A Plastic-Free July: Empowering Your Flourish Journey ♻

Plastic Free July Logo by Plastic Free Foundation

Hey Operation Flourish Fam,

July is here, and you know what that means it's Plastic Free July Awareness Month! Since its founding in 2011 by the Plastic Free Foundation in Australia, this global movement has grown from a grassroots initiative into a worldwide community empowering people to reduce single-use plastic waste. Every July, individuals, schools, businesses, and communities commit to ditching plastic to protect our oceans, wildlife, and health.

🌍 Why Plastic Free July Matters

Single-use plastics (think water bottles, straws, shopping bags) account for a massive proportion of our daily waste. Much of it ends up in landfills, waterways, and eventually the ocean. These plastics can take hundreds of years to degrade, but in that time, they break into microplastics, which enter our food chain.

By choosing to reuse, reduce, or refuse single-use plastics, we protect marine life, reduce pollution, and even benefit our well-being. Studies show that taking action (no matter how small) boosts positive emotions and a sense of purpose. That aligns perfectly with my #ChooseHealth pillars: positive meaning, healthy behaviors, and engagement with the world around us.

Tying Plastic Free July into #ChooseHealth

1. Joyful Movement: Take your reusable water bottle or coffee mug on a hike. Enjoy nature without fueling plastic pollution.

2. Balanced Nutrition: Shop at farmers markets or bulk bins with your own containers; less plastic means fresher food and a greener planet.

3. Restorative Sleep: Worrying less about global waste allows calmer minds; reducing what we can helps ease anxieties at night.

4. Mindful Mental Health: Every time we refuse single-use plastic, we practice awareness and intentional action an empowering exercise in purpose.

5. Avoiding Risk Behaviors: Choosing reusable over disposable reduces exposure to harmful chemicals found in plastic packaging.

How YOU Can Join Plastic Free July

Here are practical ways to take part:

• Say No to Straws: Carry a reusable straw or skip it altogether. Bonus: it's fun to sip without the sizzle!

• Pack Smart: Use beeswax wraps, cloth bags, and containers for snacks or lunch.

• BYO Essentials: Bring a refillable water bottle, coffee mug, and utensils wherever you go.

• Zero-Waste Challenge: Try having one plastic-free day each week, then build up.

• Shop Consciously: Opt for bulk dry goods using your own bags. Purchase produce without plastic packaging.

• Spread the Word: Share your journey online or with friends your choices inspire others.

• Community Picks: Volunteer for beach cleanups or local environmental initiatives. Movement and purpose combined!

Taking Action with Purpose

Let's turn Plastic Free July into a springboard for longer-term habits. By embracing even one small shift reusing, reducing, or refusing plastics we're not just protecting the planet. We're strengthening our mental resilience, fostering positive emotions, and deepening connection to meaning and community. This month, take on the challenge with your Operation Flourish community: cheers to growth, impact, and flourishing together!

Cheerfully yours,

Kayla Myers

P.S. Jump in by sharing your own #PlasticFreeJuly tips and wins!

#PlasticFreeJuly #BreakFreeFromPlastic #SustainableLiving #SayNoToPlastic #ChooseToReuse #ZeroWaste #ChooseHealth #OperationFlourish