We’ve made it! It is the last day of Plastic-Free July. This time it was more difficult than before, at least for us. Bulk bins where I could use jars and a funnel brought from home we live have been filled with pre-packaged bulk goods. Most produce has been wrapped in some form of plastic, and we quickly found that most things are no longer recyclable (i.e. mixed-materials packaging). So many aspects of life have changed, but you learn to adapt.

What will you do going forward? Every Plastic-Free July teaches me something about the process of plastics, my personal accumulation, the necessity for plastics in certain situations, and so much more. This time, going forward, I will try to buy less and simply make versions of things I love. Yes, I already do that, but not as much as I could. I also realize that there are times when I buy foods (snacks in particular, more often now with the stay-in) and don’t even know why. Awhile back I used to write lists when going to the market, and I’m going to start doing that again. Not only will it stop me from getting things I don’t need, it’ll be better on the wallet as well.

I have also seen the value in Terracycle, even though I didn’t use them because the box I needed would have been over $100. It’s great when packaging can be broken down and reused instead of tossed at the first go. I used empty food bags for any other trash, and repurposed what plastic packaging I could. A smaller clamshell was used for propagation using kitchen scraps, which was fun, easy, and pretty low-maintenance. The biggest take-away is that Plastic-Free July challenges you to see the abundance of plastic, use what you have, and realize all of the excess, even if those are not goals. It is important to know your own limitations, not judge yourself against others, and simply do your best. Life is complicated enough without having to put yourself down and compare yourself to others– this goes for more than just plastic accumulation.

Current events aside, I hope you enjoyed– or at least learned something from– Plastic-Free July 2020. It’s always an interesting experience with more to learn all the time. What changes will you be implementing? Did you learn anything new? Let us know!

Peace & Love, always!