Fuelled by a rising awareness of how single-use plastics damage the environment, people are increasingly looking for eco-friendly alternatives to reduce their non-recyclable waste. Thanks in no small part to social media (#zerowaste has 1.4 million posts on Instagram) and documentaries such as Straws and A Plastic Ocean on Netflix, people’s interest in zero-waste living is surging.

Brooklyn-based Rhodora reopened its doors in September 2019 as the first truly waste-free restaurant in New York. As people become more conscious of the environmental impact of food and plastic waste, they’re searching for models of consumption that can be applied to everyday life.

Whether it’s buying a reusable coffee cup, ditching single-use water bottles, or simply recycling, there are countless ways for people to reduce their plastic waste and help to preserve the planet. Canvas8 spoke to eight Britons to find out whether they’re taking such actions and why.

Finnish supermarket chain S-market has launched its ‘Happy Hour’, when prices are slashed on food nearing its expiry date. By giving people a tight time frame to rescue food from being tossed in the bin, S-market is turning an eco-friendly act into an adrenaline rush.