A POISON LIKE NO OTHER
Onderzoeksjournalist Matt Simon windt er geen doekjes om. In zijn nieuwe boek stelt hij dat we met microplastics onze aarde én onszelf hebben vergiftigd.
Plastic-Free Christmas presents: the gifts that keep on giving
8 December 2022
You can almost smell the pine trees, mulled wine, and cinnamon cookies from here; the Christmas festivities are soon to begin. You might start to wonder what in a Santa’s sleigh you are going to gift your friends and families with this year. Well, truth be told, if you’re not careful, you’ll end up gifting them with… yet another piece of plastic.
Each year, the Christmas season leads to a 30% increase in plastic waste. In the UK alone, a whopping 115,000 tonnes of plastic packaging go to landfills during the holiday period. We waste so much wrapping paper at Christmas – 227,000 miles of it – we could wrap around the Earth eight times.
And that’s just for plastic packaging, but plastic gets everywhere at Christmas. How jovial would you be if you could see microplastic pollution filling up the air in our dining rooms or washing off in the sink at every use?
Plastic-free present ideas: unique discounts from our partners
Show your loved ones how much you care about them by gifting them presents that won’t be a burden on them and our planet. From cosmetics to clothing items, kitchen utensils, or bathroom accessories, you can make your Christmas presents plastic-free.
They won’t only be durable and eco-friendlier, but they’ll also be healthier options; recent studies have shown that the human body is full of microplastics, and scientists are increasingly concerned about the health effects they cause.
And because Christmas is for giving, we also wanted to participate. This year more than any other, we thought you could enjoy a little extra help when buying your presents. That’s why we teamed up with our partners and business Angels to offer you unique discounts on their selected products.
You’re saving some extra cash and, in the holiday spirit, a part of the profits goes to Plastic Soup Foundation to help support our work and mission.
Gift idea #1: Plastic-free cosmetics and makeup
Did you know that our cosmetics are responsible for a huge amount of plastic pollution in our oceans? That the plastic is not only in the packaging but inside most products? And they also come back in our drinking tap water because filtration systems cannot filter them out?
According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), each year, about 3,800 tonnes of microplastics are released into the environment as a by-product of everyday cosmetics and skincare. A whopping 9 out of 10 cosmetic and makeup products contain microplastics. Every time you use foundation or lipstick, you spread plastics on your face.
Do you know of a friend or member of your family who loves makeup and skincare products? Why not give them a thoughtful gift with plastic-free makeup and cosmetics? They will look great when worn, but without the added plastic pollution.
Check out our guide on Beat the microbead website to find plastic-free makeup brands, or download this special one to access unique discounts with our partners.
Gift idea #2: Showers and skincare: ditch the bottles
Hamper baskets make great gifts for Christmas, but the leftovers – aka plastic waste – not so much.
Shampoos, body lotions, shower gels, and face scrubs: choose a bar, not a bottle. All these popular everyday bathroom items are available in solid formats instead of liquid, which means they don’t require a plastic container. What’s more, they often look and smell great. Much more than a plastic bottle does anyway.
But just because they’re solid doesn’t mean they don’t always contain some microplastics. They are added for consistency, colour, or longevity. So how do you know if a product contains microplastics? Our Beat the microbead app shows you what the labels on your cosmetics don’t. When you scan the bar code on your product, the app will tell you within seconds if they are safe to use.
Our partners are also giving you discounts on their selected plastic-free products this Christmas. Download the guide to find out more.
Gift idea #3: Reusable flasks and other kitchen items
Single-use plastic items should be a thing of the past. This Christmas, give the gift of durability with beautiful, practical everyday items. Reusable flasks are great for carrying a hot or cold drink or even to use at home.
Plastic-free straws, food containers and utensils also make great gifts. They often come in pretty packaging, beautiful designs and colours, and will last longer than most plastic-made items. They’re healthier too, as they don’t add unwanted microplastics in drinks and foods at every use.
Are you looking for more plastic-free tips for Christmas? Check out our other related articles. And don’t forget to download our plastic-free presents guide to access the discounts from our partners!
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