Thank you for the positive feedback we received about last month’s article on Food Wrappings – it is heartening to know how enthusiastic so many of the community are to reduce their single plastic use in 2021 in as many ways as possible.
The Committee will also have put the final touches to Sustainable Shrivenham’s Book Swap Phone Box, (opposite The Prince of Wales pub in the High Street) by the time you read this article! We are very grateful to the Parish Council for granting us use of the box and it is proving to be a really appreciated and well used free facility. We appreciate the care and consideration which users are demonstrating to keep it nice for all.
Readers will recall that, when we surveyed in Shrivenham and local villages, a whopping 45% of all the main concerns which villagers voiced about their impact on the environment and climate change in their day-to-day life was their plastic use and packaging.
Sustainable Shrivenham is therefore picking a relevant item per month during 2021 on which to offer some information to hopefully encourage everyone to give a plastic-free version a try! There is invaluable feedback from contributors to our Facebook group (about some of the brands they have tried and tested) but we really want you to try products for yourselves - and if you can tell us what you think of them, so much the better! Plus, if you find one or more that you really like, we’d love for you to make a permanent switch and spread the word to your family and friends!
So, March’s products are;
Plastic Plant Pots and labels
Are you like us and have a number of black and coloured plastic plant pots in your shed, acquired over many years when buying seedlings and plants from garden centres?
Although the coloured ones can be placed into the recycling bin, we ideally need to stop acquiring them – and certainly the black plastic ones. Either keep reusing them – so they don’t go into landfill – or some garden centres will take them. Ask next time you visit one and if they don’t, lobby them to start such a scheme…hopefully, they will decide it is worthwhile to do so if enough of us ask!
Try using the following biodegradable and sustainable alternatives:
Vipots for larger plants. They have a life expectancy of around five years
Garland – made from natural bio material
Cymax – seedling pouch pots
Use paper coffee cups, yogurt/cottage cheese pots, etc.
Peat-free pots made from wood pulp
Avoid coir pots - they have a large carbon footprint as they come from Sri Lanka, take a long time to biodegrade and a lot of clean water is used in the production process.
The Best option is to MAKE YOUR OWN!
From newspaper by using an eco paper plant pot maker (c. £12.50 one-off purchase).
From cardboard rolls left over from products such as toilet rolls, paper towels, wrapping paper rolls, etc. These are Ideal for larger seeds, e.g. sweet peas and beans.
Soil block maker – transforms compost into blocks of compressed soil which hold their shape,
Square cardboard pots made out of old boxes/packets cut out a cross shape of whatever size pot you want and stick together with paper masking tape.
All of these can be planted complete without any root disturbance - in fact, the roots often grow through the sides.
Labels: When it comes to non-plastic labels, try wooden ones (but they do tend to rot), bamboo, or the best are slate. If you can find an old slate tile, just carefully smash it up – you’ll get all sorts of interesting shapes!
Aspects to always consider before buying any products could include: if materials are renewable and ethically produced, the locality of both producer and stockist, and (if relevant) whether the item is compostable, easily biodegradable or – as a last resort – recyclable. So, we recommend doing a bit of research before purchasing.
So please do give one or more of the above a go for your 2021 seedlings– and let us know how it goes!
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