With the rise in popularity of green living, more and more people are looking at ways to reduce their impact on the environment. Implementing changes such as a composting system or buying reusable products is great, but often people overlook one of the biggest sources of waste – your bathroom! Many personal care products contain harmful chemicals that leech into our water supply and harm wildlife. Furthermore, a lot of these items aren’t recyclable so end up sitting in landfills for thousands of years. In this blog post, I will outline some simple swaps you can make today to move towards creating a zero waste bathroom.
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How do you use zero waste in the bathroom?
Have you ever thought about how much waste is created in the bathroom? You use toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap. You also have to buy all of these products which create even more waste.
Zero Waste has become a big trend lately and it’s made me rethink my usage habits in the bathroom. I always used to think that there was nothing I could do about this issue but after researching zero waste ideas on Pinterest, I realized there are so many things we can do!
One idea is switching to using cloth menstrual pads or tampons.
Another option is buying items like shampoo, conditioner, and soap in a bar form rather than in a bottle.
In this article, I want to help you introduce more swaps to create a zero waste bathroom. That’s why I have put together a list of 12 simple swaps for your bathroom
How can we reduce plastic waste in the bathroom?
If you want to reduce plastic waste in the bathroom, then there are a few ways that you can do it.
- Use less toilet paper and more water or biodegradable wipes instead.
- Switch from single-use hand soap bottles to pump dispensers or refillable containers of concentrated liquid soap.
- Use a toothbrush with an eco-friendly bamboo handle.
- Buy products in bulk and use reusable containers for shampoo, conditioner, etc.
- Get rid of any plastic shower curtains and replace them with fabric or vinyl ones.
12 Simple Swaps For A Zero Waste Bathroom:
1. Toilet Paper
The toilet paper industry is very notorious for its high levels of environmental impact. It takes a lot of wood pulp and water to make just one roll, not to mention the release of chemicals into our rivers and streams.
The best way to combat this problem is by switching over from using traditional toilet paper which uses all these natural resources, towards more sustainable options such as recycled paper or biodegradable products, which don’t use any trees at all! This will help reduce the amount of pollution in our environment and make it a better place for us humans too.
2. Dental Floss
For those of you who are fans of good dental hygiene, there is now a zero waste alternative to your old waxy nylon string. This new method works just as well and it does not create any garbage!
There are no preservatives in these strings and they work just as well as their predecessors.
Try out some zero waste floss today – you’ll be amazed by how much trash you’re helping save!
3. Soap
Although soap comes in a bar form rather than a plastic bottle, most soap comes wrapped in plastic.
As we all know, plastic is a huge polluter to the environment.
Forget about the expensive soaps that leave your skin feeling like a prune. They’re overrated and unnecessary! There are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives, such as biodegradable paper wrapped soap bars or soap nuts. Cleancult is one of our favorites because they have so many different options and scents.
Liquid soap might seem like a convenient alternative, but if you’re not careful it can create an even bigger problem than before – wasted resources and unnecessary pollution. Liquid body wash isn’t much better either because it comes in those annoying little plastic
Surely it’s worth trying out a new swap for your zero waste bathroom?
4. Toothbrushes
Plastics never fully biodegrade and can last for decades or even centuries. This means that the toothbrushes we buy today will still be around in 200 years, clogging up our oceans or buried deep in landfills.
It’s time to say goodbye to the plastic toothbrush for good!
If you’re looking for a better alternative than your regular old toothbrush, look no further! Try using a bamboo toothbrush instead – not only is it good for the environment but also feels more gentle on your teeth and gums too!
5. Razors
In today’s society, there is an issue where people buy disposable razors only to use them once or twice before they become dull and unusable. This not only wastes money but also creates a lot of unnecessary waste as the person will need to throw away their old razor along with all those plastic parts it came within order for themselves or others to purchase a new one.
Rather than continuing this cycle, its time to invest in a safety razor! Yes, we’re going old school with this one.
These zero waste razors are perfect for those who want to save their environment from unnecessary plastic pollution. They function in the same way as a traditional disposable razor but last so much longer. The steel blade is also recyclable!
