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I’m not done writing about Plastic Free July this month. In fact, after my first article, where I explored just how much Plastic Free July is actually helping the environment, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a bit of a brand guide of the plastic-free brands I love most. So that you know exactly where to shop from if you’re in need of some everyday essentials.
Living with less plastic can feel surprisingly overwhelming. Once you begin noticing how much of modern life is wrapped, packaged or delivered in plastic, it can feel as though every cupboard in your home suddenly needs replacing. The good news is that it doesn’t.
Why Small Swaps Matter
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through writing for Suzstainable, it’s that sustainable living rarely happens through dramatic overhauls. More often, it grows through small, thoughtful decisions that gradually become part of everyday life. A reusable water bottle replaces disposable ones, a refill pouch takes the place of another plastic bottle, a bamboo toilet roll arrives through the letterbox instead of another pack wrapped in plastic. None of those choices changes the world overnight, but over time, they quietly change our habits.
Throughout the past year on Suzstainable, we’ve spoken a lot about progress over perfection, whether that was during Plastic Free July, while discussing regenerative farming, or even when exploring sustainable fashion and conscious skincare. Every one of those conversations has come back to the same idea: meaningful change rarely happens all at once. It happens one decision at a time.
HOME PRODUCTS
&Keep
If you’ve ever wished there was one place that gathered together beautifully designed, low-waste home essentials, &Keep is a wonderful place to begin. Rather than creating their own products, &Keep curates items from independent makers and ethical brands carefully, making it much easier to discover alternatives that prioritise durability, refillability and thoughtful design. Their philosophy centres around helping people buy less, but buy better, a sentiment that resonates deeply with me.
One of the things I particularly appreciate is how carefully considered everything feels. Whether you’re looking for reusable kitchen essentials, plastic-free cleaning products or beautifully crafted everyday objects, the focus is always on longevity rather than novelty. Their stainless steel lunch boxes, refillable cleaning accessories and natural fibre brushes are all lovely examples of products designed to become part of your daily routine for years rather than months.
Bower Collective
If there is one brand that has quietly transformed the refill movement in the UK, it’s Bower Collective. Their entire model is built around the idea that many of the products we buy repeatedly, such as washing-up liquid, hand soap, laundry detergent and household cleaners, don’t need a brand-new plastic bottle every single time.
Instead, customers purchase beautifully designed refillable dispensers before ordering refill pouches that are collected, cleaned and reused through Bower’s closed-loop packaging system. It’s such an elegant solution because it works with the habits we already have rather than asking us to completely reinvent them. Their refillable hand wash and multi-surface cleaner are excellent places to start, especially if you’re curious about reducing plastic in the home without making everyday life feel any more complicated.
Fill Refill Co.
One of the UK brands quietly transforming the refill movement is Fill Refill Co. Based in Northamptonshire, the company produces environmentally friendly household and personal care products that are designed to be refilled again and again. Their philosophy is refreshingly simple: create effective products using biodegradable ingredients while reducing unnecessary packaging. Whether you’re topping up washing-up liquid, hand soap or laundry detergent, their refill system makes cutting down on single-use plastic feel effortless rather than inconvenient.
Miniml
If you’re looking for an easy introduction to refillable living, Miniml is well worth exploring. The Yorkshire-based company offers everything from household cleaners and laundry products to shampoos and body washes, all available through refill stations and reusable containers. Their products are vegan, cruelty-free and manufactured in the UK, demonstrating that sustainable choices don’t need to come at the expense of quality or affordability.
EcoLiving
EcoLiving has become something of a one-stop destination for plastic-free everyday essentials. Rather than focusing on a single product range, they bring together thoughtfully designed alternatives for almost every room in the home. From compostable dish brushes and reusable kitchen cloths to bamboo toothbrushes and stainless steel safety razors, every product encourages small, practical swaps that quickly become everyday habits. It’s exactly the kind of brand that reminds us sustainability is built through simple choices rather than dramatic lifestyle changes.
Bumboo
Toilet paper probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when we think about sustainability, tet it’s one of those products every household buys over and over again.
