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Plastic Free July is upon us, but the question is: Will you take up the challenge?

The initiative is a global movement that helps millions of people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution in order to have cleaner oceans, cities and environments.

The overall action is simple: Choose to make small, easy changes and refuse single-use plastics. 

Plastic Free July is all about reducing plastic consumption in order to free the world from plastic waste.

The initiative itself is run by a non-profit organisation called The Plastic Free Foundation, founded in 2011 by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz in Australia.

Organisers say that the movement is "designed to help people refuse single use plastic and improve recycling practices". Single-use or disposable plastics are used once before thrown away into landfill.

It's hoped that the large-scale challenge will "drive positive change through simple solutions that help communities live more sustainably".

Plastic-Free July also aims to "kick-start long-lasting solutions and influence business and governments to take action" to improve their environmental approach in a number of areas, including recycling.

Businesses desperately need to move towards a "circular economy"(promoting the reuse of materials) and for producers to take more responsibility over the end-of-life of products.

The consequences of plastic

Plastic bags often break ups into micro pieces that can easily blow into nature and, if mistaken for food and ingested, end up being fatal to animals

Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down in landfill, if it even breaks down at all, and reducing our use of plastic can help to counteract this.

Reducing waste overall is a better alternative to recycling, which uses a lot of water and energy, but we're all doing our best and changing what we can in our lives to alter our carbon footprints.

Top tips for Plastic Free July:

-Buy a 'KeepCup' and refuse to use a takeaway coffee cup. Even the 'recyclable' ones end up in landfill, so choose to dine in at your local café or bring a reusable cup.

-Plastic straws: Buy a metal straw and refuse plastic or paper straws as often as you can. There are now options to buy foldable metal straws to slot into your purse easily.

-Choose not to buy pre-packaged fruit and vegetables when you're doing the weekly shopping. Go to a local grocer, organic shop or farmer's market with a tote bag and collect your own loose fruit and vegetables instead, and save yourself all that single-use plastic. Support stores that offer paper bags rather than plastic bags, and who grow the food in Ireland.

-Don't buy pre-packaged meat: Support local butchers and bring your own containers to the shop. This scenario is only if you even eat meat at all, a plant-based, vegan diet is better for reducing waste and your carbon footprint.

-Choose to refuse single-use plastic shopping bags. Save yourself money by bringing your own reusable bags, and prevent as much landfill building up as possible. Plastic bags are incredible dangerous for wildlife and environment. You could even consider making your own reusable shopping bags using repurposed fabric, like the 'Boomerang Bags' movement. Bags made from natural fibres are a better option if possible, made from ethically-produced cotton, jute, hemp or recycled plastic bottles.

-Choose to refuse plastic bin liners: Line the bin with a few sheets of newspaper, or try using certified compostable bin liner bags. You can even use the bin as a ‘naked bin’, and simply washing it out as needed, or try home composting. Composting helps food scraps to deteriorate rather than producing methane from anaerobic landfill.

-Use lunch-boxes instead of packaging for food, and support vendors that offer cardboard or recyclable utensils and packaging rather than plastic knives and forks.

-BYOB: Bring your own bottle. Buying single-use plastic bottles year-round can cause a huge amount of damage, but it's incredibly easy to carry a reusable water bottle around with you. Carry small tote bags in your purse too in case you're in a situation where you need to reject using a plastic bag.

-Bamboo toothbrushes: Plastic toothbrushes can take 500 years to break down, but buying bamboo has never been as easy. Try buying organic toothpaste in recyclable packaging too.

-Avoid clingfilm like the devil: Wrap your food in cloths or keep it in containers instead rather than using single-use clingfilm to keep items fresh.

-Bin audits: Make sure the bins in your workplace, home and anywhere else are separated by category. Divide them into recyclable waste, general waste and compost bins, or by material (glass, cardboard, paper, plastic, etc). 

-Community clean-ups: Organise a group of friends, colleagues or community members to clean up specific areas around you. As well as improving your local environment, it shows a good example of teamwork for positive change and engagement. Use social media to gather and include as many people as possible.

