We may have gotten a late start to summer here in Washington, but the snow has finally melted and hiking season is in FULL swing. Something else that’s in full swing is #PlasticFreeJuly. There are a lot of ways to reduce your plastic consumption, but one of the best moves you can make right now (if you haven’t already) is to buy yourself a quality reusable water bottle. I originally thought I would suggest something a little lesser-known, but while out hiking the other day I noticed several people with plastic store-bought water bottles. Nooooooo! Stop it now! It boggles my mind as it’s SUCH an easy thing to avoid. I’ve even stopped using/purchasing hydration systems for my backpack, as they are made of rubber and plastic and can be really challenging to keep clean longterm. Plus, using water bottles on the trail instead forces me to take more breaks and really focus on hydrating.
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Another area we should look at is our wardrobe and what we’re putting on our skin. SO many fabrics and clothing items are made up of synthetic fibers. A few examples: nylon, polyester, acrylic, spandex, neoprene… the list goes on. Why this matters is because when we wash our synthetic clothing, tiny microfibers get released into our waterways. So, to minimize the impact of your clothing, start checking labels and choosing pieces that have a high natural fiber content. I’ve been living in my IcebreakerNZ merino wool t-shirts lately, both at home and out on the trail, and I feel a lot better knowing I’m wearing natural fibers and contributing less to the microplastic crisis in our oceans. But here’s a tip for washing the synthetic clothing you currently have in your closet… purchase something like a guppyfriend washing bag! It’s a super-fine mesh bag that helps to collect microfibers from your synthetic clothing BEFORE they enter our waterways.
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Plastic-free July doesn’t end in July… it’s an on-going thing, but we need to continue to find ways to reduce the amount of plastic in our lives, from how we drink our water to what we wear and how we wash our clothing. I would love to hear about a way you’ve reduced the plastic in your life too! #movetonatural #plasticfreejuly #sponsored