Is Plastic Free July a Real Thing?

Written By Parcel Health Company

Every July, millions of people across the globe pledge to reduce their plastic waste—skipping single-use bags, refusing plastic straws, and swapping out synthetic containers for reusable alternatives. What began as a small grassroots initiative in Western Australia has grown into an international movement known as “Plastic Free July” And in 2025, the urgency to participate has never been greater.

But is Plastic Free July just another social media trend? Or is it a meaningful opportunity to drive change? The truth lies in the growing plastic crisis engulfing our oceans, landfills, and even our bodies.

This post explores why Plastic Free July is a real, necessary movement in 2025, what the data reveals about our plastic problem, and how each of us can make a tangible difference this month and beyond.

What Is Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July is a global movement that challenges people to refuse single-use plastics for 31 days and instead adopt sustainable alternatives. Created in 2011 by the Plastic Free Foundation, the community has now grown to 103+ thousand followers on Facebook and reaches over 100 million participants in 190 countries each year.

With a remarkable 174 million participants globally in 2024, Plastic Free July is the largest plastic waste avoidance campaign on the planet. This award-winning behaviour change campaign empowers communities, corporations and governments to take action to reduce plastic waste.

Over the past six years, participants have collectively avoided over 12 million tonnes of waste, including 1.7 million tonnes of plastic —a greater impact than the largest cleanup efforts globally.

At Parcel Health, we stand with Plastic Free July and are applaud their progress toward addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals 11, 12, 14 and 15 (sustainable cities and communities, responsible production and consumption, life below water, and life on land).

To demonstrate our alignment, we have joined Plastic Free July’s Campaign to Make a Pledge, and have big news! We will be launching a 100% paper cap for Tully Tube this month!

Parcel Health’s Plastic Free July Pledge for 2025: We will develop a 100% paper cap for Tully Tube

Plastic Free July was not founded to achieve zero plastic overnight, but rather to:

  • Raise awareness about plastic pollution

  • Educate on realistic ways to reduce consumption

  • Empower individuals and organizations to act

The campaign is grounded in one radical yet simple belief: small changes, when multiplied, make a massive impact.

Why Plastic Free July Matters in 2025

1. Plastic Pollution is at its Worst

Global plastic production has doubled in the last two decades, and an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans every year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). If trends continue, this number is expected to triple by 2040.

Plastic isn't just litter—it persists in the environment for centuries, breaking into microplastics that:

  • Contaminate food chains

  • Disrupt ecosystems

  • Leach harmful chemicals into water and soil

A 2024 World Economic Forum article notes that plastic pollution is now found in the most remote parts of the planet—from Arctic snow to deep-sea trenches—and even in human blood and placental tissue. We’re not just polluting the planet—we’re polluting ourselves.

2. Recycling Isn’t the Answer

Many people believe that tossing plastic into the blue bin solves the problem—but that’s a myth. According to a 2023 report by Greenpeace, only 9% of plastic waste globally is actually recycled. The rest is:

  • Incinerated (releasing carbon emissions)

  • Exported to developing countries

  • Landfilled or dumped illegally

Modern recycling systems are overwhelmed and underfunded, and many plastics (especially flexible films and colored containers) are economically unviable to process.

Plastic Free July focuses not on recycling, but on refusing and reducing—critical steps in the waste hierarchy that have greater environmental benefit than downstream solutions.

Take a Look at the Data

As provided the the Greenpeace “Circular Claims Fall Flat Report,”
 https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/reports/circular-claims-fall-flat-again/ we can get an in-depth perspective on the state of recycling and why upstream reduction matters. The report points out that while there’s momentum for change—more action is required.

In 2023, over 175 countries endorsed a historic resolution at the United Nations to develop a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution by 2025. While negotiations are ongoing, this signals global acknowledgment that plastic pollution is no longer a fringe issue.

Meanwhile, major companies—from Unilever to Nestlé—are being pushed to rethink packaging, thanks to public pressure and legislative mandates. Local governments are introducing plastic bans, extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, and zero-waste targets.

However, real progress depends on consumer behavior. This is where Plastic Free July comes in. By creating collective demand for alternatives and spotlighting individual responsibility, the movement influences systemic change.

