Making the Switch to Plastic-Free: Celebrating Plastic-Free July

Is it really possible to live without plastic in today's world? With Plastic-Free July upon us, now is the perfect time to find out. Plastic sneaks into our homes and lives at an alarming rate, making the idea of going plastic-free seem daunting. However, the journey to a plastic-free lifestyle is all about making small, mindful choices that add up over time.

Are you interested in reducing your plastic use but unsure where to start? Our step-by-step beginner's guide will help you take the first steps towards a plastic-free, and potentially even zero-waste, future. At EcoBlvd, we believe that progress, not perfection, is key. So, let’s embark on this journey together and make a positive impact this Plastic-Free July and beyond.

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Before You Start:
It's Not About Being Perfect,
It's About Doing Your Best

Plastic-Free July is the perfect time to kickstart your journey towards reducing plastic usage. The key is to make progress bit by bit and tackle one swap at a time. Remember, it’s about making small, sustainable changes that add up over time.

What is Plastic-Free July?

• Environmental Impact: Reducing plastic use helps decrease the amount of plastic pollution in our oceans, waterways, and landfills.
  
  
• Health Benefits: Cutting down on plastic can reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals found in many plastic products.
  
  
• Community and Global Change: Participating in a global movement fosters a sense of community and demonstrates the power of collective action.

1. Assess Your Plastic Use: Take note of how much plastic you use in your daily life.
   
   
2. Set Achievable Goals: Start with simple swaps and gradually increase your efforts.
   
   
3. Join the Challenge: Sign up for the Plastic-Free July challenge on their official website for tips and support.

Understanding some key concepts also can help guide your efforts during Plastic-Free July and beyond:

• Plastic-Aware: Being conscious of the plastic items you use in your daily life and actively seeking ways to reduce them.
  
  
• Zero Waste: A philosophy that encourages redesigning resource life cycles so that all products are reused. The goal is for no trash to be sent to landfills, incinerators, or the ocean. It involves reducing what we need, reusing as much as possible, sending little to be recycled, and composting what we cannot.
  
  
• Upcycling: The process of transforming waste materials or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or environmental value.

Ready to begin? Let’s dive into the practical steps you can take to reduce your plastic usage and make a positive impact this Plastic-Free July and beyond.

Step 1: Cut Out The Obvious: Single-Use Items

Effort: Easily swappable, tons of alternatives.

Water Bottles

• Most plastic bottles can be recycled, but many end up in landfills or incinerators because they are not recycled. It takes up to 500 years for plastic bottles that aren't recycled to biodegrade in landfills. Plastic bottles also accumulate litter in our oceans, clogging up waterways and severely harming marine life.
  
  
• It is also expensive to buy plastic water bottles, and you always need to replace them.
  
  
• Alternative: Using a reusable water bottle can save money and make life easier.

“Paper” Coffee Cups

• The majority of disposable cups are manufactured with petroleum-based plastics, such as styrofoam, polypropylene, or polyethylene-coated paper. These materials retain heat and prevent leaks, but their production is energy-intensive, and recycling them is difficult.
  
  
• Due to low oxygen levels, heat, and airflow in landfills, single-use coffee cups can take up to 30 years to decompose.
  
  
• Alternative: Use a reusable coffee cup or mug.
  

Grocery Bags

• Every year, Americans use 30 million plastic bags manufactured from 12 million barrels of oil.
  
  
• Even though it's easy to forget tote bags at home or in the car when grocery shopping, keeping them on hand will ensure you get the most out of them and save a few cents per shopping trip.
  
  
• The advantages of reusable bags include carrying much more than plastic bags, which means less hassle when hauling a large load of groceries.
  
  
• Alternative: Use reusable tote bags for shopping.
  

Step 2: Plastic-Free Kitchenware/Food Storage

Effort: Easily swappable, tons of alternatives.

• It's far easier to make changes in the kitchen than anywhere else if you're just starting your plastic-free, zero-waste journey.
  
  
• As a bonus, plastic-free kitchen essentials are often multifunctional and budget-friendly since they combine old-school wisdom with innovation to create the perfect environment for growth.
  
  
• Alternatives: Rather than plastic wraps or food storage bags, opt for tin foil, oilcloth, beeswax wraps, or other alternatives! Their upfront cost is a bit higher, but their repeated use makes them well worth the price.
  

The same can be said of using glass containers over plastic Tupperware and cloth bowl covers.

Using sustainable alternatives, not only will you prevent harmful microplastics from seeping into your food, but you'll keep the equivalent of 2,000 plastic bags out of the ocean!

Step 3: Invest In Plastic-Free Cleaners

Effort: Fair

• It's like cleaning your home and the planet, making it more worthwhile.
  
  
• Most cleaning products contain plastic, including all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergents, and even dish soap. In most cases, cleaning products, even those that claim to be non-toxic and natural, refer to the ingredients they contain rather than how they are packaged.
  
  
• Alternatives: Switching in this particular realm isn't tricky, but finding products that are 100% plastic-free takes some effort, as ingredients and materials, such as microbeads, can be a hidden source of plastic.
  

