1 Reusable Bag
Can save more than 700 plastic bags from being used and disposed in 1 year
Try our Foldable Cotton Bags that you can keep in your bag and use when needed.
1 Reusable Bottle
Can save up to 25 plastic bottles from being disposed off and reaching landfills or oceans in 1 year.
1 Reusable Straw
(or better yet, no straw at all)
Can save roughly 40 straws from being disposed and landing up in the oceans each year
Try our Bamboo Straws. Other options also include metal straws or glass straws which are easily available online as well.
1 Reusable Coffee Cup or Bring-Your-Own-Cup
(for takeaway coffee)
Can save up to 500 coffee cups, lids and stirrers from being trashed by a regular coffee drinker (at work or at coffee shops).
1 Reusable Cutlery instead of Disposable one
Can keep 120 pieces of plastic cutlery out of garbage
Try our Cutlery Bag and carry your biodegradable cutlery and stirrers with your wherever you go.
There are always some creative Do-It-Yourself ways to reuse products that seem like a waste. Below are some of our top ideas for you to try out at home before you trash your waste.
There are more ideas for reuse and upcycling in our Resource Centre.
If you happen to have cans in your home, these are simple planters that can be made in about 15 minutes.
Materials:
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- Can (The number depends on how many herbs you want to plant)
- Spray paint
- Chalkboard stickers/ Labels
- Chalk/ Label Markers
- Herbs/ herb seeds
- Potting soil
Steps:
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- Clean the can you want to use by scrubbing off any labels with dish soap and a sponge. Let these dry.
- Make a few holes at the bottom of the can, so there is proper drainage for the herbs.
- Spray paint the cans with your chosen colour. Let the paint dry.
- Spray another layer of paint unless you received an even coating during step 3.
- Once the paint is all dry place chalkboard stickers and write the name of the herbs you are planting. You could also use regular labels and label markers for this.
- Once stickers are placed put potting soil in the cans.
- Place herbs or seeds in the soil. Water generously.
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Do you have a burnt bulb, one that has short circuited and no longer works? Well you can upcycle these bulbs to planters that can hang around your home
Materials:
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- Lightbulb
- Pliers
- Twine/ Jute Rope
- Safety goggles
- Gloves
Steps:
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- There is a round metal tab at the bottom of the light bulb. With gloves and safety goggles on, peel off the tab with pliers.
- You will need to remove the black glass to get to the inside of the bulb. Hold the bulb by its metal base, turn your pliers on its side and use it to break the glass, with a couple of hits it should break. Turn the bulb upside down and the broken glass will fall out. A few shakes maybe needed for all of the glass to come out.
- Remove the glass encasing the filament, this can be tricky. Hold the bulb by its metal base, take your pliers, using the tip to tap the glass until it breaks. Do this gently, we do not want the bulb to break. Once it breaks off use your pliers to remove the filament and any glass left over.
- Take your twine, cut it to your desired length, and tie it around the metal base.
- Put either fresh or dried flowers in the vase.
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You received parcels in cardboard boxes and you are not sure what to do with these other than recycle them. Here is a creative way to reuse your cardboard boxes.
Materials:
- Cardboard box
- Scissors/ box cutter
- Thick twine or jute rope
- Hot glue gun
- Glue sticks
- Basket liner
Steps:
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- Take scissors or box cutter to cut the flaps off of one side of the cardboard box.
- Apply Glue on the outer side of the box so that you can stick the twine/ jute rope on it.
- Wrap your twine around the cardboard box, gluing every bit along the way.
- Continue wrapping the box until you reach the top.
- Don’t forget to glue the last bit at the top of the box.
- Take your basket liner and place it in your new basket to finish it off.
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Materials:
- Used Tire
- 2 pieces of wood cut into circles
- Rope
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Glue gun
- Cloth
- Brush
- Jar of sealant
Steps
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- Take the cloth and clean your used tire. If it is particularly dirty scrub it with soap and water. Let it dry.
- Drill three holes into the wood that are deep enough to pierce the tire’s rim
- Take your screws to secure the wood into the tire. Repeat this step to other side of the tire.
- Begin gluing your rope to the center of the wood, coil it around the center, glue after every round, press after every round to secure.
- When you have covered the wood begin coiling the rope around the rim of the tire, still gluing after every round.
- Once you have reached the center of the rim, flip the tire over, and continue wrapping the rope until you reach the base. There is no need to cover the second piece of wood because it will be on the bottom.
- Cut the rope when you have completed covering the rubber and glue it down.
- Paint a layer of sealant over the rope using the brush. Let it dry and paint a second coat.
- Let it dry and you have a new chic ottoman
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*You can also use an old rug to cover the tire ottoman instead of rope.
Materials:
- Photographs
- Jar lids
- Scissors
- Marker
- Glue gun
- Glue sticks
- Magnets
Steps:
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- Take your photographs and with your marker measure out how large you need to cut the photos to fit inside the lid.
- Cut the photographs and glue to the inside of the jar lids
- Glue the magnet to other side of the lid.
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*This can also be done with bottle caps.
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