Plastic Free July

What is it?

Plastic Free July is a challenge where people strive to give up single-use plastic, specifically for the month of July but also to disrupt the tendency of relying on single-use plastics on an everyday basis. It’s a useful time to help people find alternatives that help cut single-use plastic from their lives and form a lasting habit.

 Why?

• Making a small change collectively can really influence our communities.
• Connecting with others striving to give up plastic in July can help you find alternatives that may be even more convenient and gratifying to use.
• Plastic has massive effects on the environment:
  • Based on an analysis of Rochman et al. (2016), plastics in the ocean have caused harm to both individual animals and entire species. This can happen via entanglement, ingestion, or other interactions, usually involving obstructions, abrasions, or collisions.
  • For wildlife on land, there is evidence that ingesting microplastic can essentially fill them up, affecting prey consumption and cause energy depletion which then leads to inhibited growth and impacts the fertility of the organisms.

How?

Going completely plastic-free in one go can feel like a lot and it’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself if it isn’t something you’ve ever thought about. Don’t stress about it. Nobody’s perfect and we’re just hoping to make a change, no matter how small. Here are some tips. You can try to incorporate as many as you’d like. Even if you just choose one, you’re making an impact and contributing to something greater than yourself.

• Skip the plastic straw or get a reusable one, whether it’s at restaurants, parties, or home.
• Have a cup that you keep in your car, purse, or backpack just in case you get a hankering for coffee while you’re out and about.
• The same goes for silverware. There are tons of options for reusable and portable silverware, but if you don’t want to go out and buy something new, keeping utensils from home on hand is always an option as well.
• Bring your own bags when grocery shopping or opt for paper bags instead of plastic.
• If you can, make your own food to avoid plastic packaging when possible. The dining hall on campus is also a great option to help with this. Did you know that the dining halls even have reusable to-go containers through the Ozzi program?
• Consider your hygiene routine and products. Some great brands of shampoo and conditioner bars, toothpaste tabs, deodorant, and even makeup have dropped plastic packaging for biodegradable and recyclable containers!
• If you need more ideas, there’s a helpful quiz on Plastic Free July’s official website!
• For more information, visit: Plastic Free July – Be Part of the Plastic Pollution Solution