If you have been thinking about living a more plastic free life, you’ve come to the right place.

While the Barbie Girl anthem of 1997 reminded us that life is plastic (and fairly unavoidable), it’s certainly not as fantastic as she made it out to be.

Plastic is bad for the environment on every level. Not only does it pollute waterways and create excess landfill, but plastic is resource intensive - just in the manufacturing process alone.

While choosing to live a plastic-free life often means making the least convenient choice in your day-to-day life, over time, these decisions will become a habit. It just takes a bit more preparation and planning. But the upside is, you will consume a lot less harmful plastic and could save some money along the way.

Here's our top eight tips for reducing the plastic in your life. 

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES
Let’s start off with plastic water bottles. They are everywhere and one of the most common plastic items in the world. One of the easiest ways to become more eco-savvy is to invest in a refillable water bottle. It not only keeps your water fresh for longer, but dramatically decreases the amount of plastic you would consume in a week. 

Although a lot of cafes are becoming slightly more environmentally aware and offering biodegradable coffee cups - it’s not entirely widespread. To be on the safe side, take a reusable coffee cup along for the ride.

BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSHES 
The major advantage to the humble bamboo toothbrush is its sustainability. Normal plastic toothbrushes are made from a material that requires lots of energy for its processing and is essentially non-biodegradable.

Bamboo takes very little time to grow and due to its anti-microbial composition, doesn't require fertilisers or pesticides. Not only are bamboo toothbrushes just as effective at brushing your teeth, but the heads can also be snapped off after use and thrown in the recycling while the handle can go into your garden to breakdown (or in my case, help hold up my plants). 

The retail industry contributes to a huge amount of plastic pollution in Australia alone. If you don’t want to add fuel to the fire, then always try to remember to take your own shopping bag with you. Whether that’s mesh, canvas or reused plastic bags ‘for-life’, anything is better than investing in new plastic bags every time. 

Unfortunately, the REDcycle program that used to collect soft plastics at supermarkets such as Coles and Woolies has been suspended. That makes it a whole lot tougher to dispose of plastic bags other than landfill. Anytime you can use your own bags or more eco-friendly options, the better we’ll be.

DITCH THE CLING WRAP
Cling wrap is thin and flimsy and really difficult to recycle. It often contaminates recycling and can clog up machines. And once it ends up in the landfill or incinerators, the PVC and PVDC can release a highly toxic chemical called dioxin. Then there’s the issue of plastic wrap ending up in our waterways and oceans.

Fortunately, there are many fantastic alternatives to cling wrap. Definitely invest in some good airtight storage containers that are both microwave and freezer safe. You can also get reusable wax-lined cloths that work the same way as cling wrap and look great too.

The other option, which could be the most affordable, is to make sure you buy cling wrap that’s at least compostable. Make sure to check the label to ensure it’s home compostable as biodegradable and degradable or commercially compostable means it will only break down in certain conditions at a very high temperature. That means there’s no point chucking it in the backyard compost bin. 

GET BACK TO SOAP
My favourite zero waste swap is using bar soap. Switching to good old fashioned, unpackaged bars of soap has not only saved loads of money but made a big dent in reducing disposable plastics. It’s so easy to do. And not only that there’s so many amazing soaps and body bars to choose from! 

And while you’re making that swap, you could also consider making the switch to solid shampoo-conditioner bars. There are some great options out there.

FARMERS’ MARKETS AND BULK FOOD STORES
I love the weekend ritual of getting along to my local farmers’ market, where you can find farm-fresh produce with no plastic packaging that’s come straight out of the dirt, into the farmer’s van, to you. Another plastic-free option is shopping at your local bulk food store. 

RECYCLE PROPERLY 
Don’t worry, it’s not just you. Most people still don’t know what they can and can’t recycle. 

A simple rule, most papers, plastics, metals and glasses can all be recycled. But there are a few exceptions and rules for special handling.

• All paper and cardboard can be recycled (NO TISSUES!)
• All rigid plastics can be recycled (just remove the lids from any bottles or containers first). No soft plastic, e.g. plastic packets or Styrofoam.
• Glass jars and bottles of all colours (with lids removed) can be recycled. But no glassware, oven-proof glass or light bulbs please.
• All metal containers and household items can be recycled.

And there you have it, a few small changes you can make in your day-to-day life that will help you live a little more plastic-free. But if you do end up using plastic, it’s OK. In certain cases, it is unavoidable. Give yourself a pat on the back for caring. At Nood Mood, we hope to offer as many simple solutions for a more sustainable life as possible. We truly believe taking small steps can make a really big difference.