July is one of our favourite months in the eco calendar. Why? Plastic Free July of course! Watching newbies commit to living with less plastic, and seeing avid eco warriors cement even further plastic free habits, is super encouraging. We’re all about ditching plastic and looking after our world, and every year Plastic Free July adds numbers to our global eco tribe.

But when July is over, what happens next? Plastic Free July is a great catalyst for change, but it’s important to use your new eco friendly habits to continue your plastic free journey beyond the 31 day challenge.

Living a plastic free lifestyle sounds daunting, and in this plastic covered society, it really is. But with the help of our top five strategies, you’re bound to make your Plastic Free July decisions stick, and ace plastic free living all year round.

Be prepared, and invest in sticky notes!

Like all mothers say: you can never be too prepared. When it comes to dodging plastic on the go, and shopping up a storm at bulk bin stores and organic grocers, it’s important to have the right tools to help you. Create your own plastic free kit. We’re talking reusable drink bottles, cutlery, takeaway containers, coffee cups, beeswax wraps, and reusable shopping bags.

Once you are set up with the right tools, work out a way to avoid leaving your coffee cup at home on the kitchen bench, or balancing vegetables in your arms as you walk out of the supermarket and head back to your reusable bag sitting on the front seat of your car! Try sticking paper sticky notes to your front door, beside your keys, on your car sun visor, or car door. Remember to put your reusables by the front door after use, or keep a few spare tools in your handbag at all times. It’s hard enough to remember your keys and handbag (and kids!) as you leave the house, but once the sticky notes have done the trick, carrying your reusables will be as habitual as brushing your teeth.

Take things one step at a time (progress over perfection)

Committing to plastic free living overnight, won’t get you far. Although it’s a great sentiment, plastic is everywhere, and it’s most likely you’ll fail and give up altogether. We don’t want that to happen!

Make changes, but make them one at a time. Have you started to make your own plastic free cereal? Practice making it until it feels easy, and only then move onto another plastic free recipe. Do you bring your own reusable bag to get takeaways? Continue doing this for a few more weeks, then bring reusable takeaway containers next time. Small changes make a plastic free lifestyle easier to adopt. There’s less risk you’ll give up, and more chance your good habits will stick.

Grab a (willing) friend

We all need someone who’ll call us out when we attempt to sneak a chocolate bar into our plastic free shopping basket at the checkout. Guilty! Team up with a friend, or even a group of pals, to tackle plastic free living together. You’ll feel less alone, more inspired, and at the end of the day you can support each other through fails and wins, plus share plastic free ideas together.

Reward & punish

Just like a toddler who needs rewards and punishments to keep them on track, you’ll thrive best with incentives too. You don’t have to go crazy on this one, but a simple strategy like this one can make all the difference. If you forget your reusable coffee cup, punish yourself by skipping out on your usual crucial coffee. If you remember your grocery bags, reward yourself by throwing in an extra glass bottle of your favourite kombucha, or finally buy that Oh Natural low waste organic face mask you’ve been eyeing up.

Remember WHY

It’s easier to do something when you know why it’s so important. Keep reminding yourself why you’re choosing to avoid plastic. Whether this looks like putting your feet up and watching a documentary (A Plastic Ocean is a goodie!), reading books with a cuppa tea in hand, listening to podcasts on your commute to work, attending events with like-minded individuals, or displaying a cute quote or poster on your bedroom wall, choose whatever helps you personally stay focused.