Plastic Free July | Celebrating Imperfect Sustainability
July 1st marks the beginning of Plastic Free July, a month started by the Plastic Free Foundation that is dedicated to working towards a world free of plastic waste.
While this month might seem daunting — the phrase “plastic-free” can conjure some high anxiety when you start looking around your home and realizing how many single-use plastics you consume every day — but it’s really a time to take stock of your plastic waste, reflect, and take at least one step towards cutting down your consumption.
Here are some small steps you can take to limit your plastic consumption this month & beyond.
Avoid pre-packaged produce when you can | I’m a sucker for pre-packaged salads and mini peppers but their single-use plastic packaging is not recyclable and just ends up in the landfill. Buying loose produce cuts down plastic consumption and, if you have a local farmer’s market, allows you to support your local farmer’s and growers!
Keep cloth + canvas bags with you | Whether you keep them in your car or folded up in your purse or backpack, cloth and canvas bags are a great way to ensure you’re not accumulating more of those pesky plastic bags. And if you forget, always opt for paper over plastic! You can even reuse paper bags as gift wrap.
Buy in bulk when you can | For those living in Madison, Willy Street Co-op offers bulk dry goods while Green Life Trading Co. allows you to refill common household products!
Refuse straws + plasticware for takeout | If you’re ordering out, many restaurants allow you to opt out of plasticware and straws. Better yet, you can bring reusable straws and eating utensils with you whenever you know you’ll be dining on takeout. Plus, you can reuse takeout tupperware for your own leftovers!
Opt for laundry sheets over liquid detergent | Laundry sheets are highly concentrated and, better yet, do not come in large, bulky, plastic jugs. You can read more on this sustainable laundry swap in our previous blog post.
These are just a few tips but the key to any lifestyle change is making it sustainable for you. This means that not only is it taking into account the impact it has on the natural environment but also how it impacts your life. In other words, is it going to be sustainable for you? Because if it’s not something you can keep up with or sustain at this moment, it’s really not going to be truly sustainable. In reality, this month has an entry point for everyone at all different levels of sustainable living and we can all do something. So, what is the one next step you are going to take?
For more information and to take the challenge, visit Plastic Free July.
