Plastic Free July is a great time for all of us to reflect on our daily actions and consider the simple switches we can make to lessen the amount of waste we create in our daily lives. There’s no shame in Plastic Free July, only self-improvement!

Here are a few simple things you can consider this month!

1. A Bamboo Toothbrush! – This might be the easiest switch because it doesn’t require much of a change in your routine. Simply choose bamboo brushes next time you restock on toothbrushes!

2. Toothpaste Bites! – Toothpaste tubes cannot be recycled, so the best option is to eliminate using them. I just started using toothpaste bites from Huppy! Simply put a bite in your mouth, chew for a few seconds, and brush as normal!

3. Plastic Free Haircare! – Think about the number of plastic bottles going into landfills every year, just from shampoo and conditioner! Switching to shampoo and conditioner bars eliminates all of that! I love the bars from SayNoap! PS- SayNoap is a female-owned company and I’m all about supporting women in business!

4. Plastic-Free, Natural Sunscreen! – This reef-safe, natural sunscreen from RawElements comes in plastic-free packaging and is good for your skin & the Earth! They also have a great tinted moisturizer with SPF!

There are so many things we can do to live a more sustainable life and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Just remember, millions of people doing “plastic-free” imperfectly is much better than a few people doing it perfectly. Every simple switch you make is a step in the right direction!

Have any other tips that I can consider? Leave them in a comment below!

xx Kelee

P.S. Want more inspiration? Click here to join my private FaceBook community group where members share sustainability tips!

Click to Shop These Sustainable Switches!

Bamboo Toothbrushes

Browse Shampoo & Conditioner Bars

Metal Razor

Shampoo & Conditioner Bars

J·R·LIGGETT’S Shampoo Bar

Steel Wool

Sea Sponges

Palm Pot Scrubber

Toothpaste Tabs

Recycled, Plastic-Free Toilet Paper

Re-Usable K Cups

Re-Usable Coffee Filter

Stasher Bags

Wooden Dish Brush

Conditioner Bars

Shampoo Bars

Toothpaste Tabs

Purple Shampoo Bar

Reusable Makeup Remover Pads

Ethique Shampoo & Conditioner Bards

RMS Beauty

Have you ever thought about the amount of waste, specifically plastic, that we create on a daily basis? When you realize just how much your actions affect the environment, it’s hard to ignore.

Although it might seem impossible, living a conscious lifestyle does not have to be difficult! It starts by acknowledging the areas of your routine that you create waste, and considering how you can change them!

Here are a few simple things that you can do to help the environment (some will even make your life easier!):

1. Use Reusable Water Bottles + Coffee/Hot Drink Cups – This might be the easiest switch! I use metal water bottles and cups to drink tea everyday. Mine is from Corkcicle; they make the cutest designs! A reusable metal bottle will keep your water cold + fresh much longer than plastic, and metal cups keep your coffee and tea hot!

2. Invest in Stashers or Glass Containers To Store Food – This will help you avoid the plastic bags you usually use for sandwiches and snacks. Storing food in silicone and glass is much safer and healthier than storing it in chemical-filled plastic. I love Stashers because they are dishwasher safe and last forever! Think of all the money you’ll save when you never have to buy Ziplock bags again!

3. Start Using A Bamboo Toothbrush – And nail brush, hair brush, and any other bamboo options you can find! Every toothbrush you’ve used in your entire life is on the Earth right now. They are made of plastic and they never go away. Bamboo brushes are made of natural materials, which makes them compostable. They work just as well as plastic toothbrushes, my dentist will agree!

4. Choose Metal or Silicone Straws – This is another thing that I use everyday. I love drinking out of straws, so I pop my metal one into my metal tea cup and enjoy! (Bonus: some even say that using straws while drinking coffee and tea helps to keep teeth white!)

5. Use Reusable Shopping Bags – When heading to the store, I always have reusable fabric bags on hand. Each bag supports so much more than flimsy plastic bags, making it easier for you to carry all your groceries in less trips! These bags are great for all stores- not just groceries! Fold one up and stick it in your purse or pocket while browsing the shops or mall!

6. Consider Plastic-Free + Natural Skin Care – Many companies and brands are turning to plastic-free packaging and natural ingredients that are better for us + the Earth! One cool company is Raw Elements, who produce natural, reef-safe sunscreen with plastic-free packaging options!

7. Recycle Paper – At the grocery store, grab a few paper bags and fill it with any recyclable papers you have in the house. When it’s full, drop it in the paper collector bins at local schools. Some schools even get rewarded the more they collect, so you’re helping students while saving trees!

8. Create A Capsule Wardrobe – The fashion + textile industry is one of the most devastating in terms of environmental impact. Avoid fast fashion (low quality, quick production to meet trends) by investing in timeless items that never go out of style! Some ideas: black jumpsuits, solid color blazers, classic + black jeans and solid color tank tops + long sleeve shirts. It’s even better if you can support brands that use sustainable materials or offer warranties on their items, so they can be repaired instead of replaced! Some brands that are doing this are Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, Reformation, Athleta, United By Blue and Levi’s. Sometimes, these “capsule” products might be more expensive than fast fashion options, but this is because they are made to last! In the long run, this is the better investment.

This year, I attended the New York Women’s Surf Film Festival in Rockaway Beach, NYC. It was such an incredible experience connecting with so many female surfers and creatives.

Prior to the festival, I connected with Davina of Lava Girl Surf; she asked me if I’d be interested in photographing behind the scenes of a Women’s Surf Photography Workshop led by Bryanna Bradley. Of course I said yes! The workshop was put on by Lava Girl Surf, Clifbar, Aquatech Imaging Solutions and Borrow Lenses. It was amazing hearing Bryanna share her experiences and her knowledge of surf photography. She taught the workshop attendees basics about how to use a water housing and professional DSLR camera. She also went over her techniques for shooting in the water and took the girls out to shoot real surfers! Bryanna is such a sweet girl and talented artist, and I feel so lucky to have connected with her!

After the workshop, I spent the day on the beach, surfing + exploring Rockaway with friends. During the evening, the Rockaway Beach Surf Club hosted the film showings of some of the most inspirational films I’ve ever seen! All the films shown were either made by women or about women; so cool!

After attending the festival I’m feeling so inspired to get in the water with my camera! I can’t wait for the next swell!

Getting lunch and hanging with friends at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club!

It has been a dream of mine for YEARS to see Pipe Masters in person, so being there on the beach was literally a DREAM COME TRUE! We saw Joel Parkinson retire after an amazing career and Gabriel Medina win the world title, and then go back in the water for the final heat to win Pipe Masters. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to see this event and I’d love to make it back again in the future!