9 sustainable products to help you succeed this Plastic-free July

Plastic-free July is here! For lovers of all things eco-friendly, this is our favourite time of the year - so we decided to share our favourite sustainable products to help you cut down on plastic this month. Hopefully, you’ll like them so much that they become a part of your everyday lives, and Plastic-free July can eventually become a plastic-free future!

• Bamboo Straws
• The first step towards a successful Plastic-free July? Saying a big ‘NO’ to plastic straws - one of the biggest pollutants in the world. We know, they’re everywhere and can be pretty hard to avoid. Luckily, we’ve got the perfect solution - Bamboo Straws! Crafted from fast-growing bamboo (one of the most sustainable plants), these straws are reusable, easy to clean, and 100% biodegradable. Plus, when you see how great they look in your smoothie, you’ll never want to use another straw again! You can buy them in sets of four right here.

• Coconut Bowls
• Plastic-free July is about getting back to our natural roots. This means avoiding unnatural products, made using chemicals and substances that take thousands of years to break down, in favour of natural products that don’t harm the environment. As we fight to keep our planet alive, biodegradable products are more important than ever - and while they aren’t as prevalent as plastic, there are some great sustainable options out there for those willing to look!

• Coconut Bowls are a symbol of sustainability in many ways. They’re handcrafted from recycled coconut shells - shells that otherwise would have been burnt, releasing harmful toxins into the environment. These bowls are totally natural, reusable, and biodegradable. Unlike other kitchenware, these bowls will safely return to nature once you’re finished with them. Oh, and they look super stylish too!

• Wooden Cutlery

• Plastic cutlery is almost as prevalent as plastic straws, and poses just as significant a threat to the earth. Single-use plastics are overwhelming our planet - it is projected that by 2050, the ocean will contain more plastic than fish by weight. As insignificant as it may seem, refusing the disposable plastic cutlery that you’re offered at takeaway shops and other food vendors will make a huge difference. Instead, get yourself a set of reusable and biodegradable wooden cutlery - these recycled sets from Coconut Bowls are a good place to start - and enjoy each meal knowing that you’re doing your bit.

• Reusable shopping bag
• While we know that plastic has no place in our future, it’s taking a little longer for supermarket chains to cotton on to this fact. Huge numbers of plastic bags find their way into nature and waterways, where they break down incredibly slowly and pollute the environment, animals, and us. Avoid using their harmful single-use plastic bags by bringing reusable bags of your own!
• A great place to start is the Grocery Tote Bag from Coconut Bowls’ recent Taste Without Waste collection. It’s crafted out of organic, unbleached cotton, making it totally sustainable and stronger than regular plastic bags! Of course, investing in your own eco-friendly bags is only the first step - you then have to remember to actually bring them. But that will come with practice.

• Produce Bags
• Even after eliminating plastic bags, the amount of food that comes pre-packaged in plastic in supermarkets is a cause for concern. Think about how many discarded wrappers you see in bins and on the street – containers and packaging account for a huge amount of landfill, and the majority of this is plastic.
• While it may feel beyond our control, we can combat this problem by opting to buy loose food and produce. Leave those pre-packaged greens on the shelves – bring along some eco-friendly produce bags designed for loose fruit and veggies. Coconut Bowls’ Taste Without Waste collection also features organic, reusable produce bags that come in a variety of sizes and won’t harm the planet.

• JOCO reusable coffee cups
• Committing to a Plastic-free July means no disposable coffee cups. No, we aren’t asking that you go without your morning coffee - that would be inhumane. We’re just suggesting that instead of contributing to the mountain of coffee cups that get thrown away daily, it might be worth looking into a reusable and eco-friendly alternative. JOCO makes beautiful glass coffee cups that are 100% plastic-free and designed to last a lifetime!

• Hydro Flask drink bottles
• Here are some numbers that will make you think twice about not packing your own drink bottle next time you leave the house; one million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute; of these bottles, approximately 1 in 6 are being recycled; the other bottles each take up to 1000 years to break down. Landfill is overflowing with these bottles, and Plastic-free July is as good a time as any to start looking at alternatives. Hydro Flask bottles are a fantastic option that are not only reusable and plastic free, but also use innovative technology to insulate your drink, keeping it hot or cold at all times!

• Stasher bags
• Companies use all kinds of nasty plastic packaging to keep our food fresh. Take control of plastic waste in your home by implementing eco-friendly storage options - in the kitchen and on the go. Stasher bags are reusable, non-toxic ziploc-style bags perfect for taking your food with you or keeping it fresh! A healthy and convenient choice for you and the planet.

• Wrappa food wraps
• In a similar vein to Stasher, Wrappa food wraps are a great solution to cling wrap and other toxic plastic wraps. Crafted in South Australia, they offer a variety of eco-friendly food wraps that are plant-based and reusable. Since the average family uses close to 1,000 plastic bags and 24 rolls of plastic wrap per year, these should become a household staple that keeps your food fresh and your living sustainable!
• These eco-friendly products will have you feeling prepared to take on Plastic-free July! If you like them, spread the word to friends and family, and together we can work towards a more sustainable future.