With plastic production expected to almost quadruple by 2050, plastic has become synonymous with modern life and society. Even though it is a useful material for many purposes, we have abused it to the extent that it has become a hazard. 

What is plastic-free July?

Started by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz (the founder of the Plastic Free Foundation) and a small team in local government in Western Australia in 2011, Plastic-free July is a “global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities”. As of now, an impressive 326 million participants are working towards a less wasteful, more sustainable future. 

HappyLyfe Challenge

This July all of us at HappyLyfe have decided to participate in this challenge in our individual capacities. We want to push ourselves to go the entire month of July without any single-use plastics. Why don’t you eco-warriors join us in this challenge?! If you are in, here are some tips for going plastic-free this July, and beyond!

Take stock

First, take a stock of your disposable items. Do you frequently reach out for

• single-use plastic water bottles 
• plastic straws 
• single-use plastic food delivery containers 
• plastic bottles of shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner

Scour your entire house – from the kitchen to the bathroom – listing everything that is made of plastic or has plastic packaging. 

Start small

Now that you know how much plastic has infiltrated your life, try to find easy-to-swap items.

• Instead of buying single-use plastic water bottles, would it be practical for you to get a  reusable bottle?
• Can you carry reusable straws in your purse and refuse the plastic ones at roadside stalls/cafes/restaurants?
• Would you be comfortable carrying a reusable coffee mug to buy your daily cup of joe?

From your daily essentials, swapping anything that can only be used once for a long-lasting alternative will reduce a large amount of single-use plastic waste.

Dig Deeper

Think about which part of your life consumes the most amount of plastic and consider the alternatives. 

It could be your bathroom because you regularly buy bottles of body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. Once your current bottle of body wash runs out, would you be willing to swap it for soaps? Or swap your plastic mesh bath sponge for biodegradable loofahs. On HappyLyfe, you can find soaps for your pet too!

Or, you have been using tons of paper towels in the kitchen that come in plastic packaging or plastic sponges for washing dishes. Can you replace them with this washable kitchen loofah? If you use cling wraps in your kitchen, you can replace them with these beeswax wraps.

Maybe your largest amount of plastic comes from grocery shopping. Would it be easy for you to get your produce in these reusable mesh bags?

Think about the different plastic products and items you use habitually and which ones you can swap out for a reusable alternative. The keyword here is reusable! 

Pandemic concerns

For the past 2 years, one of our major concerns is protecting ourselves and others from the highly contagious coronavirus. We had to take so much into consideration about where we go and how to stay safe, that the environmental impact of disposable masks was the last of our concerns. 

Now that the concerns are easing up, it is time to take account. ​​Single-use surgical and N-95 masks are derived from polypropylene. And, as you might have guessed, polypropylene is not good for our environment. It can take hundreds of years to break down, is derived from fossil fuels, and comes in the microplastics that get into our oceans harming marine life.

If you have been using disposable masks, you can consider switching to reusable fabric face masks to reduce plastic waste. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-medical, fabric masks, including homemade multi-layered masks are an acceptable alternative to disposable masks for people under the age of 60, who do not have underlying health conditions and do not feel unwell. 

While using fabric masks, ensure that they are clean. You should wash them daily, using soap or detergent and preferably hot water. You can also sterilize the masks by washing them in soap/detergent, followed by boiling them in water for 1 minute.

Also, the use of disposable gloves in public spaces is not a recommended or proven prevention method according to the WHO. So, you can steer clear of those handed out at some of the major supermarket chains in Thailand. 

Reuse and recycle

What about all that plastic you already have at home, you ask? We say, reuse as much as you can. Those plastic water bottles can be used as a self-watering system for your plant pots or DIYed into a bird feeder. If your bottles are large enough, use them for potting plants or growing seedlings. Use those plastic grocery bags to line your trash can or pick up dog poop or pack items while moving. 

If there is absolutely no use left in your plastic waste, find places to recycle it. In Thailand, many trash collectors will take your plastic bottles for recycling. Many supermarkets, restaurants, malls, etc also have drop-off points to collect plastic waste. You can search for local places online and get rid of plastic waste responsibly. 

Make not buy

To get to the highest levels of eco-living, consider making something yourself, instead of buying it. Of course, there is a bit of a learning curve but DIY projects can be a lot of fun. Most importantly, they help you reduce plastic waste by eliminating the packaging waste that comes from purchasing some products. 

Some of the DIY projects are surprisingly simple. For example, we use neem leaves and neem oil frequently for a variety of problems – from getting rid of pests to taking care of skin and hair issues. Here is a simple recipe that we use for dandruff:

1. Wash a handful of neem leaves
2. Boil a couple of liters of water 
3. Add neem leaves and continue boiling till the water turns green
4. Allow it to cool and, after shampooing, rinse your hair with this water

It’s not just a month-long endeavor

Any month is a good month to start your sustainable life journey. Even though the Plastic-Free July campaign focuses on reducing single-use waste and creating challenges for the month of July, it is easy to take these skills and apply them all year long. 

If you are looking for more information and ideas for simple swaps based on your lifestyle, check out the Getting Started Guide created by Plastic Free July.

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