Have you heard about the Plastic-Free July movement? This is an initiative led by the Plastic-Free Foundation to encourage everyone to reduce their plastic consumption. Though based in Australia, this movement has gone global, with people participating in it across the world.

Whether you’re a hard-core zero-waste person or just beginning to dip your toe in the plastic-free pond, I think we can all agree that reducing our plastic waste is a good thing?

I’ve written about the issues surrounding plastic waste before on this site. If you missed it, click here to read my post about the issue of plastic straws.

I also wrote this post with 3 easy ways to be more eco-friendly right now.

So what can we do to live in a more plastic-free environment? A lot, actually.

Even if you think you’re just one person whose actions don’t make much of an impact, they really do. Have you see that plastic straw meme that’s going around right now? It says something like,

“It’s just one plastic straw…says 8 billion people.”

 

Any efforts you can make to reduce your plastic footprint, large and small, have a positive effect.

Not just the primary effect of keeping plastic trash out of a landfill, but the secondary effect of emboldening others around you to do the same too.

Even if you can’t commit to doing a completely plastic-free July, you can probably make small changes to your routine that won’t ruin your day but will be helpful to the big picture. And better still, despite the perception that being eco-conscious is expensive, many plastic-free and zero-waste alternatives actually save you money.

Speaking of which, there are some affiliate links below, which add no additional cost to you but could earn me a small commission if you click on them. See my Disclaimers page for more info.

 

Need some inspiration? Here are 25+ easy ways to have a Plastic-Free July!

 

Shopping Without Plastic Waste:

#1 – Use a reusable shopping bag! I’ve got a rotating carousel of many bags that I’ve collected over the years, which I wrote about in my post about 3 easy ways to be more eco-friendly. One of my favorites is the Baggu, which is made from recycled material, folds up neatly into a small square, is machine washable, and comes in a variety of cute patterns!

 #2 – Buy in bulk! Instead of buying a plastic bag of grains or legumes, bring your own container and fill it yourself. Did you know that many grocery stores will even weigh your container (empty, before you fill it) to determine the tare weight, and then subtract that from the charge at check out? So you don’t have to worry about buying beans in heavy glass jars costing you more than a plastic pack of them. And in fact, I’ve found the bulk price to sometimes be lower than the pre-packaged cost! Cloth bags and reused plastic bags work great for bulk too.

#3 – Buy direct from the farm. Instead of getting your groceries at the super market, check out your local farmer’s market. You’ll likely find produce that’s fresher than the stuff which arrived by semi-truck and has been sitting on a shelf wrapped in plastic for days. You’ll also be supporting small business farmers, and may discover some new varieties you’ve never seen before!

We receive a weekly CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box of fresh organically-grown veggies and fruits from our local farm. They also offer U Pick tours throughout the year that are a great way to get your produce and have fun at the same time. I wrote this post about our experience doing a Strawberry Picking tour there.

#4 – Thrift! Often times, even if you buy an item that isn’t plastic itself, it is wrapped in plastic protective packaging. You know, in the event of flood or a rainstorm of biblical proportions…which nowadays really isn’t that far-fetched come to think of it.

One way to avoid plastic packaging is to buy items second hand at your local thrift store or through a resale group in your area. I’ve found fantastic deals on so many gently-used items, which makes this tip both eco-friendly and wallet-friendly. For more on buying thrifted items, specifically for babies and toddlers, check out this post I wrote with tips on eco-friendly baby products as well as suggestions for plastic-free items to buy new!

#5 – Can’t find exactly what you want? Make it! Check out these awesome DIY Avengers-themed shoes (made from comic book pages!) that this resourceful bride made for her Avengers-themed wedding!

 

Travel July Plastic-Free:

#1 – Skip the hotel toiletries and bring your own! Check out this post I wrote about how and why I broke my habit of collecting mini hotel toiletries.

#2 – Go plastic-free on long car rides with kids. I’ve seen some moms recommend buying your kids a bunch of cheap new plastic toys from the dollar store for long trips to keep them entertained. While I don’t disagree with the idea of doing whatever it takes to keep your kids happy on a long journey, I do want to spread the word that it is possible to entertain them without buying a bunch of plastic junk!

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can listen to more than 2 millions songs through Amazon Music for free! You can also get free audio books through your local library, or listen to podcasts for kids that are both fun and educational. Click here to read more about our family’s favorite free podcasts, audio books, and more!

#3 – Travel to resorts that have sustainability features. From plant-based drinking cups to wooden utensils, we’ve found ways to avoid plastic waste on our eco travels all over the globe. Here’s some eco-friendly travel inspiration I’ve written about: Great Wolf Lodge, Fjord ferry and glacier hike in Norway, Disney’s Aulani Resort, Catalina Island, Brazil, and more.

#4 – Use packing cubes instead of plastic bags in your suitcase. When my mom travels, she always packs her belongings in multiple plastic bags so that nothing will get ruined by water or leaking liquid. I have to tell you that in all the traveling I’ve done in my life, the only time anything inside my suitcases got soaked due to rain was when they went with me on the top of a small boat through an hour-long tropical rainstorm in French Polynesia.

