Happy World Refill Day!
Did you know that on average, each person in the UK uses around 175 single-use plastic bottles a year, but only half of those are recycled? The rate of single-use plastic usage is growing and growing. As a result of the pandemic, we’ve seen governments and businesses backtrack on their commitments to take action and some have banned reusables altogether - meaning that single-use plastic just keeps increasing.
Packaging from things like takeaway food, coffee cups and plastic bottles are consistently in the top 10 items found on beaches around the world. A recent global report revealed that food wrappers are now the most found item on beaches around the world - taking over cigarettes for the very first time.
This World Refill Day, we’re calling for a refill revolution. It’s become clear that the ‘business as usual’ approach to recycling isn’t working. We need a new strategy that focuses on refill and reuse. By choosing to reuse, collectively we can stop millions of pieces of plastic from entering our ocean.
We’ve put together a few of our top tips to help kickstart your refill and reuse journey. Check them out below...
1. Download the Refill App.
This app is your absolute go-to when it comes to finding places to refill your Ocean Bottle, your food containers, coffee cups and even your cleaning products. It literally has never been easier thanks to this app. With more than 200,000 Refill Stations offering FREE water refills around the world, the Refill app has got you covered wherever you are.
2. Go reusable.
If you can, make the switch to reusable items such as an Ocean Bottle, a coffee cup, food container, Beeswax wraps, reusable wipes, cleaning products, and cutlery.
Oh, and don’t forget to BYO party cups. With summer now in full swing and many of us enjoying the outdoors and being able to socialise again, don’t forget to bring your own cup (and take it home with you when the party's over).
All of these are super simple swaps that can massively reduce your intake of single use plastic.
3. Take the refill challenge.
Take the refill challenge and let everyone know what actions you’ll be taking for World Refill Day. Sign up here.
4. Shout out.
Go out and visit your favourite restaurants, cafes, breweries and refill stores and ask them to accept your reusable cups and containers if they’re not already. City to Sea have created guidance and support for businesses to help them return to refill. Check it out here.
If you want to learn more about World Refill Day, head to https://www.refill.org.uk/ to find out how you can make even more of an impact.
