It’s Plastic Free July! Top tips for reducing your plastic usage.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Plastic Free July™ is a global movement, ran by the Plastic Free Foundation, that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution.

Plastic Free July™ asks people around the world to take a pledge to reduce their plastic usage. Visit their website to find out how to get involved, make a pledge, and take their ‘Pesky Plastic Quiz’ which helps them track trends in plastic usage and helps you to make your pledge.

Plastic Free July – Be Part of the Plastic Pollution Solution

This blog will give some top tips on getting started with reducing your plastic usage. Want to know more about the plastic pollution crisis? Read our first blog.

🥤Trying to reduce your plastic usage? Here are some of our top tips for starting your plastic free journey.

• Carry a reusable coffee cup or flask. In 2019, an estimated 4.2 billion disposable coffee cups and 2.9 billion cup lids were sold in the UK of these, less than 7% were recycled (WRAP, 2022). Reusable coffee cups and flasks are widely available in supermarkets, coffee shops and, due to their abundance, they can also be found in near new condition in charity shops. Once you own a reusable coffee cup, make sure to take care of it and resist buying into the latest trends – you only need one!

• Switch out the teabags for loose leaf tea or teabags that are suitable for home composting. The majority of teabags contain hidden plastics such as glues used to seal the bags, in the fabric of the bag itself, or in the packaging. This plastic then ends up in landfill or contaminating our soil if accidently composted. Loose leaf tea can be purchased from most major supermarkets or there are some great independent tea companies to try too.

• Reduce the plastic in your weekly food shop. Where possible, try to buy your fruits and vegetables loose instead of in plastic packaging. Local grocers tend to be better at this than the big supermarkets or you can try a vegetable delivery service. Baked goods, meat, and fish can also often be brought without plastic packaging. Also, remember to take your reusable shopping bags with you and consider investing in or making reusable produce bags to make shopping without plastic more convenient.

• When buying new clothes, opt for natural fibres instead of synthetic clothing. The most sustainable clothing is the clothing you already own followed by shopping second-hand. However, if you do need to purchase a new garment opting for natural fibres (such as cotton and linen) instead of synthetic fibres (such as polyester and nylon) can reduce your plastic pollution. This is because synthetic fibres are made of plastics and, when washed, leach microplastics into the water system. Synthetic fibres also don’t break down and end up in landfills or polluting our environment.

•  If you require them, consider swapping to reusable sanitary products. A person using single-use applicators, tampons, and sanitary pads will buy over 10,000 in a lifetime with each one containing single-use plastic and taking hundreds of years to break down. Reusable products such as reusable cotton pads, period underwear, and menstrual cups can reduce your plastic pollution whilst also saving you money in the long run.

🐢But what is our top tip?

Aim to be a conscientious consumer by being mindful of the social, environmental, and economic impacts of your purchases. Prioritise quality and ethical practices over quantity and impulse buys and extend the life of your goods through care and repair. When you’re done with an item consider whether it is still in a usable condition and if it is pass it to a friend or donate it to a charity shop.

We can’t be perfect consumers but we can take steps to be more mindful of our purchasing habits. If everyone takes positive steps, together we can make a real difference!