Whether it is plastic rubbish polluting the oceans or the harm that microplastic particles do when they are ingested by fish or animals, the negative impacts of plastic consumption are undeniable. However, initiatives like Plastic-free July help us to make greener, safer choices for a better, healthier world.

This July, let’s join together to move towards a greener life, by minimising plastic usage and using sustainable alternatives instead.

1. Refuse plastic bags when you shop and bring your own cloth bags. Most shops, including Go Vita, pack groceries in paper sacks, as well as selling cloth or recycled synthetic bags.

2. Think about the containers you use for storing food in the refrigerator and pantry. Choose glass, ceramic or stainless-steel containers for storing food, as these are more easily recyclable than plastic.

3. Wrap food, lunches, and leftovers with waxed or greaseproof paper, or reusable beeswax wraps.

4. Check the label of prepacked foods to ensure that the packaging is made from sustainable materials, not plastic. Avoid foods packed in plastic-lined cans; look for cans labelled ‘BPA free’.

5. If a plastic-packed purchase is unavoidable, buy plastic that your local council will recycle. To identify recyclable plastic, the manufacturer stamps an identification code on the pack. Councils publish lists of the plastics they collect and recycle.

6. Buy in bulk where possible, taking your own containers. A number of Go Vita stores offer grains, nuts and seeds in bulk bins, so you can choose what you want.

7. Carry a reusable water bottle. Go Vita loves … blu lemon This Australian-owned range of durable, stainless steel, BPA-free insulated bottles is available in 750 ml or 1 litre sizes, and comes in a great range of colours.

8. Take a travel cup when picking up your favourite hot beverage. Australians use a staggering 1.8 billion single-use takeaway coffee cups a year!

9. Support plastic-free brands with a commitment to using sustainable practices.

Plastics not only represent an environmental problem, they are also associated with health problems, including endocrine disruption, reproductive defects and headaches. Plastic-free July is not about making just a few temporary changes – it is about adopting new habits which safeguard your health and the environment.