One area where we as consumers can act to reduce waste is in our purchasing of food and drink.
Try to plan your meals for the week ahead. You can then make a list before you go shopping. It may prevent you buying items you don't need or buying too much food which does not get used, but for which you have paid.
- Take your own shopping bag or other durable container with you rather than use supermarket carrier bags. Think of the number of supermarket carrier bags you use and throw away over the course of a year if you pick up new bags on each separate shopping trip.
- Avoid pre-packed vegetables when purchasing from you local shop or supermarket. Don't forget, you're paying for the packaging as well as the food item.
- Wherever possible buy goods in larger containers or in bulk. Avoid multi-packs of small containers, such as daily cereal packets and orange juice in 'drink-size' containers.
- Buy milk and lemonade from the milkman or lemonade merchant in returnable glass bottles rather than throwaway plastic or card cartons from shops.
- If possible, buy eggs in reusable egg boxes. Although supermarkets will probably not do this, why not suggest this to your local corner shop?
- If you make school packed lunches and picnics, why not use a reusable airtight container rather than aluminium foil/clingfilm wrapping. Also make fresh, homemade drinks in reusable, sealable containers rather than purchasing separate cartons and cans of drink.