Plastic Free July Wrap Up
For the conclusion of Plastic Free July, here is a round up of all of the information that we shared on social media over the last month, plus some bonus content. Just so you know, though I recommend a lot of products here, none of these are affiliate links and CC does not benefit from sharing these links, just trying to help people be more informed.
Tote bag
Reminder that we have released our FIRST merch with these really cute tote bags with a Patron EXCLUSIVE 15% discount here (promo code PLASTICFREEPATRON should be automatically applied).
Microplastics in clothing and textiles
In the last few years, there has been increasing reporting and concern about microfibers in our oceans.
Information according to this article in Vox from 2019.
60% of the material in our clothes is made of plastic (polyester, nylon, acrylic, and other synthetics), compared to less than 20% in the early 1990s.
75% of fish caught at mid ocean depths in the NW Atlantic have microplastics in their stomachs.
35% of microplastics in the ocean come from synthetic textiles
What can you do?
Wash less: spot clean or wash clothes only when they actually need it, fewer washes means fewer particles released.
Buy used: clothes shed the most fibers when washed the first few times.
Buy natural fibers: these will biodegrade over time unlike synthetics which only break down into smaller particles.
Get a filter: filter bags, filter balls, or filters for your washer will catch microfibers before they go into sewage. Most wastewater treatment facilities don't have filters small enough to catch these microplastics so right now it's dependent on the consumer!
One solution: GuppyFriend
Here are my thoughts:
1. This material feels WEIRD, it's so slick, it almost feels like plastic but I know that's because the gaps have to be very tiny to hold in all of the microfibers.
2. It's bigger than I expected, I was able to fit a bunch of undergarments, 4-5 shirts, and a pair of joggers in it. I will need to get a second bag if I'm going to get all polyester garments in it but both my partner and I are wearing more natural fibers these days so I'm not sure if I will buy another one.
3. Everything seemed to get just as clean as it normally would.
4. Not as many fibers visible in the bag as I was anticipating.
While you’re there, read about their other tips for washing practices that decrease plastic in our oceans.
Plastic Garment Bags
Plastic can seem like a fairly clear cut issue, right? Plastic = Bad, Alternatives = Good. You know those clear plastic bags that just about EVERY garment you buy are in? I hate them...but there's some surprisingly important benefits (including waste reduction)!
Check out the article by Packaging Europe interviewing representatives from Fashion For Good and GreenBlue.Org about the pros, cons, and alternatives when dealing with poly garment bags.
About #PlasticFreeJuly:
Founded in 2011 by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz (the founder of the Plastic Free Foundation) and a small team in local government in Western Australia, and is now one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world.
The Plastic Free Foundation estimates that this movement has touched 326 MILLION PEOPLE and reduced plastic waste by a total of 940 million kg!
Register to Join the Challenge here. While you're there, learn more about the organization, the movement, and the issues surrounding plastic use!
Writing Utensils
One of my favorite ways to save plastic is to buy ink refills for my pens instead of new pens, cuts the plastic waste by more than half. Maybe not #PlasticFree but a good step in the right direction.
Currently I'm using Pilot Frixion pens (not sponsored) because they work in my Rocketbook (saves on notebooks and notebook paper, I've been using just this notebook for 2.5 years and it's going great). These pens ALSO work for fabric marking and the ink can be removed with water. Buying the ink refills in bulk means I save money and plastic and use these pens in my notebook, make tags for clothes I can erase and recycle, and mark the fabric all with the same tool. I'm recycling the spend ink refills with with TerraCycle (a great organization that allows you to recycle almost anything)
What about plastic I already have?
I encourage you to think about plastic differently. Not as some demonized material but as just one possible material or tool that we have. We need to use plastic wisely, not make it the default for everything. I see a lot of people running out to get "plastic free" kits when they have plenty of plastic containers at home that work just fine!
Use the plastic you already have and use it well, make it last. Plastic was developed to be a lightweight and durable alternative to other materials, the problem came when plastic and other petrochemical products replaced natural materials at the large scale AND when single-use, disposable plastic became the norm.
Ask yourself:
If you get "disposable" plastic, what do you do with it?
Where do you source "new to you" plastic products?
How much do you know about plastic recycling in your area?
Do you know if there are recycled plastic alternatives to the plastics you do buy?
Want even more information on reducing your plastic? I recommend this episode of NPR’s Life Kit (either read or listen): https://www.npr.org/2021/07/12/1015296355/zero-waste-single-use-plastic-trash-recycle
Are you working on in person shows again and concerned about all the single use plastics? I HIGHLY recommend the Broadway Green Alliance’s Green Reopening Toolkit for balancing health and safety protocols while reducing plastic: https://www.broadwaygreen.com/greener-reopening-toolkit
Thanks again for being AMAZING patrons! You make what we do possible.
Until next time,
Kristen
