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Can you believe that this is the last post in Plastic-Free July? I thought it was only right to finish the month off with a big ol’ list of sustainable swaps. I’ve split them into sections and there will be a list of them all added to my freebie library in August so make sure you subscribe to my newsletter!
I just want to quickly stress that before making any sustainable swaps, use what you already own! That is the most important thing to do to be sustainable. If you have a plastic shopping bag, use it! It’s more wasteful to buy something new.
Kitchen swaps
Cling film – beeswax wraps*
Plastic food bags – beeswax food bags*
Related post: Everything you need to know about beeswax wraps
Plastic produce bags – organic cotton mesh produce bags*
Single-use plastic cutlery – make your own travel kit of cutlery and straws or bamboo travel kit*
Kitchen roll – reusable kitchen roll
Single-use cleaning wipes – reusable cloths
Baking paper – reusable baking liner*
Coffee filter paper – reusable coffee filters
Freezer food bags – Tupperware or silicone bags
Food swaps
This list could go on forever so I’m just going to include a few.
Teabags – loose leaf tea, reusable tea bags* or plastic-free teabags e.g. Clipper
Chewing gum – plastic-free chewing gum*
Plastic bottles of carbonated water – Soda streamer
Travel swaps
Disposable coffee cup – reusable travel mug*
Disposable mask – reusable mask
Plastic straws – stainless steel straws* or bamboo straws
Paper napkin – handkerchief
Plastic bag – bag for life or a tote bag
Plastic water bottle – reusable water bottle or drink from the tap!
Related post: How to have an eco-friendly picnic
Bathroom swaps
Plasters – plastic-free plasters*
Deodorant – refillable deodorant or natural deodorant stick*
If you use this link, you can get a free Wild deodorant case!
Single-use pad – a reusable pad or period pants*
Single-use tampon – menstrual cup*
Plastic bottle of soap – soap bar* or refillable soap bottle
Plastic bottle of shampoo or conditioner – shampoo bar* or conditioner bar*
Shaving cream – use shower gel or shaving soap bar*
Disposable razor – refillable razor
Related post: Zero waste shaving
Bubble bath liquid – bath bomb
Body butter – body butter in a tin*
Suncream – suncream stick*
Plastic bottle of mouthwash – Mouthwash tablets*
Plastic toothbrush – bamboo toothbrush*
Toothpaste – toothpaste tablets*
Plastic floss – refillable natural floss*
Plastic interdental sticks – bamboo interdental sticks*
Cotton wool buds – reusable silicone buds
Toilet roll – plastic-free toilet roll e.g. Who Gives A Crap, Cheeky Panda etc.
For £5 off your first order with Who Gives A Crap, use this link (I’ll get £5 off too).
Plastic loofah – organic loofah (made from plant material)
Beauty swaps
Face mask sheet – face mask clay in a tub
Eyeshadow palette – refillable eyeshadow
Lipstick – refillable lipstick*
Foundation – refillable foundation*
Mascara – refillable mascara*
Blusher – refillable blusher
Eyebrow powder – refillable eyebrow powder*
Cleanser – cleansing bar*
Lip balm – Vaseline or other lip balms in a tin
Makeup remover wipes – reusable cotton* or bamboo rounds
Plastic bottle of makeup remover – makeup remover solid bar*
Fashion swaps
Chain shops – charity shops
Stationary swaps
Highlighter pens – pencils
Plastic tape – paper tape*
Wrapping paper – brown paper, newspaper, plastic-free wrapping paper
Ribbon – string
Labels – card & string
Notepad – digital notepad
Pens – refillable pens
Household swaps
Plastic bottle of disinfectant spray – Ocean Saver disinfectant spray*
PB of bathroom descaler – Ocean Saver bathroom descaler cleaning pod*
PB of multipurpose – Ocean Saver multipurpose cleaning pod*
Plastic coated dishwasher tablet – powder tablet e.g. Smol
Wax melts – vegan & eco-friendly wax melt
Plastic bottle of laundry liquid – laundry egg, soap nuts, powder or refill liquid
Washing-up liquid – washing-up bar*
Dish brush – refillable dish brush*
Washing-up sponge – compostable sponge* or reusable sponge*
Plastic doggy bags – compostable doggy bags*
Bin liners – compostable bin liners
Tumble dryer – air dryer
New book – second-hand book or borrow from a library
Batteries – rechargeable batteries
Light bulbs – LEDs
Tissues – bamboo tissues or sugar cane tissues
Christmas crackers – plastic-free crackers or make your own
Can you think of any other sustainable swaps? Let me know and I’ll add them to the list!
