Words by Lydia Paleschi

This month, we’ve been participating in #plasticfreejuly in a bid to reduce our impact on the ocean and the wider environment. This initiative encourages people to make changes to their everyday actions with the view that each individual piece of plastic avoided adds up to a huge amount when enough people get involved. The aim is that we change our consumption patterns, not just for July but from this point onwards. 

The beauty of #plasticfreejuly is that we have been committed to spending a month paying close attention to our use of plastics and figuring out the easiest ways of reducing our use of them. As we near the end of this month, we want to reflect on the changes we can make to reduce and eventually eliminate the amount of single use plastics that enter into circulation, and inevitably our oceans. 

Firstly, a quick re-cap on some of those ominous but all-important statistics (as reported by National Geographic).

• Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years.

• Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015 and is expected to double by 2050.

• Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.

• Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.

8 ways to reduce our consumption of single use plastic

(1) Consume less

The most effective way of limiting not only the amount of single-use plastic polluting our natural world, but also most other forms of environmental degradation, is by reducing our consumption levels. By really considering whether or not we need to purchase something we can avoid unnecessary plastics.

(2) Join a food co-operative

Food coops are not-for-profit food outlets which aim to give people access to good food at affordable prices, all whilst limiting negative impacts on the environment. By pooling buying power, co-ops bulk buy goods from suppliers and are able to access a higher quality of food at a good price. This means there is less plastic waste from packaging, less transportation as people can cycle or walk to pick up food locally, and when set up correctly it increases supply of local and organic produce. You can find your local food coop here.

(3) Organise a clothes swap or buy second hand from Depop and charity shops 

According to UK-based waste charity Wrap, more than 300,000 tonnes of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year. Much of this is still good enough to wear, but instead releases methane into the air as it degrades in landfill. Plastic packaging when purchasing clothing is also a huge issue and 5 per cent of the UK's total annual carbon and water footprint came from clothing consumption, so by swapping or buying second hand you can make a huge positive impact. 

(4) #EndPeriodPlastic

Single-use period products are the fifth most common waste product washed up on our shores! Period products are made from up to 90% plastic when you take into consideration applicators and packaging and are full of chemicals and bleach. By turning to alternatives such as re-usable pads or pants, organic alternatives, or mooncups you can save huge swathes of plastic from entering our oceans, save money in the long run and keep those nasty chemicals away from your body. 

(5) Eliminate plastic dental products 

Over 3.5 billion toothbrushes are sold each year and most of them are made at least in part from plastic. Roughly 80% of these end up in the sea, each one taking up to a thousand years to decompose. Switching to bamboo toothbrushes or at least toothbrushes with re-useable handles pose much less of a risk to marine life and habitats. Even better, it means that you aren’t starting each day using plastic (start as you mean to go on, right!?) To take things a step further, switch to plastic free alternatives to dental floss and buy plastic free toothpaste from your local health food store (even better make your own!)

(6) Cut down on bathroom plastic

Re-useable stainless steel safety razors are another easy change to make to limit the amount of plastic entering our oceans. You could also opt for brands which don’t use plastic packaging or re-use old plastic toiletry bottles by taking them to your local bulk goods store for refilling. Alternatively, you could attempt to make your own toiletries such as shaving foam, soap and shampoo. There are plenty of recipes online and they’re often cheaper than buying from a shop!

(7) Ditch the plastic food storage

Step away from the clingfilm, plastic and tupperware, in favour of reusable water bottles, metal lunch boxes and beeswax food wraps. Or, even better, reuse old jars for food storage and save leftovers by covering it with a plate. 

(8) Take these practices to work 

Our ability to reduce our consumption of single-use plastics doesn’t end at home. Plenty of workspaces are making little if any changes to limit consumption, so why not encourage your employers to be more environmentally conscious? Make sure they’re recycling properly and try to encourage more conscious consumption in the workplace. What’s becoming clear is that it often takes individuals operating at the local level to encourage positive behavioural changes with regards to sustainability. This is what inspired Tegan’s project to introduce new waste management systems in our local hospitality businesses. 

Ultimately, there’s a lot we can do to limit our consumption of single-use plastics, it just takes a bit of organisation. But, once we’ve made the change, it’s well worth it in knowing we’re keeping our oceans and natural spaces plastic free. If you are looking to make some of these changes and are inspired to purchase plastic free alternatives, try to buy locally to limit transportation pollution and to support your local economy! Your local health food store and food cooperative are a good place to start.