4 Simple Ways To Celebrate Plastic Free July

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re starting, or are well into, your sustainability journey. You’ve probably swapped out plastic bottles for a cute stainless steel emotional-support water bottle, or invested in a 6-pack of glass straws (because, what greater symbol of sustainability than refusing a plastic straw?). But if you haven’t taken it many steps further yet, Plastic Free July offers us all a way to check in and see what else we can do. Avoid plastic all month if you can, sure, but the real challenge is to start a new habit that you will stick to far after summer ends, and one you’ll build off slowly as time goes on. Here are my favorite “next step” type of habits to help you celebrate Plastic Free July and beyond!

What is Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July is a movement dedicated to reducing single-use plastic (SUP) waste; they offer resources, ideas, and a fun sign-up challenge to get consumers motivated and mobilized. Although the organization is based in Australia, their campaign is open to all, and they share a variety of ways for individuals and organizations to get involved. For those that need a little dopamine kick to stay on-task, Plastic Free July is the perfect way to create attainable goals and set yourself up for some instant gratification. It’s also a fun way to engage with people on social media. #PlasticFreeJuly is popular in Australia, the US, and around the globe, and connecting with those taking on the challenge can be a great way to get inspired and learn new ways to be more involved.

4 Other Ways To Celebrate Plastic Free July

Shop loose or bulk groceries

While the convenience of pre-packaged salads and bagged grapes is undeniable, choosing to bring your own bags and/or buying loose produce and bulk grains can help you reduce the amount of single use plastics you consume. A simple Google search for “refill stores” will instantly show you options in your area. We have a co-op grocery store near us that has a small bulk section and sells loose, unbagged salad greens, as well as a few stores dedicated exclusively to bulk items. So if that doesn’t provide much, check Reddit or social media and you’re sure to find what other likeminded individuals do to shop sustainably in bulk. Take a few minutes to research local small-batch and sustainable shops in your area, supporting your community while saving money and trying out a new way of shopping!

Swap One Amazon Subscription For Something More Sustainable

Even those with the best intentions often still have a Subscribe & Save or two set up on Amazon. I do. Maybei t’s something you can’t find in many stores (like my specialty toothpaste) or perhaps you’d like to support a smaller business but shipping is just out of budget so you buy on Prime instead of through the retailer. I’ll support every Amazon boycott there is, but I also understand everyone’s needs vary and that honestly, it should not be on consumers to do everything perfectly while billionaires and billion dollar companies get away with murder. So for Plastic Free July, if you still can’t see canceling Prime (or a Target or Walmart subscription, or whatever recurring purchase you feel a bit iffy about), start small and swap one thing. For many businesses, Amazon isn’t actually a funnel they profit on, but a place to get their brand known. A few tips:

• Small sites have Subscribe & Save too! Subscribe & Save is not just on Amazon. It is an app that allows vendors to manage recurring shipments. Look up your favorite brands and see if you can get the same perks directly.
• See what competitor brands have to offer. Search your vendor on Google and shop around for near-identical products that have your same active ingredient or material. So much of what’s on Amazon is literally the same as what you can find elsewhere. There may be a better place to purchase or a brand you feel comfortable supporting.
• Ask yourself if your subscription is really doing that much for you. We used to have cat food on subscription. But in the end that was kind of silly because we can get it on our grocery runs (which we still do regardless) and its actually easier for us to pick out flavors for our finicky kitty than buy bulk boxes.
• For beauty subscriptions, there are so many sites that allow you to Subscribe & Save to your favorite products! I use Credo Beauty and Thrive Causmetics, LAPCOS, and Indie Lee for makeup and skincare. Even if I’m not purchasing *the* most sustainable item (I wish everything came in recycled packaging), at least I’m not contributing to the mega giant that is Amazon on top of it.

Clean up your neighborhood – with a group or on your own

Though not perfect, Seattle is pretty eco-friendly as far as larger cities go, so I see opportunities to clean up all the time. Recently I saw an advertisement for my county that said you “we supply the bag, the gloves, the stick—you pick it up” which honestly makes it SO EASY to pick up litter in my neighborhood. Also if you search on Instagram or Tiktok for all of 5 seconds your algorithm will “know” you want to get involved locally, and suddenly the opportunities are coming at you without you doing any work. For example, I recently “discovered” @seattlenaturalists (just because I love nature in Seattle), and from following I’ve gotten to learn about so many volunteer opportunities and community events. Plus, I’m always reminded of the next lowest tide (which I tune in to like my dad does local news).

Volunteering isn’t just for extroverts. I’m a socially anxious, highly sensitive introvert and while I may ride the anxiety waves up until the event, I’ve never regretted attending them after. The worst that can happen is that I feel awkward (story of my life), or I don’t feel personally fulfilled by it. So I move on to something else that jazzes me up. If I show up and it seems too intimidating, I just go home and try again the next time something interests me. It’s easier said than done, but I try to keep this in mind with any new social event I consider attending.

Contact your local government

For those who are passionate about making a difference and unafraid to speak up, calling your local representative can be a great way to initiate change in your community. Share how you feel about new laws or mandates that are up for voting on, or demand change for specific situations in your area.

You can also spread awareness by involving your friends and family, and even write a script for them to follow if lack of knowledge is keeping them from getting involved.

Everyone has their favorite places to stay informed and learn about how to take action. For a long time, I only followed news outlets that scared me or bummed me out without actually teaching me how to do anything about the things I saw. In 2016 the Americans of Conscience Checklist came along, which changed everything. Founder Jen Hoffman and her team send a weekly newsletter filled with simple ways to take action: who to call or email, petitions to sign, stories to share. It is the perfect balance of staying informed without being too overwhelmed to do anything about it – on issues ranging from environmental to social and everything in between (which is all connected, of course). If you love their work, you can support them with a monthly donation.

It’s also important to remember you’re just one person. Sometimes avoiding all single use plastics isn’t an option, and it’s okay if you don’t adhere to a plastic-free life 100% of the time. Becoming more sustainable is a lifelong journey that modern consumerism doesn’t always cater to. And getting caught up in an all-in mindset can lead to discouragement, and then defeat.

Take going green day-by-day and understand that your best effort is important and valid. Celebrate your wins, and remember to give yourself grace—changing the world takes more than one Plastic Free July.