We’re passionate about reducing waste, so we’re big fans of Plastic Free July, a global movement to refuse single-use plastics. While we have a long way to go to entirely eliminate plastic in our own business, we’re working to reduce plastic in our packaging and have a Packaging Return Program to take back our gel packs and insulated liners for reuse and recycling. 

If going plastic-free sounds daunting to you, know that you’re not alone. Give yourself permission to be imperfect and then pick one area to focus on and see where that takes you. You’ll be surprised where you end up! 

Need a little inspiration? Here are 6 tips for Plastic Free July:

1. Refuse, then reuse, then recycle. Learning to say no is one of the most valuable skills when we’re talking about sustainability. Try saying no to those plastic utensils when you get takeout, that plastic bag at the grocery store, and yes, that pesky straw at the coffee shop. It’s a huge step towards taking full ownership of how much plastic you’re inviting into your life. And it just takes a little practice! 
2. Don’t be clingy. Instead of wrapping your favorite foods in single-use plastic cling wrap, try a reusable alternative like Abeego or Beeswrap. Or if you’re feeling crafty, learn to make your own! You’ll enjoy not having to wrestle with uncooperative plastic wrap so much you might just forget that you’ve also cut out a huge source of plastic in your kitchen. 
3. Clean differently. Cleaning products are one of the biggest sources of plastic we bring into our homes. So cut out the store and make your own. Try making this easy, non-toxic cleaner with your citrus peels. It’s safe to use around kids and pets and is guaranteed to make your home smell amazing. 
4. Opt for boxes over bottles. When you buy household products, pick a format that doesn’t involve plastic. Choose powdered laundry detergent in cardboard boxes instead of liquid detergents in plastic jugs. Try buying bar soap instead of bottled body wash. You’ll be surprised at how little plastic you need to get the results you’re used to. 
5. Dress your salads for success. There’s no need to buy a plastic bottle of salad dressing at the store when you can easily whip one up at home that is even tastier! Follow these 4 kitchen-tested tips for making better-than-the-store dressing.
6. Dress yourself for success. How you dress yourself matters just as much as how you dress your salads when it comes to reducing plastic waste. Learn about the environmental footprint of fast fashion and avoid low-quality plastic-based clothing where you can. 

We hope you’ll try a few of these tips for Plastic Free July. Remember, as Zero Waste Chef Anne-Marie Bonneau says: “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”