CasaLeTolfe encourages all of our guests to reduce their use of single-use plastic in our daily choices.
As of July 3, 2021, in the European Union, single-use plastic items such as cutlery and plates, straws, drink stirrers, balloon sticks, cups, and containers for food or drinks made of expanded polystyrene can no longer be marketed. In fact, since the International Plastic-Free Bag Day of 2021, all member states must implement the European directive on single-use plastic, which, after a long process that began in 2018, is now coming to fruition.
Say NO to single-use! At the supermarket, choose loose products from the cheese, deli, and meat counters, and opt for packaging in paper (for eggs, pasta) or glass (for sauces, yogurt).
In San Miniato, just a stone’s throw from CasaLeTolfe, there’s a market every Saturday morning, where everything is sold loose and you bring your own bags.
Choose bulk detergents and seek out shops with “refill” options. Reduce the number of detergent bottles and replace them with vinegar, lemon, and baking soda. Choose reusable gloves and cloths, and cellulose sponges. Wooden pegs for hanging laundry.
Ask Emanuela for advice if you want to join in this mission.
Serving cocktails? No need for a single-use straw or stirrer. Tableware looks so much classier when it’s “real”! If there are too many guests, bioplastic, paper, or bamboo are a good compromise. No balloons, yes to streamers… and streaming or digital music.
On average, we use 300 toothbrushes in our lifetime: it’s better to choose those with interchangeable heads. Do the same with razors. Say yes to biodegradable dental floss. Eco refills for soaps, and watch out for labels: if you see polyethylene, it’s plastic! A wooden hair comb.
Set the table with cotton placemats. No plastic cups or plates, and for the little ones, choose glass baby bottles. Coffee with compostable pods, and be careful with tea bags—they’re not all made with paper filters!
Learn to store food without plastic bags or wraps: glass is perfect. Choose alternatives to plastic for ladles, chopping boards, bowls, lids, and colanders. And don’t forget rechargeable lighters for the stove.
For meals, choose ceramic or steel bowls. Toys made from rope or materials other than plastic. Bioplastic bags for their waste. A nice wooden bed or a wicker basket for them to rest in.
Avoid the disposable cup from the vending machine and single-use utensils: bring your own cup or plate from the mismatched set. Write with refillable pens. A water bottle on your desk, and a jug with glass cups for meetings.
It’s hot and you’re craving some good ice cream? We eat 6 kg of it per person every year: have you ever thought about the plastic waste generated by spoons, cups, and packaging? Go for the cone, which has nothing to throw away… especially if it’s delicious!
Sportswear, tracksuits, tank tops, and t-shirts made from natural, not synthetic fabrics. Towels and bathrobes in cotton, not microfiber. Washing synthetic fabrics releases plastic microfibers that pollute the oceans. Yoga mats or tatamis are also available in bamboo fiber.