The first Plastic Free July took place in 2011 with just a few people from Western Australia. Now it’s all grown up, with millions of people in over 150 countries who choose to go plastic free!

The idea is simple – give up plastic for one month, then hopefully you’ll never look back! You can start nice and easy – maybe it’s just avoiding the big plastic items that fill your recycling bin, or just step right up to a full plastic ban (including things like plastic lined teabags and tin cans)! Are you up to the challenge?

WHY GO PLASTIC FREE?

The Sustainable Salons network has recycled over 52 000 kilos of plastic waste! We even collect the soft stuff like cling wrap and grocery bags, which get turned into outdoor furniture and protective cable covers. This keeps plastics IN circulation and OUT of our oceans!

But according to Plastic Free July, only 9% of all plastic ever made has been recycled. We use plastics all day every day, and often only for a few minutes, even though a flimsy plastic bag can take 1000 years to decompose. From your morning coffee cup, to the bags from your shopping spree (the Environmental Protection Agency says we only use plastic bags for an average of 12 minutes before it’s tossed) to your after-work cocktails with matching plastic straws… it’s all plastic, plastic, plastic!

What happens to the plastic afterwards? Plastic that isn’t recycled ends up in landfill, in our environment and waterways, in the stomachs of marine life, and now it seems some of that plastic is coming full circle and ending up in our drinking water and on our plates. According to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation,

By 2050, it’s estimated that there will be more tonnes of plastic in the ocean than there are tonnes of fish.

HOW TO GET STARTED…

Going cold turkey on plastic can seem tough, but by taking small steps it’ll be a breeze! To start off small, here are steps ABC that you can take…

ASK a friend to take on the Plastic Free July challenge with you! It’s always easier with a mate to support you (or compete with). BRING your own grocery bags, coffee cup and reusable water bottle with you. CUT out small things like plastic straws, plastic cutlery and glad wrap. Instead of glad wrap you can use foil, beeswax wraps or reusable lidded containers!

You can sign up to become plastic free at www.plasticfreejuly.org, and if you’re way ahead of the game, they have heaps more info to fill your journey with YES moments.

SUSTAINABLE SALONS MEMBERS! The first of 4 x Plastic Free July giveaways on Instagram has started... check it out HERE to get involved!


Sustainable Salons Australia provides the most comprehensive waste free systems to the professional hairdressing industry. We collect and recycle 95% of a salon’s waste and reward the salon for their recycling efforts!
Contact us here if you’d like to become a member of Sustainable Salons Australia.