Plastic Free July: What Small Swap Will You Keep?
As July draws to a close, so does another Plastic Free July—a month that inspires millions of people around the world to think a little differently about the plastic they use every day.
Whether you've taken part by making one small swap or simply become more aware of the amount of single-use plastic that passes through your home each week, that's something worth celebrating.
Because sustainability isn't about what happens during one month of the year. It's about the small habits that stay with us long after July has ended.
It's the Small Swaps That Stick
When people think about reducing plastic waste, they often imagine having to change everything overnight.
The reality is much simpler.
The most lasting changes are usually the smallest ones. Swapping one product, trying one refill, or choosing one reusable alternative often becomes a new habit without much effort at all.
And before you know it, those little swaps have become part of everyday life.
Five Easy Swaps That Make a Difference Every Day
If you've been inspired by Plastic Free July, here are five simple changes that are easy to continue throughout the year.
🧽 Swap your kitchen sponge
Traditional kitchen sponges contain plastic and release tiny microplastics as they wear down.
Our Seep compostable sponges are made from natural plant-based materials and can be composted at the end of their life, making them a much kinder choice for your home and the planet.
🧴 Refill instead of replacing
One of the easiest ways to reduce plastic is simply to reuse the bottles you already have.
Whether it's washing-up liquid, laundry detergent or hand soap, refilling helps cut down on unnecessary plastic without changing your routine.
Our refill range makes it easy to top up your favourites again and again.
🪥 Make the switch to bamboo
It's a statistic that always makes us stop and think...
Every plastic toothbrush ever made still exists somewhere on our planet.
Switching to a bamboo toothbrush is such a small change, but over a lifetime it can prevent hundreds of plastic toothbrushes from ending up in landfill.
🥛 Rethink your oat milk
One of our favourite recent discoveries has been Overherd Oat Milk Powder.
Instead of buying cartons, you simply mix what you need with water.
No Tetra Paks.
No transporting litres of water around the country.
Just less packaging, a lower carbon footprint and a cupboard-friendly alternative.
🥪 Pack lunches without the plastic
Whether you're making packed lunches for work, heading off on a picnic or storing leftovers, beeswax wraps are a brilliant replacement for cling film.
They're reusable, washable and can last for many months with a little care.
Progress, Not Perfection
One quote we come back to time and time again is from Anne-Marie Bonneau:
"We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly."
It perfectly sums up what we believe too.
Whether you've made one swap or twenty, every change matters.
What Will You Keep?
As Plastic Free July comes to an end, perhaps the best question isn't "What did I achieve this month?"
Instead, ask yourself:
Which one swap has been the easiest?
Because that's probably the one you'll continue doing.
And that's where lasting change begins.
Thank you for supporting our little refill shop, choosing sustainable brands, and proving that small changes really do add up.
Looking Ahead
August is often a month of holidays, family adventures and getting ready for the return to school.
Next month we'll be sharing some of our favourite low-waste travel and back-to-school essentials to help make everyday life that little bit simpler.
Our January blog on Simple Eco Swaps for a Kinder Veganuary is another great place to start if you're looking for practical ideas for sustainable living.