Plastic Free July – Taking baby steps to end plastic pollution

During last month’s Ocean Fair, we asked adults and students alike what they would do to protect the ocean. We also asked them to make a pledge for the ocean. We received fantastic feedback. Of the pledges made, several dealt with plastic pollution.

Making a pledge for the ocean at the Ocean Fair

They included minimizing plastic waste, shopping wisely, buying less plastic, avoiding single-use plastic items, and recycling and reusing at home and at school. They also include separating trash, cleaning up after beach parties and picnics, putting trash where it belongs, putting up signboards to educate others, and creating awareness in the media.

It was clear that many individuals wanted to end plastic pollution in our environment.

However, some people have said that when it comes to refusing single-use plastic, the challenge is to stay consistent, while others say avoiding items while shopping is also sometimes difficult.

Plastic Free Juy is one of the most influential environmental campaigns

To help individuals, workplaces, businesses, and communities take action, the Plastic Free Initiative (www.plasticfree.org) - one of the most influential environmental campaigns - is offering daily tips for action that everyone can take to reduce plastic consumption effectively.

Rallying people around the globe through the slogan “small steps, big difference,” they have created resources choke-full of suggestions for something anyone can do in July and beyond.

Sign board to educate at Grand Anse (Photo credit : @seychellesbeachcleanupseychellesbeachcleanup on Instagram)

Individuals can ditch disposable plastic items, reject pre-packaged produce, and choose reusable items. Doing a bin or kitchen plastic audit, engaging colleagues, and changing procurement practices can be done at work. It could be creating awareness of packaging for parents and students at school. Or eliminating plastic at events and encouraging vendors to go plastic-free. Or businesses reducing plastic in their supply chains.

The idea is to pick one solution and implement it and continue to do so consistently.

A helpful place to start is by taking the campaign’s quiz to see how much plastic you use at home, school, or business.

Once you do a plastic audit you will quickly realize that plastic is everywhere and a conscious effort to reduce it is needed.

Then sign up for the 31-day challenge. Millions of Plastic Free July participants will take these steps and encourage others to do so too. And if you want to share your Plastic Free July challenge with friends, family, and colleagues and encourage them to participate especially on social media, there is a range of easy-to-use resources including badges, social media posts, and email footer.

Plastic pollution has gained considerable attention in recent years (Pexels - Gustavo Fring)

Organizers say 140 million people took part in 2022. This included a record number of businesses, organizations, NGOs, and governments. They engaged employees in workplace challenges, removed single-use plastic from operations, and changed procurement practices and policies.

Plastic pollution has gained considerable attention in recent years. Plastic’s widespread use and improper disposal have serious environmental consequences.

As a non-biodegradable material, it accumulates in landfills, and natural habitats, causing long-term damage to ecosystems and wildlife. Human health is also adversely affected. Various food sources and drinking water have been found to contain microplastics, tiny particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items.