A movement of zero single-use plastic is dominating our Instagram feeds as people join together to reduce their plastic usage.
This initiative from the Plastic Free foundation started as a small grassroots movement in Western Australia in 2011, and has taken on momentum to become a global phenomenon. While the seas are choking with our exponential growth of plastic production, reality hits. The predictions are that by 2050 that there will be more plastic than wildlife in the ocean. This movement is challenging nations, changing habits and principles about buying and using plastics. Rebecca Prince Ruiz, who founded Plastic Free July, is confident that despite the scale of the problem ‘small actions can make big impacts’.
Around the world 1 million plastic drinking bottles are being purchased every minute and up to five billion plastic bags are used every day (UN Environment, 2018) it is time to give up these single-use, land fill bound items and carry our reusable alternatives with us. The Plastic Free July’s website invites participants to pledge their commitment based on their goals. For those starting out on the journey or those who are plastic free savvy the campaign gives tips and encouragements on how to make improvements in different areas of your life. Looking at everything from nappies and tea bags in the home, to engaging your local community and policy change. The website also has heaps of materials that you can use in an education or industry environment to help your spaces become greener and single use plastic free.
Another part of the campaign is to ‘Choose to refuse’ saying no to that plastic bag at the supermarket and that straw that is centimetres away from your smoothie, in this way you are also showing the industries that you do not want their plastic but that you want change. In the UK, this week there has been a large response to the BBC’s documentary ‘War on Plastic’ challenge where consumers have been giving back their plastic packaging to supermarkets branded with their comments and sharing on social media- #OurPlasticFeedback. People are starting to realise that recycling does not always do what it promises, with only 5% of plastics being effectively recycled.
Image: Jack Johnson – at one of his plastic free shows at the Santa Barbara Bowl
With over 120 million participants Plastic Free July is sweeping the world in all different aspects of life, helping turn the tide on plastic. Last week, the singer Jack Johnson was helping to fly the flag at Glastonbury festival as the Plastic Free July ambassador. Johnson consistently works internally within the music industry to reduce waste.
Instagram feed #PlasticFreeJuly2019 Image: Instagram
Check out people’s journeys with being plastic free this July on social media and join the conversation using #PlasticFreeJuly
My Plastic Free July
This Plastic Free July, I have been using my garden grown herbs to make some fresh salads such as this mint tabbouleh, as part of my dad’s birthday lunch.
Carrying on my creative streak I have been using some natural dyes such as turmeric and coffee to create birthday cards.
I have been busy upcycling my old face mask and cream jars, so they are not single-use plastic items, into cactus pots. They are currently decorating my room.
I always carry a few re-useable bags with me and I have made an effort to shop at local markets to make my shop plastic free and have tried out some bulk store alternatives. I love bulk stores as the ingredients is free and you can take your own containers.
How are you doing your part in Plastic Free July?
Check out some more tips and tricks for living a sustainable lifestyle at @sustain.create
Melisa Gooding (@melgooding + @sustain.create) – my writing is inspired by my love affair with the ocean and the natural world. I am a geography graduate who wants to inspire people to make conscious choices in their lives.
