Plastic pollution is choking our planet, costing Australians more than we realise environmentally, economically, and socially. Every single-use item we throw away comes with hidden costs: waste disposal fees, a higher cost of living, and long-term environmental damage. But there’s a better way.
The reuse revolution
The throwaway era is looking a little… tired. Enter the reuse revolution.
We spotlight a smarter system where packaging doesn’t head straight for landfill, but loops back into action again and again. Refill. Return. Repeat. It’s practical, proven, and already gaining momentum across Australia.
Because waste is not inevitable. It’s a design flaw. And together, we can redesign the story.
The UN’s Turning off the Tap Report (2023) sets a clear target: reduce global plastic pollution by 80% by 2040, with a transition to reuse as a key priority. It estimates that 30–50% of single-use packaging could feasibly be replaced with reusable alternatives, including refillable bottles, bulk dispensers, deposit return schemes, and packaging take-back initiatives.
Returnable plastic packaging alone has the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions and water use by up to 70% and reduce material use by 45–75% (Unlocking a Reuse Revolution, Ellen MacArthur Foundation). While all Australian governments have committed to banning certain problem plastics, little progress has been made in actually supporting reuse.
Reuse should be the norm, not the exception. That’s why the Boomerang Alliance launched the Choose To Reuse campaign, starting with single-use cups, lids and takeaway food containers. notice how these items follow us everywhere, from cafés and events to supermarkets, food courts, offices, university campuses and even public transport. We’re on a mission to empower Australia to give up single-use for good, and our Choose to Reuse in Australia report shows how. It maps out practical, proven reuse systems that work for individuals, businesses and governments alike, with real-world examples such as deposit return schemes and packaging take-back programs that make reuse easy, convenient and part of everyday life.
Lower emissions and water use from returnable plastic packaging, with material use reduced by up to 75%.
We’re calling for:
A national 20% plastic reduction and
A 30% reuse target by 2030 as a starting point to shift Australia towards a circular economy.
A ban on disposable coffee cups/lids and plastic takeaway food containers by 2027 in controlled environments.
By phasing out single-use in key areas and scaling up reusable alternatives, we are reducing waste, emissions and costs to households and businesses.
Why choose to reuse?
Cut costs
Reuse is a climate solution
Support a circular economy
Resources
Plastic Free Places
In 2017, Boomerang Alliance started the Plastic Free Noosa project. Our goal was to assist businesses to reduce single-use plastics, and create a guide for other communities.
We soon realised that working to achieve this change was anything but simple!
So we created ‘Plastic Free Places’. A comprehensive program that can be implemented by us in any community.
We’ve now implemented our program in over 20 communities across Australia, and many of our projects now focus solely on reuse!
