Your Guide Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July is here! Food2Soil is joining the global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. 🗑️👏

Read below to hear what plastic-free strategies we’ve been busy initiating here at Food2Soil HQ this month.

Why Plastic-Free July Matters

Participating in Plastic Free July is a great way to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability. Here are our tips and actions you can take during the month of July:

1. Refuse single-use plastics:

   Say no to plastic bags, straws, cutlery, and containers.  Tell your local grocer that you’d rather your fruit without stickers! see below for more information on how to take action. 🚫
   
   

2. Bring your reusable items:

   Carry a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, shopping bag, and utensils, when you leave the house each day, you don’t know when you or a friend might need them. ☕️
   
   
   

3. Support local refill stations:

   There are a growing number of community initiatives where you can bring your own containers to refill essentials like cooking oils, detergents, and other household items, reducing the need for single-use packaging. Ask your local council for details. At Food2Soil we tested several different containers options in an attempt to avoid plastic, in the end, durable Australian made plastic and able to be refilled was the best option. You can refill your Food2Soil bottles at the Canberra Brewhaus.
   
   If you live locally contact info@food2soil.com.au if you would like to order a refill. 💦  💦
   
   
   

4. Support local farmers and growers:

   Purchase fresh produce that isn't packaged in plastic. Check out local farmers markets, farm gate stores or community-supported agriculture initiatives for plastic-free and often organically grown produce. 👩‍🌾
   
   
   

5. Grow some food at home:

   Growing is very close to our hearts here at Food2Soil. We know that when we grow our own food, we can harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs directly from the garden without the need for packaging such as plastic bags or containers typically used in supermarkets. Growing our food can also catalyse changing habits around consumption, increasing our preference for ‘homegrown and made’ over ‘industrially made’ plastic-containing products. Growing healthy plants and soils at home is a gift to ourselves and our planet. Kick start your home-growing journey with Food2Soil worms that come delivered in a cardboard cylinder. 🥕
   
   
   

6. Advocate for policy changes:

   Petition and engage with local government officials to ban or restrict single-use plastics, such as fruit stickers, in your community. These small items contribute to plastic waste and can often be replaced with more sustainable alternatives or eliminated through policy measures.
   
   Food2Soil is currently advocating for a ban on pesky fruit stickers, countries such as New Zealand and France have already done it, so can we! Fruit stickers are typically made from plastic and contribute to plastic pollution if not disposed of properly. They are often too small to be recycled efficiently and can contaminate recycling streams, soils and waterways. Join us in the fight to ban fruit stickers and email this template to the ACT Government to request an amendment to the Plastic Reduction Act to prohibit adding plastic stickers on individual pieces of produce.
   
   It's easy to do - just click below to download and copy the letter, add your details and send to the ACT address or change the green text to match your local government details and google to find your local members email contact. 
   
   It’s the small individual actions that can have a big lasting impact! ✊
   
   

7. Educate others:

   Spread awareness about the importance of reducing plastic use and encourage others to join Plastic Free July on social media. 📚📣
   
   
   

8. Reduce overall consumption:

   Embrace a frugal and minimalist mindset by buying only what you truly need, which reduces the demand for plastic products. Check out this Australian book ‘The Art of Frugal Hedonism’ by Annie Raser-Rowland and Adam Grubb sharing the joys of a frugal lifestyle. 🍎✌️
   
   

These actions can significantly impact reducing plastic waste and promoting a more sustainable lifestyle beyond just the month of July. Head over to Plastic Free July’s resources page for more information on how you can join in making cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities for future generations.

And happy growing! 🥦👏