The short answer: you won’t.
If you’re entering Plastic Free July with the thought of ‘yeah, whatever, I don’t need plastic, it will be easy!’… you’re about to be shocked to your core. Plastic is everywhere. It’s watching you right now, and you can’t ever get rid of it.
Plastic is like a clingy ex who won’t stop calling and leaves you weekly text messages, even though you never respond. It’s pestering, everywhere, always exists, and never gives up. But, believe it or not, plastic is more persisting than your ex.
Plastic will always exist. In fact, no one knows when it will break down. Ready to breeze through Plastic Free July yet?
Although plastic is a global, serious problem that we cannot avoid with the click of our fingers, there are ways you can get through Plastic Free July with less stress and more ease.
You’ll never ‘breeze’ through, but there’s the opportunity for walking briskly, if you follow the steps below.
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1. Lower your self-expectations
If you forget to ask for no straw on the 1st of July, chances are, you’ll want to give up altogether. Please don’t. Begin Plastic Free July now, by lowering your expectations of yourself. You’re amazing, but you’re not perfect.
Don’t lower them so far to the point you become a plastic loving individual, but don’t imagine you’ll fly through July without any muck-ups. Be realistic. This will reduce your risk of giving up.
2. Prepare, prepare, prepare
If you get to the 1st of July, and realise you have no reusables, you’ll look like a muppet. I’m imagining you now, sitting at a café, drinking your smoothie, straw free, and developing a glorious berry moustache. Get planning today. A reusable coffee mug, drink bottle, straw, tote bag, utensils, and food containers are great places to start.
3. Don’t do it alone
Everything is better in groups. Convincing (or even bribing) a friend to partake in the challenge with you, will make July a whole lot more fun, but also increase your chances of succeeding. It’s all about accountability, and if you don’t have anyone watching in, it’s easy to stick to convenience… which usually means plastic.
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4. Be sustainable
Plastic Free July is all about sustainability, and ironically, your actions need to be sustainable too. If you opt to refuse plastic by never eating out in July, that’s great. But it’s not sustainable. Make choices in July that you can carry through with you to August, September, and beyond.
For example, continue to eat out during July, but take your own food containers with you for your leftovers and takeaways, and tell the waiter at the very beginning of the meal, that you are plastic free.
5. Think of your WHY
Tackle Plastic Free July with motivation and purpose. Your competitive nature won’t get you through. There must be a driving force behind your month of plastic free living, and it’s a good idea to establish this now. Plastic Free July have a great range of resources and information to teach you why plastic free living is important. The oceans, the forests, your family, or the animals. It will be different for everyone, but your why must exist.
It’s nearing the end of June, and your plastic free month is looming. Don’t let it scare you, embrace the challenge, and use these tips to help you breeze walk through Plastic Free July with your head held high.
Image via The Source
