Reflections on Plastic and Plastic Free July
We started out Plastic Free July with a list of 50 Thoughts on Plastic. Here are a few more thoughts to round out the month’s experience.
Overwhelming Reality of Plastic
My approach to Plastic Free July this year (my first year participating) was to get a better understanding of the role plastic plays in my life. I wanted to try out some “plastic free swaps” like I talked about in my posts on A Plastic Free Period and a Plastic Free Bathroom, but I knew that eliminating all plastic for a month would be unlikely.
I knew that there was a lot of plastic in my life, but it wasn’t until I started paying close attention that I saw just HOW MUCH there really is. Looking at my bathroom alone, the number of cosmetic, vitamin, and medicine containers is shocking. Even my little essential oil bottles, which are glass, have a lid and seal that are plastic.
Krista and I talked this month about how overwhelming the problem can feel. I watched the Story of Plastic and felt like the problem was so much bigger than only me and my efforts. And that’s important to know.
The problem is a huge one. But it also shows how important it is to take an interest and make those small changes. It is that power of individuals creating change in their own lives and banding together that ultimately creates change.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
― Margaret Mead
Convenience of a Plastic Filled Life
Being conscious of my plastic use this month let me really see how plastic works its way into my life. Convenience was definitely the biggest influence for my use of plastic.
This was very apparent the week this month where my car broke down multiple times and landed three times in the mechanic shop. That week I chose to go to a convenient grocery store at the expense of being plastic free.
This brings up two thoughts for me–allowing moments of convenience like this as an act of self care and also the necessity of a “convenience audit” of sorts to check my priorities. I’m always looking for the most sustainable way to create change in my life.
My goal is not to make an extreme change that will cause me to burn out, but to make intentionally sustainable choices that will lead to long-lasting change. I’ve eaten a vegan diet for over 17 years, but still to this day eat really-bad-for-you milk chocolate. It’s a compromise I’ve made because I knew it would lead to a life-long change.
This is how I’m looking at the self-care moments. I’m not going to beat myself up for needing them, but will accept them and move on. A once in a while occasion is not going to derail a life-long journey. Now, if I started eating 10 chocolate bars a day, I’d have to check my priorities and have a serious conversation with myself, but the key is having the self-awareness to do that.
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
Anne Marie Bonneau
Privilege of Zero Waste
I mentioned in my Plastic Free Bathroom post that one reason I had not switched to a bamboo toothbrush yet was due to cost. Not only do I not see bamboo toothbrushes readily available at my grocery stores, they are also 5 times more expensive. I have similar thoughts whenever I see cloth produce bags as well. I have thought about purchasing them in the past, but really need to put that money towards the actual produce instead.
Seeing many posts about plastic free alternatives and swaps this month drove home the reality that living a low waste and plastic free life does come with a certain amount of privilege. I understand there are ways to reuse items and that some sustainable choices actually do save money, but for others there are a cost and it needs to be a part of the conversation.
I don’t have the answers, but felt it an important point to acknowledge.
Krista and I have different approaches to our plastic free journeys. We will have a different approach to how you do yours. There is no better than in how we do this. We are all operating with different motivations, abilities, resources, and access. I hope we can lift each other up through these differences and use those different approaches as a way to inspire each other.
I like to envision the whole world as a jigsaw puzzle… If you look at the whole picture, it is overwhelming and terrifying, but if you work on your little part of the jigsaw and know that people all over the world are working on their little bits, that’s what will give you hope.
Jane Goodall
Hope and Inspiration to Keep Going
While the reality of plastic is overwhelming, most of the conversations I’ve had with people about the topic of reducing its use have been positive. The tone seems to be that people understand something needs to change. While COVID-19 has made it harder to use reusable items in shops, it has highlighted the need to do life differently. And while there was a slight pause on changes, governments are still moving towards banning single use plastics.
There’s also evidence that on an individual level, change is happening. By July 29th, the hashtag #plasticfreejuly2020 had 18,122 posts. 2020 surpassed 2019’s posts with days left to go.
#PlasticFreeJuly2017 = 794 posts
#PlasticFreeJuly2018 = 7,356 posts
#PlasticFreeJuly2019 = 17,075 posts
#PlasticFreeJuly2020 = 18,122+ posts
Its so clear to see that this movement is growing! How hopeful and inspiring is that?!
