Plastic Free July is a global movement that encourages people to reduce single use plastics through simple, everyday swaps. The challenge started right here in Australia and now inspires millions of people around the world to rethink their habits, reduce waste and discover easy alternatives that often stick long after July ends.

Key Takeaways

• Plastic Free July started in Australia and now reaches millions of people across 190 countries.
• Small swaps really do add up when millions of people take part together.
• You do not need to be perfect to make a difference.
• The easiest swaps are often the ones that become lifelong habits.
• Plastic-free living can be good for both the planet and your health.

What is Plastic Free July?

Every July, millions of people around the world take part in one simple challenge: reduce the amount of single use plastic they use each day. There's no strict rules, no pass or fail marks and definitely no report card waiting at the end of the month. The idea is simply to pause and ask yourself one question:

"Do I really need this piece of plastic?"

Often, it is no.

What started as a small local initiative in Western Australia, Plastic Free July has now grown into the world's largest plastic waste avoidance campaign, with more than 174 million participants across 190 countries in 2025 alone. That's the power of small actions multiplied by millions of people!

Why does Plastic Free July matter?

Plastic pollution can feel overwhelming. We hear statistics about oceans, landfill and wildlife so often that it can sometimes start to feel impossible for one person to make a difference. But Plastic Free July flips that thinking on its head.

When millions of people make one small change, those changes become massive. In 2025 alone, participants helped reduce an estimated: 

• 1.4 million tonnes of landfill waste 
• 900,000 tonnes of recyclable waste 
• 290,000 tonnes of plastic consumption 

Even more encouraging? 86% of participants said the changes they made during Plastic Free July became long-term habits (woohooo)! It just goes to show that it's not about one month of perfection, it's about building achievable habits that last.

Why should we reduce plastic in the first place?

For many people, reducing plastic starts with concern for the environment. And rightly so. Plastic pollution affects our oceans, waterways, wildlife and ecosystems. But there's also another side to the conversation that many Australians are becoming increasingly interested in: our health.

Many everyday plastic products can contain chemicals that may migrate into food, drinks and our homes over time, particularly when heated or damaged. Researchers are also learning more about microplastics and PFAS and where they are showing up in our environment and bodies.

If you're curious about the health side of plastic reduction, check out our recent blog here about an Australian study that reveals how to reduce plastic in your body in just seven days. 

Easy swaps for Plastic Free July beginners

If you're brand new to plastic-free living, start here! These swaps are simple, affordable and often save money in the long run.

1. Kickstart your journey with our  Plastic Free July Box

One of the best parts of Plastic Free July is discovering swaps you never expected to love. Maybe it's a shampoo bar that lasts months longer than your old bottle, a reusable tea bag that becomes part of your morning routine or a beeswax wrap that replaces cling wrap for good.

That's exactly why we created our limited edition Plastic Free July Box. With 11 products spanning your kitchen, bathroom, laundry and cleaning routine, it gives you the chance to explore a range of plastic-free and low-tox alternatives and discover which ones work best for your lifestyle.

2. Swap cling wrap for reusable food storage

Let's be real, your leftovers don't need microplastics. Most of the jobs we reach for cling wrap to do can be handled just as easily with reusable alternatives. Go for swaps like  beeswax food wraps, silicone lids, fabric food covers , silicone pouches and containers. 

Not only will these swaps reduce waste heading to landfill, but they'll also save you from constantly buying new rolls of plastic wrap every few weeks. It's one of those simple swaps that quickly becomes second nature and often ends up saving money too.

3. Swap bottled hair care for shampoo and conditioner bars

If you're making your first plastic-free swap, shampoo and conditioner bars are often one of the easiest places to start. Once you find the right one for your hair type, many people never look back.

These concentrated little bars are packed with cleansing ingredients but without all the added water, meaning they last surprisingly long and create far less packaging waste along the way.

Bonus: they're travel-friendly, leak-proof and free up space in your shower!

