Cup Match is back in all its pre-Covid glory and the excitement is tangible. Somerset or St George’s, win or lose, each and every one of us is ready to celebrate and enjoy the holiday.

Beyond Plastic Bermuda has been hard at work researching how Bermuda can reduce its plastic footprint for the benefit of our island, our environment, our children and our children’s children.

Creating new, plastic-free habits can be difficult, especially when all we want to do is relax and have fun. That’s why Beyond Plastic is here to help.

Here are some ideas for a plastic-free Cup Match:

• Invest in reusable cups, glasses, plates, bowls and utensils instead of buying single-use items. For the beach, boat or poolside, these can be made of a hard, unbreakable plastic. As long as it is washable and reusable, it’s better for the environment

• Use refillable drink containers rather than single-use bottles. You can do that either for small water bottles or five gallons of swizzle

• Forgot your reusable drinks bottle? Try to buy a glass or canned drink instead of one in a plastic bottle. Plastic cannot be recycled, in spite of what the label may say

• Do not use plastic straws. If they try to give you a plastic straw at the bar, say “No, thank you”. If you love a straw, invest in a reusable one. Some come in their own bags for easy storage.

• Invest in your own reusable cutlery set. Stainless steel or bamboo are best. Buy one that comes in its own container so you can slip it into your handbag or pocket to wash later and use again

• Invest in a reusable shopping bag that can be folded away. These come so compact they can even fit into a pocket. Then, when you’re picking up a large takeout order or some Cup Match swag, you can say “no” to the plastic carrier bag

• Ask for takeout food in a fibre or cardboard container instead of a plastic one. Even if this is not possible yet, where there is demand, supply will follow

• If you are camping, you need a lot of water. Invest in a large water cooler instead of lots of plastic bottles of water. If you fill this up from the tap at home, you may have extra dollars for the Crown & Anchor table

• Invest in your own stainless-steel glass or hard-plastic food containers for picnics or even for takeout food

• Add your own ketchup and mayonnaise bottles to the drinks cooler so you don’t need all those little condiment sachets. They never have enough in them anyway

Give one or two of these ideas a try and see how it goes. If these become regular habits, maybe try a different one next year. A little change makes a big difference.

• Erich Hetzel is a local environmentalist and member of Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce

• Katie Berry is the past executive director of Keep Bermuda Beautiful and Beyond Plastic champion

• Beyond Plastic Bermuda is a joint campaign by Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce, Keep Bermuda Beautiful and environmental advocates to educate and help our island move away from plastic. For more information, please contact us at info@beyondplastic.bm