Simple Switches for Plastic Free July
- Tricia Kambourian
- Jul 16, 2025
- 4 min read
It’s Plastic Free July, and while we love the idea of a month dedicated to sustainability, we want to go further. At RVA Naturals we want the entire year to be plastic free, and we’re here to share some simple, actionable ways to do that.
We can all step outside and feel the impact of our quickly changing climate. While our individual actions do contribute to emissions, the vast majority of global emissions come from corporate actions - industrial processes, energy production, large scale agricultural production, transportation, and deforestation. That doesn’t mean we can’t make choices that are healthier for not only our planet, but us as well. By shopping at sustainably minded local shops we’re putting our money where we see the change we want already happening, rather than perpetuating a system that puts climate, and therefore humanity, at the bottom of it’s goals. Shopping locally also keeps our money in our communities.
Not only do many of these switches cut down on how many new, single use products we purchase, they save us money and spread awareness of more climate conscious alternatives to those close to us.
Sustainable swaps:
☀️Reuse glass containers. That pasta sauce was delicious, right? Rather than throwing out the jar it came in, give it a good wash. For jars with labels, let it sit in warm water for 15 minutes and remove all of the label you can. Then you can use white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or even lemon essential oil to remove any residual sticky residue. Now you have a glass jar ready to use for storage or crafts! We love to make candles in them, use them as flower vases, as craft supply storage…the list is endless.
☀️ Join a local “buy nothing” group. Many of us have items sitting around that we haven’t used in ages, but aren’t sure what to do with. There is definitely someone out there that can use it! And when you’re looking for something that doesn’t need to be purchased new, a buy nothing group is an amazing first place to check.
☀️ Make toys from nature or recycling. When imagination is at work, nature is truly the best playground. Use pinecones and wood beads to create nature dolls. That perfect stick your child discovered? Have them wrap some yarn and ribbon around it and create their own magic wand. We love this tutorial from Adventure in a Box for how to make Waldorf inspired blocks from tree limbs. Nature treasures like leaves, flowers, nuts, sticks, moss & acorns can be used to create a small world for some really creative story telling and play. You can find the perfect, smooth rocks and paint them to look like fruits and veggies for your child’s play kitchen. And then there’s the recycling! Save spice jars when you’re done with them, fill them with anything from dry beans, rice, dried flower petals and now you have pretend spices for the play kitchen as well. Even saving cardboard food boxes is great for pretend kitchen play.
☀️ Ditch ziploc bags and other single use items for stainless steel food containers. We carry many different options and sizes - from snack sized boxes to divided boxes with plenty of room for a whole meal.
Stainless steel containers are extremely durable and lasting. They will hold up for years of use, eliminating immeasurable plastic waste. Not to mention even after years and years of use, stainless steel is fully recyclable. It also is temperature resistant, keeping foods and drinks temperature regulated, whether hot or cold. Many of the containers we have are even oven safe, making them even more versatile. It doesn’t absorb stains or odors, keeping the food you store or transport fresh and making cleaning a breeze.
☀️Swap paper towels and napkins for reusable fabric towels. Sure, paper towels are easy for clean up, but they also stuff our trash cans and contribute to deforestation. Switching out for fabric towels only adds a few more towels to your load of towel laundry, saves you money because they can be reused for a long time, and often do a better job cleaning up spills.
☀️Skip the plastic bottles of detergent and dish soap for solid options or detergent in reusable, refillable containers. Here at the shop, we sell laundry detergent that is made in house by Tricia and comes in endlessly reusable glass mason jars.
☀️ Cut down on food waste. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be frozen before they go bad. Freezing leftovers is a fantastic option, as well. That way you’re not throwing anything out, but also not eating the same meal multiple days in a row. Often, buying in bulk is much more affordable but then we end up with more than we can use. Talk with your neighbors about food you could buy in bulk and share.
These days, avoiding plastic can be a tricky proposition, but we absolutely do not need to be perfect. Start small with something that feels attainable to you. You’ll be surprised by how quickly one small change sparks you to see what else you can switch. Feel free to stop in the shop and ask about anything you’re curious about or have questions on. Tricia is a wealth of knowledge, and always happy to help, especially when it comes to creating a more sustainable life.
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