6. Q-Tips
You’ve tackled your big ticket items, now it’s time to start the small stuff. You can start by eliminating all of those little things that end up in the trash and clog landfills.
Q-tips are not only bad for your ears, but they’re bad for the environment too. By using this product you are adding more trash like plastic to landfills and oceans as well as harming animals that eat discarded tissues and get stuck in them while trying to digest.
The best way to avoid these consequences is by using warm oil to soften the ear wax and then using a water syringe to clear the wax out.
7. Deodorant
I have heard that the recycling process for plastic deodorant sticks is not good and they are likely going straight to landfill.
Thats why I’ve decided to include zero waste deodorant in this list.
Here are some of my favourite eco-friendly deodorant products:
8. Hair Brush
You probably have a plastic hairbrush or comb.
It’s time to switch to one made of wood because your scalp AND the environment will thank you.
A wooden brush or comb does a much better job of pulling oil from the root of your hair to the tip. These natural oils will help keep your hair and scalp healthy and even give your hair volume and bounce.
9. Shampoo and Conditioner
People often don’t take the time to think about how much shampoo they use regularly and just how many bottles are thrown away every year. In fact, if all of them were stacked together it would be enough to cover 1,164 football fields!
I’ve always believed that the only way to get shampoo and conditioner is by using a liquid that comes in a plastic bottle. I was surprised to find that shampoo and conditioner bottles don’t have to be plastic.
In reality, there are a plethora of shampoo and conditioner options that are out there, many of which do not come in plastic packaging. Products such as Ethique’s Eco-Friendly Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Variety Pack, that will not only save you money, but they’ll also protect the environment from plastic pollution.
I love shampoo and conditioner bars because they’re an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional plastic bottles. Amazingly they can last for up to six months without any preservatives or toxic chemicals and their compact size makes them perfect for travel.
10. Menstrual Products
I’d be remiss to not mention a personal topic that is near and dear to many women. When you think about all the waste that can come from just one woman’s period, it can be a lot to handle.
One way women are fighting back against this problem is by quitting their use of tampons and pads entirely during their periods by using menstrual cups instead which eliminates over 2,400 days worth of waste!
Menstrual cups are made of silicone and latex, so they are body-safe too! The best part about these cups is that they last up to 10 years, so you significantly reduce the amount of waste your produce by making the switch.
Some people might not be interested in using menstrual cups. For those who want an environmentally-friendly option, there are some great eco-friendly menstrual products like cloth pads.
11. Toothpaste
With so many disposable plastic tubes going to landfills every year, your morning teeth-brushing routine could be doing you more harm than good.
Each year 1 billion plastic toothpaste tubes end up in landfills. Yes, one BILLION!
There are so many plastic-free toothpaste products on the market. Add these toothpaste tabs to your zero waste bathroom.
12. Trash Bags
I’m really passionate about composting because I know how much garbage can be saved by just putting food waste into one bin. What is great about this practice is that not only does it help the environment, but also for what you save in your monthly garbage bill.
The bathroom is a great place to make your little contribution to the world. There’s so much stuff in there that you can always find something, like toilet paper and cotton swabs, that needs recycling or composting. It’s really easy to use this space for both by just placing a lower bin right where it belongs – near the toilet!
FAQs – Questions You May Have
Why should I make the switch to zero waste?
There are many reasons why you might want or need a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Here’s just one: You may be worried about your health and what chemicals could do long term damage, especially if they get into our water supply (which is already happening). There have been studies that show how some of these products can lead to not only cancer but also birth defects in children born from mothers who used them during pregnancy!
Is going zero waste expensive?
It might seem like the idea of going zero waste is expensive, with many people thinking it costs a lot to buy all new reusable items. But in reality, if you start off slowly and gradually replace your old products with new ones over time, then it can be just as cheap or even cheaper than buying disposable products!
Does zero waste make a difference?
Yes, of course it makes a difference!
Zero waste is a trend that aims to reduce the number of materials in landfills by making smarter decisions about what we buy, how we use it, and where it goes when it’s no longer needed. This conservation lifestyle includes reducing packaging as well as buying products with minimal or recyclable packaging. Not only do these actions help protect our environment; they also have monetary benefits such as lower energy bills (due to less processing).
