We are in one of our favorite months of the year! This is not only because it is nice and warm outside but also because it’s Plastic-Free July. It's our chance to teach kids about the impact of waste and consumption. The goal, you guessed it, is a healthier planet! The focus is not just on avoiding plastic. It's also about creating lifelong environmental awareness.
From a young age, children are curious about the world. Parents and educators guide kids through ideas that shape their views and actions. Tailoring lessons to each child's age and environment is essential to encourage hands-on learning and, most importantly, make it fun! Education on sustainability is more than just knowledge. It promotes practices that protect our ecosystem's diversity. This leads to individual and global growth and a healthier planet.
What is Plastic-Free July?
Plastic-Free July is an initiative created in 2011 by the Earth Carers Waste Education team. It aims to reject single-use plastic during the month. Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, the founder of the Plastic-Free Foundation, started it. She led a small local government team in Western Australia. Now, it is one of the world's most influential environmental campaigns. Since its beginnings in Perth, Australia, in 2011, the challenge has spread worldwide with tremendous success.
Understanding The Problem
Plastic is a major environmental threat. We dump millions of tons into our oceans each year. Today, half of the plastic produced is designed to be used only once and gets discarded. Each bag has an average use of 12-15 minutes and takes 150-300 years to degrade without any recycling process. Teaching our children about this problem helps them understand why action is crucial. They can see the need for personal and group action and reduce this harm together.
Common Challenges of Reducing Plastic
Reducing plastic use can be challenging, especially when faced with convenience and habit. Here are some common obstacles and solutions:
Finding Alternatives
Challenge: Difficulty in finding plastic-free alternatives for favorite products.
Solution: Research and compile a list of eco-friendly brands and stores. Consider DIY solutions for commonly used items, like homemade cleaning products or reusable snack bags.
Convenience Factor
Challenge: Plastic products are often more convenient.
Solution: Plan to make sustainable choices easier. Keep reusable bags, bottles, and containers readily available. Establish a routine for using these items until they become second nature.
Family Resistance
Challenge: Family members may resist changing habits.
Solution: Involve the whole family in the process. Explain the benefits of reducing plastic and set small, achievable goals. Celebrate successes together to build positive reinforcement.
The 3 R’s Rule
Before we give you tips on how to reduce plastic in your daily life, here are three general rules to apply in any situation:
1. Reduce: Less Is More
Always consider if the product is necessary, even if it's not single-use. This way, we will save the planet's resources for the Earth!
2. Reuse As Much As Possible:
The more we use reusable packaging or products, the more we will optimize the resources necessary to manufacture them. Give products and packaging many lives!
3. Repair:
We can extend the life of all products and everyday objects with minor fixes. Before throwing something away and buying a new one, see if you can repair it at home or go to a local business. The repair culture is making a comeback!
What Plastics Can We Avoid in This Plastic-Free July?
Plastic bags provided by supermarkets: Take a cloth bag.
Disposable cups for coffee or water from the dispenser: Use a reusable thermos or cup.
Plastic trays to put food by weight at lunchtime: Bring your container.
Disposable water bottles: Your reusable bottle is better.
Disposable cutlery: Say no to single-use cutlery and always get reusable ones.
Tips For Families To Reduce Plastic Waste
Here are practical tips to help families reduce plastic consumption during Plastic-Free July and beyond. Hopefully, these will provide fresh ideas and inspiration.
For school snacks, avoid packaged products whenever possible. It will be much healthier!
Drink tap water and avoid buying bottled water. If the tap water tastes bad in your area, put a filter on it. You will save money and avoid having to make sure you always have enough water at home.
Opt for shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste in solid or cream format—more options are available than ever!
Use wooden or metal hangers in your closets.
Look for toys made with natural materials such as wood, or encourage your children's imagination and let them make their own creations.
Reduce the number of cleaning products you use. Less is more! Vinegar, baking soda, and other simple products can cover many of your cleaning needs.
Interactive Elements to Involve Kids
Engaging children in fun and educational activities can make reducing plastic use more exciting. Here are some interactive ideas to get your kids involved in Plastic-Free July:
Plastic-Free Scavenger Hunt
Organize a scavenger hunt where kids search for plastic items around the house that can be replaced with sustainable alternatives. Create a checklist and offer small rewards for finding these items. Replace them once their useful life is over to avoid creating more waste.
Eco-Friendly Crafts
Plan craft sessions where kids can create art from recyclable materials. For example, they can make planters from old bottles or decorative items from cardboard and paper.
Daily Challenges Calendar
Create a Plastic-Free July calendar with daily challenges for your kids, such as:
Day 1: Pack a plastic-free lunch.
Day 2: Find a plastic-free alternative to a household item.
Day 3: Help sort recyclables according to local recollection laws.
These activities make learning about sustainability fun and hands-on.
DIY Projects
DIY projects are a great way to reduce plastic use and teach children valuable skills. Here are some detailed instructions for fun and practical projects:
Beeswax Wraps
Materials Needed:
Cotton fabric squares
Beeswax or soy wax pellets
Parchment paper
Iron
Instructions:
Place a piece of parchment paper on an ironing board.
Lay a cotton fabric square on the parchment paper.
Sprinkle beeswax or soy wax pellets evenly over the fabric.
Cover with another piece of parchment paper.
Iron over the parchment paper until the wax melts and soaks into the fabric.
Remove the top parchment paper and let the wrap cool.
Use the beeswax wrap to cover food or containers.
Reusable Snack Bags
Materials Needed:
Fabric (cotton or nylon)
Velcro strips
Sewing machine or needle and thread
Instructions:
Cut two rectangles of fabric to the desired size of your snack bag.
Place the fabric pieces together with the inner sides facing out.
Sew three sides together, leaving one side open.
Turn the bag right side out.
Sew Velcro strips to the open end to create a closure.
Use your reusable snack bag for school lunches or snacks on the go.
For more ideas, check out our recycling projects!
A fun activity to do with your little ones during Plastic-Free July is the “Birdhouse Village." This activity is a lot of fun. It also teaches about the importance of reusing plastics and promotes environmental awareness. Here's how to do it in three simple steps:
Step 1
Cover the cartons evenly with white paint. Let dry and repeat 2-3 times or as many coats as necessary until the surface is completely opaque. (Tip: rub the boxes with sandpaper first so the color sets better).
Step 2
Now it's time to decorate the cartons in your own style. You can use different colors, make little drawings, and get creative!
Step 3
With a pencil, trace your bottle cap where you want the opening of your house to be. Also, make marks for the chopstick perches. Use your craft knife to cut out the circles with tiny stitches. Make holes with the reamer to fit the chopsticks. Slide the chopsticks through the packaging to create your perch. You may need scissors to shorten the sticks. Your houses are ready for birds to move in!
Join us on this challenge and share your progress with the #RegenurateChallenge on social media to inspire others and create a supportive community. Let’s see who makes the coolest Birdhouse Village!
Final Words
It is time to adopt habits and promote practices that allow us to celebrate initiatives such as “Plastic-Free July.” Today, more than ever, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering environments where children and adults can learn and actively contribute to protecting the environment. Visit our blog to learn more about integrating eco-friendly practices at home and explore educational resources for your children. Join this movement toward a greener, plastic-free future.
Ready to make a difference in your home and community? Check our store to get started!
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