Plastic Free July, a global movement that inspires people all over the world to make small changes in their use of plastic to create a big change worldwide. This powerful movement reminds us each year that every little bit of plastic saved from the landfill matters.
Plastic has become a second nature product and what seems to be essential, but with so many plastic alternatives, having a plastic free July (and beyond) has never been easier. One of the easiest plastic items to replace are your plastic bottles. Did you know that “a single 1L plastic bottle could break down into enough small fragments to put one on every mile of beach in the entire world.” If you are looking for a fresh reusable water bottle, try our W&P Reusable Bottle or Travel Mug, they will last forever and avoid the dreaded landfill.
Plastic is found everywhere in places you may not expect. As we all know, most hair products come in a plastic container, but the plastic doesn’t stop there. Shampoo and most beauty products contain microbeads, even some toothpaste. These non degradable plastic beads are no more than 5mm and are used in products for purposes like exfoliation, extended shelf life, and as a bulking agent. Governments have begun to place regulations on the use of these beads and companies like ‘The High End Hippie’ have created high quality products that are not only free of plastic microbeads, there are also zero plastic bottles in sight. Made from all-natural ingredients, the High End Hippie’s Shampoo & Conditioner Bars are nourishing for your hair and can last up to 60 washes.
Along with microbeads, micro fibers and microplastics are also a large pollutant to our oceans. Whilst synthetic clothing and most detergents release these small particles of microplastics, doing your laundry is unavoidable, which is why using products like Good Juju Laundry Detergent Strips is so important. Not only are they eco-friendly dissolvable laundry strips, but they also come in zero plastic, compostable packaging. Each 30-strip envelope prevents one 1-litre plastic jug from entering the landfill, and also results in a 94% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, compared to liquid detergent alternatives.
At Boheme we do our best to play our part in reducing the use of plastics and maintaining sustainable practices in our business. Items like our gift cards are made from a biodegradable material, making them better for our environment. Our paper carrier bags are made from 40% post-consumer waste and are easily recycled after use. We also offer reusable cotton shopping totes too.
Online ordering can pose a challenge when finding plastic alternative packaging, but we have sourced packaging that is eco-friendly and sustainable. We send all our online orders out in either recycled or recyclable cardboard boxes, or in biodegradable satchels which are completely compostable. The 100% Compostable mailers we use can be composted both at home or at your local composting facility. Our tissue paper and stickers are printed on acid free, FSC Certified paper. ‘FSC’ stands for Forest Stewardship Council, an organization that works to promote the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. The tissue paper is also printed using soy-based ink, which is more environmentally friendly and makes it easier to recycle this paper. We are also proud to say that every time we place an order for paper, a tree is planted in it’s replacement.
The fight against single use plastics is one that we need to fight together. Use July as an opportunity to learn more about ways to reduce the use of plastic in your daily life and continue from there. We’re all in this together, and small individual changes go a long way!