Inspired by the likes of Sophie from A Considered Life, I’ve been trying to be more conscious of what I consume. In my quest to reduce my waste and be kinder to the planet, I’ve been making some waste free swaps. When you move from using something disposable to something reusable, you’re obviously committing to having an object in your life for a while. So, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to invest in some great, ethical, design and I wanted to share some of the gems I’ve found with you.
Water bottles
S’well
I have and love a S’well bottle in a brushed silver colour. It’s been hard wearing and because it’s a thermos it keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold – so it means I can have an extra few cups of tea on an evening without venturing to the kitchen. It looks sleek but not flashy – but there are definitely some bolder colour options if that’s what you’re into.
Stay Sixty
Stay Sixty have solved one of the age old problems of how do you clean out a reusable bottle properly? The bottom section of their stainless steel bottle unscrews, so if you’re a fan of a shake or juice this could be a great option. Designed in London, like the S’well their bottle is double walled to keep your drink at the right temperature. Their bottles come in some lovely colours too – I might have my eye on the stone one.
BKR
If you’re not into metal bottles and prefer glass, I’ve heard great things about BKR. Their glass bottles are surprisingly sturdy – I’ve seen one survive a fall from a desk. They’re simple and easy to use/hold. Pretty much everything you’d want from a bottle if you ask me.
Coffee mugs
Keep Cup
The Keep Cup is probably the best known reusable coffee cup on the market. They claim to be the “first barista standard reusable coffee cup”. They also look absolutely adorable and come in every colourway and material you could imagine. If you’re feeling a bit creative you can even design your own.
Frank Green
One of my colleagues has the Frank Green mugs and they do look as lovely in person as they do in all of their photos. They’ve also got every conceivable feature you would want from a coffee cup: non-slip grip, non-spill lid, double walled design to keep your drink warm, plus if you live outside of the EU you can also use your cup to pay for your coffee using CafePay.
Stojo
If you’re like me and don’t have take out coffee all that often but still want a reusable option, the Stojo cup is probably your best bet. It folds down to be the size of its lid when not in use, so you can easily store it in your bag then unfold it when you need rather than lugging around a big mug you might not always need.
Old Brewhouse Pottery
There are lots of hand made pottery options out there too if you want something with a bit more character which supports a small business. In the UK, Old Brewhouse Pottery make some lovely unique mugs. (If you happen to live in Australia you are spoilt for choice so have a google!)
Cutlery sets
Joseph Joseph Go Eat
Joseph Joseph make some of the best designed bits of tupperware on the market, a market I am constantly searching by the way. This stainless steel spoon, knife, fork set is super compact. The innovative magnetic design of the silicone storage case, holds everything together really neatly and means you can pop them straight back in your bag without worrying about getting pesto on your laptop.
Spork
I used to work in a camping store and sold a Spork pretty much every day. It’s the all in one option if you want to keep things as simple as they can be. It’s a spoon. It’s a fork. It’s a knife. It’s everything you need to eat lunch on the go and you can pick it up in plastic free stainless steel.
OFUN
This is the set I’m planning on buying myself. It’s a reusable wooden cutlery set, finished with a food grade non-toxic wood oil which is BPA Free. I love that it includes chopsticks. Because it’s made of wood, not only does it look super classy (every little helps) it’s also going to be that bit lighter than carrying a full metal set.
Tote bags
Stay Home Club
I bought a Stay Home Club tote years ago and I still love it today. They have a much bigger range now though. They’re all wonderfully illustrated, as is everything they make, and perfect for the introvert in your life. I’ve got my beady little eye on the no new friends one by Baker.
Adam JK
I think I mention Adam JK in every one of these design favourites type posts, but I love his work and I don’t care. His totes are funny and wonderful and subtle statements and I just want two of everything he’s ever made.
Other honourable mentions
There are loads of other swaps you can make to help reduce your waste and look after the planet. One of the biggest is to swap out meat and dairy (oat is my favourite alternative) where you can. But I’d definitely recommend checking out A Considered Life, which I mentioned at the top of this post, because Sophie has some great advice.