Bumboo offers an alternative made from sustainably sourced bamboo, a remarkably fast-growing plant that requires far less water than traditional tree-based paper. Their products are delivered in completely plastic-free packaging, helping reduce waste without asking us to compromise on quality or comfort. It’s one of those swaps that almost disappears into everyday life, you simply use it.
Bumboo’s Wildflower Collection features beautiful hand-painted wildflower illustrations by artist Becki Clark, inspired by the British countryside. Every purchase also supports nature, with a donation made to Rewilding UK for each order.
Serious Tissues
Serious Tissues produces toilet roll in the UK using post-consumer recycled paper, helping to give existing materials a second life rather than relying on virgin resources. Their rolls are also completely plastic-free, making them a simple alternative to the plastic-wrapped packs found in many supermarkets.
What I particularly love about Serious Tissues is that their approach goes beyond simply changing the toilet roll itself. The brand plants trees with every sale, meaning your everyday bathroom essential can also contribute to restoring forests. Their rather brilliant idea of being able to “start planting a forest from your toilet seat” makes the whole concept feel fun and accessible. It’s another great example of how a small, everyday swap can become part of a much bigger positive impact.
Bio-D
For many households, cleaning products are one of the easiest places to reduce plastic waste, and Bio-D has been leading that conversation for decades. Their concentrated cleaning products are manufactured in the UK using naturally derived ingredients and are widely available through refill stations across the country. Their laundry liquids, washing-up liquids and multi-surface cleaners offer an accessible way to embrace refillable living without changing the routines you already have.
Seep
Cleaning products don’t stop with liquids. Even our sponges and scourers are often made from plastic-based materials that eventually shed tiny particles into the environment.
Seep offers beautiful plastic-free alternatives made from renewable materials such as cellulose, loofah and natural fibres. Their compostable sponge scourers and biodegradable cleaning cloths prove that practical products don’t need to rely on synthetic materials to perform well.
SKINCARE
One of the things I find most interesting about skincare is how closely it mirrors many of the wider conversations we’ve been having on Suzstainable. When I wrote about Korean skincare earlier this year, one of the biggest lessons was that caring for our skin isn’t about buying more products. It’s about understanding what our skin actually needs. The same philosophy applies beautifully to sustainable skincare.
Rather than overflowing bathroom shelves with products we only use once or twice, many of the brands leading the way focus on thoughtful formulations, refillable packaging and ingredients chosen with both people and the planet in mind.
Activist Skincare
Activist Skincare has become something of a pioneer when it comes to refillable luxury skincare. Founded on the belief that effective skincare shouldn’t come at the expense of the environment, the brand combines refill systems with carefully formulated products designed to support healthy, resilient skin.
Their Active Cleanse and award-winning Active Moisturiser are particularly lovely examples of products that prioritise both performance and sustainability. Beautiful glass bottles are kept and refilled, reducing unnecessary packaging while encouraging a slower, more intentional skincare routine.
Ethique
Ethique is one of the brands that has helped redefine what plastic-free personal care can look like. Founded in New Zealand, the company creates concentrated shampoo bars, conditioner bars, face cleansers and body care products that eliminate the need for plastic bottles altogether. Each solid bar is designed to last as long as multiple bottles of liquid product, reducing both packaging waste and transport emissions. With thoughtfully formulated, vegan and cruelty-free products wrapped in compostable packaging, Ethique makes it remarkably easy to embrace a lower-waste bathroom routine without compromising on quality or performance.
Fussy
Fussy is a brand I’ve come to really like because it makes one of those everyday bathroom swaps feel incredibly simple. Their natural deodorant comes in a durable case designed to last, while the refills are plastic-free and made from waste sugarcane pulp, meaning they can be composted at home or placed in the bin to decompose. You can also choose a flexible subscription, so the refills arrive when you need them rather than having to remember to reorder.
What I particularly like about Fussy is that sustainability hasn’t been treated as an afterthought. The brand is B Corp certified, its deodorant is certified carbon neutral, and its products are vegan and cruelty-free, with Leaping Bunny approval. The deodorant itself is made with natural ingredients and probiotic formulations, so you’re not simply swapping to a more sustainable product – you’re getting something designed to work well too.
