Plastic Free July : Here's what I do to reduce plastic consumption in my listing

[Felicity11]

Plastic Free July is a global movement that is gathering momentum around the world and every day consumers are more aware of the plastic waste they create and that includes guests. I realized, as a sustainable Host, I can show guests that I care about reducing the amount of plastic waste in the world by taking a number of steps to reduce plastic in our listings.  

When upgrading items in my Airbnb, I consider looking for items that are not made of plastic and ways to reduce plastic consumption.  Some items I like to consider are : 

• Washing Basket: choose a cane or wicker basket over a plastic basket. When the basket does eventually break the cane or wicker basket can be added to a compost bin and will break down. The plastic washing basket will remain as a lump of broken plastic for hundreds of years to come. 
  
  
  
  
• Choosing metal clothes pegs over plastic pegs:  Not only are metal pegs more durable but if they do break, they are easily recycled, unlike plastic pegs that degrade in sunlight and are difficult to recycle.
  
  
• Choosing a wooden/metal coat hanger over plastic:   Wooden hangers look nice and add a nice feel to your listing and if they break, the wood will eventually be recycled. But a broken plastic coat hanger will be a broken lump of plastic for hundreds of years.
  
  
  
  
•  Choosing blankets made from natural fibres such as wool/cotton: Blankets made from polyester and other synthetic fibres are made of oil so they are a form of plastic. Every time we wash polyester blankets they release micro-fibres into the waterways. I reduce this by choosing not to buy furnishing made of polyester/synthetic fibres.
  
  
• Supplying tea and coffee without plastic packaging:  Some tea bags come in fine plastic tea bags. When we use these plastic tea bags, very fine plastic particles can be found in the tea we drink.  We can avoid drinking plastic particles by avoiding plastic tea bags. Paper tea bags and loose-leaf tea can also be added to the compost bin.
  
  Plastic tea bag, paper tea bag, loose tea.
• Consider buying in bulk from a bulk foods store and avoid packaging for amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, dishwashing liquid, laundry powder, cooking oil, tea, coffee, and sugar.  This is a great way to support small local businesses and reduce plastic consumption.  
  
  

These are just a few tips that I follow in order to reduce plastic consumption in our listing.  

What do you do in order to reduce plastic consumption in your listing?  Have your guests commented to you about the steps you have taken to reduce plastic in your home?

[Although I am a Host Advisory Board member, these articles are written based on own my personal experiences and opinions as a sustainable Host]

[Jue0]

@Laurelle3 Hello Laurelle. Thank you for your question, after my sharing about Kenya and the plastic bag ban vs the alternatives. 

For the Khaki bags, they are the normal brown bags. Not washable but may be reused say for refuse, lining in dustbins as have clean food. What is washable is the traditional sisal baskets or the recyclable packaging material made in polyester or manilla type. Research showed that Kenyan families have at least 12 recyclable bags. Carrefour Chain of Hypermarkets takes back the old recyclable bags in exchange for new to take for recycling.

Thank you very much for the part you are playing in Sustainable Hosting. 

Jue

[Mart8301]

Thanks for amazing information, it is worth reading and people should follow this, and ** as part of it I totally agreed

**[Link removed due to safety reasons - Community Center Guidelines]

[Jennifer3225]

@Mart8301 @Felicity11 

This amazing information is something hosts might want to think about especially at set up. Airbnb is very front end heavy for expenses and that is where the real change can begin..

If we are starting out the perception might be buy all new, buy sturdy and really it can be so much better with a little thought on what can be done to repurpose and find items that are not plastic.

Its a mind swap... and a good one for sure. Great topic.

Jennifer

[Felicity11]

Hi @Jennifer3225 

Thank you for your comments. You are right when we start to set up our Airbnb's it can be expensive to get all the furnishings but this does not need to be the case.  Looking around in second hand market places we can often find great inexpensive alternative products and avoid buying cheeper plastic items. 

Felicity 

[Felicity11]

Hi @Mart8301

Many thanks for your comments.  There are so many ways that plastic can creep into our every day lives it can be hard to find alternatives.  As more and more consumers become aware of the problems with plastic and the difficulty to  recycle it we understand why the need to avoid to in the first place is so important.  

Please feel free to share these tips in you own hosting and every day communities.  We can inspire others to make changes and minimise the plastic we do consume. 

[Keshav7]

The thoughtful choices you make when upgrading items in your Airbnb, such as opting for cane or wicker baskets over plastic ones, choosing metal clothes pegs, and wooden/metal coat hangers, clearly show your concern for the longevity and recyclability of the materials.

