We may be well into August now but for me, plastic free July will never end. My journey living plastic free this July was different to every other year in that it didn’t feel like a challenge or as much of a shock as it usually does. I look forward to plastic free July all year but this year when it finally arrived it didn’t feel as revolutionary as did the year before. It felt normal and very routine-like. I didn’t feel like I was doing anything extraordinary changing any major habits. I felt like I was cruising through life just the same as ever.
My immediate reaction was guilt that I wasn’t doing enough. I felt like I wasn’t changing, that I wasn’t doing something that was really beneficial for the planet. Of course this was a completely wrong assumption and, in fact, this year has probably been my most successful plastic free July ever.
My immediate reaction was guilt that I wasn’t doing enough. I felt like I wasn’t changing, that I wasn’t doing something that was really beneficial for the planet. Of course this was a completely wrong assumption and, in fact, this year has probably been my most successful plastic free July ever.
There are lots of things this July that I changed and I can’t imagine going back…
1: PLANT-BASED DIET
While this is not explicitly a plastic-free change, it was still a new lifestyle which I immersed myself in during and leading up to July. It was amazing seeing the effects of a plant based diet and while it can seem scary, this was an easy change for me. I already don’t eat dairy because of my allergies and my mum is vegetarian so together we basically make vegan. I realised that this new eating habit meant I cooked more and discovered a whole lot of delicious dishes which I can cook for myself and my family. I made a potato and coconut green curry and an awesome cauliflower taboulé. Yum yum!
The term Vegan has some negative connotations and some people dislike the idea of diets and treat people like they are just fussy - choosing to eat food that is good for the planet and good for you is NOT fussy!
It’s important to stay true to your values and beliefs and not be discouraged by others who might not agree with you. In the same way, I have found that, while you may feel frustrated when friends or family don’t understand your choices and you may feel inclined to try convert them as well, it is important to respect the beliefs and values of others and to not force something upon them that they are not willing to do; besides, usually they will feel inspired just by observing you but might not be quite ready to be open about it or embrace big changes. Let them find their own ways to make a difference and maybe you will learn something too.
2: MAKING MY OWN BREAKFASTS
When I say this I don’t mean pouring milk over a few wheat-bix. No, this year I took a huge leap and have started making my own almond milk AND muesli. I buy all my ingredients from my local bulk shop, The Source Bulk Foods, and make the milk and muesli at home from scratch.
This is so exciting because my entire breakfast is plastic free and totally natural. The almond milk is purely almonds and water - no added preservatives or nasties and the muesli is made exactly how I like it with my favourite fruits and nuts. I have really enjoyed experimenting and finding new combinations in my muesli and trying some different foods - like puffed rice and buckwheat.
1: PLANT-BASED DIET
While this is not explicitly a plastic-free change, it was still a new lifestyle which I immersed myself in during and leading up to July. It was amazing seeing the effects of a plant based diet and while it can seem scary, this was an easy change for me. I already don’t eat dairy because of my allergies and my mum is vegetarian so together we basically make vegan. I realised that this new eating habit meant I cooked more and discovered a whole lot of delicious dishes which I can cook for myself and my family. I made a potato and coconut green curry and an awesome cauliflower taboulé. Yum yum!
The term Vegan has some negative connotations and some people dislike the idea of diets and treat people like they are just fussy - choosing to eat food that is good for the planet and good for you is NOT fussy!
It’s important to stay true to your values and beliefs and not be discouraged by others who might not agree with you. In the same way, I have found that, while you may feel frustrated when friends or family don’t understand your choices and you may feel inclined to try convert them as well, it is important to respect the beliefs and values of others and to not force something upon them that they are not willing to do; besides, usually they will feel inspired just by observing you but might not be quite ready to be open about it or embrace big changes. Let them find their own ways to make a difference and maybe you will learn something too.
2: MAKING MY OWN BREAKFASTS
When I say this I don’t mean pouring milk over a few wheat-bix. No, this year I took a huge leap and have started making my own almond milk AND muesli. I buy all my ingredients from my local bulk shop, The Source Bulk Foods, and make the milk and muesli at home from scratch.
This is so exciting because my entire breakfast is plastic free and totally natural. The almond milk is purely almonds and water - no added preservatives or nasties and the muesli is made exactly how I like it with my favourite fruits and nuts. I have really enjoyed experimenting and finding new combinations in my muesli and trying some different foods - like puffed rice and buckwheat.
3: SHAMPOO SOAP BAR
Another new addition to my plastic-free arsenal, shampoo soap bars were a more spontaneous change and I will honestly never be returning to bottled shampoo. I got these from The Source Bulk Foods as well and they are really easy to use; you just lather the soap on your hands and massage it through your hair.
Another new addition to my plastic-free arsenal, shampoo soap bars were a more spontaneous change and I will honestly never be returning to bottled shampoo. I got these from The Source Bulk Foods as well and they are really easy to use; you just lather the soap on your hands and massage it through your hair.
A few tips…
4: BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH
My charcoal toothbrush is now a staple in my toiletries bag and I will definitely be holding on to it for a while. The bamboo handle is compostable and the bristles, while still plastic, are infused with charcoal, a natural cleaning remedy.
I found out about these through the Peppermint magazine (my absolute favourite magazine so make sure you check it out!) and ordered a box of 4. You can also get a subscription to have them sent to you every 3 months which I think I will have to join!
- I didn’t cut mine up this time but next time I definitely will. Try cutting the bar into a few smaller chunks with a knife and just use one at a time; the large piece can be a bit tricky to hold on to.
- Make sure you wash it out well. It isn’t like your typical liquid shampoo (it’s much much better!) and it tends to be a little more dry. You don’t want any little pieces left in your hair so make sure you wash it out thoroughly!
4: BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH
My charcoal toothbrush is now a staple in my toiletries bag and I will definitely be holding on to it for a while. The bamboo handle is compostable and the bristles, while still plastic, are infused with charcoal, a natural cleaning remedy.
I found out about these through the Peppermint magazine (my absolute favourite magazine so make sure you check it out!) and ordered a box of 4. You can also get a subscription to have them sent to you every 3 months which I think I will have to join!
I have to say that this has been my favourite plastic free July experience and I am so grateful for having the opportunity to pursue my passion and achieve so much in such a short amount of time. Of course there is still so far to go before I get to plastic free living but I have made heaps of progress already and I am looking forward to continuing this journey for many more years.