Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July

My kids and I were swimming at a Windward beach recently and afterwards we had to pick small pieces of plastic off our skin and out of each others' hair that had been floating in a colorful soup on the ocean surface. Yuck.

I think we all know plastic pollution is a big problem. Walk on any beach, drive on any highway, go to any park anywhere on the islands (and practically anywhere in the world) and the plastic pollution is disturbingly evident.

Our houses, cars, phones, computers, toys, food, and drinks are made of or encased in plastic. It is challenging to go more than an hour without touching plastic--just try it! Plastic doesn't biodegrade but it does eventually photo-degrade, causing it to break into smaller pieces when exposed to sunlight. Small pieces like we see floating in the ocean, sticking to our skin after a swim, or mingled in with the beach sand.

This problem can seem overwhelming: we live in a plastic-inundated world. What can we do about it? Being aware of the problem, making choices to avoid plastic when you can--especially single-use plastic, and spreading the word is a great start.

Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July? Take the challenge. Remember, just reducing your plastic use makes a big difference!

Here are a few pretty simple sustainable swaps you can try at home to have a little less plastic pollution in your life and in the world.

8 Easy Ways to Reduce Plastic for Plastic Free July (and all the time)

  1. Switch out your bathroom necessities for plastic-free versions like bar soap instead of liquid soap or bamboo toothbrushes instead of the plastic kind.
  2. Always bring your own bags to the store for produce and groceries.
  3. Carry your own washable and reusable utensils wherever you go (and be ready to just say no to the single-use kind!)
  4. Skip the straw in your drink.
  5. Shop in bulk and buy items packaged in glass, rather than plastic, whenever possible. Here's some inspiration on how to repurpose those glass jars
  6. Use alternatives to plastic wrap and plastic bags for your food storage and school lunches; check out the amazing beeswax wraps and washable and reusable bento containers available for a more sustainable kitchen. Our Down to Earth stores have a great selection!
  7. Analyze what is in your trash can every week; is there anything there that you can recycle or reuse but aren't? Is there anything that you can do without, or are there other products you can buy with less wasteful packaging?
  8. Participate in a cleanup event like 808 Cleanup's Adopt-a-site program.

Be part of the solution, not part of the pollution!