Creating A Zero Waste Handbag
One of the first swaps many people make is adding a reusable coffee cup to their handbag. This is largely due to great campaigns revealing that those ‘cardboard’ coffee cups are not recycled in curbside waste. We all live busy lives, spending a lot of time out of the house, on the go, so it makes sense that our sustainable behaviours should extend to these activities.
With a noisy munchkin often in tow I like to order our food out to go, so we can sit in a park and enjoy it. Having a good reusable kit allows us to greatly minimise waste. A good way to find out what you actually consume - take a photo of all of the rubbish you use on the go before you dispose of it and go through them at the end of the week. This will help you figure out what you should add to your bag.
My Zero Waste Handbag
Creating a zero waste handbag allows us to go about our everyday without leaving a trail of waste behind us. Pick and choose from the list below according to what suits you and your lifestyle.
Foldable reusable bag - I have a few that fold down super tiny, don’t take up much space and fit into the smallest of hand bags.
Stainless steel drink bottle - Investing in a quality stainless steel bottle should last you a lifetime and withstand everything life throws at it. In Australia we are lucky enough to have clean drinking water from our taps, so utilise this and don’t waste money buying tap water in plastic bottles.
Reusable coffee cup - I love a good cafe coffee on the go (it just tastes better than my terrible home barista skills!) I recommend buying a steel cup with a good seal. This way you can throw it back in your bag when it’s done and not worry about it spilling.
Container - This was a game changer for me. You can pack snacks to take with you, get your take away food put in it or leftovers from that massive lunch out, if you have a habit of over ordering like me.
Stainless steel straw - Always ask for no straw when eating out - hospitality staff are often trained to provide you a straw even when you may not need one. Pack your own steel or bamboo straw. The restaurant saves money and you’ve just saved a turtle. Win win!
Smoothie cup - Who doesn’t love a juice, smoothie or bubble tea. These always come in plastic so if you know you grab them often, add this to your bag.
Cloth napkin - Once you add this one, you will begin to realise how many paper napkins are given to you every day. A small cloth napkin can be reused instead. Our grandparents were onto something here…
Reusable cutlery - Avoid the plastic cutlery on the go by carrying your own set in a little pouch. Don’t forget to say ‘no cutlery please’ when ordering take away.
It can feel confronting at first asking people to use your items and constantly saying ‘no thanks’ to plastic, but it quickly becomes second nature and is a great way to inspire others to also make changes. Don’t forget - you’re saving them money too!
You also don’t need to make huge investments straight away. A glass jar can be used as a coffee cup, smoothie container, water bottle and snacks jar for on the go. You can use the same cutlery you have at home, wrapped in a cloth. Remember - start from where you are and move forward at a pace that suits your lifestyle and your budget.
Single swaps. Small steps. You’re making a difference.
Gabrielle xoxo
