We’re all gonna fail. Encouraging right?!

Actually it’s meant to be. Sometimes being realistic is encouraging, because we’re not shooting for something we can’t hit. So I’m here for a #plasticfreejuly pep talk!  I LOVE the month of July for putting this on the radar more, but if you’re not fully plastic free you can still take part and still be encougaraged about what you’re doing. 

Plastic free is impossible. Even if we try, the world is pretty set up for plastic use. If we shoot for fully plastic free we’re gonna fail. Example: We just clarified (twice) that we wanted our coffee in a real mug and instead got not one but two disposable cups for one cup of coffee, with plastic linings. Fail. 

I downed ibuprofen yesterday that I can only get in a plastic bottle. But for a few hours a month I can only parent my children with ibuprofen in my blood stream. Fail. 

Newsflash: You’re gonna use plastic this month and so am I. It’s about the journey though and we can ALL win at that, right?!

So don’t feel bad this month for your plastic use, but think about what you CAN do! Maybe you just take your coffee plastic free, maybe you just move to only buying plastic you can recycle. Maybe you try to buy no food in plastic. I’m celebrating you whatever you’re doing, and challenging you to take one more step this July! 

Here are some top easy tips to start reducing your plastic use this July! 

1. It’s free, it’s easy, but also maybe the most underused tool in going plastic free. You wanna know? It’s your VOICE! Saying no is magical in reducing plastic use! Promise. Just say no to the water bottle and wait for a tap. Say no to the packaged snack. Say no thanks to something this month that you’re offered in plastic! See what you can say no to and tell me!

2. Opt a similar choice to your norm but one that’s plastic free but doesn’t take much effort to change. If apples only come in a 5lb bag in plastic but oranges you can get loose… go for oranges! Or if romaine is out of plastic but washed spinach is in a tub, make your salads with romaine once this month!

3. Just research one thing that you do that you could with to reusables instead of plastic. You don’t even have to make the switch (bonus points if you do though!) but researching will make all the difference to taking a step forward. Maybe it’s a coffee mug (my fave), maybe it’s taking a water bottle with you, maybe it’s menstrual supplies,  maybe it’s ziplock bags maybe it’s reusable bulk bags. Or if there’s a place you use plastic that you don’t know what the switch would be… email me! Just research the other option – once you know it and how to buy it, you’ll be ready and more likely to switch when you’re ready. 

4. Ask a friend! Do you have a friend who’s a ‘no plastic’ person?! Ask THEM for ideas – especially if they’re local to you. Plus, once your’e on this journey having a friend with you is SO much more fun and makes it a ton easier! 

5. Reduce your fish and meat intake. Yep, I’m still talking plastic! Of the plastic in the ocean… a shockingly high percentage is fishing equipment, did you know that?! And if you’re more about meat than fish – in the US meat and dairy has to be sold in plastic. Very few of us have access to it not packaged that way so even doing a meatless Monday or reducing your intake will help. Look at this meatless chili recipe that’s one of our go to’s for a plant based but hearty staple! 

6. Educate yourself and watch a documentary! Information really is one of the best ways to push ourselves towards change. Two I’d highly recommend are The War on Plastic from the BBC  and A Plastic Ocean. They don’t feel like hippie propaganda for a weird lifestyle 😉 they’re really good, real information about how our choices affect the planet which ultimately means people, and ourselves. They really help make change feel easier!

 

You might also like to read:

• Zero Waste Travel: how we navigate travel while keeping waste low.
• 10 Zero Waste essentials for under $20
• “What do you Use For __________” Our go to product choices around the home.

 

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