Plastic Free July
Do you ever have the nagging feeling you ought to be doing more for the environment? Does it seem hard to live the eco-friendly lifestyle to which you aspire? If you feel stuck, then you’re not alone. Be reassured – it’s actually easier than you think to make a difference. You just need to set your goal and take small but deliberate steps in the right direction. A little action taken by millions of people can add up to make a massive difference.
Plastic Free July is an opportunity for you to take part in the tidal wave of change that is happening. This July, millions of people are united by the purpose of combating plastic pollution. The Plastic Free July movement aims to raise international environmental awareness and promote “cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities”. Across the world, people are choosing to form new habits to reduce plastic waste. They want to spark change so that we can live in a world with clean beaches and a healthy ecosystem.
How could you reduce your waste? Whether it’s still July or not when you’re reading this, your contribution will be worthwhile. Every bit of plastic avoided is significant. Whether you’ve long been refusing plastic straws and preaching about saving turtles or are new to the whole problem, there’s more you can do. Could you spread the word about Plastic Free July by sharing this post with your friends? We need to raise even greater awareness that we must reject single-use plastics.
Why go plastic-free?
It’s probably not the first time you have seen a picture of tangled nets and plastic straws washed up on a polluted beach. However, my awareness of the issue of single-use plastic has expanded massively since starting the journey towards a Zero Waste lifestyle. Maybe, like me, you were not aware of the scale of the problem. So, why is it so important to reduce our plastic waste?
I have written about the threat plastic debris is to our oceans, but it also poses a threat to us. Giving up plastic is for the benefit of our health as well as the health of the planet. Plastic breaks down into microscopic particles which filter down into the ecosystem. These ‘microplastics’ are small enough to even fall in the rain. The full impact of microplastics is still emerging, and recent research has shown that plastic is being absorbed by fruit and vegetables. With microplastics having been found in almost all food and water, we are now unwittingly eating them.
What can we do?
How can we continue to ingest plastic each day while adding to the problem? We all need to choose a better way forward. Living with so much plastic waste no longer feels congruent. Taking on the Plastic Free July challenge is my response. I want to understand how dependent my life is on plastic and how I can change.
For this reason, I have decided to live entirely plastic-free in July. I am committing to buying nothing made of plastic or that comes wrapped in plastic. I won’t be throwing away plastic items that I already have – that would cause unnecessary waste! It’s not going to be easy, and my interpretation of Plastic Free July might be considered extreme, but I want to see what is possible. I will be sharing my insights to help you make changes, however small.
It is encouraging that others around the globe are also trying to make a difference by saying “no” to more plastic. Will you join the movement? I have been preparing myself through June and working to find alternatives to the products that will now be off-limits. I share some tips below to help you make your preparations.
How to start?
When starting Plastic Free July, you need to plan for success. Which replacement items will you buy and where will you shop? The Plastic Free July website is an excellent place to look for ideas. Also, one of the easiest ways to reduce your plastic use is just to buy less and a thrifty month will save you money too! When you are shopping, consider supporting local independent businesses. I find that smaller shops are more likely to sell local produce with less plastic packaging.
When you decide to avoid plastic, you will start to see it everywhere. Walking into a supermarket now, I am overwhelmed by the amount of plastic in front of me. Planning will help you keep focus. Please, don’t be put off if you don’t have much time to spare; you should just consider what sort of Plastic Free July you can take on. Here are a few ideas.
Focus on a single-use item
If you don’t have much time to dedicate to making changes, you may want to start by focusing on replacing just one or two types of single-use plastic with reusable alternatives. There are several examples which many people use every day. What kind of July will you choose?
Plastic Straw Free July
When you’re in a bar ordering cocktails, remember that usually these are served with plastic straws. Plastic straws can be very harmful to wildlife. Ask for no plastic straws before making your order, or even better, tell them you’re taking part in Plastic Free July. Requesting your drink without a plastic straw doesn’t mean you need to go without; bring a reusable straw.
