Sustainable Sanctuary: Reducing Plastic Waste

We’d like to make you aware of our sustainability efforts, and exactly what we’re doing to work towards being carbon-neutral by 2050.

We’re very proud of everything we’re doing here at Sanctuary Students and looking after our planet in small ways – but we also know that there’s always more we can do! 



We wanted to talk about how to reduce our plastic usage in small and manageable ways. As the use of plastic has increased over the past few decades, it’s become a serious issue for our planet, and produced some pretty awful statistics. For example, Greenpeace predicted that by 2050, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish. Let’s help change that! 

Reduce the ‘single-use’

One of the most effective ways to begin reducing your plastic consumption is to stop using single-use plastics – this includes things like single-use plastic straws, cotton buds, plates and cutlery. You’ll often find plastic cutlery with your takeaway, so either make the conscious decision to unselect this option when ordering, or stop ordering them as frequently – this will save you a ton of money, too!

Since October 2020, there has been a nationwide ban on supplying plastic straws, so people have had to come up with some pretty inventive alternatives – from paper and metal straws, to even bamboo and pasta straws! Which would you choose?



Ban plastic bottles

Put yourself on a plastic bottle buying ban, and instead invest in a reusable plastic bottle. With your reusable bottle, you’re not only significantly reducing your plastic consumption, but saving money at the same time, too. Coffee fans can also find reusable (and cute) alternatives to normal plastic coffee cups!



Drink tap water

Drinking water straight from the tap is a completely safe alternative to buying plastic bottles every time you need a fresh drink. According to Water UK, ‘British tap water is among the best in the world’, and it goes through millions of tests to make sure it’s of the best possible quality. So why not refill your reusable bottle, and save on buying plastic water bottles altogether?



Shop zero-waste

A fairly new yet absolutely great phenomenon is zero-waste shopping. It might sound strange to begin with, but it’s actually a really simple concept. Essentially, zero-waste shops allows you to buy food without buying the packaging, hence producing zero waste! You can take plastic storage tubs, old food containers, tin cans – pretty much anything you can find that can carry food – and refill it with package-free food, like pasta and cereals.

Zero-waste shops are becoming more popular all the time, but there’s already some great ones out there! Check out Get Loose Foods in London, or the Ward Field Farm Shop in Preston.



Reuse your shopping bags

At Sanctuary Students, we’re very familiar with the reusable bag draw that’s often found in student kitchens. Ever since the UK introduced the plastic bag charge, there’s been a massive reduction of single-use plastic bags being purchased at the till, and people often turn to the reusable alternatives.

Now, the only thing to do is actually remember to take them with you when you go to the shops! Try taking them out of the kitchen drawer and putting them closer to your front door, or even pop a couple in your car or day-to-day bag, to hopefully cover yourself on the occasions where you don’t remember to bring one along.



Do you have any more suggestions on how we can reduce our plastic consumption? Let us know on social media or send us an email, and if we include your tip in next term’s green newsletter, we’ll send you a £25 voucher!