Zero Waste Bathroom: 10 Easy Plastic Free Bathroom Swaps
Plastic free bathroom
If you are looking to reduce your plastic waste, then the bathroom is the second biggest contributing room in the house. From rows of shampoos and liquid soaps bottles, to deodorants and toothbrushes, there are plenty of low waste and plastic free bathroom swaps you can make.
As your bottle of shampoo runs out, or if your toothbrush or deodorant needs replacing, have a think about what your next purchase might be. Being a conscious consumer is about making thoughtful choices on the things we buy and how it affects the world we live in.
Eco-friendly swaps don’t all need to be made at once – you could add to them over time as you use up your existing short-use and single-use plastic items. Many items on our favourites list are reusable. This means that once you have them, you shouldn’t need to replace them for years. Let’s take a look at some of our favourite swaps.
1. Solid Shampoo
Switching to a solid shampoo bar should never be a compromise! EcoLiving shampoo bars are not soap based so won’t leave any residue in your hair, making it an easy transition over to a more eco-friendly alternative. They are made from natural, organic ingredients and come in biodegradable card packaging. With four fragrances to choose from, they are all suitable for all hair types, including sensitive scalps.
2. Eco Deodorant
Earth Conscious and Ben & Anna deodorant are packaged in a paper tube, perfect for reducing plastic waste. Made from natural, vegan friendly ingredients that really work, leaving you smelling fresh all day long. For bicarb sensitive skin try the Biork crystal deodorant stick, natural, hypoallergenic and aluminium chloride free. It comes in a natural cork container that can be composted after use.
3. Bamboo Toothbrushes
It’s been estimated that we will each use 300 toothbrushes in a lifetime, with 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes used worldwide each year. Choosing a bamboo toothbrush is an ideal alternative to plastic toothbrush, and are a quick and easy swap. The bamboo handle can go in the compost where it will take about six months to biodegrade. The bristles are BPA-free nylon, so snap the head off first and check to see if it can be recycled.
4. Reusable Wipes
Wet wipes have been marketed as a can’t-live-without item for nearly everything. From wiping mucky and faces, babies bottoms, highchairs, surfaces, toilets, car interiors – the list goes on. Most contain plastic fibres that don’t biodegrade in landfill or in sewers, and are often mistakenly flushed down the toilet where the clog sewers, costing millions of pounds to unblock.
Using washable wipes couldn’t be easier. Keep a stack in the bathroom and wet as you go, and keep in a wet bag until you are ready to wash with your towels. For out and about you can take dry wipes and wet as you go, or take pre-wetted wipes in a wet bag. They are more effective the cleaning, and won’t add to your plastic footprint.
5. Soap Bar
We have come to rely on liquid soap in plastic containers. However it’s time to banish those bottles and go back to solid soap bars. To get the best from your soap, allow it to dry out quickly between uses on a soap dish. Free from plastic packaging, containing natural ingredients and smelling amazing we have a great range to choose from.
6. Soap Pouch/ Natural Konjac Sponge
The Hydrophil sisal soap pouch is a great way to use up the last of those little soap pieces. Use in the bath or shower to gently exfoliating and cleanse your skin. If you prefer a sponge, then the konjac sponge is ethically made from the konjac plant and is suitable for sensitive skin, your face, and washing babies and young children. A natural sponge that is 100% plant-based and entirely biodegradable.
7. Safety Razor
A more traditional way of saving that gives fantastic results. If you are looking to ditch the disposable plastic razor for a more sustainable option, then safety razors are for you. With care they last a lifetime and give you an exceptional and shave, making them a worthwhile eco-investment.
8. Reusable Period Products
With half of us having periods every month for a least part of our life we can make a huge impact on our plastic consumption. Single use period pads and tampons contain plastics that don’t biodegrade and can often be found on the beach and at sea. Reusable menstrual products including cloth period pads, pants and menstrual cups are wonderful alternatives. Most people making the swap never go back to single use – try them yourself and see! If are new to reusable period products, find out more over on our blog post >HERE<
9. Facial Cleanser and Reusable Cleansing Wipes
A zero waste beauty regime is achievable with washable cleansing wipes and a solid facial cleansing bar or plastic free facial cleanser. We love the Lani range including the Facial Cleansing Oil. This contains natural ingredients that will gently cleanse your skin, is vegan and cruelty free, and comes in a stylish glass bottle.
Ditch the single use makeup remover pads and go for a washable option instead! Washable cleansing wipes are the perfect size for removing makeup, and many come with a mesh bag to wash them in. This makes them great sustainable alternative to single use makeup wipes.
10. Plastic Free Toilet Brush and Holder
Choose an eco-friendly, plastic free alternative to keep your loo spick and span. With no plastic fibres escaping into the waterways each time you clean, and fully biodegradable when it reaches the end of its life. Moreover, the EcoLiving toilet brush and metal holder will look great in your plastic free bathroom, and will have minimal environmental impact.
Low waste bathroom
Going plastic free in the bathroom is totally achievable, and once you have made the changes we are sure you will love them as much as we do! Why not try just one swap a month? By this time next year you will be well on your way to a more sustainable bathroom. Don’t forget to tag us in any photos with #BabipurBathroom and let us know how you’re getting on!
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