Challenge Yourself to a Plastic-Free Week
We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.
Have you ever wanted to know what you can do to help the environment? Well, take on this challenge. Challenge yourself to a Plastic-free Week and see if you can complete it! This will mean some changes in your daily routine but, you might be surprised with how many you are already doing. With this challenge, we want you to think about how you can incorporate most of these points into your everyday life, not just for this one week. The little plastic-free changes you make to your life will help you and the environment. So, let’s split it up into sections to help make it manageable for you while doing the challenge!
Groceries:
The biggest hurdle you are going to cross in this challenge is going to be your groceries. The majority of items in a supermarket are wrapped in plastic.
● Try buying loose vegetables and fruits at the supermarket
● Take reusable bags with you - you can get reusable bags for putting your loose fruits and veggies. As well as, reusable bags for packing your shopping into. Don’t forget to put them back in your car when you are done!
By the end of the week, you will be refusing single-use plastic bags wherever you go!
Home:
When you are at home, sit down and make a list of all the items in your house that contain plastic. Then look around your house at all the items that are nearly finished and see if you can find an alternative plastic-free option. However, don’t get rid of it, if you just bought it.
● No single-use straws - try out some plastic-free alternative ones like metal or silicone.
● Glass or reusable/ recyclable plastic containers.
● Beeswax paper instead of clingwrap
● Stainless steel water bottle instead of a single-use plastic water bottle
● Reusable makeup wipes, such as bamboo
● Use a bamboo toothbrush and tablets instead of toothpaste in a plastic tube
The majority of your items in your home will contain plastic and not all of them will be able to be converted into plastic-free because of their accessibility and the cost.
Takeouts:
You can still get your takeouts whether it be a coffee or a meal out with a few plastic-free alternatives.
● Bring small recyclable containers with you - this might seem silly but if you go out and know you will have leftovers to take home, bring recyclable/reusable container with you and use that instead of getting a plastic box from the restaurant.
● Keep reusable straws and cutlery in your bag
● Remember your travel mug - take a reusable coffee cup with you so when you do treat yourself to a coffee out you have the opportunity to use it.
Get into the habit of always having these on you or always thinking about whether you need to pack them in before you leave the house. You don’t want to be caught without it when you need it the most.
Plastic-free Week:
● Try buying loose vegetables and fruits at the supermarket
● Take reusable bags with you
● No single-use straws
● Glass or reusable/ recyclable containers
● Beeswax paper instead of clingwrap
● Stainless steel water bottle
● Reusable makeup wipes
● Use a bamboo toothbrush and tablets instead of toothpaste in a plastic tube
● Keep reusable straws and cutlery in your bag
● Remember your travel mug
● If it contains plastic, say no or find an alternative plastic-free option
If you find the Plastic-free for a week challenge easy to do, increase the duration for which you do it. The easiest part of the challenge will be the things you are already doing that are plastic-free. However, this challenge will require you to do research on alternative options for everyday items and it will make you see exactly how many things you purchase contain plastic. You might not be able to go completely plastic-free because of how expensive plastic-free alternatives are but try your best. You will see a big change in the amount of plastic you throw away. We want you to do your part in making the environment better.
