How to start removing single use plastic from your life
You have likely heard about Plastic Free July if you are reading this.
If you haven’t, it started as a challenge in Australia in 2011. The movement has since expanded to over 150 cities with millions of participants worldwide.
The goal of Plastic Free July movement is to challenge people to not use any single-use plastics during the month. With the hope that it helps them form more sustainable habits beyond just July.
First
Decide if your going to remove one single-use plastic, multiple single-use plastics or all single-use plastic for the month of July. If you haven’t started removing single-use plastic removing all or multiple can be a daunting and discouraging task.
You can start small and work your way up over time. Every little bit counts.
If you have already removed some single-use plastic from your life, challenge yourself to remove more.
Second
Have kit of reusables handy at all times. Depending on what single-use plastic your trying remove in your challenge here is a list of ideas:
- Reusable water bottle
- Reusable coffee cup
- Reusable bags
- Reusable containers
- Reusable utensils
- Reusable straw
- Reusable food wrap
- Reusable all steel razors
- Soap bars and shampoo bars
- Deodorant in cardboard tubes or glass jars
- Menstrual cup or reusable period panties
Last
Have a plan. Ask yourself, what’s the best option? Do I need it? Can I buy what I am looking for without packaging? What businesses are known for disposables? Are there alternatives? This gets easier with practice. The basic zero waste frameworks can help you as well.
Kindly request your order without. Turn them down before they even get touched or handed over.
It’s good to have what you’re going to say, though out in advance.
For example, “I am challenging myself not to use any single-use plastics” or “I am doing the Plastic Free July Challenge”.
The key is to be prepared for anything.
If you’re doing this challenge and you have kids make sure to talk to them about it. A simple reminder before entering a shop might do it.
Just the other day, my wife and I agreed to buy some candy for kids and forgot to mention it before hand. Before you know it they have their heart set on some way over-packaged candy in a plastic. In the moment, it’s really hard for a young kid to be rational about it.
A simple head’s up may have made it easier, like “pick something without packaging or something in simple paper packaging” before heading in to the shop. Going to a bulk candy store would have also been an easy fix.
Bring your own Bottle
An easy place to start and a basic low waste staple is the water bottle. Disposable plastic bottles are always near the top of the top 10 finds on coastal and beach cleanups.
Use what you have. If you have a water bottle, use that water bottle until it becomes unusable.
if you don’t have a water bottle, plastic free is the way to go! Stainless Steel or glass are my favourites. Buy quality, something that will last. Something that you truly like, something you won’t forget at home and that you will be happy carrying around.
If your local tap water isn’t the best, consider a filter or a bottle with a built-in filter. They even make straws with built in filters.
Bring your own Cup
Another easy one is your coffee cup. Bring your own favourite travel mug or cup. Make sure it’s clean and kindly request it in your own container.
If you happen to forget it, slow down and enjoy it at the cafe. Be sure to ask for ceramic mug as they often default to single-use cups.
Bring your own Bags
Not only do you want an assortment of shopping and produce bags handy, make sure they are always available.
Have them stashed in multiple locations so you never forget. In your home, car, on your bike, at your office, in your locker and in your work or school bag. Be ready for anything that comes up.
I keep them at the door so I never leave home without them.
Bring your own Containers
For your homemade lunch, snacks, restaurant left overs or grabbing take out, use long lasting containers. Stainless steel are my favourites.
Choose bulk for snacks instead of plastic wrapped ones.
Kindly request take out in your own containers. Make sure they are clean. Find out if they will before ordering. If they won’t do it, order in and transfer it yourself.
Bring your own Cutlery or Utensils
Have your own to avoid the single-use plastic ones. Stainless Steel or Bamboo are great, bamboo is a must for air travel.
Make sure to turn down the plastic ones before they give them to you as they may not take them back.
Skip the Straw or Bring your own
Kindly request no straw. Otherwise bring your own. I like the Stainless ones best. Glass and bamboo are good to. Paper ones can be a last resort.
Use Reusable food Wrap
Try more sustainable options for what ever you need to wrap, like leftovers from your favourite restaurant. You may not need these if you already have a container but sometimes these less bulky solutions are key.
- Beeswax wrap
- Silicone zip locks
- Cotton bags
- Clean dish cloth works quite well for many applications
- Last resort option, aluminium foil as it can be recycled
Reusable or low waste personal care
Switch up your routine. Many items in your daily routine are made of plastic or come in plastic.
Swap them with with these ideas:
- Reusable all steel razors
- Soap bars and shampoo bars
- Luffa sponges
- Bamboo toothbrushes
- Tooth paste in glass jars or metal tubes
- Eco friendly cosmetics in cardboard tubes or glass jars
- Deodorant in cardboard tubes or glass jars
- Menstrual cup or reusable period panties
In the end join the movement, challenge yourself to a Plastic Free July
Let July be your month to leap into the wonderful world of reusables, instead of disposables. Consume less but better. These long lasting enjoyable products combined with the month long challenge can help change your habits. Before you know it, you will do these for life.
Do your best. Inspire others. Share your journey. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Every little bit helps in the big picture. Everyone encounters hiccups along the way. Finally, have fun with it.
Enjoy the plastic free challenge. Please share on your socials or even better subscribe below for regular updates. Thanks for reading,
Pat
Pat is a Ski Patroller/Avalanche Technician with a keen interest in design and sustainable living due to a longtime passion for the outdoors. Seeing glaciers melt, seasons change, summer skies full of smoke and beach pollution first hand, motivate him to make a difference.
As Yvon Chouinard Founder of Patagonia says “If you are not part of the solution, you are still part of the problem”.