Rethinking Lifestyle Beyond Plastic Free July.
Its all about taking small steps every day!
July is gone and we are few days into August, Plastic free July was celebrated around the world, with many people participating in this challenge with an aim to reduce the use of single use plastic. Plastic free July is an event that calls out people to refuse single use plastic and be part of the solution for plastic pollution. Going completely plastic free sounds intense and is overwhelming. While this is not possible for everyone as it requires investment of time and a daily routine that involves in depth changes for completely going plastic free, in a world filled with plastic products. The silver lining here is that we can make small changes in our routine and rethink about our lifestyles for an Eco-friendly living. As a part of Plastic free July, many of us have already started rethinking about our conveniences and switched to eco-friendly habits. Many of us might be happy with what we achieved with the challenge, and would be looking forward for next year’s challenge. But what next? What happens in the rest of the months?
The most important thing we need to do as we enter August is that, not backslide from the habits we have adopted and make sure to use the available resources wisely. Taking a few days break after the plastic free July challenge is understandable, but just because the pages in calendar are flipped doesn’t change the plastic pollution issue. This blog will give you a recap of what all small steps can be taken to reduce plastic at individual and community level.
- Making conscious decision while shopping:
First step for conscious shopping would be saying no to the plastic carry bags at grocery stores. Carry your own cloth bags or containers when going out for grocery shopping. Almost all the food we buy comes packaged in plastic. This unwanted plastic is usually encountered on veggies and fruits which already have a natural packaging. Buy in bulk and, you can avoid individually wrapped products that result in more plastic waste. Go for reusable options always, like reusable cups (which can be used while travelling), buy a cutlery set that can be used while travelling and avoid the single use plastic cups and cutlery. Mask has become an important part and wearing a reusable cotton mask instead of single use surgical mask will reduce the plastic waste generated by these masks.
2. Being conscious while using resources we already have:
Respect every thing you own, use them with care, keep them clean, and store them properly so they won’t get damaged. Using the products you already have will delay buying new products and apparently reduce the waste generated by the old ones. Indian families are well versed with the reusing and repairing the thing that get old, and let this habit carried on by your grandparents pass on to the next generations.
3. Being conscious about how you dispose the waste:
Segregation of waste at source is very crucial for sending plastic waste for recycling and ensuring a proper waste management system. For that sensitize yourself on how to segregate waste into dry, wet and hazardous waste. Washing plastic waste generated by online food delivery cutlery, milk packets etc is necessary so that the plastic is not contaminated and hence can be used for recycling. Be sure of everything you throw away is segregated properly and disposed of responsibly.
4. Don’t forget to praise yourself:
Tell yourselves that not only you are reducing your carbon footprints but also are paving way for future generations to live a sustainable lifestyle. In this process you are directly or indirectly helping local businesses (#vocalforlocal), influencing hundreds of people on social media by sharing about it on social media, and adapting a lifestyle that is saving your money by buying long lasting reusable products. Support and encourage others to follow this and never forget that you don’t need monumental actions for making a change, all you need is small steps everyday. Collective efforts are very important for bringing about change. Small changes followed religiously result in fundamental changes in attitude and behavior.
As a part of Plastic free July challenge, our team shared their personal ‘Plastic free stories’ and we ran a digital campaign on our Instagram account, do check it out here.
Also, check out this LinkedIn post by our Director Shailesh Shinde where he shares his experience about the plastic waste generated due to unnecessary amount plastic packaging and what can be done to reduce it.
Become more conscious about your plastic consumption, identify major areas where you can easily make change and commit to it. Follow Small steps every day approach as it is less intimidating and easily attainable.
Contributed By- Ashlesha Karande, Communication Executive at Social Lab
Social Lab Environmental Solutions is a waste management company, which helps brands take-back and scientifically dispose of post-consumer plastic waste of their products. Brands take our services to fulfill Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligation under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2018.
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