What is Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July is a global movement that calls on all of us to refuse single-use plastics and be part of the solution to plastic pollution during the month of July and beyond. There are many ways people can participate in Plastic Free July. And no – you don’t need to go completely plastic free this month if you aren’t ready for it.

The official Plastic Free July Challenge Pledge outlines the many ways people can pledge to get involved. People can pledge to take part in Plastic Free July at home, at work as an employee or employer, at a school/university/community, or at a public facing business like a store or cafe. There are also various levels of pledges. You can avoid single-use plastic packaging. You can target takeaway items (the top 4 PFJ mentions are bags, bottles, straws, and coffee cups). Or you can go completely-plastic free. You can also choose to make this pledge for one day, one week, all of July, or from now on.

How can you approach Plastic Free July in an imperfect way?

I try to approach every aspect of sustainability in an imperfect way. As a chronic illness warrior I know that living a fully plastic-free lifestyle will never be an option for me simply due to the medications I rely on. And when I experience a flare or go through treatment I rely much more on pre-packaged meals, delivery services, & more.

I think most people experienced a similar feeling at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The small sustainable actions we had become used to, like using reusable bags at grocery stores, were no longer an option. As someone who pre-pandemic visited Starbucks nearly every day with my reusable cup, not being able to use it felt like a huge blow. So I took some time to reflect on the privileges I was used to pre-COVID. Access to fresh produce and bulk bins, access to compost and film plastic drop offs, and the ability to use public transportation (or walk) instead of drive, among others. Reflecting on the ways in which living sustainably was easy for me before, as well as the things that have made it more difficult for me now, has further ingrained my progress not perfection mindset. Your commitment to sustainability is not about how much you do, it’s about what you do with what you have.

While it may not be easy – or even possible – for you to go plastic free this month, there are many ways to still participate in this movement. And you don’t actually have to pledge to be plastic free to take the Plastic Free July pledge!

Some ways to reduce your plastic use this month (and always)

Conduct a plastic audit

Take a good look at how much plastic you’re currently using. Look in your kitchen, bathroom, and even your closet (polyester is plastic!!). Are you buying all of your produce individually packaged in plastic? How much of your clothing releases microplastics into the ocean each time it’s washed? By becoming more conscious of your plastic use – and disposal – you will be able identify your major problem areas and low hanging fruit that you may easily be able to change.

Early on in my sustainability journey I realized that I had a ton of plastic-packaged items in my bathroom. My toothbrush, toothpaste tube, floss, all of my haircare products, skincare products, etc. I have slowly switched over to more plastic-free and refillable options in my bathroom. I use toothpaste bits, a bamboo toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner bars, a body lotion bar, body wash that comes in an aluminum bottle, and even a package-free facial serum bar.

I want to encourage you to not get discouraged by your findings. I have been consciously reducing my plastic use for the past five years and I still create single-use plastic waste on a regular basis. And that’s okay. Look at this exercise as a way to become conscious of where you are now and where you can make change. The first step toward change is awareness.

Shop in bulk (creatively)

Normally when I say this I would mean shop in the bulk bins with your own reusable containers, but this isn’t an easy option for everyone. But there are ways to shop in bulk if you don’t have access to bulk bins. When I don’t have access to bulk bins with popcorn, I opt for the next best thing: a large plastic container full of popcorn kernels. I create less waste compared to microwavable bags of popcorn, and can recycled the container when I finish it. It isn’t a zero waste or plastic-free option, but it is a great low-waste option. Whenever possible steer clear from individually packaged products (especially snacks). Though you will inevitably still create waste, you’ll create less of it by buying larger portions.

Try the 80/20 rule

Since a lot of people (myself included) find reducing plastic-use at grocery stores to be more difficult, here is something I have started doing the past few years. I try to follow the 80/20 rule. 80% of the grocery items I buy I try to have in more sustainable packaging. This could be glass jars, widely recycled plastics (number 1 (PETE) and 2 (HDPE)), package-free produce, products that come in cardboard boxes, etc. And then I don’t have any rules for the 20% of grocery items left. I find this 80/20 balance is quite easy to achieve with just a little bit of thought while grocery shopping. It is far more attainable than trying to be 100% perfectly plastic-free. Plus you don’t leave the grocery store feeling like you had to sacrifice your favorite snack or food item because it isn’t packaged sustainably.

Make single-use plastics multi-use

Fast fashion items are intended to be throwaway items, though I still have some fast fashion clothing from my pre-conscious consumerism days from 5+ years ago in my closet. Just because something isn’t intended to be used for a long time doesn’t mean it can’t be.

We can apply this exact same logic to single-use plastics. My parents have a stash of old takeout containers that we use to store leftovers or cut up veggies. I reuse the tops of parmesan cheese containers (which fit perfectly over mason jars by the way) when I have toppings that I like to sprinkle on my meals.

You can get really creative here, too. Since I wasn’t able to recycle film plastic at my normal spot in LA when the store moved the bin to make room for social distancing measures, I made plarn. Yes, plastic yarn.

Commit to learning & taking action this month

Learn about the connection between plastic production, plastic pollution, and environmental racism

The conversations about plastic pollution often revolve around “saving the sea turtles”. Jhánneu puts it perfectly in this Instagram post: “The focus on why plastics are harmful has always been that they are pervading our oceans, waterways, bodies, wildlife, and filling landfills. These plastic producing factories are primarily located in low-income communities of color. Race is also the most significant factor in determining whether you live near a toxic waste facility in the US. We can’t talk about saving the planet without telling the whole story”.

Here are some resources to learn more about environmental justice, specifically related to plastic:

• “Why Plastic Pollution Is An Environmental Justice Issue” from Greenpeace.
• “A Reality Check on Environmental Racism & Plastics” from Surfrider Foundation.
• Dirty Money: Point Comfort (Season 2 Episode 6). This docuseries episode follow former employees of a plastic production plant in a small town in Texas as they collect evidence of plastic pollution and bring a Clean Water Act case against their former employer. This episode shows the impact of pollution on communities that have very little resources to fight back against it. Available on Netflix.
• Broken: Recycling Sham (Season 1 Episode 4). This episode is about the broken promises of recycling and how the United States’ solution of shipping plastics abroad to be recycled is no longer an option. It touches on health impacts caused by chemicals in plastic and the plastics industry. Available on Netflix.
• Rotten: Troubled Water (Season 2 Episode 3). Though this docuseries episode isn’t directly related to plastic, it is all about the bottled water industry and the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Available on Netflix.

Take collective action

Though individual action does make a difference, large-scale systemic action is necessary to combat the climate crisis. Find local orgs, groups, etc. that are working to stop plastic pollution / production / single-use plastic use in your area. Ask local restaurants to switch to compostable or reusable takeout containers. Ask a coffee shop in your town to offer straws or utensils by request only. Make sure you / your family / your friends are registered to vote. Below you can see a photo of me registering voters at a concert with HeadCount! Regularly communicate with your elected officials to let them know this is an important issue to you and demand action. Vote in every local, state, and national election.

Do anything you can to expand your voice and impact beyond just yourself.

Remember: You Don’t Have To Be Perfectly Plastic Free During Plastic Free July

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