Up to 12 million tonnes of plastic are being swept into the oceans annually. Here at IPM we want to change that narrative, by inspiring people to consider their everyday plastic usage and make small lifestyle changes.
IPM has partnered up with Ashdown Phillips with one of their initiatives for 2021, No Plastic July. Plastic Free July is an annual global project that encourages people to refuse single-use plastics as much as possible. In an effort to raise awareness of the amount of plastic we use both personally and as a business, we asked 31 people to abstain from using plastic for one day each and to document their day.
‘No plastic July certainly opened my eyes to how much food and goods are needlessly wrapped and packaged. We must change our mindset to accept no plastic packaged goods. Looking forward to seeing results from the rest of the group’: Mark Noakes, Managing Director
Wanting to reduce all the plastic in our lives at once can be overwhelming and demotivating. Starting small and slowly building up to reducing plastic waste is the way to go. Making small changes is simpler than it seems. The below categories highlight IPM’s findings on how to live a plastic-free life.
Common themes:
Reusable coffee cups
Asking for a paper bag instead of plastic for takeaway foods
Buying cans instead of plastic bottles
Using a storage box instead of bags when doing the shopping
No plastic bottles
Plastic free can holder
‘No more drinking from shop bought plastic water bottles! Glass and tap water will be more than adequate, less plastic going in the bin and going to landfill’
Everyday alternatives:
Paper case/cardboard clay pigeon shooting cartridges
Reusable beeswax cotton food wrappers
Milk bought from a local farm – helps support small businesses and reduces plastic
‘FETCH – IT’ dog poo bags - made from corn-starch
Tined cat food instead of plastic pouches
Biodegradable golf tee’s
Refill soap – reduces plastic usage by 85%
Wicker basket used instead of plastic washing basket
SMOLE washing capsules – do not use any plastics
Bamboo toothbrush, Fluoride toothpaste tablets + dental floss made of silk
Reusable cotton pads
Our COO Neil looked into ways of reducing plastic usage for everyday items and found ‘refill and replenish’. He took his own containers and filled them with products ranging from washing up liquid to breakfast cereals. Simply weigh and see what you need to pay!
Did you know?
The challenge of no plastic July opened our eyes to some unexpected findings on everyday items that contain plastic. For example, Coffee cups even without a lid are full of plastic and not widely recycled: one of our colleagues found it more sustainable to simply bring your own metal mug. Surprisingly, chewing gum and even some loo rolls also contain plastic, we’ve learnt to be vigilant on what we are purchasing and mindful of alternatives that can be used.
Long term changes
The month-long timeframe was enough to change habits on a more permanent basis for IPM. From using paper tape for the office instead of plastic tape to providing recycling bins on sites. This month has allowed us to work with clients to help drive forward a no plastic initiative. One of our ops managers was able to collect a loose load of Mulch for his landscaping works without the need for a pallet wrapped in plastic. It’s these small adjustments that can make a big difference. It is important to keep in mind is that nobody is expecting you to completely cut out plastic from day one! Reducing our reliance and use of plastic is a journey, and Plastic Free July simply helps take those first steps.
