring the reusables.
Travel sustainably in style
Holidays and travelling can be an easy time to be tempted by convenient single-use plastic. With rules in place at airports about liquids and the ease of popping a used bottle in the bin, it’s easy to see why. But did you know it has become easier than ever to refill your reusable water bottle on the move?
Airports in the UK now allow travellers to take their reusable water bottles through security, which can be easily filled up from a café or fountain, meaning no need for that overpriced bottle of water on the other side! Whether it’s at a Costa Coffee shop at a motorway service station or a British Airways lounge at Heathrow, businesses up and down the country are offering BRITA filtered water on tap for free. All you need to do is to remember to come armed with your refillable bottle or a reusable coffee cup, and they’ll be happy to top you up with top-quality water.
If you want to check where you can refill your bottle on the move, the Refill App can help you.
Get involved in a local clean up
If you really want to make an impact in your local area, you can join volunteers this summer to help clean up litter in parks, beaches and streets. If you take single-use plastic bottles, 7.7 billion of which are used in the UK every single year, it’s unsurprising that we see so much plastic waste in our precious outdoors. Our overreliance on single-use materials means a huge amount of waste is littered.
If you’d like to help, groups such as Keep Britain Tidy can guide you on how to become a #LitterHero.
