Christmas
One of the things I've learnt from the past six months of working on EPPM Magazine is never to take the materials I come into contact with on a daily basis for granted.
Working in the plastics industry lends us a different perspective from other consumers. Not only do we know how things are made - even knowing the finer details such as which machine they came from and the chemical properties of something as seemingly insignificant as a pen lid - but we know where they go when their usefulness comes to an end... and that's usually the bin, which then ends up in landfill.
At Christmas, some three mllion tonnes of rubbish will be emptied out of homes in the UK alone, which is the equivalent of 400,000 double decker buses, according to Eco Centric. Not all of this is plastic (wrapping paper has a lot to answer for), but over half of this gargantuan amount of waste can be recycled.
Here's how I intend to set an example for myself and my loved ones this Christmas thanks to that little extra knowledge my first six months of Editing EPPM has given me.
Always pack a bag for life
I'm a pretty good bag for life user, but Christmas means spur-of-the-moment visits from friends and family, which means emergency trips to the shops after work resulting in more plastic carrier bags clogging up the works at home. Now I always have a bag for life folded neatly in my work bag should I need to stop by the supermarket on my way home.
Be wary of over-packaged products for your festive feast
Fruit and vegetables are the prime culprits. Yes the mushrooms in their little plastic crate are right there, but is it that much more effort to scoop a couple of handfuls of loose mushrooms into a loose pouch?
Plastics have longevity - make the most of it
Christmas comes but once a year, so it's easy to forget what festive decorations you've accumulated from one year to the next, running the risk of buying more. One of the truly great things about plastics is their longevity and resilience so make the most of the yuletide plastics you already own - they were designed to be brought of their box out year after year so think before you're beguiled into adding another light-up reindeer to your collection.
Save packaging for next time
In that same vein, take care when unwrapping gifts swaddled in cellophane and bubble wrap because these kinds of packaging materials can always get a second use.
Don't be lazy about recycling
It's easy after a big meal and a couple of glasses in front of the fire to break good habits such as recycling the cartons, bottles and packaging used to make dinner. Don't slip just because it's Christmas.