Go Plastic Free This Labor Day: 10 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday Weekend
Labor Day is around the corner and most people enjoy the day by partying with friends. There is nothing wrong with that, but the problem lies in the day after. Here are our top ten tips to help you go plastic free this Labor Day (and beyond). 1. Bring it in, Bring it out. This rule applies to pretty much any get together outdoors. Plan ahead and bring eco-friendly bags to pack up all your trash and other items in. Don’t assume there will be plenty of trash cans wherever you are going - make sure to bring your own! Keep an eye on any items that can easily blow away and store your stuff safely. Bring extra trash bags for your guests and even nearby people in case they forget. If you bring it with you, make sure to take it back home with you. 2. Say no to Straws. All single-use plastic is detrimental to our environment, but plastic straws are one of the most common pieces of trash found on beaches worldwide, and they can cause major damage to our ecosystem. Like other plastics, plastic straws never biodegrade and take hundreds of years to break down. They often make their way to our ocean and are seriously dangerous for all sorts of marine life. Make a smarter decision by ditching straws altogether or buying reusable straws and sharing them with your guests. You can use them over and over again and even bring them with you to restaurants. 3. Ditch the Plastic Bags. Instead of bringing plastic grocery bags or trash bags with you to the festivities, bring some reusable grocery bags and cloth totes. They will do the trick and can be used so many more times, which makes them a much better choice for the environment. Easy peezy. 4. Use Reusable Water Bottles. Like, Solo cups - really? Instead of buying a bunch of single-use plastic water bottles for you and your guests, bring your own reusable water bottle to fill for free and use all night long. Let your friends know that they need to bring their own reusable water bottles and consider bringing a few extra just in case. Don’t let this good habit end with the water though; you can bring reusable cups for all your beverages and say goodbye to the plastic red cups that are all over our parks and beaches. Yuck. 5. Don’t get Balloons. Many people don’t realize this, but balloons are very harmful to the environment. All balloons eventually lose their helium and become trash wherever they land. Even worse, latex balloons are not biodegradable and can be mistaken as food by animals, which can ultimately cause them to die. 6. Don’t use Plastic Food Wraps. This one is a no-brainer. Plastic wrap can quickly blow away and end up as more trash. Plus it's a pain. Opt for fabric food wraps made of eco-friendly materials like beeswax or cloth that you can reuse. If you don’t have any food wraps handy, you can store all your food items in reusable containers and wash them back at home. 7. Say no. Be more mindful when shopping for your Labor Day goodies. Go to the store prepared with plenty of reusable grocery bags, tote bags, straws, and wraps. When you are in the grocery store, let the attendants know that you do not want any plastic bags, straws, or plastic wrap. Once you start being more mindful of this, you will realize how quickly single-use plastic items are given to us daily. 8. Communicate. Let your friends know what you are doing to celebrate the holiday plastic free. A lot of people don’t understand the impact that single-use plastic has on the environment, and by letting them know, you might open their eyes to learning more about how they can make a difference. Encourage your friends to leave the plastic at home and get creative with their food and drinks this year by following these tips. 9. Walk Around and Pick up Trash. Just because other people aren’t as eco-friendly as you are doesn’t mean you have to suffer by seeing all their trash. Do the world a solid and pick up any trash you see and throw it away properly. By picking up other people’s trash, you are setting a good example that will hopefully inspire others to do the same. 10. Set up a Cleanup. Finally, after you’ve done everything you can to reduce your own plastic waste this holiday, consider organizing a beach or park cleanup with your friends. This will make a huge difference in the amount of trash floating around and will help remind people to live in a way that is more friendly to our environment. People will see your good deeds and be inspired to do the same. Have fun sending off summer, and if you are looking for a tasty, healthy alternative to traditional alcohol, grab a Boochcraft! Not only is our boozy booch fizzy and delicious, but it has amazing health benefits and is good for you.
