The Simple Sink Swap That Stops 92 Million Bottles Going to Landfill.

zero waste blog
Australians throw away around 92 million dishwashing liquid bottles every year. Most are used for a few weeks, then discarded, then replaced again. Imagine if instead households simply refilled the one they already had.One bottle reused again. That’s the power of small changes. And once you start thinking differently about what comes into your home, you also start thinking differently about what gets left behind on your plates, cups, cutlery and cookware too. Most conventional dishwashing liquids are designed around fragrance, foam and shelf life and the products we use on the same plates our families eat from every day deserve a closer look.

  • What’s actually in conventional dishwashing liquid? 

     

    Most supermarket dishwashing liquids are designed around shelf life, fragrance, foam, and appearance. 

    That often means long ingredient lists filled with synthetic fragrances, artificial dyes, preservatives, harsh surfactants and unnecessary additives. 

    Ingredients commonly found in conventional dish liquids include: 

    • SLS and SLES (sodium lauryl/laurethsulfate) — harsh foaming agents and known skin sensitisers
    • PEGs (polyethylene glycols) — petroleum-derived compounds
    • Parabens — synthetic preservatives
    • CMIT/MIT (methylchloroisothiazolinone/ methylisothiazolinone) — preservatives linked to skin irritation
    • Phosphates and artificial dyes

    And while we rinse our dishes after washing, residue from cleaning products can still remain behind on plates, cups, cutlery, baby bottles and cookware. 

    Which means the products we use around food and what our family can ingest really matters more than most people realise.

  • Why we love our Lemon Myrtle Dishwashing Liquid 

     

    At The Source Bulk Foods, one of our customer favourites is our Lemon Myrtle Dishwashing Liquid made by a small family producer in Northern NSW and it’s easy to see why. 

    Made using pure Australian lemon myrtle oil, it delivers a fresh natural citrus aroma while still cutting through grease and everyday kitchen mess. 

    It’s also: 

    • Plant-based and biodegradable  
    • Phosphate free  
    • Palm oil free  
    • Grey water and septic safe  
    • Gentle on sensitive skin  
    • Designed to be refilled again and again 
    • Concentrated formula for effective dish cleaning 
    • Free from SLS, SLES, PEGs, parabens and CMIT/MIT 
    • Suitable for use on natural stone and marble surfaces 
    • No artificial fragrances 
    • Family safe and earth safe 
    • Cruelty-free and vegan 

    And because it’s concentrated, a little goes a long way. Less waste. Fewer top-ups. Smarter everyday shopping. 

  • The refill habit is simpler than you think 

     

    Refilling is one of those things that sounds unfamiliar until you do it once. 

    Bring your empty dishwashing bottle, jar or container into store. 

    Refill only the amount you need. 

    Use it again and again. 

    Simple. 

    No overflowing cupboard of half-used plastic bottles. No unnecessary packaging. No starting over every time something runs out. 

  • Why lemon myrtle? 

     

    Native to Australia, lemon myrtle is known for its naturally fresh citrus aroma and has been valued for generations for its cleansing and aromatic qualities. 

    It brings a clean, uplifting scent to one of the hardest working products in your kitchen without relying on overpowering artificial fragrances. 

  • Small changes you can make today 

     

    • Refill your dishwashing bottle instead of replacing it  
    • Take a closer look at the ingredient lists in your cleaning products  
    • Swap one conventional cleaning product for a plant-based alternative  
    • Choose concentrated products that last longer  
    • Ask your local Source team how the refill system works  

The takeaway 

Sometimes the biggest changes start with the products we stop buying on autopilot. One refill might not feel like much. 

But millions of small refills? That’s where real change happens. 

Visit your local The Source Bulk Foods store 

and discover a simpler, smarter way to shop for everyday essentials.  

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