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This July feels different. Charged with the possibility of real change. It could be the beginning of major shifts in the plastics industry. I hope they’re big. Because big problems require big, bold solutions.
🌊 Just imagine: 2,000 truckloads of plastic dumped into the ocean every minute. Sea life entangled and suffocated by plastic debris. Microplastics turning up in human hearts and in breast milk meant to nourish babies.
We’re living in a global plastic crisis, one that won’t be solved without strong international regulation and enforcement. That’s why I’m watching July with one eye on August, when the final negotiation session for the Global Plastics Treaty takes place in Geneva.
But while we wait (and hope) we can also ACT. Consumers still have power. The 3Rs- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - still matter. Below are 3 simple, accessible actions under each category that we can begin this month:
♻️ Reduce
- Toothpaste tablets: Subscribe and receive them in reusable packaging. They’re lighter, cleaner, and plastic-free. I now prefer them over the gooey old-school stuff.
- Bring your own container to bulk stores. Just make sure they let you refill your own. Otherwise, it’s just a lateral (and still wasteful) swap.
- Support circular fashion: Choose brands that take back used clothes for repair or resale. It’s a great model, but not yet widely profitable, your adoption helps it survive. Less textile waste = less hidden plastic.
🔁 Reuse
- Wash your ziplocks: Most just hold a few crumbs. No shame in reusing!
- Don’t forget your reusable bags: It becomes a habit over time. Grocery bags are one of the top sources of ocean plastic. Quick stat: the U.S. uses 100 billion per year for an average of just 12 minutes before they’re tossed.
- Give clothes a second life: Haven’t worn it in 2 years? Sell or donate. It could be someone’s treasure. Even better: hunt for secondhand gems yourself. (In my opinion, it’s way more stylish.)
🗑️ Recycle
- Know the rules: Learn what your local program accepts and recycle right.
- Divert hard-to-recycle items from landfills: Many cities offer special recycling centers for materials not accepted in curbside programs, like CHaRM in Atlanta GA, Eco-Cycle in Boulder, CO, and El Cerrito Recycling Center in California. Use them.
- Vote: Support policies and leaders committed to expanding waste management infrastructure and phasing out oil and gas subsidies. The U.S. consumes far more than its systems can currently process. Policy needs to catch up.
We may not yet have a global regulatory solution, but we do have daily choices, and those add up. Let’s use this Plastic-Free July not just to resist plastic, but to redefine our relationship with it.