I’ve found reusable packing cubes to be way more useful than plastic bags. You can buy a different color for each family member, and when you arrive at your destination they can go right into the dresser instead of you having to unpack everything (and then repack at the end). While they are perhaps made of a plastic derivative, they can be reused countless times without breaking which makes them a nice low-waste alternative to crinkly plastic bags.

And if you’re worried about leaking liquid within your suitcase, try reusing a plastic sandwich bag for bottled liquids.

 

#5 – Skip the plastic souvenirs. If you’re going to travel and pick up a souvenir to bring home, make it a plastic-free one! On our most recent trip to Disney World, I found at least 10 plastic-free souvenirs that my kids loved, so this strategy can really work anywhere.

#6 – Clean up the beach! If your trip involves the ocean, buy yourself a little plastic-free July karma and pick up the plastic trash you see in the sand. Even if you’re not leaving town, have a plastic-free July staycation and join a local beach/lake/river clean-up crew, like this one that involved local school kids cleaning up my local beach!

#7 – Bring your own metal water bottle. Instead of buying bottled water during your trip, try bringing your own plastic-free water bottle and refill it along the way. Another advantage of having an insulated metal water bottle is that it keeps cold longer. I’ve had ice go unmelted for 12+ hours in mine, which makes for a nice cool drink on a hot summer day of sightseeing.

 

Eating & Drinking During Plastic-Free July:

#1 – use compostable utensils and plates! Having a party? Instead of using single-use plastic plates, try using compostable alternatives! There are lots of options out there now, from wooden to cardboard to even plant-based. Here are a few options for compostable cutlery and biodegradable plates:

 

 

 

 

 #2 – Plastic-free straws! Start small by swapping out straws for plastic-free July. I’ve taken to bringing my own metal straws with me anytime I know I’ll be getting a drink on the go. I especially love my large gage ones, which are perfect for Boba Tea, and go easily into the dishwasher!

 

 

 

 

#3 – Reusable sandwich bags. I wrote a whole post about my favorite reusable sandwich bags, which you can read here. Here are a couple reusable and plastic-free sandwich bags I love that you can try for plastic-free July:

 

 

And once you make the switch, here are some helpful ways to upcycle your existing plastic sandwich bags!

 

Plastic-Free Home:

#1 – Make your own furniture. This one may seem a bit extreme, but I recently made DIY wooden bookshelves for my daughter’s room that were plastic-free, MDF-free, super easy, and cheap! And if you can’t make what you need…try a thrift store!

#2 – Grow your own produce. This one may take a bit more time commitment than the plastic-free July campaign initially intended, but you’ll probably find that having a garden is both good for the environment and relaxing for your soul. If you’d like some tips on how to grow your garden without using pesticides, here’s some advice on growing a naturally insect repellent garden from Montana Happy.

#3 – DIY cleaners. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was making us think we have to buy fancy bottled cleaners. White vinegar and water works brilliantly!

#4 – Use a shampoo and conditioner bar instead of bottled ones. We stopped using bottled hair care products a while ago, and have had great success with eco-friendly alternatives. I actually feel my hair gets less greasy and doesn’t feel dirty as quickly as it did when I used bottled, store-bought shampoo/conditioners.

 #5 – Try a plastic-free deodorant. There are lots of recipes out there for DIY natural deodorants, which you can buy bulk ingredients for and store in glass jars. If you don’t have time for DIY right now in your life (and I get that trust me), here are a couple natural deodorants that I’ve used which come in glass containers:

#6 – DIY hand soap, toothpaste, lotion, and more. Do you know how easy it is to make your own body care products at home? You really don’t have to buy a new plastic bottle every time you run out of something. Here’s a great DIY natural bug bite cream recipe from Simply Beyond Herbs.

 

If you’re on Pinterest, check out my DIY board where I’ve collected tons of helpful DIY recipes for use around the house!

 

Plastic-Free July For Kids:

#1 – Buy plastic-free toys. This is a no-brainer, but if you’d like ideas for plastic-free toys that kids love, check out my posts on great toys for toddlers, babies, Star Wars fans, and perhaps even the beloved man-child in your life.

#2 – Reuse and buy resale. I mentioned this idea above, as it not only helps you have a plastic-free July but also helps you save money. I also wrote this post on reusing our stroller for both kids, and the unexpected benefit of not having the fanciest, shiniest new wheels at the mall.

#3 – DIY entertainment. Kids love crafts, and there are so so many out there that don’t involve plastic. My daughter loved helping me make this flower crown for her. Save every old box and help your kids turn them into whatever their imaginations can think up. Knit your own Star Wars figurines instead of buying plastic ones!

#4 – Experiences over things. Nature is nature’s natural toy, so to speak. So instead of buying the latest plastic shiny toy to keep your kids entertained, try doing something outdoors together instead. Go camping, take a nature walk, or visit the zoo.

 

Whew. I definitely could’ve kept going, but this post had to end sometime. Got an idea for how to live a plastic-free July you’d like to see added? Please let me know in the comments!

• biodegradable
• compostable
• DIY
• plastic-free
• reusable
• Upcycle
• zero waste