Plastic-Free July Is Here!
Written by: Hannah Butman, Director of Brand
July 1, 2024
Why Is Plastic-Free July Important?
While the mass production of plastic began only six decades ago today, today it pervades nearly all aspects of modern lives on an unimaginable scale: 380 TONS of plastic is produced a year, which is nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population.
A significant cause of this plastic crisis is due to the rise of single-use plastics. Single-use plastic accounts for 50% of all plastic produced in a year. Items like: plastic cups, straws, coffee stirrers, shopping bags, bottles that are used for mere minutes, can leave behind consequences for generations to come. Plus. compared to its production and consumption, The actual rate of recycling of plastic is alarmingly low: Only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled and the remaining 91% is either incinerated, landfilled, or in the environment. Without recycling, plastics don’t really break down; they just break up smaller and smaller until over time they become microplastics which are hard to detect and everywhere.
The good news is that individually we can all work to reduce single-use plastic waste. On average, people generate 1,847 pounds of plastic waste per year underscoring just how important the Plastic Free July movement truly is. Individual action often inspires collective shifts, and that impact can add up quickly. So whether it’s simply switching to a reusable water bottle (and individually saving hundreds of plastic water bottles from landfills), your actions DO matter.
Blueland's Plastic-Free July Challenge:
This PFJ, we're teaming up with Pattie Gonia, your favorite eco-conscious queen to highlight the excess, unnecessary, and often ridiculous plastic present in our everyday lives. Together, we're kicking off a community challenge: share your favorite plastic swap on Instagram and for every picture posted, Blueland will donate $10 to Beyond Plastics—a non-profit working to end single-use plastic pollution.
How It Works:
Step #1
Make sure your account is set to public (so we can see it!)
Step #2
Go to Blueland's Instagram profile (@blueland) and tap the Plastic-Free July highlight to use our sticker.
Step #3
Tap 'Add Yours', add a photo of your favorite plastic swap, and share it to your Instagram Story!
Get started!
Join the challenge here and help us reach our goal of raising $25,000 for Beyond Plastics!
