What is Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July began in 2011 as a small challenge among 40 friends in Western Australia, sparked by environmentalist Rebecca Prince-Ruiz. What started as a local initiative to avoid single-use plastic for just one month has since grown into a global movement. Today, it's led by the Plastic Free Foundation and has inspired over 174 million people in 30 countries to take action against plastic pollution.

In 2024 alone, participants in the challenge helped reduce a staggering 390 million kilograms of plastic waste, contributing to over 1.7 million tons of total waste reduction globally. The beauty of Plastic Free July lies in its simplicity. By simply saying no to plastic bags, skipping unnecessary packaging, and choosing reusable alternatives, these actions eventually become a part of our daily behavior. As we see from the Plastic Free July 2024 report, these small changes make a massive environmental change.

So—what can we do? If you’re reading this, you are probably eco-curious and want to know what’s next. Knowledge fuels action. This July let’s each commit to one small change—whether it's bringing your own coffee cup to the drive through, switching to beeswax wraps, or refusing that plastic straw, every tiny shift you make can have a lasting impact.

Are you wondering about other ways to make tiny changes?

Check these ideas out:

🌿Swap single use plastic wrap for reusable beeswax wraps.

🌿Use cotton or canvas bags when shopping in the grocery store.

🌿Use a refillable (stainless steel or glass) water bottle.

🌿Take your own travel mug when you go and get coffee!

🌿Carry your own reusable cutlery set in your bag or car.

🌿Switch from plastic to glass or stainless containers for leftovers and meal preparation.

🌿Switch to bar soap instead of liquid soap. Maybe try a shampoo and lotion bar too!

🌿Use mesh grocery bags instead of plastic when purchasing bulk veggies at the store.

🌿Try using laundry detergent sheets instead of liquid laundry detergent.

P.S. Message me on Instagram to let me know what tiny change you make this July! I would love to share your swap with our community -and thank you!

References: 

Website: www.plasticfreejuly.org

Podcast: Sustainable in the Suburbs