-Cosmetic industry and wipes: There are many options for removing your make-up or washing your face that don't use micro-plastics and harmful irritants like wipes. Reusable cloths and biodegradable wipes are sold on numerous online beauty websites and are extremely effective, and try bringing your make-up palettes to be refilled in The Body Shop. Going make-up free for the month of July would be a big challenge, but reducing cosmetic waste and using skincare products made with recyclable packaging will create a beneficial impact.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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-Ask your local shops to use biodegradable products, and to support brands that use recyclable packaging or minimal packaging. Companies will listen if enough customers speak out.

-Spread the word: Talk to your co-workers, your friends, your family and neighbours about their lifestyle choices and how they may be impacting the environment. It may just take some encouragement for them to change small aspects of their lives and reduce their plastic usage.

Head over to the website here to take the Plastic Free July pledge, you'll be glad you did.

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Today, Deep RiverRock, together with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton, announced that every bottle within its PET portfolio will be made from 100 percent recycled PET plastic from June 2019. The move sees Deep RiverRock become the first major water brand distributing across the island of Ireland to produce a 100 percent recycled bottle.

As all Deep RiverRock bottles are already 100 percent recyclable, this new development truly supports the brand’s commitment to protecting the environment and to play a value-adding role in communities.

Deep RiverRock’s investment in recycled PET supports a circular economy, keeping resources in use for as long as possible. The move is estimated to eliminate more than 500 tonnes of virgin plastic from the supply chain over the next three years. Recycled PET bottles are also one of the lowest carbon-dense packaging types to produce within the beverage sector.

When recycled correctly, PET bottles can, and should, have a longer life span and Deep RiverRock is committed to encouraging consumers to recycle all PET bottles. In a bold statement, Deep RiverRock will ‘recycle’ its logo on all bottles with an impactful ‘100% Recycled Bottle’ message front-of-pack. The move aims to inspire more responsible disposal of waste and greater recycling among consumers. It is supported by recycling messages which have already been integrated on the bottle cap and across its TV advertising.

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When it comes to being eco-conscious, our makeup bags are not usually our first port of call. 

When you finish a makeup item, it can be difficult to find out what you can do with the empty other than tossing it in the trash. 

However, now there is a place to send your mascara wands – while helping improve the health of wild animals in the process. 

The Appalachian Wildlife Reserve in North Carolina is continuing it's work on the Wands For Wildlife initiative – and they want your old mascara wands. 

You might go through a couple of tubes a year if you wear makeup every day, and those wands can be donated to the Reserve to help groom the injured wild animals who are cared for.

'Old mascara wands are used to remove fly eggs and larva from the fur of wild animals,' the initiative says. 

'They work great because the bristles are close together.'

'Send your wands or gather old mascara wands and donations to help the wild ones'

Who knew your old wands could go to such a cute cause?

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Is there anything Sir David Attenborough can't achieve? Probs not. He's an absolute legend and undisputed king of nature, as well as possessing one of the greatest narratorial voices of ALL TIME.

He's lending his voice to Netflix for their forthcoming natural history show (seems off-brand for them?) but now he'll be back on the BBC screens with a huge new programme.

The TV show will focus on the environmental forces reshaping our world, and is entitled One Planet, Seven Worlds. We can't wait for this.

One Planet, Seven Worlds will focus on an individual continent per episode, and uses cutting-edge technology to explore the characteristics of how the animals are affected by their habitat.

He is also appearing in Green Planet, which will look at the world from the plants' point of view in the global ecosystem.

Attenborough recently spoke to Prince William about today's environment, emphasising the fact that we are less in touch with nature than ever.

"We are one coherent ecosystem- it's not just a question of beauty or interest or wonder, it's the essential ingredient. The essential part of human life is a healthy planet," he said.

He urged politicians and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos to focus their attention on climate change, before it's too late; “the Garden of Eden is no more”.

Blue Planet II and Plastics Watch have both achieved massive success, so the new BBC One shows are hoping to spotlight the environment in the form of protection.

Three-quarters of a BILLION people worldwide watched Blue Planet I, which is mind-blowing. Some people see his new Netflix affiliation as a blow to the BBC, as streaming services take over.

He has worked with the BBC for over 60 years, so he most likely isn't ditching them.

The Netflix show is due out this April, while the BBC show will hopefully air in the autumn. Get yourselves and your metal straws ready, it's time to save the WORLD, people.

