Plastic Free July is officially over but it’s always a good habit to refuse single-use plastic to reduce what goes into the environment. An estimated 8 million tons of plastic enters coastal waters each year, it takes about 400 years to degrade but never fully decomposes. Recycling is not enough, so the best way to reduce plastics in the environment is to refuse them outright. If you need a straw, buy a metal, glass or silicone one. Carry your own water bottle everywhere you go and if you know you’re going to want that midday latte or iced drink, carry your own cup too. If you wear leggings or fleece, you can even buy a bag to wash them in so the microfibers don’t go into our waterways to be eaten by fish.

Keep Plastic Free July momentum going