INVESTABLE OCEANS
INVESTABLE OCEANS

Celebrating Plastic Free July: 5 Tips from the IO Team

• Investable Oceans • Plastics & Pollution

Celebrating Plastic Free July: 5 Tips from the IO Team
Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash

Celebrating Plastic Free July for Our Blue Planet

It’s no secret that plastic pollution is one of the major challenges our global oceans are facing. With projections anticipating more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050 (by weight) under a business-as-usual scenario, it’s clear that meaningful, urgent action is needed.

Image: Morgan Bennett-Smith, Investable Oceans

Single-use plastic is the most common form of marine debris and, notably, once it enters the ocean, it never fully degrades. According to NOAA, food wrappers, beverage bottles, grocery bags, straws and take out containers were among the top 10 kinds of trash picked up during the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup. Avoiding these forms of plastic in our day-to-day activities can be difficult as consumers living in today’s world, but it’s certainly not impossible – and July is a great time to dive into action!

Image: Plastic Free Foundation 

Plastic Free July is an annual challenge organized by the Plastic Free Foundation that has been attracting millions of participants worldwide since 2011. As a participant, you can choose the level of engagement that makes the most sense for your lifestyle and commitment, ranging from avoiding single-use plastic packaging for one week, to going completely “plastic free” from now on.

Here are five tips to help you get started on your plastic reduction journey this month, and beyond:

  1. Carry a reusable water bottle (and straw) wherever you go. Klean Kanteen & Final Straw
  2. Explore the growing number of refillable household cleaning products in the market. Blueland & Grove Collaborative
  3. Bring your reusable shopping and produce bags to the store, and use reusable storage bags at home for leftovers and on-the-go snacks. Lotus & Stasher
  4. Try to cook at home as much as possible, and if you’re going to order take-out, call the restaurant to ask what type of containers they use – you’d be surprised how many have plastic-free and/or compostable ones. 
  5. Encourage your friends and family to join in! Have fun – make it a competition or shop for reusable products together (carpooling reduces CO2 emissions!).

Click here to sign up for the Plastic Free July Challenge!

Want to take your Plastic Free July commitment even further? Check with local organizations to see if there are any beach clean ups happening in your area. You can also host a DIY clean up with your friends, family and neighbors – here is a Reusable DIY Cleanup Kit from United by Blue to get you started!

Image: Dustan Woodhouse, Unsplash 

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