28 ideas to crush plastic-free July

 

why go plastic-free?

We're in prime summer weather.

The chill has fully left the air.

Pools are open, grills are blazing.

How can July get any better? 

We'll tell you - a national movement committed to raising awareness on plastic usage & collective change! 

It's Plastic-Free July! 

For one month millions of people come together and commit to cutting back on their plastic usage. It’s a beautiful symbol of unity and people working towards a common goal. 

At ( r e ) ˣ, we chose to make products out of plastic because we were so sick of seeing the absurd amount of single-use plastic that has infected our oceans and continues to increase each year.

Today, there are an estimated 170 trillion particles of plastic currently floating in the ocean and that number has been dramatically increasing since 2006.

The increase in ocean plastic results in harm to

  • hundreds of thousands of marine species that ingest the plastic
  • those that suffer life-threatening injuries from being entangled with it
  • and those that end up suffocating.

And it gets worse - the plastic ingested by marine life works its way up the food chain until we’re eating food that was eating plastic.

Furthermore, the plastic washes up on beaches making them unusable for humans or marine life; the food system is destroyed as marine animals die early; and the water is contaminated as the plastic breaks down into microscopic pieces that cannot be filtered out.

Let’s also not forget the toxic chemicals added to plastic that are really not good for human health.

We know it can seem impossible at times to ditch plastic, but the future of Earth doesn’t include it. We need to start making a change now by swapping out one piece of plastic at a time.

Are you ready?

you didn't cause the plastic crisis, why should you change?

Listen, I get it. 

  • you're not the one who lied to millions of people and said that recycling plastic would work one day.
  • you're not the one who convinced the entire country that recycling was the consumer's responsibility, not the manufacturer.
  • and you're not the owner of a plastics factory in cancer alley. 

It kind of seems like switching to paper straws is bullshit. It's a drop in the bucket and it makes your life worse. 

I have these days too.

Going plastic-free is less about putting the responsibility on you and more about giving you power. 

The power to consciously choose which brands you support with your money. 

The power to step out of unconscious habits and reform ones that align with your values. 

The power to stand up for what you believe in and show others around you that you're willing to do so. 

So know whenever we talk about making changes, we're not putting the responsibility on YOU. But one person becomes 100 becomes 1,000 becomes a movement that makes a difference. 

how did July become plastic-free July?

It’s important to note that plastic-free July began with one person: Rebecca Prince-Ruiz.

She began plastic-free July as a friendly office challenge in a small local government office in Western Australia in 2011. The challenge she proposed to her co-workers? Rethink the way you use plastic and avoid all single-use plastic items for 30 days.

Today, Plastic-Free July is a smaller initiative of a broader organization — The Plastic Free Foundation — also founded by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz.

The goal of both organizations is to work towards a future without plastic waste, coincidentally the same founding principle behind Paulina’s vision for ( r e ) ˣ.

An estimated 140 million people around the world participated in Plastic-Free July 2022 with staggering impacts:

  • 300 million kgs of plastic were kept out of the environment.
  • 90% of participants made at least one permanent change.
  • Household recycling and waste were reduced by 4.1%.

the most important way to prepare yourself for plastic-free July

 

One more note before we get to our *super-insightful-not-overwhelming-at-all* 28 ways to cut back on plastic, we want to start by giving you a couple of pieces of advice.

1. The easiest way to be more sustainable is to use what you already have. 

It’s so simple, yet as you start learning about all the amazing sustainable products and brands that exist, it can be easy to feel like your house needs to fit a certain aesthetic or your life should be a vibe or you should have absolutely no plastic anywhere. 

That is absolutely not the case. The best way to be more sustainable is to incorporate sustainable habits slowly as they fit into your life.

  • When your sponge starts to smell disgusting, purchase a sustainable replacement.
  • When you use the last of your laundry detergent, replace it with a sustainable alternative.
  • When your furnace breaks, replace it with a more energy-efficient option. 

There will always be pressure to purchase, but the goal of living a sustainable lifestyle is to try to purchase only what you need. 

2. Find a local zero waste shop.

Find a refill store, zero waste store, natural store, co-op - anything! before starting your plastic-free/low-plastic journey. 

These stores are often locally owned and operated, and can save you a ton of time as everything you need is in one place. The owners/employees are also super knowledgeable and a great resource on this journey. 

Some of the ones near me offer classes and meetups to get people from the community together! 

28 ideas to participate in plastic-free july 2023

Person wearing dish gloves washing dishes next to a zero waste dish soap block, a refillable dish soap and zero waste dish sponge

Photo by Ron Lach /Pexels

1. plastic-free july ideas for the kitchen

 

1. dishwasher detergent plastic-free alts

2. dish soap plastic-free alts


3. plastic-free food storage


4. plastic-free disposable cutlery, plates, and cups

Repurpose is one of the only brands doing plant-based compostable tablewear! But there are a lot of rules about recycling and composting. Whenever possible, try out reusable. 

