Plastic Free July is over for another year, a campaign that was full of successes - big and small. 

Strangely, it feels like my work in this space has just begun because there is so much more I could do, like taking my own container to the supermarket deli, or finding a shampoo bar that works for me.

But, like everyone out there who made a conscious effort to use plastic free alternatives throughout the month, I’m already one step ahead, maybe even two or three.

The aim is to keep going, to try new things and embrace the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

No lesson could have been harsher than the one I got while watching For the Blue, a film by young New Zealanders about protecting the ocean from plastic.

Central Otago District Council and Wastebusters brought the movie to the big screen in Alexandra on Friday night (July 29), in support of Plastic Free July.

Guilt washed over me as I watched scenes where beaches around the world were choked with plastic. Among the rubbish was New Zealand made food packaging, some of which implied they were good for the planet.

The scenes were not staged. 

The young film-makers were aware of the problem, but instead of sitting by doing nothing, they went in search of the worst hit areas to see it for themselves.

Some of the film-makers were so consumed by what they saw, they broke down at times, unsure of how their story would make a difference.

I can confirm, it has.

I, for one, will be making a bigger effort than I’ve ever made.

In the past, it would be fair to say I’ve worked hard to “reduce” plastic, opting for an alternative if there is one, but not depriving myself of my favourite food on occasion just because it comes in plastic.

However, scenes of plastic covered beaches where not a grain of sand could be seen, means I’ll now be trying my best to “refuse” plastic.

It’s a difficult balance because, as I view the world, we’ve become conditioned to accept single use plastic as a way of life.

We swipe our plastic eftpos card to pay for the milk in a plastic bottle, yoghurt in plastic pottles, snacks and frozen vegetables in plastic bags and meat on plastic trays.

On a positive note, as explored in the movie, there are some New Zealand companies doing some great work, including Ethique, which produces beauty bars in plastic free packaging and Icebreaker, which specialises in 100 per cent natural wool with no synthetic plastic fibres added.

I realise I won’t be able to “refuse” every piece of single-use plastic from my life, as so many of our systems depend on plastic.

But, by supporting companies who are innovating to create plastic-free products and food (and coffee!) distribution systems, I plan to use my dollars to support the change I want to see. 

We might be small, but Aotearoa is making a big impact as we lead the way to a brighter future one step at a time.