The month of July is the month in which millions around the world show their support for Plastic Free July in an effort to be part of the solution to the ongoing plastic crisis. The need for cleaner areas of living is becoming a desperate situation as our beautiful communities and streets are being destroyed with little to no resistance. Spanning over 190 countries and 100+ million participants, Plastic Free July will help people find alternatives that will become your new habits in the future. In this article we will be discussing what Plastic Free July is, why you should get involved and how you can get involved.
What Is Plastic Free July?
Starting in 2011, the Plastic Free July campaign is now an award-winning movement that is the result of years of hard work. An initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation, a campaign that allows us to work together towards a vision of a plastic free world. From 2017 the not-for-profit charity Plastic Free Foundation was setup as Plastic Free July had outgrown the original means showing the immense support this campaign has globally. When we think of the Plastic Free Foundation we should remember the key core values that the charity operates by:
- Honesty and integrity
- Inclusivity of people, ideas, visions and approaches
- A focus on providing solutions.
- Authenticity and Collaboration
- The belief that small changes add up to a big difference.
Originally founded by a local government in Western Australia and headed by Rebecca Prince Ruiz (the founder of the Plastic Free Foundation), Plastic Free July is one of the most impactful environmental campaigns in the world and any commercial establishment should be intrigued in how to join us.
Why Should you get involved?
The reason why any establishment should be involved with Plastic Free July is quite straightforward, the environmental impact of plastic pollution is an issue that everyone should be tackling. Especially for a catering company that work using plastics, finding adequate alternatives has become a necessity in the modern world. I can talk endlessly about why Plastic Free July should be an essential part of operations however I will leave it to Erin Rhodes to summarise why commercial establishments should take this initiative seriously.
“Plastic Free July isn’t just about buying a reusable cup or bag, it’s giving people the tools to change their habits, to pause and think how we as individuals can make an impact for the better and reduce our reliance on plastic.”
Helping consumers change their habits is the goal for Plastic Free July as allowing people to find eco-friendly alternatives should help with reducing our reliance on plastic. The UK throws away an estimated 295 billion pieces of plastic waste every year. Even though you might throw your plastic waste into the recycling bin, some of it can still escape and enter the food chain which is why it is so important that commercial establishments join in on supporting the cause.
How can we get involved?
The Plastic Free Foundation works cohesively with philanthropic, community and corporate sectors to help influence the behaviour changes needed to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for all. There are many ways a commercial establishment can get involved with Plastic Free July such as:
- Avoid using cleaning products packaged in single use plastic.
- Use plastic free decorations.
- Avoiding disposable products and packaging.
- Avoid using pre-packaged foods by choosing bulk or loose foods.
Taking The First Step
The key to taking part in Plastic Free July is to choose one key item and giving it a try. Being a part of Plastic Free July will allow you to find great alternatives that can become new habits forever.
- Take the challenge and get helpful tips and tricks of other participants and news from across the globe.
- Partake in the Plastic Free July Quiz to discover the items you use and decide what you’d like to choose to refuse.
Due to the nature of single-use plastic coffee cups that are unfortunately difficult to recycle many people are choosing to use their own recyclable cup or swap a cup from a café or restaurant.
Here at Alliance Online, we would urge any commercial establishment to strongly consider being part of the Plastic Free July global movement so we can enjoy clean streets, oceans and beautiful communities. For more information regarding Plastic Free July please refer to their website or for more on our range of eco-friendly catering supplies please feel free to call us on 01270 252333 or email us at hello@allianceonline.co.uk.
