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It is hideous, but before you go off and spend the plastic-free July working out how to recycle more and use less plastic, consider this.<\/p>\n\n
Big polluters love recycling schemes<\/h2>\n\n
The big plastic producers, and the oil companies that rely on them as the world turns against fossil fuels … they love recycling.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n Shell, Exxon Mobil, BP and INEOS<\/a> would LOVE you to spend all your time sorting through your plastic, washing plastic bottles, educating your friends about what plastic can be recycled, and berating uncle Bob about his poor recycling habits.<\/p>\n\n They also don\u2019t mind if you spend lots of time and money finding clever ways to use less plastic, like glass keep cups, metal straws and bamboo toothbrushes – because they know that while we let them continue producing masses of cheap throwaway plastic, the alternatives can\u2019t really compete in a meaningful way. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n But what they\u2019re really scared you\u2019ll do is start working together to end their business model altogether. That terrifies them. They\u2019ve seen how effective we can be when we stand together. <\/a><\/p>\n\n Big Oil and its horrible twin Big Plastic are horrified by the prospect that we all stop worrying so much about recycling and join together to change the system they rely on.<\/p>\n\n They\u2019re scared because they\u2019ve seen it work. By working together and focusing on systemic change, we won a ban on single use plastic shopping bags<\/a> which since it came into force, has seen billions fewer bags thrown away to pollute the world for eons to come.<\/p>\n\n That really shook them up.<\/p>\n\n Now we\u2019re focusing on one of the worst plastic pollution culprits – single-use plastic drink bottles<\/a>. It\u2019s estimated that every year in Aotearoa we toss away more than a billion plastic bottles.<\/p>\n\n This plastic ends up clogging our landfills, getting shipped offshore and incinerated in places like Malaysia<\/a>, where it harms human health, or it winds up on our coast, causing harm to wildlife and breaking down into tiny toxic pieces which end up in our food.<\/p>\n\n It\u2019s time to ban the bottle.<\/strong> Sign the petition here.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n And now, before we go on to the top 7 ways to use less plastic, the main thing is to do it proudly and visibly. One of the best things about walking the talk is that it normalises the shift, and that makes it more likely that people join the movement to create systemic change!<\/p>\n\n Individual action makes people think, shows what we can do, reminds decision makers that there is a will to change and highlights the systems shifts needed to enable more to follow.<\/p>\n\n And one last thing before we get to the handy list, it\u2019s important to keep in mind when going into the Plastic Free July commitment, that reducing plastic in our lives, even just for one month, can be very difficult and time-consuming. For many people, plastic-free options are not feasible, accessible, or affordable. We are living in a broken system, and to combat the issue of plastic pollution, we need to stop plastics at the source. If your bathtub was overflowing, you wouldn\u2019t immediately reach for a mop. You would first turn off the tap. That\u2019s what we need to do with plastics. <\/p>\n\n All you have to do is commit to one month of trying to avoid disposable plastic. You can challenge yourself and commit to different levels. <\/p>\n\n The great thing about Plastic Free July is that it\u2019s only a month-long commitment. It gives us the opportunity to challenge ourselves to do better on the individual level and see if the lifestyle changes are something we can commit to in the long term.<\/p>\n\n The more visible you are with your efforts, the more you can inspire others and show decision makers that it\u2019s something we want, so talk about it to friends and family, post about it on social media, let people know how you get on, whether you s\ucceed or not. <\/p>\n\n It\u2019s always good to think holistically and reducing plastic waste is no different. In 2015, Hannah and Liam started a zero waste living journey by simply living without a rubbish bin. <\/p>\n\n In their first five years of zero waste living they sent just 7.6kg of rubbish to landfill. They limited their recycling to two wheelie bins of paper and cardboard, and eight crates of glass. They\u2019re pretty hard core, and now spend a lot of time educating others about what\u2019s possible. You can read Hannah\u2019s top 10 tips for zero waste living here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n One of the best ways to make change is to lobby at the local level. Your elected officials represent you. Listening to you is literally their job, so let them know what you think! Here are a few ways you can tell them that single-use plastics aren\u2019t welcome in your community, and to use grassroots activism to strengthen democracy at the same time.