Using eco-friendly cleaning products can reduce plastic bottle clutter by simplifying your cleaning routine.

When you shop for soaps, brushes, and laundry supplies, look for those that come in glass bottles, and if possible, look for those that are compostable. Look for those certified as having ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients and materials in their products.

Step 4: Take Your Hygiene Plastic-Free!

Effort: Fair

• You may not realize it, but every bottle of shampoo, conditioner, body soap, lotion, and toothbrush you have ever used is still around today. Unfortunately, most of them are taking up space in landfills or even our oceans.
  
  
• Annually, Americans waste enough shampoo bottles to fill 1,200 football fields. Just one person switching to refillable shampoo bottles instead of plastic will divert up to 500 plastic bottles from landfills.
  
  
• Bathroom swaps may be a little more challenging because we all tend to be more specific with our cleaning regimens.
  
  
• Alternatives: Here are some simple swaps you can add to your daily personal care routine:

• Plastic-Free Soap Bars

• Bamboo Toothbrushes

• Toothpaste Tablets

• Deodorant Cream & Zero-Waste Deodorant Sticks

• Bamboo Toilet Paper

• Reusable Menstrual Cup
  

Step 5: Out-Dressing Plastic In Your Wardrobe

Effort: Moderate

• When it comes to clothing, it can be challenging to find companies that aren't adding new plastic to the environment.
  
  
• Many people are unaware that their clothes are often made using fossil fuels and secretly shed harmful plastic microfibers as they wash and dispose of them. In many cases, this is caused by the use of synthetic materials instead of naturally sourced textiles such as cotton. It’s important to educate yourself on synthetic materials and their names from the likes of polyester, nylon, acrylic, and even polyvinyl and spandex.
  
  
• Alternatives: It is good that most sustainable businesses are mindful of their impact on the environment by using plastic-free fabrics, repurposing clothing, and even reducing the amount of plastics in the environment.
  
  Brands are also making use of new types of biodegradable materials, like bamboo, rayon, modal, canvas, hemp, and linen.
  

Additionally, wash bags catch the microfibers your clothes shed, which would otherwise go down the drain and into our waterways.

Donate or recycle your clothes at the end of their useful and wearable lives, rather than dumping them into landfills so that they and their microplastics don't end up in landfills.

Step 6: Plastic-Free Dining & Groceries

Effort: Considerate

• Ever unpacked your takeout or put away groceries and realized how much plastic packaging there was? Single-use disposable plastics have become almost unavoidable in grocery stores and take-out restaurants.

• To avoid pre-packaged goods when shopping for groceries and avoid extraneous plastic when dining out, we must get creative to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
  
  
• Alternatives:
  Buy in bulk: Ifyour current grocery store doesn't offer bulk, consider finding one that does so you can replace pre-packaged snacks and beans with your bags. These are usually found at co-ops and natural/health food stores.
  
  Shop at a Farmer's Market: The local farmer's markets can provide you with low-waste alternatives and better ways to package the goods you're purchasing. You will likely not find plastic containers at your farmer's market since all products sold at the market are coming directly from the source, and you’d be supporting the farmers and more ethical growers!
  
  Bring your own reusable cutlery or containers: This is the easiest way to avoid unnecessary plastic usage when out and about. Cooking at home is a surefire way to avoid acquiring plastic for transport. The plastic that does make its way into to-go bags is often thrown out without being used, so be mindful! You can ask the restaurant to hold off on the utensils and any non-essential extras that you have or can reuse at home. If you have condiments in your fridge, don't take any more.
  

Step 7: Plastic-Free Essentials

Effort: Depends on your preferences!

• Continuing with these practices will enable you to be vigilant about plastic threats as they arise in your everyday life. Committing to purchasing more sustainable products, perhaps ones that can be composted or repurposed, is a great way to help the environment.
  
  
• Some of the essentials you use daily, along with your waste, can help the planet! Even though phone cases have become almost a necessity for phones as they help us style and accessorize our favorite handheld devices, most of these cases are made of plastic, and over 1 billion plastic phone cases are discarded yearly.
  
  
• Alternatives: Opt for eco-friendly phone cases and other daily essentials that are compostable or made from sustainable materials.
  

At EcoBlvd, we offer a range of compostable phone cases designed to reduce plastic waste while keeping your devices stylish and protected. Check out our latest collections:

• American Heritage Collection: Featuring classic designs inspired by American culture.
  
  
• Wanderlust Collection: Perfect for those who love to travel and explore.
  
  
• Summer Collection: Bright and vibrant designs that celebrate the summer season.
  

We have phone cases for iPhone 12 Pro Max through iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung phone cases for the S23 through S23 Ultra. Additionally, we offer customizable phone case options, allowing you to create a unique and personalized accessory that aligns with your eco-friendly lifestyle.

Conclusion:

Embarking on a plastic-free journey can seem daunting, but remember, it’s not about perfection—it’s about progress. By making small, sustainable changes, you can significantly reduce your plastic footprint and contribute to a healthier planet.

Plastic-Free July is the perfect opportunity to kickstart this journey. Whether you're cutting out single-use items, investing in eco-friendly products, or making mindful choices in your daily life, every step counts