“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”
Christopher Reeve
How was your Plastic Free July? What did you learn from your experience reducing plastic in your life?
Looking for more ways to reduce your plastic use?
Check out our latest Plastic Free July posts!
50 Thoughts on Plastic
Plastic Free Kitchen
Plastic Free Food
Plastic Free Period
22 Comments
Nishtha Pande`
Good information to have! Didn’t know much about plastic free July before this year but I think the movement is growing. Thanks for sharing!
A Sustainably Simple Life
This was my first year learning about Plastic Free July as well. It’s so encouraging to see the movement continuing to grow 🙂
Lozza
This was such a great read!
I’ve been making small changes towards a more sustainable lifestyle such as using bamboo and metal straws and reusable make up remover pads.
I plan to make more changes as I can! ☺️
Love Lozza x
A Sustainably Simple Life
That’s so awesome! Those small changes really do make such a huge difference when you compare the waste from the alternatives. I’m a fan of making small consistent changes over time 🙂
Unwanted Life
The struggle to remove plastic from your life during a pandemic has been near impossible, supermarkets are using plastic bags again for him deliveries, and if you try to support local restaurants and takeaways, you ended up with even more plastic. Finding clothes without polyester in is almost impossible now days too
A Sustainably Simple Life
The struggle is definitely real right now! Only this last week was I able to bring my reusable bags to the cashier at my grocery store. I was so happy to get to do that!
Alexis Farmer
Awesome cause! I definitely need to make more effort to go plastic free
A Sustainably Simple Life
I’ve enjoyed learning about plastic free July this month and everything that comes with it. 🙂
Roni
I unfortunately only discovered plastic-free July when we were halfway through the month so I wasn’t able to do it from the beginning. However, Ive been working hard to reduce my plastics where possible anyway☺️
Roni | myelevatedexistence.com
A Sustainably Simple Life
That’s awesome you’re trying to reduce your plastic use! It really doesn’t matter when we start, just that we do 🙂
Jaya Avendel
It is wonderful to see the steady incline in participates for Plastic Free July. It has opened my eyes to see how plastic sneaks into our lives and how we can reduce our use. 🙂
A Sustainably Simple Life
It really does sneak into our lives, doesn’t it?! Plastic Free July helped me see that too 🙂
aimsysantics
It’s really quite suprising how much plastic is included in everyday items, isn’t it? I guess you don’t always think about it until you see posts like this one. I am trying to cut down on plastics, i’ve swappeed plastic straws for metal ones. They are so much better, I can’t beleive I haven’t tried them before now!
Thanks for sharing!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
A Sustainably Simple Life
Swapping out your plastic straws is such a great place to start! Those things really do make such a difference. That’s great you’ve been trying to cut down on plastics 🙂
Chloe Chats
I love that quote – We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly. There’s so many little things we can do to help reduce waste, and we can do it one step at a time because it can definitely be difficult sometimes, especially with covid going on! But if more people are doing it imperfectly it’s going to make much more of a difference to just a handful doing it perfectly!
Chloe xx
A Sustainably Simple Life
I find that quote so encouraging too! Doing a little bit at a time really can make a big difference! 🙂
femaleoriginal
I think making small changes that can last a lifetime are the best way forward! It’s like anything, if you try to overdo it at the beginning you start to burn out! It sounds like you’re making some great changes 🙂 x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
A Sustainably Simple Life
Thanks so much for the encouragement! 🙂
Adam
I have to be honest, I’d never heard of plastic free July. It’s a great idea though, and I will know for next year….of course it’s an all year round thing anyway ?
A Sustainably Simple Life
I’m with you! It was my first year of hearing about Plastic Free July too hehe. It’s fun to participate in something that’s being done all over the world for the month, but definitely something for year-round too 🙂
Amie Cadwallader
I’ve been working so hard on limiting my plastic usage, and I think it is so important and there are some really easy ways to reduce plastic!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
A Sustainably Simple Life
That’s awesome you’ve been working to reduce your plastic use too! There are a lot of great plastic free options out there now. 🙂