Have you heard of “Plastic Free July”? It’s still possible to join this global initiative! Let’s explore how this challenge started and creative ways we can participate for the remainder of July and beyond.
What is Plastic Free July?
Plastic Free July is a global movement to encourage millions of people to become part of the solution to plastic waste. The goal is to avoid single-use plastics for the entire month of July. Over 100 million people from 190 countries have taken the Plastic Free July Pledge.
The long-term goal of Plastic Free July is to reduce the production and consumption of single-use plastics. We, consumers, can help by increasing our awareness and reducing how much single-use plastic we consume.
Why is Plastic Free July important?
Plastic has become a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives. We often don’t even notice when we’re using single-use plastics. Too often, we use these single-use items for 15 minutes or less before throwing them away; but the plastic can take centuries to break down.
Through eco-challenges like Plastic-Free July, we become more aware of all the times in our everyday lives when we reach for single-use plastics. It helps us curate alternative solutions to reduce single-use plastic waste at home, work, school, and beyond.
Joining these challenges with others is inspiring, encouraging, and motivating. Humans naturally crave community and camaraderie in life. These types of global challenges bring us together around a common goal. Rallying together helps us embrace our communal responsibility to each other and our planet.
Why Is Plastic Waste a Problem?
Plastic pollution is one of the most critical environmental issues. We produce disposable plastic products faster than we can properly dispose of them.
The plastic pollution crisis is most evident in developing nations where garbage collection systems are often lacking or nonexistent. Still, the entire world struggles with low recycling rates and inefficient recycling systems.
Plastic is made from fossil fuels.
Though plastics, made from fossil fuels, are a little over a century old, production increased dramatically after World War II. Plastic brought many positive gifts, like life-saving medical devices, helmets, and equipment for clean drinking water. It made space travel possible and reduced the weight of cars and planes, saving fuel and pollution.
Unfortunately, it also cultivated a “throw-away culture.” Many plastic products, like food wrappers, plastic bags, disposable utensils, and product packaging, are designed to be used for very short periods.
Harmful plastics and microplastics are devastating.
A lot of plastic waste is carried into the ocean by rivers, rain washouts, and other means. Once at sea, the sun, wind, and waves break the plastic into tiny particles called microplastics.
Microplastics have been found in every part of the planet, from the peaks of the Himalayas to the Mariana Trench in the ocean. They have even been identified in city drinking water systems and floating through the air we breathe.
Nearly 700 species – including critically endangered animals–are affected by harmful plastics. Additionally, microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species that we eat.
How to Celebrate Plastic-Free July
It’s easy to join the Plastic-Free July movement. The good news is every little bit helps, so even if you join late, your participation is still critical!
Start by taking the Plastic-Free July challenge! This will connect you to millions of fellow plastic-free participants. You’ll love the free weekly emails that provide tips, tricks, and ideas to help you avoid single-use plastic.
If you need help identifying everyday changes you can make, consider taking the Pesky Plastics Quiz. It’s designed to help you identify single-use plastics and discover where plastics might be sneaking into your life.
The Plastic Free July website also has a wonderful database of ideas and resources to help you learn about some clever and sustainable changes you can make at work, school, home, community, and elsewhere. You can also follow Plastic Free July on Instagram for clever tips, tricks, ideas, and educational tidbits for the whole family.
3 Favorite Ways to Avoid Single-Use Plastics
Here are three of my favorite strategies, products, and ideas to help me reduce single-use plastics in my own life.
1 Avoid single-use plastic straws and utensils
FinalStraw: The Final Straw is a portable, collapsible straw you can take anywhere. It comes in a clever storage case that clips to your purse, keychain, or backpack, so you’ll always have an alternative to single-use plastic straws. It comes in many fun colors and makes avoiding single-use straws easy.
FinalSpork: Final Straw also offers a FinalSpork. It’s a full-sized stainless steel spork that collapses into a small container you can take anywhere. You’ll always have an alternative to plastic cutlery at your fingertips!
2 Reach for reusable shopping and produce bags
Get in the habit of taking reusable shopping bags when you head to the store. There are many clever reusable bags on the market that suit every lifestyle.
The ChicoBag is a reusable shopping tote that stuffs into a tiny carry pouch and clips onto your purse. No more lugging about large reusable bags!
If you need something a little bigger, BagPods has clever, washable grocery bags that handle up to 50 lbs. All five bags easily fold into the convenient carry pouch for easy storage. Toss the pouch into your purse and head to the store with confidence!
Invest in some reusable produce bags so you can skip the plastic produce bags at the store. Several quality options are on the market, including the ChicoBag mesh produce bags and the Bewise Earthwise mesh bags.
If you forget your reusable produce bags, consider leaving your fruits and veggies loose in your shopping bag. Wash it thoroughly when you get home, and you’ll still be able to skip the plastic bags.
3 Alternatives for lunch and food storage
It’s easy to reach for single-use plastics when packing school lunches or storing foods. Products like plastic film (clingwrap) and plastic lunch baggies have made our lives much easier.
You don’t have to sacrifice convenience to find plastic-free alternatives!
Invest in some beeswax-infused cloth wraps. They come in many sizes, shapes, and fun patterns for everyone. When you’re finished, wash and reuse it! You can find many options on the market, from Bee’s Wrap to Lilly Be Wrap. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even make your own!
Skip the plastic snack and sandwich bags and reach for reusable cloth bags. Murph and Moose offers adorable adult and kid-approved snack baggies. Fun cotton prints on the outside allow you to express yourself, and the waterproof PUL fabric on the inside meets CPSIA food safety requirements. They’re 100% machine washable, and you can choose from snap, velcro, or fold-top closures.
The rezip reusable bags are another BPA-free, food-grade option that comes in various sizes. They’re freezer and dishwasher-safe for convenient food storage. Or the Stasher reusable storage bags are made from silicone and are microwave and dishwasher-safe.
Do you have some clever, practical ways to avoid single-use plastics in everyday life? Send me a message to share your go-to products and strategies. Together, we can reduce plastic waste!