According to the World Economic Forum (2024)
”The Global Plastic Crisis: Why 2025 Could Be a Turning Point,”
 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/04/plastic-pollution-solutions-global-treaty/, the human and environmental cost of plastic has reached crisis levels. 

For reference, plastic is derived from fossil fuels, and its production accounts for at least 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to OECD estimates. That’s more than the entire aviation industry produces in a single year.

But the toll doesn’t stop at emissions:

  • Marine animals ingest plastic, causing starvation, internal bleeding, and death

  • Microplastics have been found in drinking water, seafood, and even the air we breathe

  • Communities near petrochemical plants—often low-income and marginalized—face disproportionate health risks, including cancer and respiratory diseases

Plastic waste is more than just a waste management issue, it is an environmental justice issue and a climate issue.

How Our Participation Matters

Skeptics argue that individual choices can’t move the needle in a problem this large. But research suggests otherwise. When enough individuals act, it creates a tipping point that:

  • Forces companies to innovate

  • Spurs legislation

  • Inspires community-level change

Your decision to refuse a plastic straw, switch to refillables, or talk about the issue online does more than shrink your footprint—it grows the movement.

In fact, a 2022 study from The University of Plymouth found that people who participated in No Plastic July continued sustainable behaviors months later and influenced others in their household.

The more visible sustainable choices become, the more they become normalized.

Get Started: No Plastic July 2025

You don’t need to go fully zero-waste to participate. Start with one plastic habit and build from there. Here are ideas broken down by lifestyle area:

At Home

  • Switch to bar soap, shampoo bars, or refill stations

  • Ditch plastic wrap for beeswax wraps or silicone lids

  • Buy in bulk or use reusable containers at stores that offer refills

When Shopping

  • Choose items in paper, glass, cardboard, or aluminum packaging

  • Skip produce bags—just place fruits and veggies directly in your cart

  • Support brands with take-back or circular packaging programs

Out and About

  • Carry a reusable water bottle and coffee cup

  • Bring your own cutlery or straw

  • Say "no" to freebies like plastic swag, samples, or hotel toiletries

For Parents

  • Use cloth diapers, wipes, and snack bags

  • Choose wooden toys over plastic ones

  • Pack lunches in metal or silicone containers

Learn & Advocate

  • Watch documentaries like The Story of Plastic or A Plastic Ocean

  • Join local cleanups or plastic audit events

  • Email your city council about banning single-use plastics

Brands and Innovators Leading the Charge

Some companies are already modeling what a low-plastic future can look like:

  • Loop: A reusable packaging platform backed by big brands like Nestlé and P&G

  • Lush Cosmetics: Over 65% of their products are packaging-free

  • Plaine Products: Offers refillable aluminum bottles for shampoo and body wash

Supporting these brands helps create demand for scalable alternatives—and signals to the market that sustainable packaging is no longer optional.

The Power of Community: Join a Local or Global Challenge

Plastic Free July isn’t just a personal commitment—it’s a collective experience. You can:

  • Sign the pledge at plasticfreejuly.org

  • Follow the hashtag #PlasticFreeJuly2025 on social platforms

  • Join or host a community event (cleanup, swap meet, or workshop)

If you’re a business leader or brand, you can participate by:

  • Encouraging employees to join the challenge

  • Auditing your own packaging and office practices

  • Running a “plastic-free promo” to engage your audience

What Happens After July?

The hope is that July is just the beginning. Once you start noticing plastic, you can’t unsee it—and that awareness fuels long-term change.

Here’s how to carry momentum forward:

  • Choose one habit to maintain long-term (e.g., no plastic bags)

  • Share what you learned with friends or family

  • Join other sustainability campaigns (e.g., Zero Waste Week or Buy Nothing Day)

The journey to a low-plastic life is ongoing—but every step counts.

Take Action 

Plastic Free July is more than a challenge—it’s a global wake-up call. It reminds us that while plastic may be convenient, its consequences are far-reaching and long-lasting.

In 2025, with plastic waste at an all-time high and global negotiations underway to reverse the trend, there’s never been a more important time to act. Whether you’re an eco-warrior or just starting to question your daily habits, this month offers a path forward—one refusal, one swap, one conversation at a time.

Join millions around the world in taking that first step. When we say no to plastic, we say yes to a cleaner, healthier, promising future.

Sources and Resources:

Parcel Health Company
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