Swaps to Save the Planet

Saving the turtles quickly evolved from ditching plastic straws for metal ones and sporting a Hydro Flask to purchasing reusable beeswax wraps for leftovers.

In 2018, many might have assumed that reducing plastic was a fad trend that would fade in a few months. However, reducing plastic pollution has continued to gain traction and is still barreling forward two years later. While the commitment to reducing plastic use has been deemed a “hippie” or “granola” movement, it’s truly a movement fueled by the desire to have a better, cleaner, and greener Earth for generations to come.

In an attempt to continue the push to limit waste, the Plastic Free Foundation deemed July as a plastic-free month. Plastic Free July is an initiative that started in 2011 to refuse single-use plasticware during the month of July in an effort to reduce plastic pollution and have cleaner streets, oceans, and communities. The website includes many helpful sections with tips on how to reduce waste at school, work, and more. While pledging to reduce plastic waste for a month is a great first step, this commitment should not end when July is over. Rather, reducing plastic waste is a lifestyle change. Many individuals and corporations are starting to embrace the same mindset.

The plastic free movement has taken social media by storm. Influencers are sharing their own journeys towards reducing waste and promoting some of their favorite products. As with any movement, social media has been an integral part of how I educate myself and learn where I can improve. I've filled my Instagram and Tik Tok feeds with individuals who are also dedicated to reducing their waste. These accounts post helpful infographics as well as favorite products. However, they don’t just focus on the progress they are making. They also show the challenges and “plastic fails” they’ve had to show that the plastic free journey isn’t easy: it takes time.

With the pandemic still raging on, many businesses have reverted back to single-use items to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as takeout is the most popular method of dining right now. Many coffee shops are no longer filling personal cups, leaving us with the option of to-go cups and silverware most places we go. This has been a big hurdle in my own adventure towards going waste free and especially during Plastic Free July. While this new normal is out of our control, there are easy swaps that can be made at home and on the go.

I’ve taken it upon myself to change my habits and attempt to eliminate plastic from my day-to-day life. As a college student living in Austin, a fairly eco-friendly city, it’s been easy for me to find simple alternatives to single-use plastic. When I first started consciously thinking about my waste and how to reduce it, I followed this guide with helpful tips to keep in mind. Instead of accepting a plastic cup from my favorite coffee shop on the way to class, I purchased a reusable mug to keep in my backpack. Additionally, I always kept a set of silverware and a few metal straws in my bag so I was prepared for a meal on the go.

While these were small swaps for my busy college life, quarantine allowed me to make lifestyle changes in my day-to-day home routine. My biggest change was ditching traditional shampoo and conditioner bottles for a bar shampoo. My first shampoo bar was from Lush and was fairly affordable compared to my usual bottled shampoo. I was skeptical at first and truly didn’t think it would get the job done. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised, and it’s been my favorite waste free product. As I move forward with waste free hair products, I want to try out Love Beauty and Planet shampoo and conditioner bars that I found at Target. They are adorable, have different scents and come in paper packaging.

I’ve noticed that much of my waste comes from the kitchen. While food waste is a separate battle, the majority of my plastic comes from food packaging, bags, and ways to preserve leftovers. Recently, I stopped buying sandwich bags and now use reusable beeswax coated cotton bags that can be rinsed and used again and again. These bags, paired with beeswax cotton sheets to replace cling wrap, have revolutionized my kitchen and my cooking.

I’m taking this journey slowly because I have a lot to learn, but I have a good idea of how I want to move forward. I want to continue to eliminate my kitchen waste by using reusable produce bags and solid dish soap bars rather than plastic bottled soap. Additionally, I want to move towards reduced waste makeup and cosmetics. While I’m nervous about some swaps such as natural deodorant cream and toothpaste tablets, I’m going to stay optimistic during this journey.

As July came to a close, I realized that my journey is nowhere near over and yours shouldn’t be either. I dedicated July to using metal straws rather than plastic ones, and as August continues, I’m going to make the switch to shampoo and conditioner bars. Each month I’m picking at least one area to reduce waste in my attempt to go completely plastic free.

Starting out slow and making a list of ways you can change your habits is the best way to tackle this lifestyle change. It’s important to remember that this change doesn’t happen overnight, that we are bound to make mistakes, and that that’s okay. What matters is that we started the journey and are making swaps to save the planet.

By Emma Bittner

Rom-Com fanatic and coffee connoisseur with a little bit of “I wanna save the world” in me.