Plastic Free July Australia: Ideas, Tips and Simple Swaps to Reduce Plastic Waste

Join millions of people making a difference

Plastic Free July is your chance to join millions of people around the world reducing plastic waste together.

Whether you swap a plastic water bottle for a reusable one, pack a waste-free lunch or simply become more aware of the plastic in your daily routine, every small change counts.

You don't have to be perfect. Start with one swap, have fun with it and discover how easy sustainable habits can be.

Ready to get started? Explore simple Plastic Free July ideas below.

Start Your Plastic Free July →

Start Here

🌏 What is Plastic Free July?
💚 Why join the movement?
💡 Simple Plastic Free July ideas
🎯 Pick your challenge
🛍️ Shop Plastic Free July essentials

Quick answer

Plastic Free July is a global movement that began in Australia and encourages people to reduce single-use plastics throughout July. Join for a day, a week or the entire month. Every reusable swap helps reduce waste and build habits that can last well beyond July.

Why trust Biome?

Biome has been helping Australians reduce waste and live more sustainably since 2003.

For more than 20 years, we've helped people discover practical alternatives to disposable plastics through reusable products, refill options and simple everyday swaps.

One thing we've learned? You don't need to do everything at once. The most lasting changes usually start with one small, achievable step.

By Tracey Bailey, Founder of Biome

What is Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July began in Western Australia in 2011 and has grown into one of the world's largest movements focused on reducing plastic waste.

The idea is beautifully simple: choose one or more plastic items you regularly use and try a reusable alternative.

For some people, that means carrying a reusable water bottle. For others, it's switching to reusable food storage, reducing takeaway packaging or trying plastic-free cleaning and personal care products.

Plastic Free July isn't about giving up all plastic. It's about becoming more aware of the choices available and discovering changes that feel achievable for you.

Why join Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July is about possibility, not perfection.

It's an opportunity to:

✓ discover simple swaps that fit into everyday life
✓ reduce unnecessary waste
✓ save money by reusing products again and again
✓ build habits that last beyond July
✓ feel part of a worldwide movement creating positive change

What starts with one reusable shopping bag or water bottle often grows into a whole new way of thinking about waste.

Join a global movement

Every July, people in more than 190 countries challenge themselves to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics.

Some make one small swap. Others involve their family, school or workplace.

Together, these everyday actions have become the world's largest plastic waste avoidance movement.

You don't have to do everything.

You simply have to begin.

Plastic Free July by the numbers

The impact so far

174 million participants worldwide

190 countries involved

290,000 tonnes of plastic consumption reduced

15 million tonnes of waste avoided over seven years

Imagine the impact if millions more people made just one small change this July.

Sources: Plastic Free Foundation Impact Report 2025 and WWF Australia.

Why does it matter?

Many plastic items are used for only a few minutes but can persist in the environment for decades or even centuries.

Plastic Free July encourages us to pause and ask:

Is this plastic item really necessary?

By choosing reusable alternatives where possible, we can help:

reduce unnecessary waste
reduce demand for disposable products
keep plastic out of waterways and natural environments
build habits that are kinder to the planet

And perhaps most importantly, we discover that living with less waste is often easier than we imagined.

How to get started

You don't need to overhaul your lifestyle.

The easiest approach is to take three simple steps.

1. Notice

Pay attention to where plastic shows up in your day.

Common examples include:

shopping bags
drink bottles
takeaway containers
cling wrap
toiletries
cleaning products

2. Choose

Pick one or two swaps that fit naturally into your routine.

Small wins often lead to bigger changes.

3. Keep going

Progress matters more than perfection.

If you forget your reusable cup or end up with some plastic packaging, that's okay.

Every plastic item avoided still makes a difference.

Plastic Free July ideas

Looking for inspiration? Start with one or two of these simple swaps.

🥤 Carry a reusable water bottle
☕ Bring your own coffee cup
🛍️ Keep reusable shopping bags handy
🍱 Pack a waste-free lunch
🥕 Buy loose fruit and vegetables where possible
🧴 Try a shampoo or conditioner bar
🧼 Switch to plastic-free cleaning products
🥡 Replace cling wrap with reusable food storage
🍴 Refuse disposable cutlery and straws
💚 Choose products designed to be reused again and again

Choose one idea or try them all. Every swap counts.

Pick your challenge

New to Plastic Free July?

Start with three easy swaps:

reusable shopping bags
reusable water bottle
reusable coffee cup

Once these become habits, adding more changes often feels surprisingly easy.

Doing it with kids?

Turn it into a family challenge.

Try:

packing waste-free lunches
using reusable drink bottles
storing leftovers in reusable containers
buying loose fruit and vegetables

Children often love spotting opportunities to reduce waste.

At work?

Keep a few essentials at your desk:

reusable coffee cup
reusable water bottle
reusable lunch container

Small workplace changes can quickly add up.

The easiest plastic-free swaps

Kitchen swaps

reusable food wraps
glass food storage containers
stainless steel lunch containers
reusable produce bags
plastic-free dishwashing products

Bathroom swaps

shampoo bars
conditioner bars
safety razors
bamboo toothbrushes
plastic-free soap bars

Cleaning swaps

solid dishwashing bars
plastic-free cleaning brushes
compostable cleaning cloths
refillable cleaning concentrates
durable cleaning tools designed to last for years

On-the-go swaps

reusable coffee cups
reusable water bottles
reusable produce bags
reusable lunch containers

Looking for even more ideas?

Explore our Complete Guide to Plastic Free Swaps →

Frequently asked questions

What is Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July is a global movement that encourages people to reduce their use of single-use plastics throughout July by making simple, practical swaps.

Do I have to give up all plastic?

No. Plastic Free July encourages progress rather than perfection. Most people simply focus on reducing a few disposable plastics they use regularly.

What are the easiest swaps to start with?

Reusable shopping bags, drink bottles, coffee cups and food containers are often the simplest changes to make.

Is plastic-free living expensive?

Not necessarily. Many reusable products require an upfront investment but can be used for years, reducing the need to continually buy disposable items.

Can children participate?

Absolutely. Plastic Free July can be a fun opportunity for families to learn about waste reduction together.

What if I forget and use plastic?

That's completely normal. Every positive change still makes a difference.

Does Plastic Free July really make an impact?

Yes. Millions of people around the world participate each year. Together, these small individual actions have helped avoid millions of tonnes of waste.

What should I replace first?

Start with items you use every day, such as shopping bags, water bottles, coffee cups and food storage.

Continue your Plastic Free July journey

Plastic Free July is just the beginning.

Explore more ideas and inspiration:

Remember, you don't need to do everything perfectly.

One reusable swap may not seem like much.

But when millions of people make one small change together, those changes add up to something extraordinary.

This July, start with one simple swap and see where it leads.