As part of our blog, we'll be providing a series of 'sustainable living' posts detailing various ways you can live more sustainably. Today's post is all about reducing your waste.
Plastic waste is one of the topics trending in recent years and for good reason. Scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050. This is a combination of human overfishing (which we'll cover in another post) and the huge quantities of single use plastic being created by humans.
Wet Wipes
Loads of people use wet wipes on a daily basis. The European market for wipes was estimated to be worth USD 3.6 billion in 2018, with a predicted growth of 11% by 2030. Further, it was estimated that 11 billion wet wipes are used annually in the UK alone. Astonishing figures, but perhaps not surprising considering the ease and number people go through when wiping of make-up, wiping babies bottoms, faces or hands (particularly during 2020 where we saw the Covid pandemic spread globally).
Reusable Cloth Wipes
It might surprise you to learn that disposable wet wipes as we know them didn't exist before the 1970's and didn't become readily available and affordable until the 90's. Since then, they have grown into the industry we know today. Before these existed, people used flannels and cloth wipes for washing and that's exactly what we recommend.
You can do the ultimate in sustainability by cutting up old towels and carrying them in a handy little bag wherever you go, just wet them and wipe. Alternatively, if you want stylish, colourful purpose designed wipes, you can buy then relatively cheaply from a range of small businesses. Amore Mio Clothing & Zero Waste makes them from offcuts from her clothing business so you know that they are stopping waste going to landfill/recycling.
Get Inspired
Do you use reusable wet wipes? Share your photos and stories with us @BeeWildNature and hashtag #BeeWild
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