Plastic Free Wilmslow
Why Go Plastic Free?
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Plastic is everywhere; in our homes, our streets, our rivers/seas, and sadly, even in the food we eat.
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While some plastic can be recycled, the reality is that most single-use plastic is used for just a few minutes but lasts hundreds of years. It breaks down into tiny particles called microplastics, which are harmful to wildlife, pollute our waterways, and even end up in our bodies.
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Going plastic free isn’t about being perfect, it’s about making small, achievable changes that add up to a big difference.
Together, we can reduce waste, protect nature, and make Wilmslow a cleaner, greener place to live.
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We would love to revive our Plastic Free Wilmslow group but we need your help. Read on to see what we can all do right now, and what you could maybe do to help us.
What Individuals Can Do
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Bring your own bags – Keep reusable shopping bags in your car, bike, or handbag so you never get caught without one.
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Refill and reuse – Choose refill shops for dry goods, cleaning products, and toiletries.
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Carry a reusable bottle and cup – Skip the takeaway cups and single-use bottles by keeping your own with you.
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Shop local – Local markets and independent shops often use less packaging and are more open to refill or ‘bring your own container’ schemes.
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Say no politely – Whether it’s a straw, a plastic fork, or a little plastic stirrer, it's easy to refuse what you don’t need.
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Ask the places where you shop to stop using plastic - business want to hear from customers.
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Switch your swaps – Opt for bar soap, solid shampoo, beeswax wraps, and compostable sponges instead of plastic-heavy products.
What Small Businesses Can Do
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Ditch single-use where possible – Swap plastic cups, cutlery, and packaging for compostable or reusable alternatives.
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Offer incentives for reusables – Discounts or loyalty points for customers who bring their own containers or cups.
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Source packaging responsibly – Choose recycled or compostable materials for wrapping, posting, and carrying goods.
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Display your efforts – Let your customers know what you’re doing to reduce plastic, they’ll support you for it.
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Work with suppliers – Ask them to minimise plastic packaging or offer goods in bulk.
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Join local schemes – Partner with other Wilmslow businesses to share resources and ideas for going plastic free.
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Join the Plastic Free Wilmslow Movement
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Transition Wilmslow is working to encourage our town to reduce, refuse, and rethink its use of single-use plastic. We’re here to share tips, connect like-minded people, and celebrate local businesses making a difference. We'd really like to restart this group but we need some volunteers.
Please get in touch if you'd like to help us restart the group; it doesn't have to be time-consuming, you can do as much or as little as you like.
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Get involved:
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Take the Plastic Free Pledge as an individual or business.
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Get in touch with us and let us know if you can spare some time to get this group going again.
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Share your favourite plastic-free swaps on our social channels.
Together, we can show that Wilmslow cares about our planet, and we’re willing to make changes for a cleaner, healthier future.
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Here's some links to useful websites:
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https://friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics/living-without-plastic
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www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org
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