Plastic Free July, just like its name suggests, is the global movement of reducing or cutting the use of plastics throughout July. What started with just 40 people in 2011, now has over 170 million participants across 190 countries.

Anyone can participate, no matter where you are. No grand gestures needed. Just avoid using single-use plastics for the month. It sounds small, but the results are there.

A 2024 Report says that Plastic Free July participants have collectively avoided 12.8 billion kilograms of waste over six years; that's more than the world's largest cleanup efforts combined.

Side note: There's another plastic-free initiative in July. July 3 is International Plastic Bag Free Day, which further reinforces the attention on the whole plastic problem.

Plastic really affects us, whether you like it or not

And the environmental case for it is even harder to ignore. Plastic doesn't biodegrade; instead, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces we call microplastics. These microplastics end up in oceans, soil, and, eventually, in the food chain from animals that eat it. 

So much so that these microplastics have been found in human blood and lung tissue at this point. So in a way, it’s affecting us more than you know.

Plastic heavily impacts climate change as well, as it’s made from fossil fuels. In 2023, plastic production accounted for just over 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which may rise if left unchecked.

"Choose to refuse" and "small steps, big difference"

These aren't just taglines to share on social media. These are the reasons why Plastic Free July works.

"Choose to refuse" every time you're about to grab a plastic bag, a straw, or a disposable cup. When it happens, you pause and say no. You bring your own bag to the grocery. You skip the straw. That is choosing to refuse. Simple but works.

"Small steps, big difference" is the idea that no matter how small your action is, it still contributes to something bigger. When many people make small changes, it adds up to a significant difference in communities. The results don’t just happen overnight.

Less than 10% of all plastics are recycled globally, and production doesn’t seem to stop. It's going to be a tough hill to climb, but with enough collective action, it's possible. Plastic Free July is proof that behavior change at scale is possible. 

6 ways to cut single-use plastics in the workplace

As a manager or office worker, it's easy to think your plastic use doesn't add up to much. But it does. Small workplace habits, multiplied across an entire team or building, contribute more than most people realize.

Here are some ways to practice being plastic free this July:

• Gift free reusable tote bags for your employees.
• Ditch the plastic cups and cutlery in the pantry, and opt for reusable ones instead. 
• Stop using plastic bags or single-use packaging for office giveaways.
• Set up proper and clearly labeled waste management containers. 
• Review your suppliers and choose ones that use minimal or recyclable packaging.
• Grab the free Plastic Free July social media kit and share it across your channels.

Plastic Free July runs from July 1 to July 31, 2026. Use this month as a starting point to reduce your waste, even if the goal is to keep going after.

I have a vague understanding about why the meat industry is bad for the environment, however I feel like the same could be said for plant agriculture too.

I just don’t understand the point of going vegan or vegetarian due to climate concerns if America’s food industry as a whole is environmentally damaging.

What information am I missing?

The environment is the silent victim of conflict. The immediate human crisis will and should always be the priority, but looking at it from an environmental angle doesn’t mean caring any less about the people, because for those who care, they’ll care, and those who pretend to sleep will never wake up to care one day. Destruction of homes, toxic pollution, and massive GHG emissions directly harm human health, climate health, and climate injustice. This oversight isn’t an accident, it’s just easy to ignore when there are no exact numbers or responsible parties to account for it. Politics gives a million reasons to avoid this topic, but there’s really just one main reason to talk about it, that the toxicity left in war zones directly affects human health and survival long after.

Raising this topic is just another perspective to build awareness and get more communities talking about what happens to people and land during wars. Pushing for more social content, scientific data, and ecological sampling from war zones gives us real supporting evidence. And just a wild thought, if we actually held entities accountable for their environmental impacts, could it actually make them think twice before attacking? The environment doesn't just recover when the conflict stops, so raising awareness here is a tactic worth using.