Over 100 million plastic bottles are used worldwide every day. Did you know that each one takes over 700 years to break down? By 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean will outweigh the fish. The top plastics polluting the ocean are cigarettes, food wrappers, plastic bottles & lids, plastic bags, plastic cups & cutlery.

Simply grabbing a thermos and water bottle before leaving the house means you can enjoy a waste-free outing with your friends and family!

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Using a Thermos during Covid

I know that during Covid, it’s been much more challenging to use our own takeaway cups and get them refilled. Right now we’re not even allowed to bring our reusable coffee cups to cafes, which is understandable. So I have started embracing something I used to do a lot, a long time ago and that is crack out the thermos. The one I used in this video is actually so old it doesn’t have a handle, but it still works absolutely fine. Plus, you can find these all throughout second-hand stores everywhere.

So I fill up a thermos before leaving my home and grab a few cups that won’t break in transit. It means I can prepare a  nice coffee, or tea, or chai, or herbal tea, and be able to drink it wherever I go. If you were going out mucking around with the kids in the park or down by the river, you can just bring the thermos instead of going to a cafe.

Although I know it’s really important to support local cafes at the moment as well, so it’s great if you are going to sit at a cafe then do that. But if you want to take something away with you, bringing your own thermos and cups will be really handy. I know my parents are doing this where they live in Melbourne right now.

My favourite water bottles

Also, remembering to take your water bottle is the best way to make sure you’re always hydrated and don’t have to buy a single-use plastic bottle. I really love the sort of water bottles (see video) that double as a thermos too. They keep cold drinks cold for hours, and also work to store hot drinks too.  Sometimes I even fill it up with soup. by that same token, a thermos can also double as a water bottle and a lunch carrier. And so it only takes a few minutes before you head out to get prepared.

Though I’m probably a generation or so ahead of you, but my mum used to do this all the time. We would be prepared before we went out and had our little picnic. She always bought her thermos, water bottles, cups, and our cutlery too. I remember it being so simple and lovely.

So I encourage you to really embrace this simple tradition of bringing your own water and hot drink. Or go one step further and bring your drink, your crockery and cutlery and a nice little bag. Then you can find a beautiful spot to enjoy it with your family and your friends, and get out in nature.

Take care and enjoy!