It is tempting to buy a cheap product. If it only lasts half as long as the product that costs twice as much, you can replace the product and be no worse off financially. 

But the resources used in two cheap products will cost our planet around twice as much as those used in the one more expensive product.

There are so many alternatives! You know the drill by now:

Remember your shopping bag every time. 

Get a reusable coffee cup. 

Say no to a straw.

Remember your refillable waterbottle.

If you have bought a good quality product it is more likely that it will be worth repairing. 

Sometimes you can even repair it yourself. YouTube videos are marvellous for learning how. And tools can sometimes be borrowed from community tool libraries. 

Some manufacturers have a product stewardship program in place. This means that you can return the product to them at the end of its life for recycling. Some clothing chains are now offering this and it is particularly helpful for furniture and carpets in office fit-outs. 

Let's redefine the word ‘fashionable’ to mean taking care of the planet, and we can do this by being proud of second-hand clothing. Buy vintage, use online exchanges or resale platforms and participate in organised clothes-swap ‘swishing events’.

Are you really as good as you think you are? Learn how to stop "wishcycling" and really get your recycling act together...

We're calling on Australians to Step Up and make a pledge towards reducing their waste contribution. Could you Step Up by saying no to straws? To bringing your own waterbottle? To composting? To buying recycled, to choosing not to buy fast fashion or refusing to purchase fruit and vegetables pre-wrapped in plastic?  

There are so many ways to Step Up! And thousands of small steps together, make a big difference! Together we can all be part of the solution.