Each July, the Plastic Free Foundation challenges people around the world to refuse single-use plastics as much as possible throughout the month. Many single-use plastics end up as litter in our roads, greenspaces, and waterways, contributing to plastic pollution worldwide. Plastic pollution often affects communities and countries that do not have the resources for clean-ups, impacting the quality of life, wellness, and health of people living in these high pollution areas. Conventional plastic derived from fossil fuels will never biodegrade; it will continue to break into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming micro- or nanoplastics. These tiny plastics stay in the environment forever and have been found in human blood and organs, the long term effects of which are still unknown. Certain bioplastics, made from plants and other organisms, are biodegradable under the right conditions and may provide healthier choices for the future.

It certainly is a challenge to give up convenient single-use plastics, but even little steps will make a difference. Here are a few ideas to get started:

1. BYO
   Bring your own... reusable straw, water bottle, leftover containers, and more. Many single-use items made of plastic are used for only minutes and then destined for the garbage heap. Thinking about your day when leaving the house can make a big impact on how much plastic you use. Grab a reusable water bottle or a container for leftovers if you’re going out to eat. If you think you might stop for coffee, bring your travel coffee mug with you.
2. Shop smart for groceries.
   Forgo the plastic produce bags whenever possible, or switch to reusable produce bags. Shop at your local farm or farmer’s market for produce to avoid foods pre-packaged in plastic. Use a shopping list to reduce impulse purchases that may include plastic packaging.
3. Switch to bar soaps.
   All sorts of soaps are now available in bar form: Hand soap, body soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Bar soaps are often packaged in just paper, which can usually be composted in your backyard. There are even solid lotions, deodorants, and shaving products in plastic-free packaging.
4. Ditch the cling wrap.
   Swap out cling wrap for reusable products, like beeswax wraps, or use containers that have lids- even if they are reusable plastic containers. Use stretchable silicone lids for containers without lids or for odd-shaped items.
5. Party without plastic.
   Skip balloons and plastic decorations. Use banners made from fabric, paper streamers, or paper puffs instead. Replace plastic tablecloths, plates, cups, and flatware with reusable versions. Join a Buy Nothing group on Facebook to receive or borrow these items from like-minded people in your neighborhood.
6. Use cloth diapers.
   In their first two years of life, a baby will use about 6,000 diapers, which are mostly made from plastic. Cloth diapers are easily washed at home and can be used for multiple children. Using cloth diapers doesn’t have to be all or nothing- using them only at home will also drastically reduce your family’s plastic use. Investing in a set of 12-24 cloth diapers will also mean cost savings for one or multiple children, even after factoring in energy and water costs.
7. Choose paper packaging over plastic.
   Paper packaging has many benefits over plastic packaging- paper biodegrades, it can come from a renewable resource, it can be recycled or composted, and it is more cost-effective in many ways. Look for brands of toilet paper that are available with paper wrapping. There are also delivery services and products that do not use plastic packaging.

Plastic free doesn’t mean to throw away all the plastic products you have at home, but to wait until they are used up or need to be replaced to buy longer lasting products. The above list is a starting point for using less plastic in your life. They are all small changes that can add up to big impacts. In the words of the Zero- Waste Chef Anne Maria Bonneau, “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” For more ideas to reduce your plastic use, visit https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/get-involved/