July is the perfect month to start reducing your plastic consumption. In fact, this month is dedicated to Plastic Free July, a global challenge in which we commit for a month to ban plastic (especially disposable) from our lives.
Plastic is the least sustainable material that exists because it’s not biodegradable, only a small percentage is recyclable and at the end of its life cycle it often ends up in the oceans, polluting the environment and threatening the life of marine animals.
Plastic, however, is now a predominant material in our lives and abolish it completely can be really difficult. In this post you will find 5 tips to manage to complete the challenge and say goodbye to plastic once and for all. But remember: the change towards a conscious lifestyle is a lifelong commitment, not only during the month of July.
1. Replace the big four
If you’ve never thought about reducing your plastic consumption, this challenge may seem overwhelming. So what I recommend is to start from the big four, that are the four most common plastic waste, which often end up in the oceans but also the easiest to replace: plastic bags, plastic straws, plastic bottles and coffee cups . For all of these products there are many zero waste alternatives that will last you a long time.
2. Shop in farmers markets or bulk stores
When you go gorecery shopping at the supermarkets, you often come across plastic-packed products, even fruit and vegetables often have plastic packaging. To avoid these forced choices you can start go shopping in farmers markets or in bulk stores where you can fill your glass jars.
3. Beware of microplastics
Microplastics are often hidden in cosmetics and beauty products which are very harmful to marine animals because they are ingested and cause their death. Check the Inci of your beauty products and if there are microplastics throw them immediately in the garbage and stop using them. These are the ingredients to watch out for: Polyethylene (PE – Polyethylene), Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA – Polymethyl methacrylate), Nylon, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET – Polyethylene Terephthalate), Polypropylene (PP – Polypropylene)
4. Buy solid beauty products
There are many solid alternatives to classic beauty products such as shampoos, conditioners, make-up removers and shower gel. They are excellent zero waste substitutes for classic products with the advantage that they have no plastic packaging.
5. Remember that perfection is not the goal
It’s normal to make mistakes and not being able to do everything perfectly and make mistakes. The road to a zero waste life is long term, it does not end in a month so it’s important to do our best one step at a time without feeling guilty if sometimes we make mistakes, the important thing is to continue learning and improving.
Leave a Reply