PARLEY AIR: How to be Plastic Free
Take a journey with Parley and Future Earth this #PlasticFreeJuly
Can we ever live “plastic free” on a planet where plastic has become virtually ubiquitous? Over the last half century, our economy and society have become so deeply entrenched in fossil fuel-based plastics, it can feel impossible to untangle your life from the waste. We can’t realistically live completely plastic-free until alternatives are in place. But we’re striving for progress, not perfection.
The plastic-free journey looks different for everyone, and more often than not, companies don’t make it easy to live without plastic. It lurks everywhere, in everything. But the truth is, every small action adds up. Every bit of plastic we eliminate from our lives makes a difference. And consumer habits drive corporations to change their ways, which will eventually make a plastic-free life not only easier, but possible.
In honor of #PlasticFreeJuly, Future Earth and Parley joined forces to co-create a plastic-free guide for real life. Each week in July, we’re publishing a new step, breaking the guide into manageable, customizable steps everyone can take to reduce plastic consumption, whatever that looks like for them (you).
Follow along, read up, get heated, make a plan, try something new, spread the word. Let’s do this together.
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“We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
Anne-Marie Bonneau — Zero-Waste Chef
Week One
Plastic is a complex issue closely linked with the climate crisis, overfishing, social justice and human health. We can’t end a threat we don’t understand, and we’re scientifically more likely to stick with the changes we make when we remember why they matter.
We’ve already outlined how mismanaged plastic waste washes into rivers and makes its way to the oceans, becoming part of the more than 10 million tons of plastic entering our life support system every year. And how the fossil fuel industry is attempting to drive demand for new plastics plants, and how those plants, and the fossil fuels that feed them, emit enormous amounts of methane. Plastics continue to release this greenhouse gas long after the final products are discarded. Then, there’s the fact that bits of plastic have been found in our own bodies, and even human placentas.
Knowing is the best catalyst for change. Read up, take notes, get mad, amplify.
Week Two
"Ok, so... I get that plastic is a problem. How can I realistically remove it from my already complicated and overwhelming life?" Fair question.
There's so much pressure on the consumer to fix plastic waste while companies continue to produce more and more of it. The old approach - reduce, reuse, recycle - isn't enough. We need to think bigger and demand better. That doesn't mean we shouldn't start at home.
Low and zero-waste lifestyles are possible, but not attainable or accessible for everyone. Still, every action and effort counts while we work towards the systemic change we need to end the plastic crisis. You know best what's going to work in your life.
There are lots of ways to cut back on the amount of unnecessary plastic you consume. Check our guide for ideas on where to start, then make a commitment with your Parley AIR Pledge. If you get stuck, more suggestions right here:
No more plastic bottles
Ask restaurants to skip the plastic bag and utensils with your takeout
Switch to shampoo bars
Ditch the plastic toothbrush
Carry a reusable bag every day
Skip the single-use straws (even if paper straws ain’t it)
Check out the most common plastic products littering beaches, and cut them out
Scroll #PlasticFreeJuly on Instagram for inspiration
Take the Parley AIR Pledge to stay on track throughout the year
Week 3
There are a lot of big numbers that stand out when we talk about the climate crisis (think: more pieces of plastic in the oceans than stars in the sky). And as important as it is to communicate the destruction, we also need to quantify the massive impact small changes can have.
Every action adds up. This week, we’re showcasing how individual people have become catalysts for change in their own lives, their communities, for nations and the world. Here’s how you can, too.
Clean up
Individual people have removed plastic bottles, straws, fishing nets, toys, and other pollution from beaches in more than 30 countries through the Parley Global Clean-up Network. That’s mostly plastic trash that won’t end up in the oceans.
"After doing so many beach clean-ups, I understand how trying to protect the place I inhabit affects me emotionally. What keeps me going is the people I'm able to connect with who share our mission and nourish my life with energy to save the oceans that we love so much." — Yago Lange
Take action with your purchases
In 2020, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Nestlé ranked as the world’s biggest plastic polluters for the third year in a row, and as it stands right now, just 20 corporations — including oil and gas, chemical companies — produce more than half of the world’s single-use plastics. One hundred are responsible for 90 percent. You can learn more here about which corporations are the biggest backers of these plastics projects (hint: it’s a lot of big banks).
Starting small doesn’t mean staying small
A small pilot project started by just two people now intercepts 33,000 pounds of ocean-bound plastic pollution every month. The Litterboom Project is growing in South Africa and is an accessible, scalable way every country can stop plastic pollution from reaching oceans.
Making progress, country by country
On June 1, 2021, the government of the Maldives enacted a ban on the import of all plastic straws, single-use plates, cutlery and stirrers, Styrofoam food boxes, betel nuts in plastic wrapping, 500ml or less PET beverage bottles, 250ml or less coffee cups, small plastic toiletry bottles, cotton buds with plastic stems and some plastic bag sizes. The move set a blueprint for other countries to follow suit. Learn more about this massive step towards plastic-free here.
Week 4
You don’t have to be a purist to drive change. Every individual action creates a ripple effect that has the power to lead to huge change on a systemic level.
In the final installment of the Plastic Free Guide, we’re focusing on the power of collective action to amplify change.
Join a movement
There are a lot of ways to be a catalyst for change, and there’s strength in numbers and building a community is key. Amplify your impact by linking up with the Parley Global Cleanup Network, or joining our growing group of youth activists. You can also show your support for organizations pushing for a plastic free future by fundraising for the cause.
Push for legislation
Laws have the power to create systemic change, so make noise about the changes you want to see. To start, look up local ordinances and support legislation in your area that aims to limit the amount of plastic in circulation –– here’s how you can support a plastic bag ban in your city.
And since the U.S. generates more plastic trash than any other nation in the world, reducing the amount of plastic the country uses is a global matter. There are key ways President Joe Biden can cut back on the amount of plastic pollution the nation generates — and he doesn’t need Congress’ permission to do so. Learn more and take action towards a #PlasticFreePresidency here.
TAKE ACTION
There’s strength in numbers but it starts with one. Read up, make noise, spread the word and give others the tools to do the same. This is the best way to drive world leaders to adopt policies that will slow climate change and help the oceans stay healthy so they can play their role.
Follow along this month for more right here and on @parley.tv and @futureearth
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