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How to Plastic Free July
Join us in going plastic free this July (and beyond)! While the annual Plastic Free July campaign is a timely reminder to ditch single-use plastics, we should always be looking for ways to make habits last. Get inspiration, tips, tricks and creative ways to go plastic-free so you too can be part of the change. We promise these won’t affect how much fun you can have, or limit you in any way… The ultimate key is to be open to planning!
Take Reusable Bags Everywhere
It takes less than a second to get into the habit of bringing reusable bags with you when shopping, so set yourself up for success by pre-placing bags all over your home, car, office and in your handbag or backpack. This is also a great technique for those unexpected stop-offs to pick up a few quick supplies. Nowadays we’re spoilt for choice with super cool looking reusable bags that double duty as an accessory, like this Organic Cotton Market Bag or this Cotton Net Tote Bag.
Try New Personal Care Products
It’s easy to lose count of the plastic bottles of body wash, shampoo, deodorant, moisturiser, hand soap etc. coming and going from your bathroom. While many personal care items in plastic packaging aren’t technically single-use plastics, many are non-recyclable, which can be just as bad. Use Plastic Free July as your excuse to start exploring some different options. Here are some of our go-to plastic-free personal care items:
Plastic Free Period
If you have a relatively regular cycle, chances are that during July you’ll have a period. Most sanitary items count as single-use plastics but we’re lucky that some period pioneers out there have come up with more sustainable alternatives for that time of month. The Hello Cup is a complete game changer when it comes to your period. Not only will it last for years and save you heaps of moolah on other sanitary items, it’s also good for the environment, holds more than tampons and is unbelievably comfortable (as in, you can’t even feel it).
Refuse Freebies
Turn down flyers, freebies, party favours, business cards, single-use plastics and junk mail. Accepting these things not only creates a demand to make more, they are a waste of resources and once brought into your home, they require effort to dispose of later.
BYOC
Bring Your Own Cup. July is notoriously wintry and there’s nothing quite like a hot cuppa on your way to work or when out and about in the weekend. To keep your daily coffee shop trip plastic-free, Bring Your Own Reusable Cup, thermos or jar. All cafes are on board the plastic free movement now too, so asking to get your order in your own cup is no inconvenience.
Another bright idea for Plastic Free July is to Bring Your Own Container to your local takeaway restaurant. This requires a small amount of planning to avoid extra plastic usage, and may encourage companies to think about their plastic consumption too.
BYOB
With a million plastic bottles being bought around the world every minute, and this number set to increase by another 20% by 2021, it’s high time to Bring Your Own Bottle – the plastic free tool that’s always got your back! It’s convenient to buy a new plastic water bottle when you’re out and about, only to discard of it after one use. A reusable water bottle made from stainless steel, glass or safe aluminium will help you avoid single-use plastic, which is better for the environment and better for your own health too. If you do forget to BYOB, don’t panic. Alternative options are to find a fountain, ask a cafe for a glass of water, or purchase a glass bottle and reuse it.
Package Free Snacks
A huge source of single-use plastics comes in the form of pre-packaged snacks like nuts, seeds and bars. You can get all of the same nutrients and flavour from our Snacks section, or reach for a piece of fruit when you’ve got a hankering for a snack. If you’re up for an afternoon in the kitchen, you could experiment with making your own snack bars using our huge range of bulk ingredients – we have pretty much everything you could need! Shop online here.