5. ziplock bag plastic-free alts

  • stasher bags will change your life
    • They're made from medical-grade silicone and while they are expensive (check out their sale or sometimes they're on sale at Whole Foods) I've never had one break.

6. plastic-free alts to kitchen sponges


7. low plastic at the grocery store

  • ever noticed how much plastic produce comes in? 
  • try prioritizing veggies that don't come wrapped in plastic.
  • skip the produce bag and be sure to wash it when you get home!

 

    2. plastic-free july ideas for the bathroom

    a handful of zero waste and natural fiber bathroom goods like reusable cotton rounds, bar soap, and a cotton washcloth

    Photo by Vlada Karpovich/pexels

     

    1. plastic-free shampoo & conditioner


    2. hand soap plastic-free alts


    3. plastic-free razor

    • safety razors (they're back in popularity! You can probably find a Target) 
    • Albatross (blade recycling program)
    • leaf shave (lots of options!) 

    4. body scrubber plastic-free alts


    5. plastic-reduced toothbrush options

    A bamboo toothbrush is the best option for the planet, however, we get that every tooth is different. Bamboo doesn’t work for everyone and that’s okay! 

    6. tree-free & plastic-free toilet paper


    7. plastic-free body soap

     

      3. plastic-free ideas for the home (in general)

      a zero waste kitchen with vegetables in reusable produce bags and a watermelon covered with a silicone lid

      Photo By: Kaboompics.com/Pexels

       

      1. plastic-free laundry detergent alts


      2. Cleaning Products


      3. reusable water bottles

      • Get out your stash!
      • If you make only one goal for Plastic-Free July, try to avoid purchasing a plastic water bottle. 
      • If you really need more, start with Hydroflask, Miir & Stasher

      4. paper towel alternatives


      5. pens & stationary for plastic-free July

      • find a pen recycling program near you
      • for your stationary, envelopes and junk mail have become your new friends.

      Plastic-reduced alternatives:


      6. ( r e ) ˣ recycled plastic hangers

      Technically our products aren't plastic-free, however we thought they deserved an honorable mention since we are helping to clean up plastic waste with every hanger.


      7. Jars are your new friend

      • Get really comfortable with reusing and repurposing your glass jars into food storage, extra storage, and more.
      • Prioritize materials that are recyclable/compostable over plastic! 

       

        4. plastic-free ideas for your lifestyle

         

        1. Plastic bags no mo’

        • from grocery bags to produce bags to shopping bags there are a lot of areas to cut the plastic from our habits.
        • Grab some of those reusable grocery bags you’ve gotten for free from every fair you’ve been to and put them to good use.
        • Skip the plastic produce bags altogether *gasp* or check out some reusable muslin options (zerowastestore). 

        2. Rethink your makeup and beauty products

        • Welcome to the advanced level of giving up plastic.
        • If you’re up for the challenge, note how much of your makeup, beauty, and cosmetic products are plastic (all of them).
        • Make a list of alternative options and as you run out of each item, purchase a sustainable refill.

        Here are some places to get started: 

         

        3. plastic-free period products

         

        4. plastic-light to-go coffee cups

        • have I taken a regular coffee mug? yes.
        • use what you already have!!
        • find a local spot - they often display mugs by local artists
        • MiiR has great options for whatever your coffee canister needs are

         

        5. examine your wardrobe

        So many of our clothes are made with plastic (polyester, nylon, rayon, etc).

        Say F-fast fashion for Plastic-Free July (and beyond) give your wardrobe a refresh. Make a conscious effort to buy only what you need, but most importantly, what you’ll re-wear for years to come. Prioritize second-hand items and slow fashion brands (if possible). 

        Maybe consider giving a capsule wardrobe a try!

         

        6. purchase with sustainability & circularity in mind

        An ‘easy’ step towards reducing your plastic intake can simply be looking at the packaging when purchasing.

        No matter what you’re shopping for, focus on purchasing items with packaging that can be upcycled, composted, or recycle like cardboard, glass, aluminum, and stainless steel.

         

        7. use what you already have

        One of the biggest takeaways from plastic-free july (for us) is just to examine how much we mindlessly consume.

        PFJ is a chance to explore how much we purchase and why and specifically how much of that comes in plastic.

        If you do nothing else this month, try to use what you already have, don’t buy anything unless you need it, and when you do buy, try to shop small.

        *note* None of these product recommendations are affiliate links, they are products our team personally likes, uses, or follows. We have linked to each individual website because even though we sell ( r e ) ˣ hangers on Amazon, it’s always best (for the small business) to purchase directly from the brand whenever possible. 

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