Going plastic-free

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Throughout the year, the calendar months or dates are used to celebrate or mark certain occasions or events. As we approach the end of June, we should be getting ready for something pretty critical to the times we live in. Those of us trying to go green and be more responsible people when it comes to saving our planet, will make an extra effort this July. Why? It’s Plastic-free July.

Going green means to focus on yourself first. What are you doing? Rather than worry about what everyone else is doing wrong or who is responsible for the problems to begin with, why not focus on how you are contributing to the problems. So let’s start by reducing your waste. Think about all the single use plastic that is a part of your life. Rather than spending time sorting through your waste and categorizing it so that it is rightly sent to the correct recycling bin, why not try and eliminate some of it?

Let’s really think about this. Make an impact during Plastic-free July. Every time you go to the supermarket with your reusable bags you have this contented feeling that you are doing some good. Then you pile up groceries that are packaged in plastic and it completely defeats the purpose of you trying to avoid plastic bags. While it is impossible to eliminate plastic completely, and it’s a tough battle getting manufacturers to go green in their packaging, maybe you can find a way to take baby steps. Look at your grocery list and find two items that can be bought which is not packaged in plastic. For example, if spaghetti is available packaged in a cardboard box instead of a plastic bag, choose the boxed spaghetti. If the vinegar is available in a glass bottle as opposed to a plastic one, choose the glass bottle. If the bakery has paper bags, fill your items in the paper bag instead of choosing the bread or rolls packaged in plastic bags. Now decide you will never buy your chosen items packaged in any form of plastic. This will be the first step in having a successful plastic-free July.

Last year 89 million people spread throughout 190 countries worldwide pledged to reduce their use of plastic during the month of July. This year it’s time to up that number. Plastic-free doesn’t have to mean zero plastic. Rather than focusing on eliminating plastic which is very hard to do, let’s focus on reducing plastic.

Remember the days when a crate of soda bottles used to be brought home and when you were done consuming the soda, the crate with the empty bottles was taken back only to be refilled with new bottles and the old ones were returned? It didn’t feel like a burden then because that was the way. So why has it now become so tedious? The plastic bottles are light weight and unbreakable but are breaking the planet. Think about that.

Bringing about change has never been easy. Consumers should not have to carry the burden of making the change. Baby steps, however, are most effective in making changes. They contribute to setting a momentum. Ideally you take on the Plastic-free July challenge with a friend or two. Encourage each other, share solutions and challenge each other to succeed. This way more awareness gets created.

So as the month of June comes to an end, be aware what July is the chosen month for. When you are walking down the aisles getting your monthly groceries, take a hard look at your options. If it’s possible to avoid plastic packaging do so, even if it means swapping brands. Think less waste as opposed to no waste. It makes the target more achievable and the expectations more realistic. Find your support group and make the pledge this July.