50 Easy Plastic Free Swaps You Can Make at Home

Reducing plastic waste doesn’t have to mean throwing out everything in your house or changing everything in your lifestyle. It’s a part of why we love Plastic Free July. It’s a global movement that encourages everyday people to reduce their use of single-use plastics by making simple, everyday changes. Whether you’re just getting started with your journey to reduce your plastic use or you’re looking for a few new ideas, swapping out common household items is an easy way to build reduce plastic use and build sustainable habits. From your kitchen and bathroom to your cleaning routine, here are 50 simple plastic free swaps to help you reduce waste one item at a time.

Why Small Plastic Swaps Matter

Single-use plastics are designed to be used briefly before being thrown away, yet many can remain in the environment for hundreds of years. Replacing even a few of these disposable items with durable, reusable alternatives can help reduce waste. In many cases, reusable products also last much longer than their single-use counterparts, making them a practical investment over time. When reducing plastic use and making plastic free swaps, it’s important to focus on progress, not perfection. Start with the items you use most often, replace them as they wear out, and remember that every small change contributes to a more sustainable future.

Easy Plastic Free Swaps to Make at Home

There are a number of items in our households that we can swap out to be plastic free. Here are 50 plastic free swaps for you to consider trying, broken down room by room!

Kitchen Swaps

Food Storage

1. Glass food storage containers instead of plastic containers
2. Beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap
3. Silicone stretch lids instead of disposable wrap
4. Glass jars for pantry storage
5. Stainless steel lunch containers

Cooking & Dining

6. Wooden cutting boards instead of plastic
7. Bamboo or wooden cooking utensils
8. Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons
9. Cloth napkins instead of disposable ones
10. Reusable dishcloths and rags instead of disposable wipes

Drinks

11. Reusable water bottle
12. Travel coffee mug
13. Glass or stainless steel straws
14. Loose-leaf tea with an infuser instead of plastic tea bags
15. Soda maker instead of bottled sparkling beverages

Grocery Shopping Swaps

16. Reusable shopping bags
17. Reusable produce bags
18. Buy loose fruits and vegetables
19. Shop bulk bins using reusable containers
20. Choose products in glass or metal packaging
21. Buy larger refill sizes
22. Bring your own containers to refill stores
23. Purchase milk or other beverages in returnable glass bottles
24. Visit farmers’ markets for less packaging
25. Plan meals to reduce packaged convenience foods

Bathroom Swaps

26. Bamboo toothbrush
27. Toothpaste tablets
28. Shampoo bars
29. Conditioner bars
30. Bar soap instead of liquid soap
31. Safety razor instead of disposable razors
32. Cloth hygiene products
33. Refillable deodorant
34. Reusable cotton rounds
35. Plastic-free dental floss

Cleaning Swaps

36. Refillable cleaning products
37. Concentrated cleaning tablets
38. Compostable dish brushes
39. Wooden scrub brushes
40. Wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets (or try making your own!)
41. Powder dishwasher detergent in cardboard packaging
42. Laundry detergent strips or powder
43. Reusable spray bottles

Around the Home

44. Rechargeable batteries
45. Cloth gift wrap or reusable gift bags (check out some more plastic free gift wrap ideas)
46. Wooden clothespins
47. Natural fibre cleaning cloths
48. Refillable candles
49. Houseplants in reusable pots instead of plastic planters
50. Repair broken items before replacing them with new plastic products

Tips for Making Plastic Swaps Stick

The idea of a plastic free swap is great, but if they are not used, then there is potential that the swap will just be creating more waste by going unused. These are some thoughts to keep in mind while you start incorporating some plastic free swaps into your everyday.

• Start with the items you use every day to make the impact greater and the likelihood of you using the swapped item higher.
• Replace products only when they wear out. Using up products and using what you have is a great sustainable mindset to have.
• Keep reusable items where you’ll remember to use them.
• Celebrate small wins instead of aiming for perfection. So important to remember that none of us are perfect and we are all doing the best we can.
• Focus on reducing the plastic that matters most to your household. When we care about the changes we are making, there is a higher chance they will stick!

Reducing plastic waste doesn’t require an overnight lifestyle change. Every reusable bottle, refillable cleaner, or package-free grocery purchase is a step toward using less plastic and creating less waste. Pick one or two swaps that fit your lifestyle today, and build from there—small changes really do add up.

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