Launched in 2011, Plastic Free July wants to help us clean up our streets and oceans as part of the fight against the climate crisis. 

Last year 174 million people participated in the movement worldwide, making it the biggest waste avoidance campaign on the planet. Alongside individuals, thousands of businesses and organisations took part by engaging with their customers and supply chains to reduce plastic use in their processes. 

To learn more about the movement, you can visit their website here. 

How can you get involved? 

It may sound like a difficult challenge to go plastic free for a month, but there are some easy swaps you can make to your daily life. Here are our top five tips: 

1. Heading to the shops? 

It’s commonplace for most of us to take reusable shopping bags with us when we go to the supermarket. But do you take them with you when you go to other shops? Why not take a tote bag with you next time you go shopping? After all, reusable shopping bags are not just for the supermarket, they’re for all shops. 

2. Cosmetics and body care 

Take a look at your bathroom cabinet. How many of your products are housed in single use plastic? From shampoo and conditioner to body wash and toothbrushes, single use plastic is all over the bathroom. There are many companies, such as Lush, selling shampoo and conditioner in solid bar form without plastic. You could consider switching to a refillable deodorant or a bamboo toothbrush.  

3. Off on your travels? 

With the summer upon us, you may be looking forward to a nice break somewhere away from home. When you pack your toiletries, don’t head to the high street to pick up a range of miniatures. Instead, head online to find small containers to decant your full-size products into. From silicone to aluminum, there are lots of options to choose from. You’ll have saved space in your suitcase without any need for unnecessary plastic.

4. Time for a picnic 

It can be tempting to pick up a meal deal to take to the park or beach on a sunny afternoon. But if you plan ahead, you can make your sandwiches at home, wrap them in a beeswax wrap and carry them with you. Instead of buying a plastic bottle of water, fill up a reusable bottle at home and bring a reusable cup to treat yourself to a coffee. If you decide to eat out at a restaurant or cafe, ask for your cold drink to be brought out without a straw. Avoiding using plastic straws is one of the easiest ways to cut back on our consumption of single use plastic (though we are aware that plastic straws can be essential for those with certain disabilities). 

5. Need a wardrobe refresh?

We know that going entirely plastic free, even just for a month, is very challenging. However, if you just take one or two of our tips on board, you’ll be able to reduce your consumption. And like we always say, any action, no matter how small, always helps.