Four years ago in July, my husband Dominic and I decided to try going plastic free for the month. From getting milk delivered in reusable glass bottles to switching to reusable coffee cups and water bottles, we haven't looked back.

We're lucky enough to live in Margate where we can buy a lot of things plastic free from the International Food Centre and the Grain Grocer, get our veg from Windmill Community Garden and take our reusable pint-sized tankards to the Sundeck. It's fair to say we're still going and I'd encourage everyone to try it - even just for Plastic Free July - to see how you can reduce the amount of single-use plastic in your life.

But for me, being plastic free was less about my individual impact (which, let's face it, is tiny compared with corporations and other large organisations) and more about sending a strong consumer campaigning message to brands and government. I wanted to be able to do this with integrity and, while they'll never be perfect, I hope my actions show my commitment.

For individuals and local communities, removing single use plastic is one very tangible thing we can do to improve our environment

I also want to be clear that plastic isn't the biggest environmental issue we're facing. We need to end our use of fossil fuels and rapidly create a circular economy that gets us to net zero in a way that's fair for people and nature - read my blog over at Business in the Community about that.

But for individuals and local communities, removing single use plastic is one very tangible thing we can do to improve our environment and I believe one good thing leads to another. So now, with Co-relate in its second year as a social enterprise, I wanted to put some energy into a local, community-wide campaign.

There are some fabulously committed people and businesses here in Thanet already working on different aspects of this. If you're one of them, I want to connect with you!

We're joining forces with the brilliant litter picking campaign, Rise Up Clean Up, founded by Amy Cook, to campaign for Thanet to become a Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) Plastic Free Community. It's a long road that will involve beach cleans, council and business discussions, community building and a lot of frustration along the way.

What's heartening is that there are some fabulously committed people and businesses here in Thanet already working on different aspects of this. If you're one of them, I want to connect with you!

Read more on our Plastic Free Thanet page and email me: jess@co-relate.co.uk or connect on Insta @co_relate_uk or Twitter @noplasticthanet

What's happening so far?

Already the Rise Up residency, lead by visual artist Louis Masai, is set to bring 18 international mural artists to Margate in September to spread the message of ocean conservation across walls in the town. 

On Sunday 31 July, environmentally sustainable music and drama company Green Opera are joining forces with Rise Up Clean Up and Surfers Against Sewage to stage a community beach clean and that's when we launch our campaign to make Thanet a Plastic-Free Community.

Throughout July and August, Rise Up Clean Up are running weekly beach cleans on Margate Main Sands (meet at the blue and white beach hut opposite Dreamland/Arlington House).

Beach clean dates are:

• Friday 8 July, 6pm
• Friday 15 July, 6pm
• Friday 22 July, 6pm
• Sunday 31 July, 2-4pm (with Green Opera and SAS) - Plastic Free Thanet lauch!
• Friday 5 August, 6pm (with Turner Contemporary)
• Friday 12 August, 6pm (with Margate Pride)
• Saturday 20 August, 7pm (with local police)
• Friday 26 August, 6pm

Finally, in joining the Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Community, we’re part of a network across the UK that’s tackling single use plastic from the beaches all the way back to the brands and businesses who create it. Find out more about the national movement at www.plasticfree.org.uk and get involved with #PlasticFreeJuly in your home and workplace.