Plastic is notoriously horrible for people, animals, and the planet, yet it’s the most common material used by manufacturers across pretty much every industry you can think of!

According to a study done by the University of Georgia, “humans have created 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics since large-scale production of the synthetic materials began in the early 1950s, and most of it now resides in landfills or the natural environment.”

Made of raw natural resources such as coal, natural gases, and crude oil, the manufacturing process of plastic is simply unsustainable. In addition, plastic products have a recycle rate of only 9%, and can take hundreds of years to decompose – if at all.

This is why we’re so passionate about Plastic Free July! Although we do our best as a company to reduce plastic waste in our shipping process (we use an awesome compostable mailer), we’re not perfect. We’re currently working on finding a sustainable option for the protective plastic that our undies come individually packaged in, with the goal of becoming plastic-free by 2022!

CaroQuilla.com was founded on the basis of creating essentials that are made well, so they last longer AND they’re made of biodegradable materials so that they decompose once you’re done with them. If you’re also looking for other ways you can reduce your plastic consumption for Plastic Free July (and beyond) here are 5 easy swaps you can make.

Reusable water bottles

There’s no need to drink bottled water when reusable water bottles can be bought anywhere and refilled everywhere you go. Not to mention, most of Canada has high quality, clean drinking water running through our taps!
However, if your home has less than perfect tasting water, there are also many water filtration solutions available, from Brita filters to home systems.
Making this swap could save you an average of 156 plastic bottles annually!
Bamboo toothbrushes.

Did you know that every toothbrush ever created still exists? This applies to EVERYTHING made of plastic!
Consider making an eco-friendly swap for bamboo toothbrushes. Bamboo toothbrushes can be composted and are less harmful to the environment, just like our bamboo undies!

Plastic-free bath products

There are many plastic-free swaps you can make in your bathroom – think of all the space AND money you’ll save, along with reducing your carbon footprint!
Try soap bars instead of body wash and hand soap, solid shampoo and conditioner bars, and solid lotion bars!

You can also buy glass containers and refill them with soaps and lotions from a bulk store. Check out Refill Market if you’re in Winnipeg!

Reusable grocery bags

It’s estimated that 5 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide annually. That’s over 700 a year for every single person on the planet – yikes!

We can make a difference by simply investing in a few reusable bags and committing to bringing them on every grocery or shopping trip. Take a look around at what you have at home before you buy new – you might already have a few promotional canvas bags or totes lying around somewhere.

If not, check out Baggu. They use recycled materials and make reusable bags that last!

Menstrual cups and period undies

Did you know that the average person who menstruates uses 240 tampons in a year, and about 11,000 tampons in a lifetime?
Readily available tampons at the local drugstore tell us so little about what they’re made of, however, the majority of feminine products contain potentially harmful ingredients, such as polyester, adhesives, fragrance, and more.
While there are organic cotton and plastic-free tampon options, why not cut out the waste completely with a reusable silicone menstruation cup, like Diva Cup?
Alternatively, there are many companies who now make washable period underwear. In fact, we’re developing our own line of period panties right now! Learn more about our upcoming new collection here.

We hope these 5 easy swaps can convince you to make more sustainable, plastic-free choices in your daily life. They may seem like small changes, but remember that in the fight against pollution, our individual actions can add up to big change!