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We can probably all admit that the lead up to Christmas is just as much of a stressful time as it is a merry time.

The rush to get presents, cook the food and clean the house can drive people up the wall and in a recent survey, Irish parents' devious methods for cleaning-up were revealed. 

Shockingly, nearly 71 percent of parents throw out their kids' toys ahead of Christmas without telling them (but all parents know they won't even remember said toys, right?). And poor Granny is blamed for giving kids the most presents.

Also, a lot of parents (six in ten) admit to threatening their children with coal if they are messy.

But even worse than that is the amount of waste that comes from giving the house a clean for the holidays. 

Six in ten Irish parents will do a last minute clean of the home, and while that number is good, the numbers that follow aren't. 

One in three are throwing plastic, rubber and toys into the recycling bin and because of this, Repak will have enough plastic to create over 51 MILLION Barbie dolls. 

As well as that, there will be enough cardboard thrown out to make 262 million Christmas crackers and enough glass to create 1.7 million Christmas baubles. Shocking, right?!

So, instead of creating all of this rubbish, Repak want you to recycle wisely around this time of the year and be smart when starting your Christmas clear-out. 

Maybe the results of this survey won't to as bad for Irish mothers next year!

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We are LOVING Kate Middleton at the moment! With a chic new stylist behind her, she is making all the right moves in the fashion and beauty front. 

The 33-year-old stepped out with her husband, Prince William at the ICAP 23rd annual Charity Day in London yesterday. 

While the event is for raising money for those less fortunate, we couldn't help but notice Kate's fab new hair do'. 

The Duchess has gone for the chop and cut off a bit of length from her shiny brunette hair, and we have to say, thumbs up all around. 

And her new do' isn't the only thing that stood out to us either. The mum-of-two also decided to recycle an old teal shift dress. She teamed it with a matching belt and peplum jacket, as well as a black clutch and black pump shoes. 

She last wore this outfit back in 2012, so major brownie points for making it look like it just came off the royal catwalk. 

 

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We can all help to make a difference in the world around us.

A few simple changes to our life can have a big impact.

Why not start today!

1. Have a Meatless Monday

2. Switch to online bank statements

3. Invest in a reusable water bottle

4. Avoid products made from or aiding the destruction of endangered animals

5. Turn off the tap when shampooing and brushing teeth

6. Buy local produce as much as possible

7. Take public transport

8. Wash clothes at 40°C or lower

9. Turn off all switches at night and all lights when not required

10. Recycle – packaging, clothes, bottles, technology, everything you can!

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Now when you catch someone glancing judgementally at your collection of empty wine bottles, you can assure them they are for arts and crafts purposes.

1. Pretty vase
Use glass paint and glitter or some chalkboard paint to create really cute vases that are practically free!

wine bottle 4

2. Candle holders
How lovely would these look next to a fireplace or as a centrepiece?

wine bottle 1

3. Get your message across
Just get some chalkboard paint and chalk and use your wine bottles to spell out an inspiring word to place on your mantle.

wine bottle 3

4. Hanging lanterns
These would be perfect at outdoor parties such as baby showers or weddings. So rustic and charming.

wine bottle 2

 

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Many products that we buy each week are kept in glass jars, so rather than filling your recycling bin, why not use them?

We picked out five ways you can use jars to make your home pretty and decorative. Decorate your jar with paint, clear glue and glitter or anything else you ‘d like and use them for the following purposes:

1. Flower vase
Jars make great vases – even the small ones will look cute with some daisies and buttercups.

2. Candle holders
Put some pebbles, sand or even old buttons and fill your jar a quarter full with it. Place a tealight on top and light. Instant fancy candle. Never leave a candle unattended in your home.

3. Glasses
It makes us look like hipsters, but who cares, we love it. If you have lots of people coming over and know you don’t have enough glasses then use jars! Decorate them with some ribbon, pop a cute straw in and serve your favourite cocktail.

4. Make-up brush/pencil holder
Finally, a neat and organised vanity table/work desk.

5. Organising your kitchen
Spices, flour, sugar, coffee, tea; you can organise your shelves using jars and cut down on the boxes and bags that take up room and make your cupboards look cluttered. Clean jars, label them with their contents and embrace the aesthetic effect on your kitchen.

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