Small Changes, Less Plastic: Your Guide to Plastic Free July
Terri Witherden
Terri is a Digital Designer helping Conscious Businesses connect with their ideal audience through brand design, content and marketing.
Plastic Free July is a global movement that encourages millions to refuse single-use plastics for a month — and hopefully build lasting habits along the way. Whether you’re going all in or just making small swaps, every bit helps.
Need inspiration? Check out our guide: Reducing Plastic – Tried and Tested Products for alternatives that actually work.
🌊 Why It Still Matters in 2025
Even though the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, its environmental impact lingers. PPE like disposable masks and gloves flooded our ecosystems — some reports even warned of “more masks than jellyfish” in the ocean. This has made it clearer than ever: single-use plastic pollution is still a huge issue.
So, how do we protect our health and the planet? Here are some practical, plastic-free tips you can follow this July (and beyond).
☕ Brew It Yourself
Takeaway coffee surged during the pandemic, but many cafés still won’t accept reusable cups due to hygiene policies.
Stay plastic-free by:
- Brewing your own coffee at home (and saving money!)
- Using a French press, AeroPress, or Moka pot for café-style results
- Keep asking your local restaurants and cafes to allow reusable cups or tuppleware!
If you're itching for café coffee, consider skipping the cup altogether and enjoying it there.
coffee barista cup
🧼 Switch to Bar Soap
Frequent handwashing is here to stay — but plastic soap bottles don’t have to be.
Bar soaps are:
- Effective at killing germs
- Waste-free, especially when sold unpackaged or in paper
- Available at zero-waste stores that offer safe refill stations too
Plus, they last longer and look great on your sink!
🍴 Say No to Plastic Cutlery & Straws
Takeaway has become the new normal, but it often comes with a side of plastic. Here's how to say no, politely:
- Request “no plastic cutlery or straws” when ordering
- Bring your own reusable spork and straw
- Ask your local takeaway if they offer compostable packaging
- Suggest switching to cardboard or bagasse containers
Restaurants listen to feedback — your ask might be the nudge they need to make a permanent switch - especially if many people keep nudging!
🧻 Watch Out for Wipes
Sanitising wipes are convenient, but many contain plastic and don’t break down, even if labeled “flushable.”
More sustainable options include:
- Biodegradable wipes, now widely available at supermarkets and health food stores
- Refillable sanitiser sprays + reusable cloths
- Family-size hand sanitiser bottles instead of multiple mini plastics
Keep your kit clean and green.
🌱 Small Swaps, Big Impact
Reducing plastic doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Focus on simple, repeatable changes — each one adds up when practiced daily and shared widely.
Want to go further?
🎉 Join us on The Climate App! Post your progress and actions on The Climate App!
Let’s keep the momentum going — for July, for the future, and for the planet. 🌍