Confidence in Recycled Plastic: How to Know You’re Buying the Right Sustainable Products
Recycled plastic products are everywhere — from homewares to fashion to outdoor living — but with so much misinformation around plastic recycling, waste, and sustainability, it’s hard to know what’s genuinely eco-friendly and what’s just marketing.
At Dezinery, we believe that sustainability should come with confidence, clarity and style — not confusion. That’s why we’re transparent about how our recycled plastic products are made, what they’re made from, and what impact they really have.
Let’s unpack the most common myths around recycled plastic, and how you can shop recycled with confidence.
Myth 1: Recycled plastic sheds more microplastics than virgin plastic
It’s true that polymer chains can be slightly shortened during the recycling process, which can make plastic more brittle if it isn’t treated properly. However, modern plastic recycling uses stabilisers and additives to restore strength and durability.
In fact, a well-made recycled plastic product using properly sorted waste streams can shed less microplastic than a poorly made virgin plastic product.
The real issue isn’t recycled versus virgin — it’s quality, design and manufacturing standards.
Myth 2: Recycled plastics are more toxic than virgin plastics
This concern usually comes from three sources:
- Legacy additives in older plastics
- Contamination from poorly sorted waste streams
- Degradation from early recycling processes
Today, reputable recycled plastic suppliers wash, sort, test and compound plastics to meet strict safety and chemical standards. Virgin plastic, on the other hand, also contains a wide range of chemical additives — it is not chemically “pure” by default.
With proper sourcing and traceability, recycled plastic is no more toxic than virgin plastic — and can even contain fewer harmful additives when well controlled.
Myth 3: Recycled plastic is lower quality or looks cheap
Early recycled plastic products often had thick, speckled finishes and limited colour options. That era is over.
Modern recycled plastics can match virgin plastics for:
- Strength
- Durability
- Weather resistance
- Finish Quality
Today’s recycled plastic products can be just as refined, premium and design-led — making them not only sustainable, but genuinely eco-chic.
Myth 4: It’s just greenwashing — recycling doesn’t really help
Greenwashing is unfortunately common in the sustainability space. Many brands claim to use recycled materials but provide no detail on:
- How much recycled content is actually used
- What type of plastic it is
- Where it was sourced
- How it was processed
However, legitimate plastic recycling plays a critical role in:
- Reducing plastic waste sent to landfill
- Lowering demand for virgin fossil-based plastics
- Supporting a circular economy
Done properly, recycling absolutely makes a difference — both environmentally and socially.
The Dezinery Approach: Transparency and Confidence
We’ve all seen products that claim to be “made from recycled materials”, only to discover that:
- Less than 1% is recycled
- There’s no information on plastic type, origin or processing
- There’s no clarity on quality, safety or lifespan
We found that unacceptable.
So we built our business around two principles: brand transparency and a clear product rating system.
1. Brand Transparency
We highlight the brands we work with so you can see:
- Who made the product
- Where it was made
- How it was designed
- What materials were used
No hidden supply chains. No vague sustainability claims.
2. The Dezinery Product Rating System
Every recycled plastic product on Dezinery is assessed using our proprietary rating system, so you can see sustainability and quality at a glance.
We rate products across:
- Recycled Content – clear percentage of recycled plastic
- Assembly – manufactured in Australia or overseas
- Traceability - Where the materials were sourced
- Impactful Design - where the product was designed
- Next Life - whether it can be reused or repurposed
- Generational Use – how long it typically stays out of landfill
This helps you make informed, confident purchasing decisions — and supports a truly circular economy.
Recycled Can Be Beautiful
Sustainability doesn’t mean compromising on design, quality or performance. Recycled plastic products can be durable, safe, stylish and genuinely eco-friendly — when done properly.
At Dezinery, we curate recycled, upcycled and sustainable products that combine:
- Responsible materials
- Transparent sourcing
- Thoughtful design
- Long life
So you can recycle, reuse and reduce waste — beautifully.
Shop Eco-Chic Recycled Plastic Products
Explore our range of recycled plastic homewares, accessories and gifts designed for modern sustainable living at www.dezinery.com.au.