The 5 R's of Plastic Free July (and why Recycle comes last)
Plastic Free July is the perfect time to rethink what's under your sink and to remember that recycling isn't actually the first line of defence against plastic waste. It's the last. The 5 R's are a hierarchy, and each one comes before you even think about the recycling bin:
Refuse → Reduce → Reuse → Refill → Recycle
Here's what each one means, and how you can put it into practice with a few swaps from our shelves.
1. Refuse
The first step is simply saying NO! To the free sample, the plastic bag, the single use bottle you don't need. Every "no thanks" is one less thing that ever needed to be made, shipped, or thrown away.
2. Reduce
Next, cut back on what you're consuming in the first place. Our Cleaning Grade Baking Soda 2kg, Cleaning Grade Vinegar 9.9% 2L and Castile Cleaning Soap are all bulk, concentrated ingredients. A little goes a long way, so you're buying far less overall compared to a cupboard full of single use supermarket sprays.
3. Reuse
This is where your existing bottles and jars get a new life. Grab a Natural Cleaning Paste 400g in its glass jar, and once it's empty, keep the jar for pantry storage or DIY batches. Pair it with items from our Sustainable Home & Living range. Think beeswax wraps, natural kitchen cloth and wooden brushes — for everyday swaps that replace plastic disposables around the whole house.
4. Refill
Refilling is central to how we do things here at Your Home Naturally. It's one of our three core promises: Sustainable, Refillable and Safe for the whole whānau. Our Everyday Cleaning Spray Duo and Be Natural Castile Soap are designed to be topped up rather than tossed out, and the Laundry & Dishwasher Starter Pack gives you the concentrates you need to refill your own containers batch after batch.
5. Recycle
Only once you've refused, reduced, reused and refilled does recycling come in? Only as the backstop for whatever's left, not the main plan. If a container truly reaches the end of its life, recycle it properly, but the goal is to need this step as little as possible. Recycling isn’t a sustainable solution to plastic waste.
Want to learn to DIY it yourself?
If you'd rather make your own natural cleaning products from scratch, our hands-on workshops at the Production Studio in Inglewood, will teach you everything you need to know. You'll leave with confidence, knowledge, and a few ready-to-use products in your own jars.
Small swaps, done consistently, add up to a lot less plastic. Happy Plastic Free July! 💚
Shop the full range at yourhomenaturally.co.nz
