Save plastic on the go: 6 simple tips for less waste in everyday life

Grabbing a quick coffee at the bakery or stubbing out a cigarette on the street: many people aren't even aware of the issue of reducing plastic waste when they're out and about. Plastic waste is a common sight in cities, and the issue of takeaway food and drinks has become even more prevalent due to the coronavirus pandemic. That's why we're reiterating our tips on how you can achieve a big impact with minimal effort.

A life without plastic sounds unimaginable to most people; we've become so accustomed to plastics. And that's despite the fact that plastic production only really took off 70 years ago. Even though it makes many things easier and more convenient at first glance, a life with less waste is not only possible, but also feels incredibly good! Just think of our reusable water bottles : we automatically pack them every time we go out, making it easy to completely avoid using plastic bottles when we're out and about.

Reducing plastic waste on the go: also crucial for our oceans

Worldwide studies of coastal and marine cleanups prove that the most common plastic products found in the oceans are all single-use items . They were designed from the outset for one-time use and are primarily created by

The good news: you can do something every day!

How you consume and what impact that has on the world is entirely up to you each day. And with these tips, you can make better choices and contribute to a cleaner planet. Reduce plastic on the go – let's get started!

1. Save on plastic while traveling – especially with coffee to go

In Germany, 320,000 coffee cups are used every hour , amounting to 2.8 billion annually. If you were to line them up end to end, the chain of German coffee cups would be long enough to circle the globe seven times in just one year. Another example from 2020: we use 34 cups per person per year for hot drinks alone, generating 55,000 tons of waste annually in Germany from to-go cups.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Simply bring your own cup or borrow one through the deposit system! The social startup RECUP has developed a nationwide system in Germany that lets you get your coffee or tea in a reusable cup at thousands of partner locations. You pay a €1 deposit for the freshly filled cup, take it with you, and return it unwashed to any other partner location. They wash the cup, and the cycle starts again, so each of the mint-colored cups is reused hundreds of times. You can find out which cafes and bakeries near you are participating on the RECUP app and website.

2. Takeaway without waste? Of course it's possible!

As mentioned before, the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic currently prevent us from consuming our coffee and food in the respective café or restaurant. Many people want to support local businesses by ordering takeout. Completely understandable! But even here, there are options to reduce plastic waste on the go. According to the German Federal Environment Agency, the amount of packaging waste is constantly increasing. Ask at the café or restaurant if you can bring your own containers. Hygiene is currently a top priority, which is why the German Food Federation has published a fact sheet on reusable containers. It's important that your containers are properly clean. Tip: Our dear friends at Eco Make a stylish stainless steel lunchbox that keeps your food on the go both stylish and waste-free. However, any other heat-resistant, multi-purpose container will also work.

3. Goodbye plastic bottles

They're full of plasticizers and chemicals, release microplastics and hormone-like substances into our drinks, and harm the environment: there aren't many good arguments for plastic bottles, even with a deposit system. And yet, consumption is rising rapidly worldwide: in 2017, one million plastic bottles were produced every minute , and by 2021, that number is projected to reach half a trillion annually. The majority of these are for drinking water, and yet this could be easily avoided in so many countries. We have the incredible luxury of clean water simply flowing from the tap. For many people, reducing plastic on the go starts with precisely this issue. That's one of the reasons we founded soulbottles. Choose one of our fair-trade and plastic-free glass or stainless steel water bottles that suits you and will serve you water with a unique look from now on. Or refill your old, rinsed mate bottle or drink from glasses. Ultimately, it doesn't really matter – the main thing is that we put a stop to the plastic madness and its growth plans!

And if you're ever unsure whether you can drink the water from your taps, on the go, or while traveling, simply get the soulfilter water filter ! Our portable water filter for soulbottles. It filters out viruses, bacteria, heavy metals, chemical residues, and chlorine.

4. #stopsucking: alternatives to plastic straws

From 2021, the plastic straw will disappear from view, as it's on the list of single-use items the EU plans to ban. And rightly so: German straw consumption is enormous, with around 40 billion plastic straws used every year. So let's not wait for legal changes and rethink our approach to drinking right now: simply order your smoothie, cocktail, or any other drink to go with a smile and the addition of "no straw, please." Or get some alternatives. Straws are available in materials such as stainless steel, hard plastic, bamboo, and glass, and we also offer beautiful glass straws for your soulbottle!

5. tip away from the road

Cigarette butts belong off the streets and out of nature. Stumping them out should no longer be a casual gesture. Even the filters are made of plastic, which breaks down into microplastic particles and contains around 4,000 chemicals each. Many of these are so toxic that a single filter can contaminate up to 500 liters of water. Currently, 65% of filters still end up on streets and in nature – let's change that. Go to the trash cans and remind our fellow smokers. A nice idea that doesn't require a finger-wagging approach: give away portable ashtrays, for example, an old metal candy tin.

6. Even a shirt and a book can be carried without a bag.

We love going unpackaged! Since supermarkets stopped giving out plastic bags for free, more and more people are bringing their own bags for grocery shopping. If that doesn't always work for you yet, simply put a small reusable shopping bag in your backpack (like these fair-trade ones from Melawear) and you'll be ready for spontaneous purchases. Hot tip: the bag is also perfect for shopping trips, and you can confidently put a book, medicine, or new headphones in your own bag without having to accept an extra plastic bag.

Nobody has to be perfect.

High five! If you're reading this paragraph, you're already a bit wiser about reducing plastic in everyday life. We know from our own experience that...