Plastic Free July: Simple Swaps, Big Impact

This Plastic Free July, check out some of the wonderful plastic free products we stock in our Oxford Shop. These brilliant brands are showing the big polluters how easy it can be to eliminate plastic from everyday items - from your toothpaste to your make-up routine to your summer parties!

Take a look at our round up of some of the simple but impactful swaps you could make:

The Kitchen

So many of the cleaning products we use come in plastic bottles or wrapped in plastic packaging, while cleaning sponges are often made of plastic fibres which leave microplastics all over surfaces and washed down the sink. 😳

You can avoid some of those unnecessary plastics with Eco Living's kitchen loofah with a soft sponge made from wood cellulose and cotton, topped with a scrubber made from natural loofah plant - perfect for replacing plastic sponge scourers and it's 100% biodegradable! Similarly, Strip Wash's plastic-free floor cleaner strips use non-toxic ingredients packaged in recyclable cardboard and are super easy to use, as well as leaving a lovely natural scent. Finally, our very own Y.O.U Organic Cotton Tea Towels are completely free from synthetic fibres meaning you can brighten up your kitchen while keeping it free from microplastics!

These Eco Coconut Scourers are a great plastic-free alternative for really stubborn pots and pans. They are naturally anti-bacterial and will biodegrade after usage. And if you're looking to bring some greenery into the kitchen, Shroot's mini bottle farm kit provides you with everything you need to turn your discarded jars, tins, or bottles into a mini herb garden!

The Bathroom

Next stop, the bathroom! Many of our everyday items come in a variety of plastic packaging but these brands are offering easy alternatives which will slot into your morning routine and keep you smelling sweet!

Try out Marta's handmade reusable cotton make-up remover pads as an eco friendly alternative to wipes - easy to use with your favourite cleanser, and they look much prettier in the cabinet! EcoLiving's toothpaste tablets are another easy swap to replace plastic tubes and the tin can be refilled using their refill pouches. Keep the plastic-free ball rolling with Fruu's beautifully scented and packaged shower bars which are kind to your skin and to the planet.

Give Neve's Bees natural deodorant a go to avoid plastic bottles and keep nasty chemicals away from your armpits. Agnes & Cat's bathtime fairy dust adds scent and sparkle to your bath in a reusable glass jar with wooden scoop. 

Outdoors

With the beautiful weather we've been having lately, we're spending more and more time outdoors - BBQs, day trips, and outdoor parties. But lots of these activities depend on single use plastics so here are some of our alternatives to have a plastic-free summer!

Talking Tables have mastered the art of sustainable parties and have lots of options for plastic free and reusable party ware, like these stainless steel picnic plates and gorgeous honeycomb paper balloons to bring some pops of colour to your party. Namaste's beautiful handloom woven cotton throws are perfect for summer picnics as well.

If you're spending time outdoors you need the perfect bag to store all the essentials while you're on the go. Ethiqana's range of cross body bum bags made from up cycled jute fabric are a great option for an easy and stylish bag to go with everything. Don't forget to pop your bee revival kit inside so you can help out a tired bee in need by providing energy restoring syrup. 

Upcycled Plastic

While Plastic Free July is about focusing on plastic free products, we also want to highlight some of the brands helping rescue plastic from our oceans and ecosystems with ingenious solutions. Have a look at some of the brilliant brands finding ways to turn discarded waste into new products to be used time and again.

Leading the way in up cycling waste plastic, Trashy Bags turn discarded plastic water pouches and printed fabric scraps, rescued from the beaches of Ghana, into colourful new items, like this beautiful tote bag. At Y.O.U Underwear we upcycle our old mailing bags into new accessories by working in partnership with YagoEco, who transform waste into gorgeous earrings and unique key-rings.

British Colour Standard's brightly coloured plant pots made from up cycled woven cement sacks will bring a pop of colour to your home and can also be used for stylish storage solutions. Finally, Rex London's super cute lunch bags are made from recycled plastic and are perfect for keeping your lunch cool on hot days!

We hope these simple swaps have got you feeling inspired to reduce the amount of plastic in your home. It can feel overwhelming and impossible to avoid plastic in a world that just keeps producing it but starting small can make a huge difference! And showing big brands that we prefer plastic free options can be a great nudge in the right direction.

Don't forget to pop into our Oxford Covered Market shop for plenty more ideas for eco swaps and to shop these lovely products in person. We can't wait to welcome you!

Take a Look at More of our Sustainable Living Tips:

How to Do Your Spring Cleaning Sustainably

Find Out About the Impact of Cleaning Products on Your Hormones

Read All About Our Oxford Shop's Anniversary

Images courtesy of Y.O.U Underwear & Canva