Plastic Free July: 5 Simple Kitchen Swaps to Ditch Single-Use Plastic

Every July, millions of people around the world take the Plastic Free July challenge — committing to reduce single-use plastic for 31 days. And while it can feel overwhelming to know where to start, the kitchen is one of the most impactful places to begin.

 

From cling wrap to zip-lock bags, the average Australian kitchen is full of single-use plastics that end up in landfill or our waterways. The good news? There are beautiful, functional alternatives that make the swap easy — and permanent. Here are five kitchen swaps to help you reduce plastic this Plastic Free July and beyond.

 

1. Swap Plastic Containers for Glass Jars

Glass jars are the workhorse of a low-waste kitchen. Use them for storing dry goods like grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds — especially if you shop in bulk. They're airtight, easy to clean, and last a lifetime.

 

Our Glass Jars (various sizes) are a pantry essential that look as good as they function. Stack them on open shelving for an organised, editorial aesthetic that doubles as a sustainability statement.

 

2. Replace Plastic Oil Bottles with a Glass Pourer

Most cooking oils come in plastic bottles that are difficult to recycle. A glass oil pourer is a simple, elegant upgrade that reduces plastic waste and keeps your oils fresher for longer.

 

The Glass Oil Pourer with Cork Cap is a beautiful addition to any kitchen bench — functional, refillable, and plastic-free.

 

3. Ditch Plastic Bread Bags for Linen

Bread bags are one of the most common single-use plastics in the kitchen. A reusable linen bread bag keeps your loaf fresh, allows it to breathe naturally, and eliminates the need for plastic packaging entirely.

 

The Ever Eco Reusable Linen Bread Bag with Zipper Closure is made from natural linen and sized generously at 32x40cm — perfect for a standard sourdough or sandwich loaf.

 

4. Cover Bowls and Leftovers with Silicone Food Covers

Cling wrap is one of the hardest kitchen plastics to avoid — until now. Silicone food covers stretch to fit bowls, plates, and cut produce, creating an airtight seal without a single piece of plastic.

 

The Ever Eco Reusable Silicone Food Covers 6pk comes in a range of sizes to cover everything from a halved avocado to a large mixing bowl. Dishwasher safe and built to last for years.

 

5. Replace Zip-Lock Bags with Plant-Based Alternatives

Zip-lock bags are a kitchen staple — but they don't have to be plastic. Made from sugarcane, a renewable resource, these eco-friendly bags are a like-for-like swap that works just as well without the environmental cost.

 

The SugarWrap Eco Zipper Bags (Small 40pk) and SugarWrap Eco Zipper Bags (Large 20pk) are perfect for snacks, meal prep, and freezer storage — and they're made from plants, not petroleum.

 

Start Small, Go Far

You don't need to overhaul your entire kitchen overnight. The most sustainable approach is to replace items as they run out — and choose better when you do. Even swapping one or two items this Plastic Free July makes a real difference.

 

Browse our full range of sustainable kitchen products to find the swaps that work for your home and lifestyle.

 

Small changes, made consistently, are how we build a lower-waste life — one kitchen at a time.