July 1st. Plastic Free July begins today and this episode has been eleven years in the making. From discovering the campaign in 2014, to launching six consecutive campaigns across hospitality and tourism teams across Cambodia, to finally bringing it to Sydney, this is the episode where the personal journey and the professional case come together. Because Plastic Free July isn't really about plastic. It's about what happens when a team has a shared goal, a clear timeframe, and permission to figure it out together. The plastic reduction is what comes out the other side. The culture, the pride, the camaraderie, that's what you're actually building.

This episode covers what Plastic Free July actually is, the five single use plastics worth focusing on, the science behind why reducing them matters more than most people realise, and the practical case for why running a PFJ campaign with your hospitality team this month is one of the most effective staff engagement and culture-building tools available. You don't need to care about plastic to run this. You need to care about your team. And if you're still hesitating... if not July, when?

Nature Medicine: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04324-7

UWA official news release: https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2026/april/research-shows-fast-and-effective-way-to-reduce-plastics-in-body

After seven days, phthalate levels dropped by more than 44% and bisphenol levels fell by more than 50% compared to the control group.

The next Perth Trial will investigate plastic chemical exposure and fertility - a topic we touch on in episode 12.

Get your free guide to Plastic Free July for Hospitality Team: https://sarah-rhodes.myflodesk.com/pfj-for-teams

Two Homes is for leaders who know that lasting performance, for people and planet, starts from the inside out. Two homes: the one we inhabit within, and the one we all share.

Intro and outro music: Brooks, Kai Engel