5 Ways To Reduce Microplastics In Your Home

4 March 2026

Toby Patrick

Want your article or story on our site? Contact us here

The topic of microplastics is bigger than ever. Microplastics are plastic particles that gradually release from plastic as it degrades, and there has been an urgent call for increased research over fears for the impact it can have on human biology. Aside from benefitting your overall health and gut health, reducing microplastics in your home can also help the environment, reducing single use items and in many cases, also helping you to save money.

Three glass containers with colorful salads, featuring corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, greens, and lentils on a light textured surface.

Microplastics are all over our home, so we’re here with 5 simple swaps you can make to reduce them, support the health of your family and help the environment.

Swap plastic tupperware for glass

Glass tupperware may require an upfront investment, but it is so worth it. Plastic containers can release microplastics during heating or storage, not to mention they don’t last very long and they also can absorb food odours and colours. Instead, if you make a simple swap to glass containers, you will keep them for years, they’re more food safe, they don’t hold smell and it keeps food fresher. When buying, check they’re safe for the microwave and oven, then you’re good to go! You can also make use of glass jars from cooking as storage for things like fruit and homemade sauces in the fridge, so you can get rid of smaller plastic tupperware, too.

Get milk in glass bottles delivered

The milkman is making a comeback, and a great way to reduce microplastics and single use plastic in your home is to get milk in glass bottles delivered! Family companies like McQueens Dairies deliver fresh, local milk straight to your door, with the option to get your milk delivered in glass bottles. It will be dropped outside your front door before 7am (also making mornings easier!). Then when you’re done, simply rinse and put outside your door again. It’ll be collected by the milkman on their next round, washed, sterilized and then re-used up to 25 times! You’re helping the environment, reducing microplastics and you can enjoy fresh milk. They also offer milk alternatives like oat milk in glass bottles if anyone in your house is dairy-free.

Choose stainless steel reusable water bottles

Next up, you should swap out single use plastic bottles, or reusable plastic bottles, for stainless steel versions. Not only will it keep your water colder for much longer (many options for up to 12 hours), but there is no risk of microplastics, they’re more durable and there is no risk of chemical leaching. When you’re out and about, if you pop into any cafe, they’ll more than likely fill your bottle up for you, so you don’t need to worry about buying an extra plastic bottle whilst you’re out. Next Christmas, make this a stocking filler for your whole family and it can make a huge difference!

Swap non-stick pans for cast iron

Swapping your pans that have non-stick coating out for cast iron removes toxic coatings that can release chemicals and microplastics into food. Cast iron pans can last forever when seasoned properly, so are absolutely worth the investment. They’re also so handy for cooking one pot meals, as you can place the entire thing in your oven (of course, making sure to remove very carefully with oven gloves, and being careful after as they’re very good at retaining heat). You won’t look back after making this simple swap!

Switch to bars of soap and shampoo bars

Lastly, get rid of your bottled soaps and shampoos and swap out for bars. Not only can the containers release microplastics, but often the contents of the bottles themselves are full of different chemicals. However, when you choose bars of soap, shampoo and conditioner instead, the ingredients are much more simple and do just as good of a job, if not better as they’re kinder on your skin and hair. You can get bars of soap really easily, more so now than in recent years as more people are making the swap. You’ll save money here too which is an added bonus!

Even one small swap can make a positive impact to our health and the environment, so over the next few months, perhaps budget for one change per month and you can transform your home in as little as 5 months. This is such an exciting project to get started on, and one that will benefit you massively.

Current Most Read

AI Everywhere: Innovation, Infrastructure, Investment and the Growing Backlash

Energy Bills Are Falling in April. But is £10 a Month Really Relief?

Labour's Landslide: A Victory Masking Deeper Political Shifts and Rising Far-Right Sentiments in the UK

Connor Banks
Jul 8, 2024
2 min read

For the first time in over 14 years, the Conservative Party has been ousted from power. In the election held on July 4, 2024, Labour emerged victorious with a commanding supermajority, winning 412 seats in the House of Commons. The Tories, in stark contrast, were reduced to just 121 seats, with high-profile MPs like Liz Truss, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Penny Mordaunt, and Grant Shapps losing their constituencies. The British public has spoken: they no longer want Conservative rule. But this isn't necessarily a wholehearted endorsement of Labour, as a closer look at the results reveals.

An Illusion of Victory

Yes, Labour has secured 412 seats, the most since Tony Blair's time. However, when we delve into the numbers, this victory appears less overwhelming. In reality, Keir Starmer's Labour received fewer votes than Jeremy Corbyn's (who also won as an independent in his constituency by a large margin) "unelectable" campaigns in 2017 and 2019. This year, Labour garnered only 9,660,081 votes, compared to 12,877,918 in 2017 and 10,295,912 in 2019. This suggests that Starmer's win was driven more by a desire to oust the Tory government than a genuine surge in support for Labour. This trend was especially evident in the South of England, where the Liberal Democrats captured numerous traditionally Conservative seats through tactical voting. So, if this election was more about rejecting the Tories, what does this mean for the future of Britain?

The Rise of Reform

Another significant point of concern is the surprising performance of Reform UK. Although they won only four constituencies, they received 4,117,221 votes, making them the third most popular party by vote count. Why should this worry us if they only secured four seats?

The concern arises from the fact that an openly far-right party attracted so many votes, which could push the political landscape further in that direction. The Conservative Party might attempt to lure these voters by adopting more extreme policies, as they did with Brexit and the Rwanda immigration plan. This phenomenon isn't unique to the UK. In Germany, right-wing parties have increasingly aligned with far-right nationalists to capture additional votes. If the Tories follow suit, even if Starmer's Labour governs effectively for the next five years, they could potentially regain power by leaning further right. More alarmingly, the 4 million votes for Reform UK signal that a significant portion of the electorate is comfortable supporting far-right ideologies. With similar movements gaining momentum across Europe in countries like Germany, Sweden, and France, it's not hard to envision a future where our democracy could be threatened by a far-right populist wave.

Navigating an Uncertain Future

As Labour steps into power with a historic supermajority, the true story of this election unfolds beneath the surface. The results reveal a painting of voter dissatisfaction, strategic alliances, and the troubling rise of far-right sentiments. While the victory marks a significant shift in the UK's political landscape, it also underscores the fragility of democratic ideals in the face of populist movements. The coming years will test Starmer’s ability to govern effectively and the nation's resilience against the pull of extreme ideologies. Britain's political future, now more uncertain than ever, will be shaped by how these forces are navigated and addressed.