Plastic-Free July: A Guide to Reducing Waste and Deepening Engagement

Plastic-Free July is more than an environmental pledge; it’s an opportunity to make meaningful changes and connect with your customers in innovative ways. With plastic pollution escalating globally, this month-long challenge has become an impactful way for individuals, communities, and businesses to combat single-use plastics.

But Plastic-Free July isn’t just about reducing waste; it’s also a chance for your brand to tell its sustainability story, showcase eco-conscious solutions, and strengthen connections with both customers and your internal team. Below, we explore how businesses can make the most of this global movement.

Transparency is key when launching any environmentally driven initiative. Use this moment to inform customers about your Plastic-Free July effort and the reasoning behind it.
Consider sharing updates through packaging inserts, email campaigns, social media posts, or your product pages. A sincere, concise message could look something like this:

“We’re participating in Plastic-Free July! This month, we’re shipping orders in recycled paper mailers instead of plastic to reduce waste, raise awareness about plastic pollution, and explore the impact of sustainable packaging.”

Including thoughtful messages at every touchpoint can turn a routine transaction into a memorable, values-driven interaction with your brand.

Plastic-Free July becomes even more impactful when customers get involved. Use this opportunity to foster a community that’s passionate about sustainability.
Encourage customers to take part by including a note or QR code with every shipment that invites them to:

• Participate in the Plastic-Free July challenge.
• Reduce their use of single-use plastics in their daily routines.
• Reuse or recycle your eco-conscious packaging as part of the circular economy.
• Learn about your sustainable goals and initiatives via your blog or a dedicated landing page.

Collaborating with your customers not only strengthens their loyalty but also aligns their values with your mission.

Plastic-Free July offers an ideal opportunity to reward sustainability while keeping customers engaged. Consider these creative promotions to align with your plastic-free efforts:

• Limited-Edition Packaging: Highlight innovative materials like compostable mailers or reusable containers.
• Discounts for Sustainable Choices: Offer discounts on refills or eco-conscious reorders.
• Plastic-Free Giveaways: Run contests where customers take environmentally friendly actions, such as posting about their plastic-free swaps with your products.

These initiatives not only drive sales but also show that sustainability and profitability can go hand-in-hand.

If any elements of your product packaging are reusable, shout it from the rooftops. Highlight features such as reusable mailers, compostable labels, or products that ship in storage-friendly containers.

For example, a note on your package could read:

“Reuse me! This box doubles as a storage container, helping reduce waste while keeping your home organised.”
Encouraging reuse not only extends the lifecycle of your materials but also builds customer trust by demonstrating your commitment to minimising environmental impact.

The end of July doesn’t mean the lessons learned should fade away. Use this time to gather insights about your packaging materials, customer responses, and the overall effectiveness of your initiatives.

By sharing data and impact reports with your customers, you can show them exactly how their choices contributed to the planet’s well-being. For example:

• Metrics on how much single-use plastic your brand avoided during July.
• Feedback from customers about their experience with your eco-friendly efforts.
• Improvements you plan to make based on these insights (e.g., sourcing more recyclable materials or expanding reusable packaging options).

Communicating these results keeps customers engaged long after the campaign ends, showing them their participation made a tangible difference.

Plastic-Free July isn’t just an opportunity for your customers to take charge of their environmental impact; it’s also the perfect chance to empower your internal teams.

Schedule brainstorming sessions to gather ideas for reducing waste, discuss long-term sustainability goals, and create shared excitement about your brand’s participation. When employees deeply understand the reason behind your initiatives, their enthusiasm will naturally amplify your overall messaging.

Here are some ways to encourage internal participation:

• Host team challenges like “zero-waste lunches” or a “plastic audit” of the office.
• Share the story of your packaging decisions and eco-conscious processes in team meetings or Slack channels.
• Highlight employees playing key roles in your sustainability mission to give their efforts a spotlight.

An empowered team is better equipped to support customer inquiries and become enthusiastic ambassadors for your sustainability goals.

Plastic-Free July is an extraordinary moment to take action against plastic pollution and share your commitment to sustainability with the world. It’s about more than swapping plastic for paper or launching a promotion; it’s an opportunity to establish your business as a forward-thinking, environmentally conscious brand.
Through honest communication, customer involvement, and long-term goal setting, this movement can spark deeper relationships, stronger engagement, and a more sustainable future for all.

Need guidance on sustainable packaging or branding that supports your environmental mission? Contact Rooland Design today to create eco-friendly solutions that leave a lasting impression