Avant Skincare
If you’re looking for luxurious skincare without compromising on your values, Avant is a brand worth exploring. Its vegan skincare collection includes everything from moisturisers and serums to gentle exfoliators and targeted eye treatments, all carefully formulated without animal-derived ingredients or by-products. The brand uses a combination of plant-based and synthetic alternatives to create high-performance formulas designed to deliver visible results without compromising on quality.
Avant is also committed to making ethical skincare more accessible. Its products are certified through PETA’s cruelty-free programme, giving customers reassurance that its products are not tested on animals. Sustainability is also an important part of the brand’s approach, with recyclable packaging designed to reduce its environmental impact. I particularly like that Avant brings together the things we often look for when choosing more conscious skincare – vegan formulations, cruelty-free credentials, thoughtful packaging and the luxurious feel you’d expect from a high-end beauty brand.
Green Tulip
Green Tulip is another brand I find myself recommending regularly because it feels less like a shop and more like a carefully curated collection of ethical discoveries. From natural skincare and refillable beauty products to handmade soaps and zero-waste bathroom essentials, everything has been chosen with sustainability, transparency and thoughtful craftsmanship in mind.
If you’re just beginning your journey into plastic-free beauty, Green Tulip is an excellent place to browse because it brings together dozens of independent brands under one roof. Their range of solid shampoo bars, natural soaps and reusable beauty accessories makes experimenting with lower-waste skincare feel approachable rather than overwhelming.
UpCircle Beauty
One skincare brand I always admire is UpCircle Beauty. As a certified B Corp, the brand is committed to balancing people, planet and profit while creating effective skincare that leaves the world better than it found it. Their philosophy revolves around giving ingredients a second life, transforming by-products such as used coffee grounds, fruit stones, chai spices and flower petals into high-performing skincare that would otherwise go to waste.
Alongside recyclable and refillable packaging, UpCircle also rewards customers for making more sustainable choices through its Inner Circle loyalty programme. Members can earn ‘Planets’ (points) by shopping, referring friends and completing simple actions, before redeeming them for discounts on future purchases. It’s a thoughtful way of encouraging long-term, conscious shopping while rewarding customer loyalty.
Beauty Kitchen
Beauty Kitchen has become a true pioneer in sustainable skincare, proving that high-performance beauty products can work in harmony with the planet. As Europe’s highest-ranked beauty B Corp, the brand combines science-backed formulas with nutrient-rich marine microalgae and other naturally derived ingredients to create vegan, cruelty-free skincare that delivers visible results.
Their innovative Return • Refill • Repeat scheme encourages customers to send back empty packaging to be cleaned and reused, while groundbreaking products such as the carbon-negative Pure Source Collagen Serum demonstrate how beauty innovation can help both our skin and the environment thrive. Beauty Kitchen is a wonderful example of a brand showing that we don’t have to choose between effective skincare and caring for the planet.
Scottish Fine Soaps
Scottish Fine Soaps is a lovely example of a brand combining traditional Scottish craftsmanship with a more considered approach to sustainability. The company has been making bath and body care in Falkirk since 1974, with 99.5% of its products created, designed, made and packaged at its Scottish factory. Its products are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and free from parabens and microbeads, while the company aims to use UK and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.
One collection that particularly caught my attention is Sea Kelp, which uses Scottish sea kelp and seaweed extracts alongside panthenol in its hand wash and lotion. Scottish Fine Soaps highlights the naturally nutrient-rich properties of kelp, while the range celebrates Scotland’s coastal heritage and locally inspired ingredients.
I also love that you don’t have to keep buying a new bottle. Their hand wash range includes large refill pouches, designed to replenish existing bottles and reduce packaging waste. Their 1.2L refills can refill a 300ml bottle four times, making this a simple swap that can significantly cut down on the number of bottles used over time.
The company’s wider environmental commitments make it even more interesting. Scottish Fine Soaps has been carbon neutral since 2022, its Scottish sites use 100% renewable electricity, and its 300ml and 500ml bottles are made using Prevented Ocean Plastic and post-consumer recycled plastic. It is also Zero Avoidable Waste to Landfill certified.
