Greener swaps
Posted 2 days ago
Fri 21 Aug, 2026 12:08 AM
Finding greener alternatives to swap out daily habits and household items can help reduce harm to the environment. These can be small swaps or big changes if you really want to have a sustainable lifestyle. For now, here are some small swaps you can make to make your life a little greener and help save the planet.
Make your own wax wraps
Beeswax wraps are a planet-friendly alternative to cling film. They're simple to make and last a long time! They can last up to a year or more if treated nicely and looked after. It's recommended that you give them a refresh every 3 months or so by popping them back in the oven on baking paper, but it depends on how often you use them. To clean them, simply splash a little washing up liquid and gently wash with cold water - AVOID HOT WATER AT ALL COSTS!
Cling film is bad for the environment because it's a single-use plastic that is difficult to recycle. It also contaminates ecosystems by taking hundreds of years to break down and can harm wildlife if they mistake the material for food.
By using Beeswax wraps, which are biodegradable and plastic-free, they won't linger in landfills. Whilst they cannot be used with raw meat, ovens or hot food (due to the wax melting), they're made from cotton, resin and oils and last up to a year with proper care.
You will need:
- Cotton fabric
- Shears or scissors
- Baking tray
- Baking/parchment paper
- Cosmetic-grade beeswax pellets (available from health food stores or online)
- Pastry or paint brush
- A pen
- Washing line and pegs
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 90°C and cut the fabric to the size of the food wrap you'd like to make. Using shears will minimise fraying, but scissors will do the job too.
Step 2
Place your fabric on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. If the fabric you've chosen is one-sided, remember to place the patterned side facedown.
Step 3
Sprinkle beeswax pellets evenly across the fabric. You want the wax to cover the fabric when melted but without any excess. If in doubt, try a little, and then if there are any gaps after Step 4, you can add more and repeat.
Step 4
Put the sheet in the oven for 5-10 minutes. NOTE: Keep watching the fabric the entire time it is in the oven, as it's a fire risk!
Step 5
Spread the beeswax. When the pellets have melted completely, use oven gloves to remove the tray from the oven, then spread the beeswax evenly over the entire fabric with a paintbrush or pastry brush. You'll have to be quick to spread the wax before it cools, but don't worry, you can always repeat step 4 if it sets before you've finished.
Step 6
Time to dry! Remove the fabric from the baking sheet using tongs, and hang it up to dry over newspaper to catch any drips. Your home-made food wrap is ready to use once the beeswax has set and isn't tacky.
Instead of putting the heating on...
Use draught stoppers, rugs and curtains instead to keep out the cold. You don't need to buy them new, and you can even use rolled-up towels or sheets to fill any gaps, like under your door. This can help save a lot on heating costs rather than turning the heating on straight away when you feel a bit cold - we've all been there!
Save the peel!
If you're cooking with potatoes and you're about to bin the peels, stop what you're doing! Keep the peels, as they can make a tasty snack - trust us. Pop them on a baking tray with a bit of oil, salt and pepper and bake until they're crispy. Now you've got a perfectly healthy snack instead of buying store-bought crisps.
Get creative with your gift wrapping
Rather than buying new wrapping paper, use old newspapers or magazines - just pick the article on display wisely! Or brown paper is often much cheaper than other types of wrapping paper. It's something different and looks like you've put more effort into wrapping whilst being extra sustainable, rather than getting your typical patterned paper!
There are so many simple ways we can be greener and more sustainable in our daily lives. If you want to read more about sustainability and how you can help our environment, check out our sustainability page ♻️
