This month is Plastic Free July, always a great opportunity to look at the way we’re doing things and see what we can do to lower our impact on the planet.
We’re firm believers that making small shifts in behaviour and encouraging others to see how easy it is, is the way to creating real change.
We would also love to hear of other businesses doing great things in our community for Plastic Free July, so please get in touch so we can keep adding to this super-important list.

Check in with your fave local cafe. Many offer a discount if you bring your own reusable cup.
Locally there are some great places to get reusable coffee cups. We love the latte cups from Berrima Village Pottery – locally made! They come in a huge range of colours and have great rubber lids (no spillages).
We also love the big selection of keep cups at Pretty Little Present and their colourful range of stainless steel water bottles too.

Bare Body Beauty Co’s earth-friendly approach to their whole business is right up our alley.
You’ll often find us in there checking out their huge range of products. And filling up re-usable tubs with yummy scrubs and the packaging-free soaps! They also have bamboo toothbrushes, which are a great alternative to plastic.

Anyone else dream of a pantry filled with matching labelled mason jars?
Pop in to the Raw & Wild market or The Source to make the eco-friendly, super organised pantry dream a reality!
They’re great places to go to load up on spices, nuts, flour and a bunch of other grocery ingredients including laundry powder. Bring a bunch of jars [they also sell some] and stock up! These ingredients often end up being cheaper than the supermarket when you buy in bulk.

Using shampoo and conditioner bars is a simple way to reduce packaging, by replacing your plastic shampoo bottles with a shampoo bar – see? Simplez!
We’ve tried a shampoo bar and your hair ends up squeaky clean – literally, you can hear it squeak as you wash it. We love it! Meg’s Shampoo Bars is an online store based in Bowral, founded by a super-talented Highlander. You can order online. Oh, and they have doggo shampoo bars too – we LOVE!!

Sign up for this awesome workshop about how to have a plastic free bathroom that Council is hosting. There’s also another workshop that looks beyond the bathroom and gets you thinking about making your whole home plastic free.
And we are lovin’ this Green Caffeen x Council FREE coffee and hot chocolate day to encourage people to sign up to the Green Caffeen app and reduce landfill. Nice!

While you’re at the shops, don’t forget to bring your own bags. There are a bunch of places locally where you can buy some great bags + baskets that makes toting them around pre-shop way more fash-un.
We also love the Australian company Seed and Sprout that have smaller bags for putting groceries in when you’re in the veggie section.

While it’s not related to plastic, buying local beer [or any locally made product for that matter] is great way to cut down on your carbon footprint.
Eden Brewery brew their beers locally, which saves buying beer that has been shipped across the world. Food miles? More like beer miles! And don’t forget local wine as well! We also love that Eden Brewery has reusable growlers available for their beers.

The Wingecarribee Council is also getting involved, encouraging people to sign up for the Plastic Free July Challenge.
Got any other great ideas? We’d love to hear them! Get in touch through hello@thefoldmedia.com.au.
Happy Plastic Free July!
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