<\/p>\n\n Write an email or letter Make a phone call<\/strong> Start an ongoing campaign with a petition<\/strong> Most coffee cups aren\u2019t recycled. By bringing your own reusable coffee cup, or taking the time to dine-in at your favourite caf\u00e9, you can make a huge difference. You can easily avoid takeaway coffee cups by bringing along your own reusable alternative. There are many reusable coffee cups available on the market. Keep it in your bag or on your desk at work; wherever you\u2019ll remember to use it.<\/p>\n\n Many grocery stores pre-package their fruit and vegetables in plastic, and offer plastic bags for loose items. There are simple alternatives to help reduce your impact on the environment. Buying plastic-wrapped or packaged fruits and vegetables can be convenient, but unfortunately it creates plastic waste. Instead, look out for loose fruit and vegetables in your local grocery store, or head to a farmers market or organic store where plastic packaging is less often used. Choose lightweight, reusable produce bags instead of the plastic bags that are usually provided. Be sure to look for ones made from recycled plastic or repurposed netting fabric.<\/p>\n\n You can go plastic-free with your dental care, by finding more sustainable alternatives to toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss. More and more people are choosing toothbrushes that are made from sustainable, compostable materials, such as bamboo. Be aware though, bristles are usually still made from plastic, so you\u2019ll need to cut them off before composting or reusing your bamboo toothbrush handle. Purchasing a toothbrush with a replaceable head can eliminate the need to continually purchase a new plastic brush every few months, too. When it comes to toothpaste, many health and organic stores sell plastic-free alternatives. There are also recipes available online for making your own. <\/p>\n\n Before making a purchase, smart shoppers stop and think: Is there a better alternative? Do I need this? Or, do I need this much? People making smarter decisions when shopping show that it can have a huge impact, and is not too difficult. Considering the packaging of the item is a good place to start to \u2018buy less\u2019. Thinking about potential alternatives can include: choosing the item with the least amount of packaging, switching from plastic to paper packaging, or even choosing loose product with no packaging at the grocers or a bulk food store.<\/a> For reusable products it\u2019s better to purchase something that\u2019s designed to last forever than it is to purchase something that will need replacing regularly. <\/p>\n\n![\"Take](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2019\/02\/e4acfafc-c349b0b7-gp0stsam1_web_size-1.jpg\")
We need collective and<\/strong> individual action.<\/h2>\n\n
7 ways to go plastic free in the Plastic Free July Challenge<\/h2>\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n1. Participate in Plastic Free July!<\/h3>\n\n
2. Try Zero Waste living<\/h3>\n\n
3. Lobby your local council or businesses to eliminate single-use plastics<\/h3>\n\n
Here\u2019s some ways to lobby decision makers to go plastic free<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
<\/strong>Writing a personal letter or email is a better way to get your point across than contacting an official through their website. It\u2019s harder for them to ignore a message in their mailbox or inbox, which means you\u2019re more likely to get a response. Here is a TEMPLATE<\/a> that you can modify and use. Be sure to identify yourself as a constituent, include your name and address, and personally sign the letter. Encourage others to do the same. The more they hear the same message, the more likely they are to listen.<\/p>\n\n
Find your voice and pick up the blower. Calling your elected officials is a great way to make a personal connection with them or their staff. Here is a sample PHONE SCRIPT<\/a> that you can modify and use. Again, be sure to let them know that you\u2019re a constituent\u2014they want your vote, after all! And talk to your friends and family about calling, too.<\/p>\n\n
Thanks to the internet, it\u2019s easier than ever to start a petition. First, identify the target of your petition\u2014the official you want to take action\u2014 and clearly state your demands. Here is a sample PETITION<\/a> that you can adjust to suit your needs. Then, head over to our community petition platform and set up your petition<\/a>. Share your petition on social media and ask your friends to do the same. Once you have a solid number of signatures, deliver the petition to your local decision maker. Email is easiest, of course, but sometimes visiting their office, and handing it to them in person will make a bigger impression.<\/p>\n\n4. Choose to refuse single-use takeaway cups<\/h3>\n\n
5. Choose to refuse pre-packed fruit and vegetables.<\/h3>\n\n
6. Choose to refuse single-use plastic dental products. <\/h3>\n\n
7. Buy less<\/h3>\n\n