Easy cloth swaps
Plenty of everyday disposable things can easily be swapped for more sustainable cloth products. You can buy from zero-waste shops or online from sustainable sites. You can also make your items, which would be ideal for upcycling projects. These changes are more sustainable and help you save money.
1) Napkins
Paper Napkins for Cloth Napkins—Save paper and, in many cases, a lot of toxic dyes. Changing to cloth napkins made from natural fabric like cotton or linen is easy. Years ago, I switched to fabric napkins (made from upcycled fabric) and found them as convenient as paper ones. They take up next to no space with my regular wash in the washing machine. You can find lovely vintage cotton or linen cloth napkins in charity shops that are in excellent condition.
2) Kitchen Towel
Paper Kitchen Towels for Cloth Ones – buy from your Zero Waste Shop or Online or DIY your own from upcycled cotton fabric and towelling.
3) Wrapping
Paper Wrapping for Cloth Wrapping—Learn the art of cloth wrapping from Japan, called Furoshiki, or Korea, called Bojagi. A fabric wrap can be reused repeatedly by asking the person receiving the gift to use it again and asking their recipient to do the same. Buy new fabric, second-hand napkins, upcycled unwanted clothes, old bedding, or old silk scarves for the fabric wrap. You can have fun embroidering or stencilling a plain piece of fabric.
4) Nappies
Disposable Nappies for Cloth Reusable Nappies. Disposable nappies pose an enormous problem to our environment. There is a seriously massive mountain of disposable nappies that are not rotting in the world. Consider changing to cloth nappies—they are now shaped like disposable nappies. Use a disposable liner, as it makes washing the nappy much easier. Save a fortune.
5) Sandwich Bag
Plastic Sandwich Bags for Reusable Cloth Sandwich Wraps. Found in zero-waste shops or on sustainable sites. For an easy project make your own sandwich wraps. There are plenty of websites with free patterns and instructions, or you can check out YouTube.
Image from Sew and Sew by Jo
6) Make-up remover pads
Disposable Makeup Remover Pads for Cloth Ones—buy from your Zero Waste Shop or Online, or make your own from upcycled cotton fabric and towelling or even crochet with cotton yarn.
7) Reusable sanitary wear
Replace Disposable Sanitary Wear with more sustainable ones. You will be spending about £500.00 a year on disposables. Be more sustainable and save money with reusable pads. Or this does not appeal, use natural sanitary wear made organic and biodegradable.
Reusable pads – Ticke-tots.com.
