After the usual heated debate, Collins dictionary has announced its word of the year and it is “single-use”. The term beat ‘gammon’ ‘gaslight’ and ‘MeToo’ to the top of the lexical podium after a four-fold increase in single-use plastics over the last five years.

An estimated 5.2 million plastic bottles are thrown away everyday in Hong Kong alone. The city’s dependence on single-use plastics is causing public health concerns as landfills fill up and marine life is increasingly threatened. Many fashion-conscious denizens cite the unfashionable nature of more sustainable products as a reason not to use them. But the green market is swapping its associations with burlap and sackcloth for high-tech, more sartorially sustainable options.

Gafencu looks at some high-end alternatives to single-use plastics, showing that there’s no need to sacrifice style in an effort to go green. 

Aquasana Stainless Steel Insulated Clean Water Bottle

Fitted with a state-of-the-art changeable filter, this sleek water bottle allows you to immediately drink water straight from the tap. Double-walled insulation keeps the liquid inside as cool or warm as you like for up to 24 hours. Available in four different colours.

Available at www.aquasana.com

Matt and Nat LEXI – ALLURE shopping bag

Approved vegan leather with 100% recycled nylon interior. Conveniently roomy and eternally stylish, this is a far more sartorially savvy alternative to a stash of plastic bags under the sink. Includes a removable inside pouch. Available in blue and pink. 

Available at mattandnat.com

 

Bodum Vacuum Travel Press in Stainless Steel

Takeaway coffee is certainly convenient but nothing tastes as good as home brewed. Skip the coffee shop queues and waste no time with this mug-meets-French press which can hold a single serving of coffee or tea. Vacuum insulation means your coffee stays hot and your mug remains cool to the touch. Available in three colours.

Available at www.bodum.com/

Tiffany Gold Vermeil Crazy Straw

Sterling silver with gold vermeil and iconic Tiffany blue accent. Far more elegant than plastic and proof that Tiffany artisans can transform even the most mundane of objects into works of art. Available in white, yellow and rose gold. Eco-friendly has never looked so good.

Available at www.tiffany.com

Text by: Alice Duncan