Every day, the UK purchases 10 million plastic bottles. Single-use plastic bottles take just five seconds to make, five minutes to use, and a shocking 500 years to break down❗
Plastic Free July is a global movement that encourages people to refuse single-use plastic for one month. But the goal is bigger than 31 days. It is about building habits that can help us reduce plastic waste for good. At BRITA, we believe real change starts with small, practical decisions. Many others are joining the movement too.
Why we need Plastic Free July🌍
Single-use plastic water bottles have been normalised by the marketing industry in the last few decades. Most are only used once. Less than half are recycled. The rest are sent to landfill, incinerated, or end up as litter in our environment. Of the millions of tonnes of plastic dumped in our oceans every year, plastic bottles are the second most commonly found item.
For an item used once and then thrown away, the environmental cost is extremely high.
But this is a problem we can solve.
Refill Makes A Difference💙
One of the easiest ways to cut plastic waste is to carry a reusable bottle and refill it. This is only possible if people can access clean, free water when they need it.
That is why the Refill campaign is so powerful. Led by City to Sea, it connects people with more than 30,000 refill stations across the UK. You can use the free Refill app to find a spot near you, whether you are in a café, shop or public space.
Polling shows that 70 percent of UK adults would prefer to refill their bottles rather than buy new ones. With the right infrastructure, people are ready to make the switch.
The Role of Filtered Water💧
We know that taste and trust are essential. If people do not like the way tap water tastes, they are more likely to buy bottled alternatives. A BRITA filter removes chlorine, limescale and other impurities that affect water quality.
That makes refilling not only the sustainable choice, but a more enjoyable one. One BRITA filter cartridge can replace up to 1,800 single-use plastic bottles a year. That is a simple action with a big environmental benefit.
Cutting Plastic At Major Events
Music festivals, sports events and other large gatherings generate huge amounts of plastic waste. The Environment Agency estimates that major events can produce up to 750,000 plastic bottles every time.
But these events also offer a chance to do things differently.
BRITA’s partnership with the LTA is helping to reduce single-use plastic at tennis events across the country. By offering filtered water stations and encouraging people to bring their own bottles, BRITA has proudly removed the equivalent of nearly half a million plastic bottles from LTA events since 2024.
Similarly, Glastonbury banned single-use plastic at the festival in 2019.
Working alongside Bristol Water, they hydrated the 200,000 festival-goers using a dedicated water supply infrastructure. If they can provide the equivalent of 75 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water entirely without single-use plastic, why can’t everyone?
This shows Refill-friendly events are not only possible, but popular and effective.
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What More Needs To Happen🫗
Plastic Free July is a great time to rethink our habits. But change also depends on systems and support that make refill culture easier for everyone. That includes better infrastructure, stronger policy, and continued public awareness.
At BRITA, we will keep championing the alternatives. Whether it is helping households switch to filtered water, advocating to Government for increased access to public water fountains, or working with partners to reduce waste at events, we are committed to helping people cut single-use plastic.
Your Role This Plastic Free July🤝
Sustainable change does not require grand gestures. It can start with one refill, one filter, one habit. When enough people make that choice, the impact is powerful.
This Plastic Free July, take one step away from single-use. Carry a reusable bottle. Choose filtered water. Join a growing movement for less waste and a cleaner future.
