Low-tox living
Simple, affordable swaps for your kitchen, bathroom, laundry and garden, with Australian brands you can find at your local shops.
Instead of: Non-stick (PTFE) frypans
Scratched non-stick coatings can flake into food, and overheating them releases fumes. Cast iron and steel last for decades.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Solidteknics (Australian-made iron and steel), Lodge cast iron, Scanpan or Essteele stainless steel.
💡 On a budget: Op shops are full of old cast iron. A good scrub and a bake brings it back to life.
Instead of: Plastic food containers
Plastics can leach chemicals such as BPA and phthalates into food, especially when hot or fatty. Never microwave in plastic.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Pyrex glass containers, Ever Eco stainless steel (Australian), glass jars from the supermarket.
💡 On a budget: Wash and reuse glass jars from pasta sauce, nut butter and passata.
Instead of: Plastic cling wrap
Cling wrap is single-use plastic that often touches warm food.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Beeswax wraps from health food stores and local markets (lots of Australian makers).
💡 On a budget: Pop a plate over a bowl, or use a jar with a lid.
Instead of: Plastic chopping boards
Plastic boards shed tiny plastic particles as knives cut into them.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Australian timber boards from markets and kitchen stores, bamboo boards from supermarkets.
💡 On a budget: Oil wooden boards occasionally with a food-safe board oil to make them last.
Instead of: Unfiltered tap or bottled water
A good filter reduces chlorine taste and some contaminants, and you avoid plastic bottles.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Puretec (Australian) benchtop or under-sink filters, Brita jug filters. Look for filters certified to AS/NZS 4348 or NSF standards.
💡 On a budget: Start with a jug filter, then upgrade when your budget allows.
Instead of: Plastic water bottles
Plastic bottles can leach chemicals, especially when left in a hot car.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Frank Green and Cheeki (both Australian), KeepCup for coffee (Australian).
💡 On a budget: Any old glass bottle with a lid works for the fridge.
Instead of: Plastic kettles
Boiling water in plastic every day adds up.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Stainless steel and glass kettles at most Australian appliance and department stores.
💡 On a budget: Boil water in a stainless saucepan on the stove.
Instead of: Canned foods in plastic-lined tins
Many tins are lined with plastic coatings that may contain BPA or similar chemicals.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Supermarket dried beans and lentils, legumes and tomatoes in glass jars or cartons. Look for 'BPA-free lining'.
💡 On a budget: Cook a big pot of dried beans and freeze them in portions. It's the cheapest option of all.
Instead of: Multi-purpose sprays
Many sprays contain synthetic fragrance, harsh solvents and quaternary ammonium compounds you breathe in as you clean.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Koh, Zero Co, Resparkle and Earth Choice (all Australian).
💡 On a budget: Mix 1 tablespoon of castile soap into 500 ml of water in a spray bottle.
Instead of: Bleach toilet and bathroom cleaners
Bleach fumes irritate the lungs, and bleach should never be mixed with other cleaners.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Earth Choice and Koh toilet and bathroom cleaners (Australian).
💡 On a budget: Sprinkle bicarb soda, spray with vinegar, wait 10 minutes and scrub.
Instead of: Fragranced dishwashing liquid
You put your hands in it every day, and residues can stay on dishes.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Earth Choice (Australian), Ecostore, Zero Co refills.
💡 On a budget: Buy in bulk refills to save money and plastic.
Instead of: Dishwasher tablets with fragrance and dyes
Fragrance and dye residues can stay on your plates and cups.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Earth Choice and Ecostore dishwasher tablets.
💡 On a budget: Use white vinegar instead of rinse aid.
Instead of: Paper towel and disposable wipes
Disposable wipes are often made with plastic fibres and preservatives.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Microfibre or cotton cloths from any supermarket.
💡 On a budget: Cut up old t-shirts and towels into cleaning rags.
Instead of: Fragranced laundry liquid or powder
Synthetic fragrance stays in your clothes and sits against your skin all day.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Abode, Resparkle and Earth Choice (Australian), Zero Co, Ecostore.
💡 On a budget: Use half the recommended amount. Most loads don't need more.
Instead of: Fabric softener and dryer sheets
Softeners coat fabric with fragrance and chemical residues.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Wool dryer balls from health and homewares stores.
💡 On a budget: Half a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle softens clothes. The smell disappears as they dry.
Instead of: Chemical stain removers
Many stain removers contain optical brighteners and strong solvents.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Plant-based stain sticks from Australian eco brands.
💡 On a budget: Rub stains with a bar of laundry soap, or a bicarb paste, then dry whites in the sun.
