The Great Eco Journey + Plastic-Free July – Why it is not about actually going plastic-free

Written By Juliet Dale from The Great Eco Journey

For me, it all started with a bit of eaves-dropping. You see, for countless years I ignored the amount of rubbish my husband and I produced, the amount of single-use we consumed, and the sheer amount of plastic in all aspects of our day-to-day living. I heard about couples who didn’t ignore it, couples who had gone ‘zero-waste’, or ‘plastic-free’, but that just seemed completely, intimidatingly unachievable for us – so I left that idea sitting in our too-hard-basket. 

Then kids happened, and with them, a lot more plastic happened. It seemed like kids and plastic were so tightly enmeshed that I took that metaphoric too-hard-basket and hiffed it straight in the (plastic) bin. For years the busyness of life made it easy to keep my eyes blindly turned. 

But then the eavesdropping event occured. I was waiting in queue at the supermarket, listening to the checkout operator praise the customer in front of me for bringing her reusable bags rather than using the single-use ones. Smugly I thought to myself: ‘but I REUSE these (plastic) bags, so they’re not single-use for me. In fact, I NEED these plastic bags, what else would I use to wrap dirty nappies and wipes in?!’. When it came my turn to buy my groceries, I considered explaining to the checkout operator why I didn’t have reusable bags, that actually I was making an ‘eco-friendly’ choice too. But I guess I knew deep down that my defense had gaping holes in it. I even had a few reusable nappies at home that I hadn’t tried – I would have put them in the too-hard-basket if I still had one.

The overheard conversation stuck with me, chipping away at my excuses, but I didn’t actually change anything. I was still a bit overwhelmed by the whole ‘plastic-free’ term, and just couldn’t figure out how our life would work in this plastic-free parallel dimension. But when my daughter started toilet training, I knew that my last weak excuse was wearing thin.

We already had some reusable bags lying around, and I purchased a couple more… then braced myself for the earth-shattering changes that would come with embarking on this ‘plastic-free’ journey. But the earth didn’t shatter, it didn’t even tremble. In reality, I started taking my reusable bags to the supermarket, brought my groceries home in them, and then put them straight back in the car ready for next time. I didn’t get any compliments from the checkout operator (insert miffed emoji here), in fact, they didn’t bat an eyelid. To my pleasant surprise, the change was a bit of a non-event, and what was even more pleasantly surprising, was how good I felt about it. I started keeping a small reusable bag in my nappy bag, another under the push-chair, and another in the glove-box, so that even for small purchases, I could say no to a plastic bag. I stopped using plastic-produce bags too, and just left my fruit and veg free and naked. Again, the changes felt great, I felt proud, until I heard that dreaded ‘plastic-free’ term, and remembered how insignificant my attempts were in comparison.

That was just the beginning. Three years later, and I estimate that we have cut or reduced plastic from more than 100 areas of our lives. We have made changes one at a time. Sometimes we have got on a bit of a roll and made some quick successive changes, other times we have gone months without doing anything new. Occasionally we have taken a step or two backwards, and one or two changes we have struggled with and reverted to our old ways (glass milk bottles is a good example of this). For a change to stick, we know it needs to be as easy, if not easier, than what we were already doing. Many of the changes we have made have had the unexpected bonus of saving us money. 

Despite this awesome journey we have been on, I have continued to grapple with the term ‘plastic-free’ – I have worried that others like me will be intimidated by its finality. I have resisted using it in my presentations or writing, and I have never used it to describe where my own family is at.

It has taken me until this very moment, the start of Plastic-free July 2021, to fully comprehend what ‘plastic-free’ really means. ‘Plastic-free’ was never about BEING plastic-free or GOING plastic-free. Those are ideas that I think even the most hard-core of zero-wasters would agree are unachievable while existing in today’s society. It is also not about comparing how much plastic you do or don’t consume with others. No, ‘plastic-free’ is a movement that is simply about looking for plastic-free alternatives to your current norms.

So on that note, this Plastic-free July, how about looking for a single plastic-free alternative to one of your current norms? Below is a list of 31 ideas. I urge you NOT to attempt them all, but to find one that you haven’t tried, and give it a crack! Small changes can make a big difference, both in your own life, and in others. All those years back, that checkout operator and the lady with the reusable bags left an impression on me which has gone on to change my life (in a good way, not an earth-shattering one!). When you use your reusable cup, or pack your kids’ lunchbox waste-free, or chat about a great change you have made, you may not be praised by the checkout operator, but people will notice. People will eavesdrop. And perhaps you will be the inspiration they need to start their own plastic-free journey.

