If like me the first time I did Plastic Free July, you aren't too sure on how to do your bit, here are a few ways on how you can cut back on your plastic usage both in and out of the home in order to lower your carbon footprint and help save our beautiful oceans and marine life. The future of our planet really does depend on it.

Toiletries

So before you even leave your house in the morning, I want you to think about all of the products you use. Ie shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrush, face wash, toner, moisturiser, deodorant, hair products, make up. What are all of these products packaged in and how did you get them? Were they bought locally or did they arrive in plastic packaging? Think about how your decisions are affecting the planet before you have even started your day. This gives you the chance to make some small changes that will really have a huge impact. There are so many zero waste brands popping up nowadays that your decision is becoming easier to fulfil. Here are just a few that I have found to start you on your plastic free journey.

Lush is one brand that has been leading the way when it comes to high street brands being eco conscious. They have a wide range of toiletries from toothpaste, to cosmetics which are packaged in clever zero waste materials to help eliminate the use of plastic packaging.

Another brand I have been using is Only Good which I found in Holland and Barrett, who have such a wide selection of vegan and zero waste products, I feel like I spend so long in there, I probably should just move in or buy shares in the company or something. This soap not only comes in zero waste packaging, it also contains no earth or body harming ingredients such as palm oil or parabens.

There is a skincare brand that I have simply adored from day one. I went to their launch last year and it was simply amazing and the owners are such a sweet little hardworking family. Makes me feel better knowing that any time I buy or endorse a product, the people getting the money are deserving of it. Not only that but their products are so yummily packaged in non plastic. Skincare Academy’s Zero Range is to die for. I just love the fact that it works wonders on my skin but also as it is all natural, so super gentle on my sensitive skin and packaged in either recycled and recyclable glass jars (the day and night creams) or tubes made of sugar cane, it really is a win win. No harm to my skin. No harm to the planet.

If you are looking for a toothbrush which won't take hundreds of years to decompose unlike its plastic counterpart, why not opt for one made of bamboo like this one from the zero waste club. They not only do toothbrushes but pencils made from waste newspaper, bowls made from waste coconut shells, bamboo combs and so many more innovative products for in and around the home.

Lastly for skin care, I want to talk pits! Well I don’t want to but I feel I need to. It’s one thing people don’t really like talking about. But also no one wants sweaty pits. So here are 2 products that I love. First is this little gem from Salt of the Earth.

It comes in a neat little cardboard box and is simply a salt crystal which you wet to activate. As I use it after a shower I just put it straight onto my wet skin. For me, this works fine as I don’t have a strong scent but there are some who suffer with strong natural bodily odours who tend to want something a bit more scented to mask that. Or some who just like pretty smells to be wafted from their under arms. So for this, I would suggest the gorgeously fragrant Ben & Anna. I used the pink grapefruit and it smelt divine. This was my first zero waste deodorant which comes in a paper tube and lasted what felt like forever. They also do deodorants in a creme format as well as toothpaste jars and tablets and hair and body care.

Drink bottles

When I see plastic bottles strewn across the grounds of my local park, it really upsets me. But even worse, to find it in the ocean. This really hurts my heart. Who are we to not only ruin our own habitat, but that of other species?! It's so unfair that some among us think we have the right to treat the planet in such a way. Whenever I go out, especially in hot summer months, to ensure I don’t get dehydrated, I make sure that I have a drink on me so that I don't need to buy a drink in a plastic bottle only to be thrown away and end up in the stomach of a poor whale who thought they were getting a yummy meal only to die a slow painful death with a belly full of plastic. Most of the time I can be found clutching my gorgeous “Save the Fishies” water bottle from Sand Cloud. It is made from eco friendly glass, with 10% of proceeds going toward marine conservation. Another win win. They not only do water bottles but make t-shirts which are made from recycled plastic, like this one modelled by moi here.

Want to see how they are made? Check this out. It’s super cool.

Cutlery/straws

Also from the Sand Cloud camp are reusable straws, which is another important product for us to help eliminate single use plastics. There are so many brands out there now doing this and I feel it is super vital to carry your reusable straw with you when going out. Why? Well, ever been sat in traffic and feeling peckish. So you decide to go to a drive thru. When you get yourself a vegan smoothie, you are given a paper straw which slowly turns to a pulp, adding a not so nice extra flavour. Yes, paper straws are better for the environment than plastic one’s in terms of sustainability. But they don’t half go mushy quick! All hail the reusable straw! You can get metal ones which are perfect for cocktails and cold drinks but for hot drinks, I would use bamboo as the metal may just burn your lip. Nobody wants any of that burnt lip action! Check these out from The Friendly Panda. It not only includes a bamboo straw, cleaner AND cutlery but also a bamboo toothbrush all sealed in a stylish little cotton bag. Perfect for the eco traveller. Pop in your hand luggage and you’re good to go.

Shopping bags

Did you know that a whopping 2.7 trillion plastic bags have been produced Worldwide this year to date! Yes, you saw that right. 2.7 TRILLION! That’s 346 bags per person. Disgusting right?! You may say “Well I’m only one person, what can I do?!” as an excuse to negate responsibility. But if we all thought like that, nothing would ever get done. Simple fact is with 7 billion of us on this earth, if each and every one of us stopped buying these “reusable” plastic bags each time we go shopping and switch to a canvas or hemp shopping bag that we carried with us at all times we can stop the millions of tons ending up in the oceans every year, killing innocent marine life. I could go on ALL day about plastic, but I think it’s best I leave it there to let you get on with your day.

But before I bid you adieu, just bear in mind your plastic consumption and try your best throughout today to cut back where you can. Not just through plastic free July, but every day. If it helps, you can create a plastic diary to see where you are using plastic and bit by bit look for swaps in order to diminish your usage. In this plastic ridden World it seems to be harder than ever, but every little helps and we can all play our part to rid the planet of this awful material.

Thank you for reading and if you can think of any other ways, please do let me know in the comments. Also, if this helped you, please feel free to share.