I was especially impressed by your decision to offer blankets made from natural fibers like wool and cotton, avoiding polyester and synthetic fibers that contribute to microfiber pollution. It's small decisions like these that can collectively make a big difference in reducing our environmental footprint.

Your initiative to supply tea and coffee without plastic packaging is also noteworthy. Choosing paper tea bags or loose-leaf tea not only ensures a plastic-free beverage but also adds to the compost bin, contributing to a more sustainable waste cycle.

And lastly, kudos to you for supporting local businesses and reducing plastic consumption by buying in bulk from bulk foods stores. It's an excellent way to create a positive ripple effect in the community.

Overall, I find your tips incredibly helpful and practical. Your efforts serve as an inspiration to other hosts and guests, reminding us all of the power we have to protect our planet through conscious choices. Keep up the fantastic work, and thank you for being a shining example of a responsible and eco-conscious host!

[Jue0]

@Felicity11 Felicity, these are great tips and items to have as hosts. Really living #PlasticFreeJuly #Sustainability #SustainableHosting 

KUDOS!

We have available in our Kitchen and Pantry, Kenyan traditional Sisal Baskets known as Kikapu or Ciondo in Kiswahili as alternative carrier bags as Kenya banned plastic bags in 2017. There are penalties and even jail sentences for those found guilty of breaching this. Travelers are advised on landing in the aircraft about this ban, though many might not be aware and so sometimes ask us for more garbage bags. So we have to be innovative and use the recyclable packaging bags from shopping, cloth bags and khaki bags to line the dustbins. Some pictures of me in my listings as we tidy up guest food in the sisal baskets, cloths or khaki bags for vegetables. We recycle these, yet maintain hygiene. The guests have been cooperative. 

This article may be useful to put context on Kenya after the plastic bag ban six years on. There have been great steps and strides made and achieved despite challenges

https://theconversation.com/kenya-banned-plastic-bags-6-years-ago-but-they-are-still-in-use-what-wen... 

Jue with the traditional sisal shopping KIKAPU bagArranging guest goodies in the sisal baskets and cloth bags left in our listings pantryThe Kenyan CIONDO Basket common in our listings, khaki bags for vegetables that we reuse to line kitchen dustbin. These have come in very handy after the plastic bag ban in Kenya in 2017

Thank you for sharing! Happy #PlasticFreeJuly #SustainableHosting and Beyond.

Jue

[Laurelle3]

@Jue0 thank you foryour information from Kenya. I have a question, can you please explain is the khaki bag made from material and is it washed between use?

[Jue0]

@Laurelle3  Thank you for your question, after my sharing about Kenya and the plastic bag ban vs the alternatives. 

For the Khaki bags, they are the normal brown bags. Not washable but may be reused say for refuse, lining in dustbins as have clean food. What is washable is the traditional sisal baskets or the recyclable packaging material made in polyester or manilla type. Research showed that Kenyan families have at least 12 recyclable bags. Carrefour Chain of Hypermarkets takes back the old recyclable bags in exchange for new to take for recycling.

Thank you very much for the part you are playing in Sustainable Hosting. 

Jue

[Jennifer3225]

How lucky are we to have such a global perspective 

[Felicity11]

Hi @Jue0 

Thank you for your wonderful reply.  It is fantastic to hear more about the plastic bag ban in Kenya and how you work with guests to help them find alternatives.  It is very interesting to hear that this is announced to visitors to the country.  

I love the look of the Ciondo bag - such a beautiful basket and it looks very strong - and I am sure they last a long time! - longer than a plastic bag! 

[Jennifer3225]

@Karen1100 @Sher1100 @Shanel31 @Sheila667 

Any comments from the Canadians? 

[Till-and-Jutta0]

We try to reduce plastic waste by using this refillable soap dispenser - to be refilled with a bulk soap, which needs less packaging:

refillable soap dispenser

[Felicity11]

Wonderful to see what you are doing in your home @Till-and-Jutta0  all these small steps add up to less waste and can go on to start some great conversations with guests!   Showing you are taking steps of reducing waste in your home! - makes it so much easier for guests! 

[Shinya0]

@Felicity11 @Jennifer3225   
Thanks for your valuable initiative!

My listing also uses natural materials for the Washing basket.
Also have paper straws and wooden cutlery for guests to choose from depending on their wishes.

Slightly off topic with the plastic reduction, I recently switched all of lighting to LED bulbs.
Longevity is about 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs and 10 times longer than fluorescent bulbs.
Power consumption can be reduced by 70%.
Less opportunity to replace bulbs, so less waste.

"We don't need  handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing imperfectly."
- ZeroWasteChef  Anne-Marie Bonneau

It's already August😆 but I support #PlasticFreeJuly.　💚🌏