Related – Seaweed: A Natural Material with Powerful Potential.
WELLNESS
Sustainable wellness is about looking after ourselves while also considering the impact of what we buy. Here are some of the brands I love for more thoughtful, plant-based and planet-conscious wellbeing.
Ancient + Brave
Ancient + Brave is one of those brands that seems to embody the idea of intentional wellbeing. Founded in the UK, their philosophy centres around helping people build resilience through carefully researched supplements and nutritional blends, while also taking a thoughtful approach to sourcing and packaging. Their products are presented in recyclable containers wherever possible, with an emphasis on quality ingredients rather than unnecessary fillers or marketing trends.
If you’re new to the brand, True Collagen has become something of a flagship product, supporting skin, joints and connective tissue through hydrolysed collagen peptides. Another favourite is True MCT, a clean, versatile powder that can easily be stirred into coffee, smoothies or porridge as part of a balanced morning routine.
Body & Mind Botanicals
If you’re looking for a wellness brand that puts plants at the heart of what it does, Body & Mind Botanicals is an interesting one to explore. Its range includes CBD and hemp products, supplements, organic and vegan protein, mushrooms, herbal teas and botanicals, with products designed around areas such as sleep, stress, digestion, energy and skin and hair.
What I particularly like is the brand’s emphasis on being plant-based and vegan, with a strong focus on quality and traceability. Body & Mind Botanicals says its products are free from unnecessary pesticides and chemicals, while its organic status means its crops and finished products are tested for pesticides and residues. The company also highlights its carbon-conscious approach, including growing hemp to help offset its footprint.
Related – The Benefits Of CBD
Arella Beauty
Arella Beauty is redefining the relationship between beauty and wellbeing by combining the power of plants with science-backed nutrition. Founded with a mission to simplify wellness, the UK brand creates award-winning, 100% plant-based supplements that support everything from skin health and collagen production to menopause and everyday vitality.
Every product is made using ethically sourced, vegan ingredients, while recyclable, FSC-certified packaging and tree-planting initiatives reflect the brand’s commitment to protecting the planet as well as supporting our health. By focusing on clean, effective formulations that nourish the body from within, Arella Beauty demonstrates that caring for ourselves and caring for the environment can go hand in hand.
Together Health
Another UK brand that quietly deserves recognition is Together Health. Their supplements are made using whole-food ingredients wherever possible and are packaged with sustainability in mind, avoiding unnecessary plastic while prioritising recyclable materials and responsible sourcing.
Their Vitamin D3 and Whole Food Multivitamin are particularly popular, providing straightforward nutritional support without overcomplicating wellness.
FASHION
Our wardrobes are another area where small, thoughtful choices can make a big difference. From recycled and organic materials to timeless designs, repair schemes and clothing take-back programmes, these are some of the fashion brands I love for making it easier to buy less, choose better and keep our clothes in use for longer.
Boody
Underwear is probably one of the least glamorous sustainability conversations we can have, yet it’s also one of the most important. We wear these garments every single day, often replacing them far more frequently than almost anything else in our wardrobes.
Boody has built its entire collection around organically grown bamboo viscose, creating incredibly soft underwear, loungewear and basics designed to last. Their classic everyday briefs and seamless bras have become favourites for many people because they combine comfort with durability, proving that sustainable fashion doesn’t have to feel like a compromise.
Plainandsimple
If you’re looking for simple, everyday clothing that puts sustainability at the heart of the basics, Plainandsimple is a brand I think is well worth discovering. Its women’s collection focuses on organic cotton essentials, from classic T-shirts and tank tops to sweatshirts, hoodies, joggers and simple dresses. The pieces are deliberately unfussy, with neutral and natural colours that make them easy to mix, match and wear again and again.
What really caught my attention, though, is the brand’s “Made to be Re-Made” approach. Every piece is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton and designed using mono-materials, meaning the clothing is plastic-free by design and can be recycled into new yarn or composted when it reaches the end of its useful life.
Plainandsimple also offers a free lifetime take-back scheme in the UK: when you’re finished with an item, you can send it back to be recycled or composted and receive 15% off your next order.