4. Swap plastic toothbrushes for bamboo alternatives

Considering most plastic toothbrushes cannot be recycled through kerbside systems, this is one of the easiest wins.

A massive 3.5 million toothbrushes are sold worldwide every year, with the vast majority ending up in landfill where they can stick around for over 500 years... yikes!

A bamboo toothbrush works just like a conventional plastic one, but with a handle made from a renewable resource instead. It is a small change that takes very little effort but can make a big difference over time, especially when the whole household makes the switch.

5. Swap disposable cups for reusable coffee cups and drink bottles

Each year, Australians use an estimated 1.84 billion single-use cups. Most are lined with plastic, which means they cannot be easily recycled and often end up in landfills after just a few minutes of use.

The good news is your morning coffee tastes exactly the same in a reusable cup. Some would argue it tastes better, especially when it is kept hot for longer. This is one of those swaps that quickly becomes part of your daily routine. Leave your cup or drink bottle in your bag, car or at your desk, and you're set! Check out our range of reusable and plastic-free cups and bottles here!

6. Swap plastic produce bags for reusable cotton produce bags

Reusable produce bags are an easy upgrade from the thin plastic bags found in the fruit and veg aisle. They let you skip single use plastic while still keeping your apples, carrots and leafy greens organised and easy to carry.

The only tricky part is remembering them. The best trick is to keep a few in your car, handbag or even tucked inside your shopping tote so they're always on hand when you need them.

Already on a roll? Try these next level plastic free swaps

If reusable cups and shampoo bars are already part of your routine, you might enjoy exploring:

• Plastic free dental care
• Plastic free and natural perfume
• Reusable safety razors and plastic free soaps
• Refillable and plastic free cleaning products
• Plastic free period care and intimate care products
• Plastic free and refillable make up 

The best part is that you don't have to make all the swaps at once. Pick one. Then another. Then another.

What about compostable and biodegradable plastic?

This surprises a lot of people. "Compostable" and "biodegradable" don't automatically mean environmentally friendly. Many products labelled this way require industrial composting facilities that are not available in every community, while others may not break down as expected in nature. You can learn more about this here.

That is why Plastic Free July encourages people to prioritise reusable options wherever possible before turning to single use alternatives, even if they are marketed as greener choices.

Why Go For Zero believes in progress over perfection

At Go For Zero, we have always believed sustainability should feel empowering, not overwhelming. You don't need a perfectly plastic-free pantry, bathroom or laundry to make a difference. You simply need to start.

As Australia's leading plastic-free store, we have spent years carefully curating genuinely low waste alternatives that help make sustainable living easier, more accessible and a little less intimidating. Whether that starts with a shampoo bar, a reusable coffee cup or your very first bamboo toothbrush, every swap counts.

Ready to join Plastic Free July?

The beauty of Plastic Free July is that there are no rules. You can try one swap. Try five. Try it for a week. Try it for the whole month of July.

Whatever plastic you can avoid is a win worth celebrating! Because when millions of people make small changes together, those changes create cleaner oceans, healthier communities and a future with less waste.

With Love, 
Ellie xox

FAQs

1. What are the rules for Plastic Free July?

There really are not any strict rules. Plastic Free July is a challenge rather than a competition, so any reduction in single use plastic is considered a success.

2. Is Plastic Free July only for one month?

Not at all. The goal is to discover swaps and habits that continue long after July ends.

3. What are the easiest plastic-free swaps to start with?

Reusable coffee cups, shampoo bars, reusable produce bags, food storage alternatives and bamboo toothbrushes are some of the easiest places to begin.

4. Is biodegradable plastic better for the environment?

Not always. Many biodegradable products require specific conditions to break down properly and may still contribute to pollution if disposed of incorrectly.

5. Does reducing plastic really make a difference?

Absolutely. In 2025 alone, Plastic Free July participants helped reduce an estimated 290,000 tonnes of plastic consumption globally.