How to have a plastic-free July

The average American goes through about five pounds of plastic a day. During the summer this can be especially obvious; beaches are littered with trash after hot days and if you forget to bring a bag to the farmer’s market, you’ll leave with armfuls of plastic to carry your produce. All of this plastic eventually ends up in landfills, where it will take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose. 

This doesn’t mean we should opt out of all summertime activities, but it does mean we need to stay conscious of our consumption of plastic as we enjoy summer fun. Participating in Plastic Free July is a great way to do this.  

Plastic Free July is a global movement, run by the Plastic Free Foundation, that encourages people to refuse single-use plastics during the month of July. With hundreds of millions of participants around the world, the challenge is an exciting way to contribute to reducing plastic waste in your community and educate yourself about environmentally-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic. 

Of course, going plastic-free is no small undertaking. Some alternatives can be hard to come by or impractical for your lifestyle. The Plastic Free July movement provides incredible resources for those interested in the challenge, proposing alternatives for many common items like straws, groceries, bakery items, and more. Guides for specific communities, like schools, workplaces, and local governments are also available. 

If you’re interested in participating in the challenge, it’s never too late to start. Plastic Free July is a great way to kick-start building positive habits and a plastic-free lifestyle. Here are some tips and ideas for getting started from the Plastic Free Foundation and my personal experience.

Start with what you can: Eliminating all plastic at once can be overwhelming and impractical. Make small changes and take it step by step.

Simple first swaps: 

• If you already have a reusable water bottle, consider a reusable coffee cup as a next step. Your favorite coffee shop can make your drink in your cup! 
• Switch out liquid soap for a bar of soap. This is easiest with hand soap, but shampoo and conditioner bars are also available.
• Choose to refuse plastic bags when you go shopping. Bring your own tote or reusable bag instead.
• Opt for loose produce at the grocery store. Avoid pre-packaged fruits and vegetables so you don’t have to toss all of that unnecessary plastic packaging.
• Consider alternatives to cling wrap when storing food. Try repurposing old jars or containers, beeswax wraps, or washable food storage bags.
• Avoid taking single-use plastic utensils when ordering food to-go. You can purchase your own reusable utensil kit to keep with you, or bring a utensil from home!

Take up the challenge with a friend: Asking a friend, family member, or coworker to join the Plastic Free July challenge with you makes it more fun, and you’ll be more likely to stick with it. 

Participating in Plastic Free July creates opportunities to learn about alternatives to plastic, benefit your community, and build environmentally friendly habits. As more people participate in the challenge, the voices pushing for systemic change in the single-use plastic industry are amplified. To take the challenge or learn more, visit the Plastic Free July movement’s website here. Enjoy your summer fun and your environmentally-conscious adventures!