Related – The conscious wardrobe: Understanding what natural materials really mean.
Elvis & Kresse
Perhaps one of the most fascinating brands I’ve discovered is Elvis & Kresse. Rather than producing products from new materials, they rescue items that would otherwise become waste, transforming decommissioned fire hoses, leather offcuts and other industrial materials into beautifully crafted belts, wallets and bags.
Every piece carries its own story. What was once destined for landfill becomes something designed to last a lifetime. Their handcrafted fire hose wallets are particularly iconic and make wonderful gifts, proving that sustainability and craftsmanship often go hand in hand. It’s difficult not to admire a brand that sees possibility where others might only see waste.
Related – PLATFORM: A Haven for Sustainable Design in the Heart of Marylebone
Baukjen
Baukjen is a London-based womenswear brand that I think is a great example of how timeless style and sustainability can work together. Rather than following the fast-fashion cycle, the brand focuses on carefully crafted, versatile pieces designed to be worn and loved for years. Its approach goes beyond the clothes themselves, with a commitment to environmental responsibility, ethical production and creating a more positive fashion industry.
What particularly stands out to me is Baukjen’s focus on people as well as the planet. The brand is committed to working towards a more ethical supply chain, including supporting liveable wages, small-scale factories and farmers. It is also working to significantly reduce its carbon emissions and uses recycling initiatives for garments and fabrics, helping to keep materials in use for longer.
Isabella Oliver
If you’re looking for sustainable maternity clothing, Isabella Oliver is a brand I think is particularly worth exploring. Its Responsible Collection focuses on thoughtfully designed, ethically made pieces created with lower-impact materials, while keeping sustainability at the heart of the brand. Isabella Oliver is also a certified B Corp, reflecting its wider commitment to people, the planet and responsible business practices.
What I particularly like about Isabella Oliver is that the clothes are designed to grow with you through pregnancy, rather than being pieces you’ll only wear for a few months. The brand focuses on timeless designs and durable materials, with around 80% of its collection made from regenerated cellulosic fibres, including LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Viscose and TENCEL™ Lyocell.
Neem London
If you’re looking for more sustainable menswear, Neem London is a brand I think is well worth discovering. The brand takes its name from the tree and uses it as a symbol of finding an ancient solution to a modern problem.
What particularly appeals to me about Neem is its focus on creating a capsule wardrobe rather than encouraging us to constantly buy something new. The brand’s clothes are designed around its own idea of “Power Casual” – well-tailored, versatile pieces that feel relaxed but still give you confidence and style. Many of its garments are made using recycled clothing and more sustainable materials, with the aim of helping customers reduce their carbon footprint without compromising on how they look.
Neem also places a strong emphasis on transparency and ethical production. The brand is committed to a transparent supply chain and wants sustainability and education to be part of the shopping experience, encouraging customers to think more carefully about what they buy and how long they will wear it. I particularly like this idea because it fits so well with the wider message of this article: sustainable fashion isn’t necessarily about buying a completely different wardrobe – it’s about buying more thoughtfully, choosing pieces that work hard and keeping them in use for longer.
Angel & Rocket
If you’re looking for more sustainable options for children’s clothing, Angel & Rocket is a lovely brand to consider. Founded in London in 2014, the family-run business creates colourful, fashion-forward clothing for children from 0–14, combining playful design with a more thoughtful approach to how clothes are made.
What I particularly like is the brand’s “Buy Better. Wear Longer. Hand Down.” philosophy. Rather than encouraging children to constantly move on to the next trend, Angel & Rocket focuses on quality, small production runs and pieces designed to last and hopefully be passed on to another child.
and finally....
Reducing plastic and living more sustainably doesn’t have to mean changing everything overnight. As these brands show, there are so many simple swaps we can make across our homes, skincare routines, wellness habits and wardrobes. For me, it’s about finding alternatives that genuinely work for you and gradually making better choices where you can. We might not get everything right, but every refill, reusable bottle, recycled material and thoughtfully chosen product is a small step towards a more sustainable way of living. After all, meaningful change doesn’t happen all at once – it happens one decision at a time.
Related – How We Can Live Plastic-Free (And Actually Make It Stick).
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