While the average Dutch person throws away 500 kilos of waste per year, Emily-Jane Townley from Bussum only has 1 full pedal bin every year. Ten years ago she stopped buying plastic products because the garbage container could no longer be closed due to the amount of diapers her children had. Since then she has been going to the market and shops with fabric bags and glass jars. Chips are only brought home on a birthday, in a bag that can be recycled. Emily-Jane gives even more useful tips in the sustainability program Pak An Groen. For example, she makes her own cleaning products in glass bottles and uses wax strips for dirty laundry.
Emily-Jane also proves that you can do without plastic in the bathroom. Shampoo and foam bottles have been traded for bars of soap, toothbrushes are made of bamboo, she uses toothpaste tablets, facial oil in a glass bottle and deodorant from a can.
According to Emily-Jane, many people do not realize that some personal care products contain microplastics: “Ten years ago no one had heard of plastic soup, but fortunately awareness is growing”. Last year, 15,000 people bought plastic-free products via its websitelevenwithout waste.com.
Grab an Green
More and more North Hollanders are taking action to tackle climate change. Residents change their lifestyle, buy responsibly and insulate their homes. Entrepreneurs see opportunities and break new ground with sustainable products and services. You can see it every Tuesday on TV in the program Pak An Groen.
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