Small Steps, Big Difference: Our Plastic Free July Wrap-Up
- The Bare Alternative
- Aug 1, 2025
- 5 min read
What we learned from Plastic Free July 2025
Plastic Free July 2025 may have come to an end, but the journey doesn’t stop here. Over the month, we shared tips, swaps, and ideas to help reduce single-use plastic and inspire low-impact living. From bathroom swaps and pet care to bulk shopping and litter picking, we’ve shown that individual actions can add up to much bigger change.
This post rounds up everything we explored and is grouped into key areas to help you find ideas that match areas of your lifestyle you're looking to make changes in, and then help you find ways to change habits. Whether you're just getting started or deepening your commitment, there's something for everyone.
Let’s dive in 👇
🧸 Lifestyle and Habits - Low-waste living in everyday moments
Plastic Free July isn’t just about products. It's about habits, mindsets, and daily choices. We looked at:
Low-impact living starts with small, intentional actions that make a real impact over time. We encouraged changes like refusing single-use packaging and making conscious choices at home and in shops.
Reusable coffee cups, bottles, and containers are essential tools for reducing everyday single-use plastic. We listed five easy plastic-free swaps to support eco-friendly habits on the go.
Using your own containers for takeaway food, groceries, and everyday shopping helps avoid unnecessary packaging. We shared real-life examples of how reuse works at local cafés and independent shops.
Low-waste shopping can be calm, intentional, and community-focused. We invited people to slow down, ask questions, and experience refill shopping as an alternative to fast, convenience-led retail.
Conventional period products contain plastic, bleach, and synthetics that contribute to long-term waste. We outlined reusable and low-waste menstrual care options like cloth pads, cups, and organic cotton tampons.
Pet care can be more sustainable with compostable poo bags, unpackaged natural treats, and plastic-free toys. We offered simple, low-waste swaps that help reduce plastic in everyday pet routines.
Litter often ends up in rivers and oceans, breaking down into harmful microplastics. We encouraged individuals to get involved in local cleanups, solo picks, and community-led waste reduction efforts.
Children’s toys are often made from plastic that isn’t recyclable or durable. We highlighted eco-conscious toy options like Playpress and suggested second-hand, DIY, and swap-based alternatives.
💡 Try making one new habit stick this month. You’ll be surprised how easy it gets.
🛒 Shopping and Food - Rethinking how we shop: from loose tea to bulk food
The month showed us there are many different ways, and just how much packaging enters our homes through our food shopping. We explored:
Single-use plastic bags have a massive environmental footprint, with billions used globally each year. We shared practical advice for switching to reusable cotton tote bags and making them a habit.
Plastic-free grocery shopping can be easy with refills and compostable packaging alternatives. We explained how to stock your pantry, bathroom, and cleaning cupboard without relying on single-use plastic.
Buying unpackaged fruit, vegetables, and fresh goods helps reduce plastic waste at the source. We encouraged using your own containers at markets, greengrocers, and delis to cut packaging.
Loose-leaf tea is a simple and delicious swap that avoids the hidden plastic found in many tea bags. We highlighted our wide range of unpackaged teas and eco-friendly brewing accessories.
Low-waste and refill shopping is more affordable and accessible than many realise. We spotlighted how shopping in bulk cuts plastic, saves money, and supports sustainable living.
✨ Want to shop more sustainably? Visit us in Sheffield or browse our online store
🧽 Home and Cleaning - Swapping bottles for bars and making your own cleaners
Our homes are full of opportunities to cut plastic. This month we covered:
Switching from liquid soaps in plastic bottles to solid bars and refillable options is one of the easiest low-waste swaps. We recommended five everyday plastic-free alternatives for hand, body, and hair care.
The bathroom is often full of hidden plastic in everyday essentials like razors, deodorant, and toothbrushes. We explored long-lasting, low-waste alternatives that reduce both cost and environmental impact.
DIY cleaning products made with refillable ingredients help reduce chemical exposure and plastic packaging. We introduced simple recipes, refill tools, and local options to create a cleaner home with less waste.
These small swaps are affordable, long-lasting, and better for your health and the environment.
🧼 Check out our cleaning essentials and DIY ingredients in store or on the online store.
📚 Learning and Sharing - Going deeper: the power of learning and conversation
We wrapped up the month by encouraging reflection and further learning:
Ongoing education is essential to reducing plastic waste and understanding our impact. We shared top resources from Plastic Free July and invited people to explore sustainable living tips on the blog.
Highlighted tools from plasticfreejuly.org/resources
Invited you to explore our own growing library of blog posts and low-waste guides.
Learning helps fuel long-term action, and sharing this spreads the message further.
📖 Explore more on our blog or share this post with someone curious about low-waste living.
🎉 Celebrating the Change - Small steps, big difference
To close out Plastic Free July, we celebrated the real impact of all these changes. Together, participants have avoided 10 billion kg of waste, which is more than the world’s biggest cleanups combined.
From safety razors to reusable bags, bulk snacks to compostable poo bags, small actions across our community added up. We’re proud of every swap made, every conversation started, and every bit of plastic left behind.
💬 Did you take part in Plastic Free July this year? If so, let us know in the comments what your most successful swap this month was?
What’s next? Keep going with us
Plastic Free July might be over, but your sustainability journey doesn’t need to stop there. Whether you're refilling regularly, exploring new swaps, or just getting started - we’re here to support you.
📬 Follow our blog for low-waste guides, product highlights, behind-the-scenes insight and much more.
Thanks for joining us this month. Let’s keep refusing single-use, reusing what we can, and refilling wherever possible 💚
♻️ Refuse. Reuse. Refill. ♻️
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