Plastic Free Merton
Reducing single-use plastic in Merton
Did you know that 80% of plastic in our oceans comes from land resources?
Merton may seem far away from the sea but single-use items such as plastic bottles and bags, plastic-containing period products and disposable coffee cups can, and will, travel along pipes, rivers and streams and end up in our oceans.
Single-use plastic items are among the items most commonly found on beaches and represent an estimated 50% of marine litter. If our addiction continues, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.
What is #PlasticFreeMerton?
Plastic has its place, yes. And throwing away every plastic item currently in your home would be very wasteful so that's definitely not what we're suggesting. But with a mind-blowing 300 million tonnes being produced globally each year, half of which is single-use, plastic is a problem we can't ignore. Especially when some of this plastic is ending up in our drinking water and food!
#PlasticFreeMerton is all about championing reusables, changing habits, and learning about all the different ways to reduce the amount of avoidable plastic we consume. There are lots of practical solutions and choosing reuse over single-use doesn't have to cost the earth. It's the small actions we each take, the products we buy and the decisions we make, every day, that add up!
Less pointless plastic = cleaner streets, parks, rivers and oceans and by choosing to reuse, we also reduce the demand for raw materials and plastic production which leads to a reduction in carbon emissions.
Projects
Campaigns we support...
Businesses can help beat plastic pollution
A rising number of local businesses are taking great steps and making achievable, sustainable changes to reduce single-use plastics in Merton and you and your business can make a difference too!
By removing disposable plastics from our cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants, salons, studios and offices, and making plastic-free alternatives readily available to consumers and employees, businesses are creating positive behaviour change to help kick our throwaway habits and
stop the flow of plastics to our oceans.
SWITCH TO PLASTIc-free alternatives
Green Element have compiled a great guide to help you select which plastic-free products are right for your business.
become a refill station
Join the Refill revolution! Does your business offer refills of water, coffee, groceries or lunch? Get listed on the Refill app to increase footfall, and help your customers reduce pointless packaging.
Plastic-Free Picks (recommended by you!)
Shampoo bar, £5
"My shampoo bar has saved me money - and it does a great job. I met Dan, who makes them, at a music festival - he’s based at Camden Market." - John, Business Champion
Safety Razor, £27 (approx.)
"My best buy has been to switch from disposable razors to a metal safety razor. I have also made a massive cost saving in the long run, as the blades can be bought in bulk." - Kate, Community Champion
Massage Bar, various prices
"I found it really easy to switch to lotion bars wrapped in paper from Lush - with a wide range to choose from" - Justine, Community Champion
Reusable Coffee Mug, £10.95
"To get your friends on board - eco coffee cups, aluminium flasks, nice shopping bags make great presents." - Alison, Community Champion
Stack Cup (plastic-free cups for events)
"It's washable, hard wearing, re-usable, money-saving, and easily portable. Businesses can print their brand on it, so a good promo opportunity. The punters like them too as you can easily carry a few at a time" - Emma, Community Champion
Vegware (catering disposables)
"Our straws, baguette sleeves, takeaway boxes and even our cutlery is made of cornstarch which is heat resistant up to 85 degrees." - Hannah, Business Champion
Splosh (washing up liquid)
"You can only buy Splosh online, but it provides refill packs via the post making it more environmentally friendly." - Justine, Community Champion
Support your local milkman
"Glass bottles are more sustainable than plastic ones, as they can be reused endlessly. Milkmen also provide a vital service to house-bound people and deliver a wide range of goods as well as milk" - Juliet, Trustee & Community Champion
Sustainable Merton is not endorsing any of the products listed but merely sharing it for information
"we started noticing just
how much plastic we use - and quickly realised that recycling it wasn’t good enough!"
Alice
Sustainable Merton
Community Champion
LATest POSTS
USEful links
MORE ON WASTE
THE WHEEL
The Wheel is here to help you waste less, save money, reduce your carbon footprint and create a more circular Merton by joining the dots and signposting residents and businesses to the many waste-busting initiatives that already exist locally.
PROJECT PRELOVED
Project Preloved is a community hub for everything sewing, mending, and textile upcycling. We’re a social network, helping and learning from each other to make our clothes last. We want to get creative, save money, and reduce textile waste.
WASTE WARRIOR WEEKENDS
Merton residents are coming together across the borough to help keep our streets and green spaces clean and plastic-free. Will you join us?
MORDEN library of things
Sustainable Merton has partnered with social enterprise Library of Things and Merton Council to bring you Morden Library of Things - the first of its kind in Merton! You can now pop into Morden Library to borrow useful household items like drills, carpet cleaners and gazebos from just £1 per day.
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Wimbledon #intheloop
The #InTheLoop recycling introduced colourful new recycling bins to the streets of Wimbledon town centre and village while reminding locals how easy and impactful recycling plastic bottles and cans on-the-go is!