This will be my second year where I take on the plastic-free July challenge. I will probably take on the same basic principles as I did last year, but to mix it up a little bit this time around, I will be doing my best to get my family involved as well. I think my 13 year old brother was looking particularly interested.

This year I will do my best to note any substitutes I buy, paying special attention to cooking recipes, applying the zero plastic ideology into them.

Last year what I found challenging is getting salad leaves or lettuce. I would end up getting a cabbage from the farmers market as this was the only thing with no stickers or plastic packaging on. Even the farmers were selling lettuce in packaging. I know one solution to this is grow my own but I don’t have the facilities at this moment. Maybe next year.

This year I’m also based in Birmingham, where last year at was around Loughborough, Leicester being the closest city around. I think there will be a bit more choices when it comes to food markets with good quality products, as I believe Leicester is still under prolonged lockdown due to COVID-19.

I will do posts on weekly bases with updates on the following:

• shopping ideas
• recipes with reduced or zero waste plastic involved
• easy swaps and costs with it
• info about plastic pollution
• some home DIY

I’m really looking forward to this years’ challenge.