The devastating effects that plastic has on our ecology, from piling up in landfills to infiltrating every corner of the ocean, cannot be understated. That’s why many of us are doing what we can to reduce our waste of plastic, and Plastic Free July is being propped up as the perfect month to see just how you can help build a better planet without having to sacrifice your quality of life as much as you might think. Here are ten ways to get involved, get started, and get inspired for a Plastic Free Month.
Reduce your shopping cart
One of the easiest solutions is to buy less plastic when you go grocery shopping to begin with. Buying more wholefoods is significantly better for your health, while buying single serving meals not only increases your plastic waste, but also costs a lot more. Buy your meat, fish, fruit and vegetables in bulk and you can make more meals from them, eating more healthily while spending less. Life’s a lot cleaner when you go package free, too.
Go for reusable container and products where you can
Challenge yourself to a no single-use life. Plastic straws, plastic water bottles, and plastic shopping bags fill up our bins and get in the way of the beautiful communities we could have without all that rubbish. There are reusable bottles, reusable cups, reusable straws, and reusable shopping bags all becoming a lot more common. If you make the switch for a month, you’ll see how easy it is reuse most of what you buy.
Stop buying bottled water
We all want to watch our water intake and to stay hydrated with safe water. However, plastic water bottles have skyrocketed as sources of plastic pollution. Instead of buying water, why not make your tap water all the better to drink? Filtered water removes any contaminants and ensures your water intake with zero waste implications. You can refill a glass jug time and time again with no issue.
Cut the soda
If you want to live a healthy lifestyle while at the same time creating a household focus on sustainability, then just look at what you’re drinking. Sodas, juices, and other plastic-bottle beverages are all highly common sources of disposable bottles. Not only will limiting your options create less plastic waste, but it will also ensure that you get the amount of water that you need.
Borrow and buy used
Sustainability is a key part of living a plastic free life. Rather than buying new, ensuring that more tools, appliances, and household items, buying second-hand items is a solution much better for the environment. Checking for used items first is one of the easiest new habits to incorporate and can save you plenty of money as well as helping the environment.
Don’t get rid of older plastic household goods without trying to refresh them first
If you have plastic goods, from accessories to utensils to appliances covered in plastic, you should do what you can to lengthen their lifespan before you consign them to the bin. A dab of Vaseline can be great for reducing them to their original sheen, much more effectively than soap and water alone. All you have to do is rub some Vaseline, or any other kind of petroleum based antibiotic ointment, leave it there for a minute, and wipe it back off. Or you can go the upcycle route and give household accessories a new design with some paint to truly bring it back to life.
Check for the recycle logo on your products
Some products can be difficult to buy without some form of plastic. However, checking to see that they have the recycle logo (a triangle made up of three arrows going around and around) can help you stick with those that have the least impact on the environment.
BYO to the coffee shop
Love stopping in for a coffee in the mornings, especially in the cold weather of July? If you simply need that caffeine boost to start the day, think green and bring your own mug with you. Takeaway cups are way too easy to throw away and though usually it’s only the lid that’s made of plastic, we can live on a much cleaner street by buying fewer of them to begin with. This bring your own, or BYO, concept can apply to much more than your morning coffee, too, so try think up your own plastic free ideas.
Make your own ingredients instead of buying them
Though it takes a little care and maintenance, it really doesn’t take too much effort to start growing zucchinis, cucumbers, and tomatoes in your own garden or greenhouse, which you can use to make all kinds of relishes and ketchups. You can even store them in glass jars that can be reused time and time again. Do your research on how to make mayonnaise and mustard and you will soon see that they’re quite simple to make as well. If you’re making a dessert or you simply love your Nutella, you can go the green root by buying sustainably packaged chocolate and melting it quickly in a pan, too.
Get your friends and family
Hopefully, the tips above have inspired you to challenge yourself, and perhaps even to raise awareness amongst your friends and family. This is a global movement that could use all the support it can get to reduce our plastic consumption, so new advocates are always warmly welcomed. It’s a lot easier to check your worst habits by making sure that men and women of all ages are involved, creating a truly plastic free household.
From reusable alternatives to the better handling of your household rubbish, there are tons of ways to live a Plastic Free Month without too much hassle. You might even have a few new plastic-free ideas for yourself after getting inspiration from the ideas above. If so, then don’t hesitate to share them. Living a plastic free life isn’t as difficult as it might seem, and the more people that share that fact around, the more people we’re going to have joining the movement.