About Us
Plastic Free July® is a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation that allows us to work towards our vision of seeing a world free of plastic waste. From humble beginnings in 2011, the award-winning Plastic Free July campaign is the result of years of hard work. Our 2019 Annual Report shares our story.
Plastic Free Foundation
The Plastic Free Foundation Ltd is an independent, not-for-profit organisation established in 2017. The mission of the Plastic Free Foundation is guided and informed by our core values:
- Honesty and integrity
- Inclusivity of people, ideas, visions and approaches
- A focus on providing solutions
- Authenticity and collaboration
- The belief that small changes add up to a big difference
Plastic Free July is a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation that allows us to work towards our vision of seeing a world free of plastic waste. From humble beginnings in 2011, the award-winning Plastic Free July campaign is the result of years of hard work.
It was started by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz (the founder of the Plastic Free Foundation) and a small team in local government in Western Australia, and is now one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world. Millions of people across the globe take part every year, with many committing to reducing plastic pollution far beyond the month of July.
Our impact
There’s no doubt about it – Plastic Free July is changing the planet for good. That’s why we’ve been awarded:
- Finalist 2020 Mumbrella CommsCon Awards: Best Government Sponsored Campaign; Pro Bono Campaign of the Year
- Finalist 2019 Banksia Sustainability Awards: Minister’s Award for the Environment; NFP & NGO Award
- Winner 2018 Infinity Award: Avoid Recover Protect – Community Waste Award
- Winner 2018 Environmental Action Award, United Nations Association of Australia WA Division
In July 2019 alone, an estimated 250 million people across the globe took part in the challenge from 177 countries. An IPSOS survey revealed that 29% of people surveyed worldwide were aware of the Plastic Free July challenge and almost half of those chose to take part in 2018.
Plastic Free July participants:
- reduce their household waste and recycling by 23kg per person per year (almost 5%)
- contribute to a total saving of 825 million kg of plastic waste each year
- 9 out of 10 people made changes that have become habits/ a way of life
We’re proud of how this impact addresses UN Sustainable Development Goals 11, 12, 14 and 15 (sustainable cities and communities, responsible production and consumption, life below water, and life on land).
Make an impact; join the challenge today.
Our team
Plastic Free July is run by a passionate team from our offices in Australia, but we operate across the globe. The Foundation is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC). The Plastic Free Foundation Board oversees our operations and guides us towards achieving our purpose.
Gunther Hoppe
Chair
Gunther is a finance professional currently working in the waste industry. Operating a landfill, he has a good understanding of the importance of reducing our plastic footprint.
Rebecca Prince-Ruiz
Executive Director
Rebecca is a change-maker and sustainability professional who has explored the plastic waste problem around the world. Rebecca believes it’s critical to stop the problem at the source and that we can all take small daily steps to reduce plastic waste which adds up to a collective impact and influence systemic change.
Ben Martin
Director
Ben has worked in media in Perth, Sydney and London for the past 21 years, and was a Churchill Fellow investigating the use of journalism to promote behavioural change. He loves the ocean, is a keen swimmer and is committed to preserving a world for his two children.
Andrea LeGuier
Director
Andrea is an advocate for Corporate Social Responsibility and works as a hospital CEO. She is committed to influencing others to reconsider their commercial choices and their impact on both society and the environment.
Jack Johnson
Musician and PFJ Ambassador
“Plastic Free July inspires me to step up my commitment to reducing single-use plastic in my daily life and on tour. A great first step is to commit to using reusable water bottles. I’m also working with the music industry (artists, venues, festivals and fans) to reduce plastic waste through the BYOBottle campaign”.
Our partners
Hundreds of businesses, local governments and community organisations participate in the Plastic Free July challenge each year. A number of those also partner with the Plastic Free Foundation to help reduce single-use plastic in their communities, providing generous financial support in doing so. Partnerships allow us to provide resources to participants and assist in running programs to engage staff, customers and members. The Plastic Free Foundation is a 1% for the Planet nonprofit partner.
Principal partners
Members
Donors and benefactors
Category partners
Our 2020 Category Partners provide research, communications, legal and copywriting services.
Partner with Plastic Free July
While anyone can join the Plastic Free July challenge for free, the Plastic Free Foundation offers paid partnership opportunities with local governments and businesses. By partnering with us, you can help to create a world without plastic waste.
Media
Rebecca Prince-Ruiz – speaking opportunities
The Plastic Free Foundation’s Executive Director, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, is available for speaking opportunities at events or conferences and is a Churchill Fellow. Rebecca has previously been invited to present on the Plastic Free July challenge, waste avoidance, plastic pollution, and behaviour change in Australia, New Zealand, India, USA and the UK. She’s passionate about everything from inspiring international leaders to initiate change, through to working with communities to clean up their local environment.
Media releases and selected news articles
For more information, access our global media press release and Q&A. For further media enquiries, please email media (at) plasticfreejuly.org and include your COUNTRY in the subject line. Participation rates from Plastic Free July 2020 are available in our WA media release.
Plastic Free July in the news
The Guardian – ‘It gives you a sense of pride’: what four people learned from quitting plastic for a month
ABC Radio, Life Matters – How one woman’s quest to go plastic free turned into a global movement
The New York Times – Another Reason to Cut Down on Plastics
CNN – The Plastic Free July challenge is here to help you rid your life of single-use plastic waste
NewsHub – Air New Zealand ditches plastic bottles for ‘Plastic Free July’
Vogue Australia – 6 ways to go plastic-free this July
EuroNews – Millions pledge to go plastic-free for July in global challenge
Evening Standard – Plastic Free July 2019 UK: How to take the challenge to reduce single use plastic
Canberra Times – Forget Dry July, try going plastic free
SBS – Going plastic-free in July is easier than you think
The Guardian – You don’t use so much plastic, do you? How to ditch it for July – and beyond
