Renovating your home can be an exciting experience.
Getting to breathe some new life into tired or outdated decor can be rejuvenating, but it can also result in a lot of waste.
In this article, we explore three easy ways how you can reduce the plastic waste during your home renovation.
The Need to Tackle Plastic Waste at Home
Whether it’s from disposing of existing furniture and fixings or the tools you use to fit the new ones, there will inevitably be elements of waste.
Plastic waste in particular is a growing issue that has severe impacts on our environment.
A devastating 56% of marine mammals having consumed plastic in their lifetimes.
Part of the impact comes from the taxing manufacturing process, but the majority comes from finishes that may not be suitable for recycling, so it’s important to try to reduce your plastic waste wherever possible.
Use Reusable Containers or Sheets
Naturally, during a home renovation, it has to look worse before it looks better.
As such, you’ll want to cover existing surfaces and furniture to avoid it being covered in paint or dust resulting from the renovation.
It can be tempting to rely on large plastic bags or plastic sheets to do this, but it’s incredibly wasteful.
Although convenient, the plastic sheets will almost always be thrown away at the end of the project, further contributing to plastic waste.
To avoid this, consider using reusable tarpaulins or old fabric sheets you might have lying around.
This could be old curtains or bed sheets you no longer have a use for, or even an old tablecloth that you can pick up from just about any thrift store.
Purchase Reliable Tools
Many inexpensive DIY tools are made with cheap plastic, meaning they’re prone to break.
The likelihood is that you’ll get part way into your renovation before the tool fails you, and you’ll have to go out and buy another more sturdy tool. As the saying goes, ‘buy cheap, buy twice’.
It’s a much better idea to invest in higher quality tools from the beginning of your project, as you can be sure that they’ll last for years.
If that’s outside of your budget, you could also check out the secondhand market or look out for equipment rentals.
Opt for Plastic-Free Finishes
You can often find plastic in places you wouldn’t expect it to be, such as in the filling of sofas, in windows or even in paint.
There are plenty of more eco-friendly options available, so make sure to pay attention to the materials you use in your renovation.
For example, you could opt for paint that’s made from natural ingredients, or timber window frames instead of PVC.
It’s also important to consider the packaging that your materials are transported in. The packaging industry is responsible for a significant amount of plastic waste, so try to opt for sellers that have plastic-free packaging or recycling schemes.
You can also reduce one step of the packaging process by shopping in person rather than buying online.
Renovating your home is a great way to make your living space more functional and better reflect your personality, and making sustainable choices can make it feel all the more special.
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