Plastic is out and sustainable alternatives are in and there’s no better time to 'choose to refuse' single use plastic than Plastic Free July.
Plastic Free July aims to raise awareness of the problems with plastic and get individuals and organisations thinking about the amount of plastics in our lives.
The zero-waste movement goes on every day - but if there's any time to get started, it's now. For the entire month of July, people all over the world will take part in Plastic Free July.
Planning ahead is the easiest way to reduce your plastic waste. Plus it takes 28 days to make a habit. By then, you’ll be so used to bringing your own to-go cup to the coffee shop, you won’t even remember disposables exist.
A great place to start is by taking on plastic bags, water bottles, straws, and coffee cups.
You don’t have to be 100% plastic free to take part, just committed to reducing your household’s reliance on single use plastics. It’s a great way to kick-start new habits and begin to understand how much single use plastic you’re really responsible for generating.
Easy tips to go plastic free in July
We have plenty of ideas and opportunities for you to do things differently so here’s a list of our favourite plastic free swaps which will have you being an earth warrior in no time.
- Take a stainless steel water bottle to fill from the tap wherever you go. Or choose a 100% biodegradable cup like our bamboo or coconut cups.
- Look for plastic-free packaging at the supermarket. Make sure you take your own reusable shopping bags.
- Wrap your leftovers in beeswax wraps (you can even make your own) or use a glass jar or container.
- Choose reusable coffee cups.
- Brush better with a bamboo toothbrush
- Skip the straw and choose a reusable bamboo straw. Each year, Australians discard millions of plastic straws.
Use more reusable products such as glass jars, wood utensils, and use metal tin lunch boxes and containers for storage. Avoid highly processed foods and begin using homemade recipes.
Get Started With These 3 Simple Swaps
Avoid Plastic Shopping Bags
Reusable shopping bags are a fantastic alternative to single-use plastic bags. It’s a great idea to keep a stash of your reusable bags somewhere where you’ll remember them; like in the boot of your car or by your front door. You can also get into the habit of writing a reminder to yourself at the start of each grocery shopping list.
Say No To Plastic Bottles
Avoiding buying single-use plastic water bottles is as simple as carrying your own reusable alternative with you. Be sure to choose a socially-responsible and environmentally-friendly alternative, such as a reusable bottle made from stainless steel, glass, or bamboo.
Buy Loose Fruit And Vegetables
Buying plastic-wrapped or packaged fruits and vegetables can be convenient, but unfortunately it creates plastic waste. Instead, look out for loose fruit and vegetables in your local grocery store, or head to a farmers market or organic store where plastic packaging is less often used.
You're doing great!
Keep a positive attitude, and tell people in your life how excited you are to be reducing your contribution to plastic pollution this month. You can also spread the word on social media using the hashtag #PlasticFreeJuly.
Even if you only manage to reduce your plastic consumption by a small amount this July, adopting any of these habits is a fantastic step towards shifting your mindset towards plastic consumption.
Remember To Bring Your Own Coconut Bowl
Be part of the plastic solution and bring your own coconut bowl, cups and bamboo straws to take part throughout the month. We have lots of plastic free goodies for you to really make a difference during Plastic Free July.
The Plastic Free July movement has inspired an estimated 326 million participants in 177 countries. Making a small change will collectively make a massive difference to our communities.
Head on over to Plastic Free July and make a pledge on what you’d like to give up this July. I highly encourage anyone to participate, but especially share it with your friends on the fence about zero waste living.
Check out all our plastic free alternatives here. Happy Plastic Free July!