July is a month of good news, a time to slow down and enjoy long summer evenings (and holidays) with family and friends.
However, when we think of July, we also think of plastic, but in a good way! Plastic Free July is a global movement launched by the Plastic Free Foundation to encourage people worldwide to rethink their relationship with single-use plastic and improve their recycling habits. This movement is all about making you part of the plastic pollution solution!
Plastic Free July was created in 2011 in Australia by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, who challenged herself to adopt a plastic-free lifestyle for 31 consecutive days after visiting a local waste sorting facility. Her challenge was a massive success, and she decided to expand her efforts by inviting millions of people worldwide to join her in the fight against single-use plastic. In a few short years, this campaign became one of the most popular environmental movements in the world, leading to the establishment of the Plastic Free Foundation Ltd in 2017 as an independent, not-for-profit charity.
By participating in Plastic Free July, individuals can reduce their household waste and recycling by 15kg per person per year, which globally has resulted in the reduction of 2.1 billion tonnes of waste and recycling, including 300 million kgs of plastic consumption. 86% of people who participate in this movement make changes that have become a habit and a way of life. After 11 years, Plastic Free July has reduced global demand by 2.3% of all bottled water, 3.1% of all fruit and vegetable packaging, and 4.0% of all plastic straws. Join the movement and become a part of the solution to reduce single-use plastic.
Plastic-Free Fashion
This year, at Cherchez La Femme, we decided to round up a few fashion brands that are fully committed to this cause. Not just by eliminating single use plastic from their packaging, but by eliminating plastics from garments and textiles too.
People Tree
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People Tree has been a pioneer in ethical fashion, sourcing certified Fair Trade garments and organic fabrics long before it became popular to do so. The company's commitment to ethical and intentional artisan partnerships ensures sustainable economic opportunities for the artisans and makers they work with.
The Very Good Bra
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Stephanie Devine founded the Australian brand The Very Good Bra with a unique goal in mind: creating a completely zero waste bra. Every element of the bra, including hooks, elastics made of natural rubber, thread, and labels, can be composted in your backyard after use. Thei brand’s dedication to sustainability is evident in the brand's effort to test the product's biodegradability in a worm farm!
Sustain
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Sustain is a brand that focuses on creating sustainable, natural, and skin-healthy garments. They offer a wide range of products, including organic and plant-dyed clothes, accessories, underwear, and baby clothes. Unlike conventional dyeing methods that can be toxic and harmful, Sustain uses natural dyeing methods and materials. They even incorporate Ayurvedic techniques to create some of their pieces, providing a unique and eco-friendly approach to fashion.
Kent
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Kent is a renowned US brand offering a wide variety of compostable, organic pima cotton underwear styles. The brand focuses on natural clothing, which not only benefits the environment but also our skin, particularly in our most sensitive areas!
Kent offers undyed and natural, plant-dyed styles, as well as a black colour option dyed with GOTS certified dyes. Additionally, the brand uses plant-based and latex-free elastics to ensure maximum comfort.
Beaumont Organic
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Beaumont Organic is a UK-based eco-fashion brand that prides itself on using natural, sustainable materials such as organic cotton, linen, bamboo, wool, and natural leather in their collections. Moreover, they use dead-stock fabrics to further reduce waste. They are committed to transparency throughout the manufacturing process and guarantee fair wages for all.
If you guys know of any other plastic-free fashion brands, we’d love to hear it. Just leave a comment below! 🙂
[Info sourced on plasticfreejuly.org, mygreencloset.com, consciousfashion.co]