Little things that help you live more sustainably

Sustainability has become a non-negotiable – not just in our daily routines, but our ways of thinking and even our national school curriculum. But how can we keep those good habits going in 2025? Here are a few family-friendly ideas.

BYO containers

We’re all practiced at bringing our own bags when we go shopping, and many of us probably bring a reusable cup with us on our coffee runs, but there is more waste to be avoided.

Have you ever considered taking your own containers with you when you’re getting takeaway? Some places won’t do it for health and safety reasons, but it’s worth asking when you place your order. Then, all you have to do is arrive with containers in hand and they will fill them up for you. It’s a small change that will help reduce the more than seven million metric tonnes of plastic that enters the ocean every year.

Think before you order

How many times have you ordered a drink and been given a plastic straw that you don’t want or need, or a set of plastic cutlery with your food? If you can’t use your own containers when ordering out, remember to ask the restaurant, bar or café to skip any plastic cutlery, straws or unnecessary napkins they may automatically include in your order. This could also extend to sauce and salt and pepper sachets.

It seems small, but the more people say they don’t want these unnecessary items, the more businesses will realise they don’t need to order so many of them in the first place.

Cut out packaged drinks and snacks

Next time you’re grocery shopping, consider this: how many of your weekly food items come wrapped in plastic? No matter how healthy you eat, it can be hard to avoid if you aren’t shopping consciously. Think through your decision to buy drinks or packaged snacks like juices, water bottles, chips, chocolate or lollies, and consider whether you could find or make a plastic-free version.

If you must buy plastic (which, let’s be real, is inevitable), work out ways to buy less of it. Instead of single-use yoghurt pouches, buy a big tub instead and decant it into reusable food pouches (Sinchies and My Squeeze are both great for this). The same goes with poppers – instead, buy a big bottle of juice and fill up your Drink in the Box for when you’re out and about.

This won’t just help the planet – it will also help you save a ton of money and make healthier, more conscious decisions.