Have you heard about Plastic Free July? It's a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution, so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities.
July is more than half way over, but we figure it's never too late to get involved and support this great initiative. So what can you do? Here are five really simple ways to reduce your use of plastics…
- Banish your use of takeaway coffee cups and remember to bring your reusable keep cup, or dine in at your local café instead.
- Find plastic-free alternatives when buying your fruit and vegetables. Whether you're at the supermarket or the Farmers Markets, you can take your own reusable bags such as the Seed & Sprout Farmers Market Shopping Bundle.
- Bring your own reusable shopping bags when doing the groceries, or any sort of shopping, and help reduce plastic waste. Tip – keep a bunch of reusable bags in your car so you're never caught out!
- Bring your own reusable water bottle instead of buying a plastic one. If you’re in the market for a new drink bottle, you can buy a Blackbutt Reserve bottle from the Visitor Information Centre or the Kiosk at Blackbutt Reserve.
- Wear a reusable face mask rather than a disposable one. Reusable face masks can be purchased in many shops around Newcastle, or online.
If you're looking for more inspiration, here are six sustainable reads to help you through Plastic Free July. All of them are available from the Newcastle Libraries catalogue.
Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins - in this timely and motivational guide, author Julia Watkins shares rituals, recipes, and projects for living simply and sustainably at home.
Waste Not: Make a Difference By Throwing Away Less by Erin Rhoads - Erin went from eating plastic-packaged takeaway while shopping online for fast fashion, to becoming one of Australia’s leading eco-bloggers. Erin knows that small changes can have a big impact. In this book she shares everything she’s learnt from her own funny, inspiring, and far-from-perfect journey to living with less waste, to help you tackle your own war on waste.
Live Green: 52 Steps for a More Sustainable Life by Jen Chillingsworth - a practical guide of 52 sustainable living changes – one for each week of the year – you can make to be more self-sufficient and reduce your impact on the environment.
How to Live Plastic Free: a day in the life of a plastic detox by Luca Bonaccorsi - whether you decide to go plastic free for an hour, a day or a year, this book will equip you with little steps we can each take to make a big difference.
Home by Natural Harry by Harriet Birrell - down-to-earth recipes for a resourceful, tox-free, and waste-free home life. Home by Natural Harry is a compendium of DIY recipes, tips, tricks, and hacks for a calm, resourceful, and tox-free existence.
Simply Sustainable: Moving Toward Plastic-Free, Low-Waste Living by Lily Cameron - break your plastic habit with simple, actionable steps and jumpstart your journey toward a minimal, beautiful, low-waste home.
If you're ready for the challenge, it's not too late to sign up to Plastic Free July. You can also find tips for eco-friendly plastic substitutions, recycling ideas and more on the official Plastic Free July website.
Looking for more ways to do your bit for the environment? For a limited time, all Newcastle residents can buy home composting and worm farming products at 75% off RRP, plus get free delivery. Read more on how you can join the home composting revolution.