31 IDEAS FOR REDUCING PLASTIC DURING PLASTIC-FREE JULY

1. Bread tags – start collecting your bread tags and donate them to Breadtags for Wheelchairs. For more info and to find your closest drop-off point click here.
2. Tea bags – most tea bags contain plastic! Crazy right!? Find a plastic-free brand, or try using loose-leaf tea. Info on which teabags contain plastic here.
3. Popcorn – use the bulk bins at your supermarket, or visit a bulk store with your own jar or reusable bulk bin bags, and get some waste-free popcorn kernels. A great lunchbox filler, snack or movie-time treat.
4. Muesli Bars – try making your own muesli bars instead of buying the wrapped ones. Alternatively something else that you usually buy in individual packaging, like crackers or fruit leathers. Here’s my muesli bar recipe.
5. Beeswax wraps – great for lunches and snacks, you can buy locally made ones or make your own.
6. Butter. The wrap off a block of butter is compostable… meaning you can use it completely waste-free. (Not the ones wrapped in foil) Sometimes we keep a bit in a butter dish in the pantry – this solves the spreading issue for us (cause no one wants their bread ripped to shreds while trying to butter it!)
7. Drink bottle. If you like water on-the-go, use a bottle that you already have rather than buying single-use. Check out these beautiful glass blown Sol Bottles from Oh Natural
8. Takeaway cups. BYO a reusable cup, make your own cup, dine in or borrow. 
9. Multipurpose cleaner. Make your own! Here’s my recipe – this cleaner has two ingredients, is grunty, and will replace most of the plastic-bottle cleaners in your home. Also check out Oh Natural’s range of eco friendly, multipurpose and low waste cleaning products
10. Plastic-free lunch. Have a go at packing a plastic free snack /lunch for you or the kids. Check out some ideas here and Oh Natural’s range of reusable and eco friendly goodies here
11. Pens. Start collecting and recycling your old stationary (pens, felts, highlighters, markers and more) through Terracycle. Find out exactly what can be recycled and where here.
12. Safety razor. Switch your plastic razor to one that will last a lifetime. Safety razors take a bit of getting used to, but are so worth it. A super clean shave and waste free. Check our Oh Natural’s range of eco friendly shaving products here
13. Toothbrush. Make the easy switch from a plastic toothbrush to a bamboo one AND/OR start recycling your plastic toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes through Terracycle. Check out more info here and Oh Natural’s range of eco friendly & natural dental care here
14. Receipts. For years I put my receipts in the recycling bin, until I discovered that they are actually PLASTIC-COATED! Say no to receipts if you don’t need one or opt for a digital one if it’s available. It you do get one pop it in your bin rather than recycling and don’t beat yourself up about it!
15. Try a bulk store. Take some jars, containers or your reusable bulk bin bags to your local bulk store. You can find all your local stores on the Regional Zero Waste Shopping Guides. 
16. Straws. Say no to plastic straws and use your lips or a reusable straw instead. Oh Natural have a great range of reusable straws.
17. Waste-free periods. Try a plastic-free alternative to your period products, like a menstrual cup, reusable pads or period underwear. Check our Oh Natural’s range of Waste Free Period Care
18. Cleaning products. Try out some of the cool new waste-free products available like Ethique’s bars (just add boiling water) or EcoStore’s concentrates. Also check out Oh Natural’s range of eco friendly, multipurpose and low waste cleaning products
19. Shampoo and conditioner bars. These are not only plastic free, but they’re generally natural, gentle, cost-effective (taking into account how long they last – typically the equivalent of three plastic bottles), and convenient – great for travelling! Oh Natural have a great range of Waste Free Hair Care for all hair and scalp types
20. Toilet paper. There are a few ways that you can get your toilet paper without the plastic. I compared them here.
21. Sugar Scrub. Make your own – also a great gift! Check our my recipe here or Oh Natural’s great range of Waste Free Body Care
22. Dishes. Soap shakers and dish bars can be used instead of dishwashing liquid. Check out Oh Natural’s range of eco friendly, multipurpose and low waste cleaning products
23. Deodorant. Swap your spray or roll on for a natural, waste-free version, or have a go at making your own! Oh Natural have a great range of Waste Free Natural Deodorant’s that actually work! 
24. Clothes pegs. Switch to stainless-steel pegs that will last forever. 
25. Soap. Switch from liquid hand soap and body wash to a good old waste-free bar of soap. Check out Oh Natural’s great range of Waste Free Body Care including soap bars
26. Mailbox. Reduce the paper and plastic wrapping being delivered to your letterbox by putting up a no-circular sign or an Ecomailbox sticker, unsubscribing from unwanted mailouts and opting to go paperless with bills.
27. Produce bags. You can buy them, make them, or just go without!!
28. Ice cream. Opt for an ice cream in a cone rather than on a stick and avoid the plastic wrapping.
29. Compost. Set up a compost bin, worm farm or bokashi bin. Everything you need to know about why, how and which is best for you is in this blog.
30. Tomato sauce. T-sauce bottles are generally a number 4 plastic, which cannot currently be recycled in NZ. A simple switch is to buy your sauce in a can, and refill your plastic or glass bottle. Rinse the can and pop it in your recycling!
31. Lemons. It’s very nearly lemon season so get squeezing!!! You can freeze lemon juice in ice cube trays and avoid needing to buy it in a bottle or expensive out of season lemons for the rest of the year! Also great to use for a multipurpose cleaner (see number 9) or to make limoncello!

I hope some of these ideas have inspired you to make one change this #plasticfreejuly. Follow The Great Eco Journey on Instagram or Facebook for more great ideas and inspiration for your Eco Journey

Happy Plastic-free July!

Juliet Dale from The Great Eco Journey