Great post, I never realised there were so many options to swap for. Thanks for including links, I’ll definitely look into investing in some of these. I love bamboo so maybe the travel cutlery is something I could invest in and I already use bags for life so that’s good.
That sounds good!
I honestly had no idea so many things could be swapped out. This is a great list.
Thank you x
I love this list, over the past couple years I’ve been slowly transitioning to more sustainable items. One of my favourites is laundry strips & beeswax wraps! Thanks for sharing this 🙂
Beeswax wraps are the best! x
Wow! I had no idea that chewing gum could even be plastic-free. What have I been chewing all this time!? 🤯
I feel you! x
These are all fantastic ideas! Happy to say I’ve already made many of these swaps, but still have a way to go. Thanks for the ideas!
So glad to hear 🙂 x
I love this post. I’m really lucky to live close to shop that sells eco-friendly products.
Thank you xx
Wow, this is a huge list and a really good one, btw! There are so many options. These sustainable swaps are so worthy. I think it is a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you 🙂
Wow, I had no idea how many sustainable options there were! This is an amazing list. I will have to look into some of these next time I am out of something!
Thanks xx
Awesome list. I’ve just switched to hemp sponges in the kitchen and I prefer them to my old ones, only problem is they cost a fortune.
Sounds great – it’s so annoying that eco-friendly products cost more 😩
Caroline, this is a really useful resource!x
Thank you x
Thank you for taking the time to curate this extensive and really useful list! There are so many things we can swap out and make sustainability a goal. Great post!
I’m a big coffee drinker and I had no idea they had coffee filter reusable. That’s amazing I will totally have to purchase them.
Ikr, it’s so cool 🙂
Another amazing post, as always lovely! This is SUCH a helpful list. I read an awful article this morning about climate change and it’s really prompted me to start getting my sh*t together and make more swaps like this.
Thank you 🥰 I’m so happy to hear that you want to make more swaps x
I am definitely saving this post for later! I am already following a lot of things mentioned (bamboo straws are the best swap for plastic straws in my opinion), but there are also a lot of new ideas! Awesome post, xx
Thank you! xx
I love this list so much! Thank you for putting them in categories! I think stationary items are ones we don’t immediately think of when it comes to sustainability, but it’s so important! Especially come Christmas time. Thank you for sharing Caroline!
Thank you, so true about stationary x
I’m passionate about sustainability so this was so interesting! Love the idea of carrying a bamboo travel kit with you instead of using plastic cutlery.
Thank you x
Impressive! Good there are so many options available. Thanks for sharing 😊
Thanks!
You’ve listed so many alternatives and I am genuinely impressed. I definitely will take this information going forward when deciding to make new purchases. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you <3
Wow, what an amazing list of swaps! I love using bees wax food wrapping and couldn’t live without my tote bags now, I go everywhere with them and have some in the car for when needed unexpectedly. Making the move to more sustainable items is definitely the way forward.
Thank you, me too x
LOVE this! This needs to be bookmarked as I’ll have to come back to this and swap some things out.
Thank you x
The idea of food wrapping made of algae is one idea I also like about sustainable swaps.
I support this advocacy on sustainable living and zero waste. 🙂 To a cleaner and better world! 😀
Oh, that’s cool! Thank you 🙂
i loved this so much, I did not realise that so many swaps were available! I will be checking these out !
Thank you xx
Love this list! You never realise how many easy swaps you can make until you start writing them down! My reusable bottle is now an existential part of my day at home and when out, I couldn’t survive without it! I still have to try period pants but after your previous post I really have to x
Great ideas on here! So many ways we can all contribute day to day 🙂
Very true, thank you!
A really comprehensive list and a few on there I hadn’t thought of! Lots of little swaps builds up better habits though.
Thank you, totally agree x
This is such a great list! I’ve been really trying to make more sustainable swaps lately so this is so helpful – I especially love using shampoo bars
Thank you, me too x
What a great read, love this! I’ve found a great cleaning alternative, a start-up called Spruce. They use refillable aluminium containers, It’s non-toxic, hassle-free, vegan, uses earth-friendly packaging and is cruelty-free!
Oh they sound great! x