PLASTIC FREE JULY
Hopefully by now, we are all WELL aware of the impending doom that plastic has on our planet...
THE PROBLEM:
We live in a plastic world. Everything around us is covered in or made of plastic. From toothbrushes to food packaging, to dreaded straws and water bottles. You might not even realize it but many of the fabrics of the clothes you wear are also made of man-made fibers that are made of - you guessed it - plastic. Plastic rivers feed directly into the ocean, get consumed by marine life and birds, killing our wildlife, break down even further into micro plastics which we then consume, and we don’t even know the repercussions that has on our systems yet, but let me tell you, its bad news bears.
Every pieces of plastic ever made still exists. There is enough plastic in existence to wrap the entire Earth in, and if that isn’t asphyxiating, I don’t know what is.
Look, I’m not saying that living plastic free is easy, or that I even do it myself 100%. But if we all made a tiny effort to reduce our consumption and reuse what we already have, I know we can make a difference.
THE CHALLENGE:
Did you know scientists estimate that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans? That just does not align with the vision of the ocean I keep in my mind. The Earth Carers Waste Education team seems to imagine the same fish filled ocean that I envision and decided to do something about it and in 2011 Plastic Free July was born. From the simple idea of refusing single-use plastic during July an award-winning campaign was born.
The best way to reduce plastic pollution is to refuse, rethink and reduce what we consume. Taking part in Plastic Free July is an easy way to learn the skills to reduce and avoid the use of plastic. When you sign up for Plastic Free July, you can choose to:
Avoid single-use packaging
Quit the top-4 takeaways (plastic bottles, disposable coffee cups, plastic bags and straws)
Go completely plastic free
When you officially sign up for the challenge, you’ll receive support and weekly tips that others have said helped to keep them motivated and held accountable for all month long. There are over 120 million participants worldwide who are actively increasing their awareness of this harrowing subject and educating themselves on the many options of a plastic free lifestyle!
THE SOLUTION:
Make small, achievable changes in your life that you can actually stick to. We are surrounded by plastic, and it can feel daunting to make such a drastic change, when we have become so accustomed to the convenience it provides.
Here are a few of my favorite (and very accessible) ways to switch some of your regularly used plastic items to more sustainable options:
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, I HAVE ROUNDED UP AN ENTIRE COLLECTION OF SUSTAINABLE, PLASTIC FREE PRODUCTS WHICH YOU CAN EASILY ACCESS ON MY AMAZON SHOP HERE.
