Plastic Free July with SaveMoneyCutCarbon

Plastic Free July takes place each year as a way that people from all over the world can look for ways to cut down on single-use plastics.

SaveMoneyCutCarbon sent us a selection of sustainable and eco-friendly products to test them out and see how they compare to items we usually use.

Making just small switches to eco-products doesn’t cost that much money. It allows you to be more sustainable and lead a more environmentally friendly life.

When shopping for eco-products, you can save money easily when you join the Home Club.

As a member of the SaveMoneyCutCarbon club, prices for products are far lower than anywhere else. And, on the off chance, you see something cheaper, they’ll match the price.

Plastic Free July

Here’s what we’ve been testing out this July.

Cheeky Panda

Cheeky Panda has created a range of eco-friendly bamboo products that you can switch from other household items.

You may think using paper kitchen rolls is ok for the environment as a lot of the time it’s recycled, but bamboo is even better!

They use bamboo for their products instead of trees because bamboo can grow so much quicker. In fact, it can grow 3 feet in just 24 hours – 30 times faster than trees.

Trees are renewable as new ones can be grown, but bamboo will start to grow again immediately after being harvested.

We’ve been using their eco-friendly kitchen roll. Versus a supermarket own, they are larger and almost like tough paper.

They are a lot more sturdy and don’t tear as easily as regular kitchen rolls, even when wet. They are an all-around more robust kitchen towel – even my teenager was praising them!

The packaging is also fully recyclable with no plastic.

Plus, Cheeky Panda bamboo products are free from fragrance, chlorine bleach, bisphenol A (BPA), making them safe for sensitive skin.

We also got a chance to try out Cheeky Panda Biodegradable Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes.

These wipes are 100% biodegradable and have been great for cleaning in the kitchen and the bathroom.

We’ve also been using them on heaving touch places like door handles and light switches.

Again, they are made from bamboo, which I found makes them tougher than other multi-purpose wipes we’ve used in the past.

Even the packaging is 100% recyclable correctly through your household collection or local recycling centre.

Sustainable BBQ

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Although July got off to a poor start in terms of weather, it’s pretty much BBQ season.

With some small swaps, you can even have a more sustainable BBQ.

Many firefighters you see are made using fossil fuels and can contain kerosene, paraffin or paraffin wax. They are not sustainable and can contribute to global warming.

Instead, we have tried out FIRE UP Natural Sustainable Firelighters, made from renewable 100% natural sources of FSC-certified wood and vegetable oils.

They are non-toxic and burn CO2 neutral.

Plus, they work.

Once it’s alight, we used up some coconut charcoal, which is also natural and sustainable.

Kind Bag

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I think most people are now on board with getting rid of single-use plastic bags, and we’ve got really good at using bags again and again.

If you pick up a new bag from a shop, chances are it will break after a few uses, and they aren’t always made from 100% recyclable materials.

With Kind Bags, they focus on creating good wearing eco-friendly carrier bags.

The bag I am using was made from 6 recycled plastic bottles.

It’s lightweight and folds up neatly in my handbag.

This is fab as it means I’ll always have one handy when I’m out.

Read next: want to cut down on single use plastic? – find out how to make shampoo bars

Stasher bags

It’s no secret that I’m already a fan of Stasher Bags.

We had been sent some a few months back by SaveMoneyCutCarbon, and they have made a big impact on us.

We pretty much use them every day now for school lunches (sandwiches and a snack), plus we use them for leftovers in the fridge and freezer.

Because of their shape, you can get them really flat, meaning you’ll have more storage space around them in the freezer.

You can even cook food in them (microwave and oven!).

Stasher Bags are made of silicone, which is better than plastic.

They are also self-sealing, so no having to search down the back of a cupboard for a missing lid like I used to with plastic storage tubs!

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Have you been taking part in Plastic Free July?

I’d love to know how you’ve got on and what changes you’ve been able to make to reduce your single-use plastic.

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We review different products each month to test out eco-products sold by SaveMoneyCutCarbon. Check out what we’ve done so far and check back to find out about what’s coming next:

• March – LED bulbs 
• April – Stasher bags
• May – eco cleaning and washing up
• June – eco eggs
• July – Plastic Free July
• August – Eco swaps in the bathroom
• Ecozone products review