Millions of people from all around the world took part in Plastic Free July last year, preventing 900 Million kg of plastic going to waste, and helping to spread awareness to billions of people! Wonderfully British are proudly part of this event.
Plastic Free July is an annual global movement that encourages people to reduce their plastic consumption for the whole month. And, what started from humble beginnings in 2011 has since attracted the masses, with an estimated 326 million people joining in last year.
By inspiring people to consider their everyday plastic usage and make small lifestyle changes, the campaign shows how we can all help to reduce the impact of plastic on our planet. And by now we all are aware of its horrors. A plastic bottle for instance takes around 450 to breakdown, it clogs up animals stomachs and pollutes our waterways and motorways. If we don’t change our ways, by 2050 there could be more plastic, by weight, than fish in the sea. And similarly as concerning, less than 10% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. This is sooo scary! Don’t you think?
Some parts of the plastic renaissance have been inevitable amid the pandemic, such as the need for personal protective equipment (PPE). But, disposable plastic face masks pose a huge environmental risk – it’s estimated that they are produced on a similar scale to plastic bottles, 43 billion per month. But unlike plastic bottles, of which 25% are recycled, there is no official guidance on mask recycling, meaning that a phenomenal amount will end up polluting our environment.
How can we make a difference? Every single item you choose to switch to a plastic-free alternative has such a positive impact on so many levels; over the years the amount of plastic you will have saved is countable. Together we can change it!
Now more than ever, it’s time to cut our plastic consumption and take part in Plastic Free July’s award-winning initiative to save both our planet’s and our own health. Making small changes is simpler than it seems: leave plastic out of your shopping trolley and consider the alternatives…
Best Alternatives to Plastic
Looking for ways to have less plastic in your home and less plastic waste in the world? Check out these long-lasting plastic alternatives, that are available right now.
Stainless steel Tough and easy to clean, stainless steel options for reusable food and beverage storage have multiplied in recent years. You can replace single-use cups, straws, lunch boxes, and more with this durable metal.
Glass Many food items come packaged in glass, and while not biodegradable, glass is inert, inexpensive and infinitely recyclable. What's more, you can upcycle glass jars into food storage for zero cost, giving your food packaging new life. Jars from jam, honey and pickles can be added to your no-waste toolkit to repurpose leftovers, homemade drinks, or decorated and turned into homemade gifts.
Beeswax-coated cloth Used primarily as a replacement for plastic wrap, beeswax-coated fabric is easy to use and easy to clean. It also smells lovely.
Natural fiber cloth Natural cloth can replace plastic bags. Sustainable clothing made from organic cotton, wool, hemp, or bamboo won’t shed plastic fibers when washed. Felted or recycled wool is a versatile, safe, and compostable material for children’s toys, household containers, and more.
Wood A renewable resource, wood from sustainably-managed forests can replace plastic in household items like cleaning brushes, kitchen utensils, and cutting boards.
Bamboo This fast-growing renewable resource can replace plastic in items like tableware and drinking straws. It's also lightweight, durable, and compostable.
Pottery and other Ceramics Around for millennia, pottery and other fired ceramics offer a stable, waterproof alternative that’s good for food storage and tableware, just look for non-toxic glazes.
Paper Just like the good old days, many things were packaged in plain paper. And while better than plastic, paper can’t be recycled infinitely because every time it’s reused, the fibres get shorter, limiting its use.
Cardboard
Cardboard is fully compostable at home as long as it’s not coated in, you guessed it, plastic. Many companies are now packaging their products in plain cardboard to cut down on waste, and you can also use cardboard boxes to replace storage containers in your home, or give to your kids to play with.
Keep in mind that anything you buy has an environmental footprint. Longer lasting items such glass, and metal take energy to make and transport, and for these swaps to make sense, you need to use them over and over and over again.
At Wonderfully British we don't buy any single use plastics and try to reduce our plastic-usage throughout our homes, but for July we are going zero-plastic all the way! We're also promoting all plastic-free products from our wonderful partners, because together we can change the world!
Are you in?!
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