1) Avoid Single-Use Packaging 

Single-use plastics are among the most wasteful because they are used once before they’re thrown away.  

The biggest contributors to plastic waste are the Big Four—straws, plastics bags, plastic bottles, and takeaway packaging, like coffee cups and plastic wrappers. It can take thousands of years for the plastic to decompose.  

In the process, they break down into tiny pieces of plastic known as microplastics, which slowly make their way into our soil and ocean. These toxic materials can be mistaken as food by animals and are consumed by our fish, birds, and wildlife.   

There’s actually a simple way to avoid using single-use plastic. That brings us to the next point….

2) Refuse Plastic Straws

Say no to plastic straws when you can! 

On average, Americans are estimated to use 1 straw per day. This translates into 500 million plastic straws that are disposed of every day.  

Plastic straws are one of the most common litter found in beaches, yet most people don’t bother to dispose them properly. Instead, they choose to leave it lying in the sand, with high chances of it being washed into the ocean and getting stuck in the nostril of some poor sea turtle.  

Say Yes to reusable straws instead! They come in all types—stainless steel, bamboo, silicone, and glass. Stainless steel straws are great for sipping on iced drinks, and silicone straws are popular for their bendable properties, making them very easy to store and carry around. By getting your very own reusable straw, you’re one step closer to practicing a plastic-free month! 

You can check out other types of reusable straws here.

3) Bring Your Own Bag

Invest in a tote bag or hemp bag to bring along the next time you go out shopping. Bags that are made from natural materials like cotton, jute, or hemp are all great choices.  

An easy way is to make it a habit to carry a reusable bag each time you head out, so you always have a bag ready if you’re making a quick visit to the store.  

Even if you have a cart full of groceries and only 1-2 reusable bags, this already saves 3 plastic bags!

If you already have a stash of plastic bags at home, you can recycle those as well. Some department and thrift stores accept reused plastic bags as long as they are clean and dry. Alternatively, you can also reuse them for your next grocery run.

4) Bring Your Own Bottle

Another great and easy way to reduce plastic waste is to bring your own bottle. A stainless steel water bottle is a great choice for keeping your coffee warm and juice cold, all while eliminating any need for bottled caps or plastic containers.  

Bottle caps are one of the biggest contributors to plastic waste in the ocean. Marine wildlife often mistake these for food and die from ingesting the toxic materials in it. On average, plastic pollution kills 100 million marine creatures each year.  

By bringing your own reusable bottle, you are making a positive impact to reduce the pollution in our seas and oceans. 

5) Living Plastic Free

Once you’ve successfully tackled the big four culprits of plastic waste, you can start upgrading your lifestyle with more sustainable practices.  

This is a good opportunity to join a zero waste group or a local community that recycles regularly. They often have beach clean-ups or organize talks on plastic-free products that you can join to improve your knowledge on environmental sustainability. Living plastic-free goes beyond single-usage plastic, as you can also choose to use plastic-free shampoo, soap, kitchen utensils, and food produce.  

Plastic Free July encourages all participants to go beyond reducing plastic in their home. Whether it’s at your workplace, school, neighborhood, or local park, continue to challenge yourself. Bring reusable mugs to squad hangouts for your friends or buy them reusable straws for their birthday.  

It doesn’t take just one person to make this world plastic-free, but a whole community. The next time you feel tempted to grab a plastic bottle because you didn’t have enough time to pack that morning, dine in instead. All the plastic that was ever produced since the 1950’s is still present in the environment one way or another.  

This month, step outside your comfort zone and rope in your friends, family, and colleagues to participate in Plastic Free July. Do a positive shoutout and spread the word on social media with the hashtag #PlasticFreeJuly2021!