It all started when I saw an Instagram post about reusable loo roll (I know!). I saved it in a new folder, labelling it “crazy eco hacks”. Then I spotted eco-influencers cooking their own sunscreen, going “bin commando” (ie no bin liners), and using cabbage leaves for clingfilm and coconut oil for lube. With Plastic-free July upon us, I decided to try some of these zero-waste, plastic-free tips for a week. Maybe — just maybe — I’d never buy loo roll again.
My first experiment was sunscreen, as it’s been bugging me for a while. I used to apply factor 50 obediently each morning until I learnt about its marine-damaging ingredients. Plus sunscreen is full of intentionally added microplastics, and because the bottles are hard to clean, it’s hard to recycle. I eventually found a DIY recipe on the American website Healthline, which, unlike those on eco blogs, had been medically reviewed, and referenced scientific papers (no-one should be chancing it in the sun).
