Using eco-friendly and recyclable items in listing

[Jennifer3225]

#PlasticFreeJuly : As a Host, When I think about reducing plastic waste in our listing, I want to be very careful and consider what we have in our listing that can be replaced while being fiscally responsible. 

The last thing I want to do is throw out all of our present plastic items and replace them with new plastic-free items. That won’t help anything. But what I can do is consider using items that are not plastic when it is time to replace items anyways.

Things I think about to reduce plastic waste in listing:

1. Consider what I am bringing into the listing right from the beginning which includes making the decision to purchase paper-packed items over plastic. Some of my suggestions are : 

• Paper-wrapped products  vs plastic
• Dog toys made of fibre instead of plastic
• Garden supplies made of wood vs plastic
• Kitchen supplies made of bamboo
  
  Paper wrapped products  vs plastic
  Dog toys made of fiber, instead of plastic
  Garden supplies made of wood vs Plastic
  Kitchen supplies made of bamboo

2. Always thinking about new and eco-friendly ways to refill our soap containers, or our cleaning supplies and repurpose our already existing items.

What are some of the great ideas you have to reduce the plastic in your listing?

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

[Daniel1651]

Hello @Jennifer3225 
I think it's great that we start the plastic-free list from the moment we make the purchase!

This makes me think even more about how plastic can be reduced in my homes. Without a doubt, I will go shopping with different eyes after reading your post 💚

In my case, when I receive families with children, I always leave toys for them to have fun. I prefer buy wooden ones, and avoid plastic toys. I think that in addition to helping to generate less plastic, they are cooler and more beautiful 🙂

Thanks for your tips!

[Jennifer3225]

Hi There @Daniel1651 

I am so glad you will shop with a different lens. That is kinda the hope @Felicity11 and I have when making these posts.

Just a bit of a trajectory thought on how we can purchase a little different.  It is so easy and so important to just think about the purchase before you grab it from the shelf.  Send along examples from Tenerife friend.. Would love to see what you are doing. 

Jennifer.

What about you @Marielle135 in France and @Mart8301 and @Laurelle3  and @Helen427 and @Anna1403  and @Mauricio467 @

[Felicity11]

This is music to our ears @Daniel1651   we are so happy to hear your feedback and it is wonderful to hear we are inspiring others to make changes!  Thank you for your support. 

[Felicity11]

Hi @Daniel1651 

Great to hear your feedback on the article. You are right every time we go buy an item if we think - what is the best option here when I have finished using this item?  Will it break down naturally eg paper or can it be recycled eg metal.  While some plastic items can be recycled the plastic polymer can only be recycled a couple of times before it then becomes waste.    Thinking about the end of life impact on each item we buy when we buy it is the best place to start. 

I love that you prefer to buy wooden toys over plastic toys - another great choice! 

[Keshav7]

Thank you for sharing your thoughtful approach to reducing plastic waste in your listing. Your consideration of sustainability while also being fiscally responsible is commendable and sets a great example for other hosts. I loved the pictures you have shared!

I couldn't agree more with your strategy of gradually replacing plastic items with eco-friendly alternatives when it's time for replacements. It's a practical and effective way to make a positive impact on the environment without generating unnecessary waste.

Some of the ideas I've implemented in my listing to reduce plastic include:

1. Offering guests refillable toiletry containers with eco-friendly, bulk-purchased products to minimize single-use plastic bottles.
2. Providing reusable cloth bags for shopping and encouraging guests to use them instead of plastic bags.
3. Using glass or metal containers for food storage instead of plastic containers.
4. Offering filtered water through a water purifier or water dispenser to avoid plastic water bottles.
5. Opting for wooden or metal kitchen utensils and tableware instead of disposable plastic ones.

I also encourage guests to participate in the effort by promoting responsible waste disposal and recycling during their stay. Let's keep sharing ideas and supporting each other in making our listings more eco-friendly and sustainable! 🌿♻️ #PlasticFreeJuly #SustainableHosting

[Marielle135]

Can’t agree more Keshav!

to be able to supply cutlery and dishes, i go to garage sales and second hand shop where people sell full metal cutlery instead of dishes with plastic handles. Also they are of course so much cheaper to buy!

downside is that my dishes and cutlery are not assorted, good side is that they can be used over and over, and quite frankly, even at home nothing has ever been assorted… and when explaining why it is so, the guests find it great! Less stress for everyone and they often say that they don’t mind and that it feels more homey and cocooning quite strangely…

“just like at my grandma’s house, nothing looks alike”, cute!

[Jue0]

@Marielle135 J'aime ça! Surtout come chez grand mère! Bien dit Coucou 😊

[Marielle135]

😂😂

[Mauricio467]

@Jennifer3225 I love the list of items, how wonderful😍, and where we are surrounded by single-use plastic objects, because our food and drinks are mostly packed in these plastics that are highly polluting due to the time they take to biodegrade, it is important to find an extra use for this plastics that will only serve once in their life. If we manage to give at least one extra use we will be contributing to a greener world, we can let our imagination go and reuse.

This is my “palo de la alegria” that lives in a reused plastic bottle

For example, we can make this self-irrigating pot made from a plastic bottle that is very useful and works super well. In addition, it is very pretty and can be use to decorate our listings.

[Jue0]

@Mauricio467 This is Excellent! I love this..

[Francisco-and-Yajaira-Ho0]

That's wonderful, @Mauricio467 ! You have to tell us more about the DIY project. I absolutely love how it looks! 😍

[Laurelle3]

@Mauricio467 I love the idea of recycling the water bottles for pot plants. The idea runs through my mind and I thought they could be used with my Airbnb.

I thought after cutting the top off and different length you could  grow vegetables and flowers in, a portable garden, garbage bins, toy storage, bathroom bins,  magazine holder and a towel holder.

I am sure other hosts can think of other ideas.

Thank you for bringing this too my attention, unfortunately we dont have access to these bottles I would have to go a hunting.

[Jue0]

@Jennifer3225 This is encouraging and good food for thought. As a Host, i recheck as often that guests know that Kenya banned plastic carrier bags in 2017 and that there are heavy penalties for breaching this. We encourage guests to make use of the recyclable packages in the listing and to use our other alternative carrier bags such as the traditional sisal ‘Kenyan Ciondo or Kikapu’ bags. Khaki bags do come in handy and we recycle these from our shopping packaging. We as Kenyan hosts have had to think out of the box and to be innovative in meeting needs especially on disposal as the Refuse bags that are allowed are limited and scarce. Maybe this article may be of help to get a better picture and to focus on #PlasticFreeJuly #Sustainability 

There have been great steps and strides made and achieved by Kenya after this Ban, despite the challenges. Read on..

The traditional sisal KIKAPU (Basket in Swahili) common shopping carrier bag in Kenya after the Plastic bag in 2017A typical shopping session with my Kikapu sisal bagA happy Kenyan shopper with her plastic free baskets, alternative for plastic carrier bagsKhaki bags are our common feature and packaging for shoppingThe famous Kenyan ‘Ciondo’ (Carrier Bag in Swahili) made of sisal and with leather handle #PlasticFreeJuly #Sustainabilityhttps://theconversation.com/kenya-banned-plastic-bags-6-years-ago-but-they-are-still-in-use-what-wen...

Thank you Jenny!

[Sarah5000]

@Jue0 that is a beautiful shopping bag you offer , I am sure your guest will enjoy it so much when staying in your place.