Plastic Free July is exactly what it sounds like – a whole month dedicated to encouraging people to minimise their use of plastic and to help the environment.
Starting in 2011 in Australia, Plastic Free July is now a global awareness month partnered with the Plastic Free Foundation, a non-profit organisation promoting smaller individual actions to make a bigger impact.
It is now a global movement dedicated to tic waste and promoting sustainable living! Plastic-Free July is an annual challenge that encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to take action against the plastic pollution crisis by making conscious choices to minimize plastic use throughout the entire month of July.
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, causing significant harm to marine life, ecosystems, and human health. Single-use plastics, in particular, contribute to this growing problem, as they are discarded after a brief moment of use, persisting in the environment for hundreds of years.
In response to this crisis, Plastic-Free July was born with a simple yet powerful mission: to raise awareness about the impact of plastic waste and inspire positive behavioral changes that can make a real difference. Participants are encouraged to refuse single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, bottles, straws, and cutlery, and seek more sustainable alternatives.
By taking part in Plastic-Free July, individuals have the opportunity to embrace a lifestyle that prioritizes reusable items, reduces waste, and ultimately lessens their carbon footprint. Moreover, this collective effort creates a ripple effect, influencing communities, businesses, and policymakers to take significant steps towards a more sustainable and plastic-free future for generations to come. So join the movement, and let’s work together to make a lasting impact in the fight against plastic pollution!
Plastic Free July Facts!
The UK throws away a shocking 295 billion pieces of single-use and non-recyclable plastic every year but there are some very simple ways of ensuring you don’t add to that figure:
- Try and limit the plastic you buy
- Buy loose fruit and vegetables
- Use a reusable drinks bottle and avoid takeaway cups
- Carry a bag-for-life with you
Find the best Environmental Plastic Free July Speakers
If you’re running an event for Plastic Free July, and wish to hear from an environmental expert, then the team at Great British Speakers are here to help you find the best Plastic Free July Speakers.
Both individuals and large corporations can take more responsibility for their plastic impact on the environment, leading to an eco-friendlier lifestyle. However, all the information on sustainability can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to spot the key takeaways. For Plastic Free July, our top environmental and sustainability speakers are available to hire to help you and your team be more eco-friendly.
Featured Speaker – Natalie Fee | One of our great Plastic Free July Speakers
Natalie Fee is an award-winning environmental campaigner, author, speaker and founder of City to Sea, a non-profit organisation running campaigns to stop plastic pollution at source. She has been campaigning against single-use plastic since 2014, founded City to Sea back in 2015 and mostly spends her time connecting to nature, getting inspired by people who know how to fix the mess we’re in and then finding new ways to tell the stories that might just save us, and the magical world we live in, from climate breakdown.