Plastic Bag Free July
Plastic bags can also be dangerous for wildlife. Did you know that many plastic bags end up in the sea where turtles can eat them mistaking them for jellyfish? We don’t need to go through so many plastic bags. If you have a small number of bags that you reuse, you will cause much less waste. Fold some up really small and put them in a coat pocket or handbag. It’s also handy to keep some sturdier bags in the boot of your car.
Takeaway Cup Free July
You might think disposable coffee cups are made from paper, but there is also a layer of plastic inside to make them waterproof! Buying a reusable coffee cup to use again and again, or choosing to dine-in instead, saves a lot of waste. I already have a thermos flask, but if I were to choose again, I would go for a Klean Kanteen or one of these beautiful cups.
Plastic Bottle Free July
If you buy a bottle of water when on the go, keep it to reuse; you will reduce single-use plastic waste and also save money! You can buy refillable aluminium bottles, but using an old plastic one is just as good. In the UK, you can go into many shops and ask to refill your water bottle for free. Check out the Refill App for a map of places which are part of the scheme. Also, I find carrying a water bottle in my handbag reminds me to keep hydrated.
Alternatively, avoid all plastics
If you choose to avoid all plastic for July like me, first imagine how you could spend one day without plastic. A lot of things we already have supplies of in the house. Fortunately, those things we can simply solve for now by not buying any more. Most of us, however, won’t have a month’s worth of food.
Consequently, you will need to find out what options you have for buying food without plastic packaging. If you’re going to be strict, then most canned food and drinks are out as well as they contain a thin plastic coating on the inside. Cutting out plastic may mean giving up types of food that you can’t get without plastic in your area. For example, I am going to have a Cream Free July as I haven’t yet found a way of getting it plastic-free.
Here is a daily food plan you can adapt based on what you can find:
Breakfast
Milk and cereal might be hard for you to get plastic-free. Try and get milk in returnable glass bottles and avoid boxes of cereal which contain a plastic bag inside. Porridge oats are available in most Zero Waste shops. See what you can find and try the options below.
Dairy Free July
Essential Ingredients
Porridge Oats and Water
Cereal Free July
Essential Ingredients
Self-raising flour (or plain flour and baking powder), Sugar, Eggs and Milk
Lunch
Bread and pasta both normally come in plastic bags in the supermarket. Try to get pasta from your Zero Waste shop or look for Barilla pasta just in a cardboard box. Plastic Free Bread will be available in bakeries or you could make your own!
If you buy your pasta sauce in a glass jar watch out for “tamper proof” plastic around the lid. Alternatively, make a roux from flour, milk and butter or chop up some tomatoes and onion and cook with some herbs you have at home.
Bread Free July
Essential Ingredients
Pasta, Pasta sauce and your choice of vegetables bought loose.
Pasta Free July
Essential Ingredients
Large Baking Potato or Bread, Mayonnaise, tuna and sweetcorn
Dinner
Dairy and meat are difficult to find without single-use plastic. Try bringing containers to your local butcher and contact a local dairy farm to see what they can sell you plastic-free. Butter wrapped in foil has a thin plastic lining so look for it wrapped in grease-proof paper. I am excited to try this recipe for a cake that doesn’t require butter.
Dairy Free July
Essential Ingredients
Risotto rice, Oil,
Onions, White wine, Stock, Salt & Pepper, and
your choice of vegetables bought loose.
Butter Free July
Essential Ingredients
Self-raising flour, Baking powder, Rapeseed oil, Caster sugar, Eggs, Vanilla essence and Jam
Meat Free July
Essential Ingredients
For the dough: Strong white flour,
yeast, table salt and oil
Toppings: Chopped tomatoes (or passata) and vegetables of your choice.
Plastic Bottle Free July
A glass bottle of wine should be plastic free – be careful it doesn’t have a plastic cork though!
Join the Plastic Free July movement
Will you take the Plastic Free July challenge with me? You could try giving up all plastic just for a shorter period if that is more manageable or stick to avoiding a type of single-use plastic that you know often ends up in your bin. I urge you to make a small change and join the millions taking action to avoid single-use plastic this July. Your consumer choices can be part of the ripple effect that causes larger social awareness and paves the way for a more sustainable future. International awareness of the challenge that plastic poses continues to grow, and now is the time to take action. Break free from plastic this July.
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