June 29, 2023
The Plastic Free
July Challenge
July 1, 2023
The Plastic Free
July Challenge
Can you go an entire month without using single-use plastic? Accept the challenge and discover our best tips for avoiding single-use plastic this month (and all year long)!
Plastic Free July is a global movement started by the Plastic Free Foundation that helps millions of people become part of the solution to plastic pollution.
Your challenge? Go one month without using any single-use plastic.
It might be harder than you think! Single-use plastic is everywhere. Your goal is to eliminate all of the single-use plastics you can while keeping track of what you can’t avoid.
By the end of the month, you’ll have made at least one change that you can stick to that will help keep our oceans clean.
You’ll also be able to come up with a plan for the plastics you were able to avoid, whether that’s changing your routine (e.g., packing lunch at home instead of hitting up the drive-thru or vending machine) or making a sustainable swap (like trading single-use plastic water bottles for a reusable water bottle).
Whether you’re just starting your journey or you’re a season pro, we’ve collected our best tips, tools, and resources to help you beat this challenge and make a positive impact on plastic pollution in our oceans.
If you’re new to the clean ocean movement, focus on eliminating or finding swaps for...
- Plastic shopping bags
- Plastic water bottles and drink containers
- Plastic produce bags and containers
- Plastic food packaging (meat, deli, bakery, eggs, frozen foods)
- Plastic straws and stirrers
- Plastic plates and utensils
- Plastic balloons
While not using single-use plastic is always ideal, there may be times where you just can’t avoid it. In those situations, think about what you can do to:
- Reduce the amount of single-use plastic you have to use
For example, can you buy in bulk instead of smaller packages? Can you find a similar product from a competitor that doesn’t use plastic packaging? - Reuse single-use plastic before disposing of it
Just because something is made for a single use doesn’t mean it has to be. Perhaps you can wash and reuse those takeout containers instead of tossing them in the bin. Maybe those grocery bags can be brought back to the store and used again or put in your bathroom trash can instead of using a brand new trash bag - Recycle what you can’t avoid
Just remember that not all plastic can be recycled and mixing non-recyclables with recyclables can cause contamination that means the recyclable plastics don’t get recycled. Plastic Free July is an excellent opportunity to revisit your local recycling guidelines to make sure you’re following best practices and giving the most amount of plastic a chance at a new life!
If you’ve covered the basics and want to do more at home, challenge yourself to...
- Celebrate birthdays and other events with plastic-free decorations
- Shop in bulk and opt for loose foods to avoid plastic packaging
- Stop and think about whether a purchase is really necessary; if it is, ask whether there are low or no-waste options you can choose instead
- Invest in a reusable alternative to your disposable razors
- Swap liquid hand and body soaps for bar soaps that aren’t packaged in plastic
- Try sustainable and reusable alternatives for sanitary products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, tampons, and pads
If you’ve covered the basics at home and want to do more in other areas of your life, check out these resources
If you’ve covered the basics and want to do more at home, challenge yourself to...
- Celebrate birthdays and other events with plastic-free decorations
- Shop in bulk and opt for loose foods to avoid plastic packaging
- Stop and think about whether a purchase is really necessary; if it is, ask whether there are low or no-waste options you can choose instead
- Invest in a reusable alternative to your disposable razors
- Swap liquid hand and body soaps for bar soaps that aren’t packaged in plastic
- Try sustainable and reusable alternatives for sanitary products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, tampons, and pads
If you’ve covered the basics at home and want to do more in other areas of your life, check out these resources
Accept the challenge: Eliminate all of the single-use plastics you can, keep track of what you can’t avoid, and share your progress with @4ocean on your favorite social media platform!
Shop Single-Use Alternatives
Josh Liberman
Clean Ocean Warrior + Sr. Video Producer
Clean Ocean Warrior +
Sr. Video Producer
April 1, 2023
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