The theme for this year’s Zero Waste Week is ‘reuse’.

After all, the 3 Rs are in that order for a reason.

And while recycling is commendable, by reUSING items, we can give them a longer life, preserve precious resources and keep things from landfill.

My thoughts are turning to the garden at the moment and I’ve been scouring the internet for ways to reuse Tetra Pak cartons.

Even though a whopping 91% of Local Authorities provide bring banks and 61% collect from kerbside (find your nearest recycling facility, by clicking on the image below), Tetra Pak cartons are brilliant material for reusing – they are strong, versatile and waterproof, making them an ideal material for using outdoors.

Here’s my roundup of 5 projects to reuse Tetra Pak cartons:

Bird House

We gather a lot of pleasure from seeing the birds in our garden at Chez Green.

They are busy rearing chicks and it’s wonderful to see the babies practising their flying!

This cosy bird house would keep a small family of birds protected for a season.

Bird Feeder

The recommendation from the RSPB is to provide food for birds all year around.

This is due to the fact that natural habitats are disappearing and residential hedges are being replaced by fences, so our feathered friends need help.

While buying new bird feeding containers can be expensive, here’s a fun project for kids – bird feeder with the kids for putting those old cartons to good use.

Plant Pots

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never got enough pots for sowing seeds.

Fortunately Tetra Pak cartons are the perfect material, being sturdy and waterproof.

Just punch a few holes in the bottom, fill with soil, add your seeds and your garden will flourish in no time.

Wind shield

This project is genius!

If you live in an exposed area, maintaining your garden can be problematic with winds ravishing your landscape and making you chilly when you sit out.

This windshield tutorial will protect the soil and tender plants from harm.

Garden Lanterns

You’ve filled up your bird feeder, your seeds are growing and everything is protected.

All you need to do is enjoy the fruits of your labour.

With these pretty lanterns made from tetra pak cartons, you’ll be able to sit out under the stars with a glass of wine and enjoy your surroundings.

What about you? Have you ever used Tetra Pak cartons as a material for upcycling?