Instead of: Antiperspirant
Antiperspirants block sweat glands with aluminium salts. Natural deodorants let you sweat but neutralise odour.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Woohoo and Black Chicken Remedies (both Australian), Sukin.
💡 On a budget: Give your body two to three weeks to adjust when you switch.
Instead of: Fragranced body wash and soap
Synthetic fragrance can contain dozens of undisclosed chemicals, including phthalates.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Dr Bronner's castile soap, Sukin (Australian), Ecostore.
💡 On a budget: One big bottle of castile soap does body wash, hand wash and cleaning.
Instead of: Conventional shampoo and conditioner
Many contain synthetic fragrance, harsh sulfates and preservatives that can irritate the scalp.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Biologika and Sukin (both Australian), shampoo bars from health food stores.
💡 On a budget: Wash your hair a little less often; your scalp will adjust.
Instead of: Moisturiser with fragrance and parabens
Your skin absorbs what you put on it, every day.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Sukin and A'kin (both Australian), pharmacy fragrance-free ranges.
💡 On a budget: Fewer products, used well, is the best low-tox routine.
Instead of: Chemical sunscreen
Sun protection is essential in Australia. Mineral sunscreens sit on the skin rather than being absorbed.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Wotnot and Little Urchin (both Australian), zinc ranges at the chemist. Choose SPF 50+.
💡 On a budget: Shade, hats and long sleeves are free sun protection. Always protect your skin.
Instead of: Conventional makeup
Makeup sits on your skin all day and can contain fragrance, parabens and talc.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Inika and Nude by Nature (both Australian).
💡 On a budget: Replace products one at a time as they run out.
Instead of: Conventional pads and tampons
These products sit against one of the most absorbent areas of the body.
🇦🇺 In Australia: JuJu cups, Modibodi period undies and TOM Organic (all Australian).
💡 On a budget: A cup lasts up to 10 years, so it saves money too.
Instead of: Plug-in air fresheners and scented candles
Synthetic fragrance is one of the biggest sources of indoor air pollution.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Australian beeswax candle makers at markets and health food stores.
💡 On a budget: Open the windows for 10 minutes each morning. It's the best air freshener there is.
Instead of: Shoes worn inside
Shoes track in dust, pesticides and lead from outside.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Any doormat and a shoe rack by the door.
💡 On a budget: Free, and your floors stay cleaner too.
Instead of: Dry dusting and an old vacuum
Household dust collects flame retardants and other chemicals. Dry dusting just moves it into the air.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Vacuums with a HEPA filter from Australian appliance stores.
💡 On a budget: Wipe surfaces with a damp cloth once a week.
Instead of: Vinyl (PVC) shower curtains
New vinyl curtains release chemical fumes, especially in a warm, steamy bathroom.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Cotton or linen shower curtains from homewares stores.
💡 On a budget: Fabric curtains can go in the washing machine, so they last for years.
Instead of: Insect sprays
Surface sprays leave pesticide residues where you live and eat.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Fly screens, mosquito nets, and natural repellents from Australian eco brands.
💡 On a budget: Keep benches clean and food sealed. Peppermint oil on a cotton ball deters ants.
Instead of: Chemical weed killers
Herbicides like glyphosate drift and stay in the soil, and kids and pets play there.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Sugar cane or pine bark mulch from Bunnings and garden centres.
💡 On a budget: Pour boiling water on weeds in paths and cracks.
Instead of: Synthetic garden pesticides
Pesticides harm bees, birds and the soil life that keeps your garden healthy.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Eco-Oil and Eco-Neem (Australian, certified for organic use).
💡 On a budget: Companion planting and hand-picking pests. Healthy soil grows stronger plants.
Instead of: Fragranced baby wipes
Baby skin is thin and absorbs more.
🇦🇺 In Australia: WaterWipes, or Australian eco brands.
💡 On a budget: Soft cloths and warm water are gentle and free.
Instead of: Kids' bath products with fragrance
Children are more sensitive to fragrance and preservatives.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Gaia (Australian), Jack N' Jill (Australian) kids' toothpaste.
💡 On a budget: Most kids only need water and a little gentle wash.
Instead of: Soft plastic toys and teethers
Soft plastics can contain phthalates, and babies put everything in their mouths.
🇦🇺 In Australia: Wooden toys from Australian makers and natural rubber teethers.
💡 On a budget: Op shops and toy libraries are full of wooden toys.
No swaps match that search yet.
Go one swap at a time. Start with what you use the most, and replace things as they run out. Honeycomb isn't paid by any of these brands. Products and formulas change, so always check the label. Have a favourite Australian swap? Share it in the community and we'll add it.
