Plastic is pretty hard to avoid these days, despite all the damage it does to our ecosystems and our own bodies. But thankfully there are a lot of awesome alternatives out there.
These are the Urban Revolution team’s top plastic free swaps. Super easy to start using and we reckon they work better than the plastic versions. Plus, you’ll often save money in the long run by opting for these plastic-free alternatives. Bonus: many of them are made locally in small-batches which means you’re supporting someone’s livelihood!
Without further ado, here we go!
1. Beeswax Food Wraps
Swap out your cling wrap and sandwich bags for these beauties. Beeswax Food Wraps are typically made from a natural fibre cloth such as cotton that’s coated in beeswax. That means they’re compostable at the end of their life.
Great for wrapping any food items, including sandwiches, half-used veggies or cheese blocks. You can also cover bowls and pots of food with them. The beeswax makes them a little sticky which helps create a good seal. You can also secure them in place with a rubber band.
Vegan Food Wraps are available too. These are made from vegetable wax, jojoba oil and ethically grown food grade gum.
Beeswax Wraps from The Family Hub are a great alternative to plastic cling wrap.
2. Stainless Steel Safety Razor
A super easy sustainable alternative to disposable safety razors. You use stainless steel safety razors exactly as you would a disposable razor and if you get a good one, it works even better.
When the blade becomes dull, simply reload with a new blade (buy replacement blades here). Keep your dull blades in a jar until you have quite a few and then recycle. Check your local council guidelines about how to recycle sharps safely.
Bye-bye disposable razors: Hello Ever Eco Safety Razor!
3. Bamboo Toothbrush
Bamboo toothbrushes are an easy swap away from single use plastic toothbrushes. Keep in mind, most bamboo brushes aren’t fully plastic-free as they often come with synthetic bristles. However, they do use far less plastic than a plastic toothbrush. When past its useful stage, you will need to snap off the head and put it in the landfill bin. The bamboo handle can be composted – or used in the garden as a plant label!
Other plastic-free tooth care solutions include:
Bamboo toothbrushes are a super easy swap for single-use plastic tooth brushes.
4. Plastic-Free Deodorant
There are several awesome Australian-made deodorants that come without plastic packaging. They’re also made from super natural ingredients, making them kinder on your skin while keeping you smelling great.
Our community favourites include:
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Viva La Body (comes in a compostable paper tube)
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No Pong (comes in a metal tin)
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Woohoo (comes in a metal tin)
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VDeo Vegan Deodorant (comes in a glass jar, which you can return to our store)
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The Family Hub Deodorant (comes in a paper tube or as a refill if you BYO container to our store)
Natural Deodorant from Viva La Body – just compost the paper packaging after use.
5. Bar Soap and Shampoo
Body soaps, hand soaps and shampoos come packaged in a lot of plastic. The simplest swap is to go back to good ol’ bar soaps and shampoo bars! Without all that water content, bar soaps also take much less energy to store and transport. Plus, you’ll often find great locally-made options by small-scale makers.
Here are our favourite bar soaps and shampoo bars made in Perth:
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St James Supply Co. (these guys make a range of natural soaps, cleansers, shampoos and conditioner bars)
Bonus shout out to our most popular 2in1 soap and shampoo bar: Lorbeer Aleppo Soap. A traditional Syrian soap made from laurel oil and olive oil. Super gentle for sensitive skin, eczema and psoriasis.
Our best-selling solid shampoo bar from St. James Supply Co. (handmade in Perth)
6. Stainless Steel Bento Boxes
Lunch without the plastic, yes please! Stainless steel lunch boxes are a healthy and classy alternative to the plastic options. They last well and can be returned to the Earth at the end of their useful life. Plus, they don't come with the risk of chemical leaching or microplastics.
Also read: Top Tips for Low Waste Lunches
Ever Eco Bento Snack Box made from stainless steel - no plastic here!
7. Stainless Steel or Glass Straw
Bye-bye single use plastic straws. Stainless steel and glass straws are great alternatives. Plus, they’re super easy to wash when you have a straw cleaner. Keep them in your bag for any on-the-go smoothies and bubble teas.
8. Reusable Travel Cup
No need to get a takeaway coffee cup when you’ve got your trusty reusable cup on you. If you drive, keep your cup in your car at all times so you don’t forget it. Other ways to avoid a takeaway cup: dine-in instead or bring a mug from the office. Your takeaway cup doesn’t have to be fancy, cafés will usually make your coffee in any mug you bring in.
But if you do want a beautiful cup, we recommend the range from Fressko!
Fressko cups are worth checking out if you're on the hunt for a trusty reusable cup.
9. Bamboo Dish Brushes
Swap out plastic dish brushes for an eco dish brush alternative. Look for materials such as bamboo, sisal fibres, palm leaf fibre, coconut fibre and galvanised wire. That way you know you can compost or bury your dish brushes once you’re finished with them. Nothing sent to landfill!
Plastic-free eco dish brushes from Eco Max - made from natural fibres.
10. Natural-Fibre Dish Cloths
Leave your synthetic sponges and plastic cloths and their harmful microplastics behind. There are many natural-fibre dish cloth alternatives that are better for your health and the health of our waterways.
A couple of our favourites that make washing up that little bit better!
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100% Cotton Knitted Dish Cloths (handmade in Perth by the lovely Jan)
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No Sponge Sponge (handmade in Perth by PaulaW)
A best seller: the compostable sponge from Retro Kitchen has many cute designs!
We hope these plastic-free solutions are helpful. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we recommend just picking one swap that you want to make and starting with that.
If you want to dive in further, check out our guide to Reducing Plastic Waste in the Kitchen.
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