Plastic is used everywhere, for everything. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, many of these products come wrapped in unnecessary plastic packaging that all too often ends up in our streets, oceans, or landfill sites when it can’t be recycled. Reusable packaging and containers are central to a circular economy for plastic because it helps to eliminate waste and plastic pollution by replacing single-use items with longer lasting alternatives. Opting for reusable alte

Countries in Africa are very resourceful when it comes to reuse, repurposing items that are commonly seen as waste. Let’s explore some of the ways that African nations reuse their local materials. Before we begin, here are a few definitions: Raffia: A natural fibre stripped from the leaves of the raffia plant. It’s strong and pretty lightweight. Sisal: The fibre of sisal, derived from the Agave sisalana plant, is used for sturdy items such as rope and carpets. Calabash: A fru

Menstrual products are essential for health, hygiene, and wellbeing, enabling millions of people to manage menstruation safely and participate fully in daily life. However, while these products provide important benefits, many commonly used disposable options also have significant environmental impacts, particularly through plastic pollution. Disposable menstrual products such as sanitary pads, tampons, and their applicators are often made from a combination of cotton, wood p

Africa is disproportionately affected by plastic pollution despite contributing just 5% of global plastic production. Waste dumping, discarded textiles and plastic products sold by multinational corporations reflect a wider environmental injustice whereby waste generated in the Global North is exported to lower-income countries. This has prompted many environmental campaigners to describe the practice as plastic colonialism. Yet this is only part of the story. Alongside the

Solving the plastics crisis isn’t simple. Instead of focusing on recycling, research tells us that we need to think more broadly by looking at strategies like re-use. If we can embrace this concept globally, we have the opportunity to truly cut plastic pollution. Single-use plastics are the biggest culprit behind plastic pollution, making up around 50% of plastic produced. Often touted as recyclable, only about 5% of plastic is actually recycled in the US. A recent analysis o