Originally published in June 2020. Last updated July 2025 with new information.
We just love seeing the wave of passion, enthusiasm and positivity that sweeps across our community this time of year as more and more people take the challenge to reduce single use plastic waste and production during Plastic Free July (and beyond!).
Plastic Free July is a global movement that sees millions of people commit to reducing their single use plastic waste. Here are our top tips to help you.
1. Create your everyday reusables kit
If you think about it, there are probably several single use plastic items that you use on almost a daily basis. For many people, these items include straws, takeaway coffee cups, single use plastic shopping bags, produce bags, bottled water or soft drink, and cling wrap or zip lock bags. Well, the good news is that there are reusable alternatives for all of those single use products!
The first step to making this Plastic Free July successful is to put together your reusables kit:
- Let your veggies mingle or take your own reusable produce bags
- Use reusable food wraps, sandwich pouches and containers instead of cling wrap and zip lock bags
- Say no to a plastic straw or choose to use a reusable straw instead
- Carry a reusable water bottle with you and fill it up during the day
- Remember to bring your reusable shopping bags
- BYO reusable coffee cup (you could even use a ceramic cup from the office if your coffee shop is nearby!).
Remember, you don't have to buy new things to live with less plastic - make do with what you have. 
2. Look at other disposable items
Once you have put together your reusables kit to help you avoid single use plastic, the next step is to consider other common plastic disposable products, such as your toothbrush, razor, cotton buds, skin and hair care, cleaning products, and even pegs.
Did you know that for all of the items we've just mentioned, there are eco friendly, plastic free or buy for life alternatives available?
- Swap your plastic toothbrush (which even comes packaged in plastic!) to a bamboo toothbrush packaged in cardboard;
- Invest in a stainless steel safety razor, which will last a lifetime;
- Use bamboo cotton buds instead of cotton buds with plastic sticks;
- Consider using multifunctional skin care and cleaning products packaged in glass or plastic free packaging, like the Viva La Body and That Red House soapberries;
- Or, why not try making your own DIY skin care or cleaning products - we have lots of DIY Recipes here
- And, never deal with plastic pegs going brittle and disintegrating again with our stainless steel pegs - with good care they will last generations!
3. Tackle one area at a time
Instead of diving into plastic free living head first, go easy on yourself and break the plastic free challenge into easy to manage parts.
4. Place reminders in easy to see areas
It's one thing having all of these reusable, single use plastic free alternatives on hand, but it's another thing to actually remember to bring them with you! Here are some tips to help you remember when you leave the house:
- Create a phone wallpaper with a reminder
- Keep your reusables together behind the door, so it's the last thing you see
- Leave a note on your car's sun visor
- Stick a post-it note by your keys
5. Consider what you buy and how you buy it
Plastic Free July is a great time to audit what you buy. You might like to consider these questions:
- What items do you purchase?
- Do you really need it, or is it an impulse buy?
- How much of a particular item do you purchase (a little, a lot)?
- How often do you buy it (once a week, once a month, etc)?
- Is it available in bulk, in plastic free packaging, or a larger pack?
- Is all of it used, or is some wasted and thrown away?
- Can you buy less of a product that is being wasted or thrown away?
6. Shop zero waste or with less single use plastic
No matter where you live, there is generally a way to shop with less plastic packaging.
Grocery Shopping
Is there a bulk food store near you, or perhaps a fresh fruit and veggie store, bakery or deli? Even if there isn't and you get your groceries from a supermarket, use your reusable produce bags for fresh produce, ask the person at the deli if they will accept reusable containers (many do!), and choose products packaged in glass, cardboard and tin, which can be recycled.
Are there items you could purchase without plastic packaging? For example, could you choose the pasta in the cardboard box as opposed to the pasta in the soft plastic package? Or does your supermarket have nuts available in bulk?
Can you opt for fresh fruit and veggies that are in season, instead of plastic packets of frozen fruit and veggies.
Another option is to buy a larger pack size of something to reduce overall packaging. For example, rice, dog food, flour, oil. You could also then repurpose that packaging to contain rubbish or something else.
Other Shopping
Biome is an excellent spot for shopping zero waste or with less single use plastic. We have stores in Brisbane and Melbourne. Here you can find:
- Bulk DIY skin care ingredients, like bentonite clay, beeswax, jojoba oil, shea butter
- Bulk cleaning items, like pure castile soap, organic soapberries, and toilet cleaning bombs
- Lots of other skin care, cleaning, home and lifestyle products that are zero waste, toxin free, palm oil free and ethically made and sourced.
And if you shop online, seek out online stores that use as little plastic packaging as possible. You can always send them a quick message to clarify. If they're not shipping with minimal plastic, your message might encourage them to consider it! At Biome we ship all of our packages with as minimal plastic packaging as possible, using cardboard envelopes and boxes, paper tape and paper stuffing.
7. Find a local or online community
Having a community of like minded people around you will make your zero waste and plastic free journey much easier!
Plastic Free July takes place in more than 150 countries worldwide. Visit the Plastic Free July website to find events happening near you.
If you can't find a local event, there are lots of online communities and blogs you can turn to. For those that use Facebook, is there a local zero waste Facebook group you can join? If not, why not start your own?
Biome's DIY Natural Beauty Bar Facebook group is a lively community of people interested in making their own zero waste skin care products.
Biome's Facebook and Instagram is brimming with zero waste, plastic free ideas, and we regularly share inspiring ideas from our community. We also have a range of zero waste, plastic free, low tox and sustainable living books to inspire you.
8. Take some time to plan
Living with less single use plastic this Plastic Free July will require some simple planning. Here are some tips:
- Take a moment to plan your day before you leave home, including whether you might stop for a takeaway coffee, afternoon smoothie or by the supermarket, so you'll know what reusables you'll need;
- Plan your meals for the week, to avoid resorting to last minute takeaway;
- Prepare meals or chop ingredients ahead of time, like on the weekend;
- Look for food, skin care and cleaning recipes that use ingredients you know you can find plastic packaging free - Pinterest and Biome's DIY Recipes are great resources; and
- Write a shopping list and stick to it.
9. Don't let setbacks dishearten you
Remember that new habits take time, patience and persistence. Stay positive and don't let setbacks dishearten you. You've got this!
We're all in this together and the collective power of our actions can create significant change. In fact the Biome community has saved millions of single use plastic items from waste and production in the last 12 months alone, and that couldn't have happened without you! Read more about your positive impact here >
FAQS
Q: What is Plastic Free July?
Plastic Free July is a global movement that challenges millions of people to reduce their plastic waste and create a cleaner, healthier future for everyone. The idea is simple: choose to refuse single-use plastic items for the whole month of July and beyond. By making small changes in our everyday habits, we can make a big difference in the amount of plastic pollution that ends up in our oceans, landfills and environment.
Plastic Free July is not about being perfect or feeling guilty. It's about being more aware of the plastic we use and finding creative ways to avoid it whenever possible. It's also about sharing our experiences and learning from each other. Whether you want to go plastic-free for a day, a week, or the whole month, you can join the challenge and be part of the solution.
