Bathrooms can produce ample amounts of waste each year, and not just the type that ends up down the loo. Reusable products are kind to the earth and can even benefit both your personal health and your purse strings. Here are 6 reusable alternatives to help you create a zero waste bathroom:
1. Shampoo Bar and ACV Conditioner
It just isn’t sustainable to use so much plastic packaging for our shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc. Making the switch to a shampoo or soap bar is an easy first swap towards a zero waste bathroom. They’re easy to find and not a far cry from what you’re already used to. Many bars are completely natural, cruelty free and vegan, so you can easily get what you’re looking for even if there are wider ethical issues at play. These bars are great as they normally come in paper packaging rather than being wrapped in plastic. Companies are aware that their consumers more often than not are trying to reduce their plastic waste. To condition, you can make your own AVC rinse which leaves your hair chemical free and feeling super silky.
2. Bamboo Toothbrush and Homemade Toothpaste
A lot of toothbrushes are going into landfill each year as many of us are investing in new ones every 3 months. Swapping your conventional toothbrush for one made from bamboo can combat this. Bamboo is biodegradable, so you can even compost your toothbrush handle when you’re done! Many toothpaste products contain harmful ingredients such as fluoride as well as being sold in plastic packaging. Why not eliminate both of these at once and make your own natural, plastic free toothpaste? All you need is some baking soda, coconut oil and peppermint essential oil and you’re good to go.
3. Safety Razor
Plastic razors have a very short life cycle. And with shaving being a part of many people’s daily routine, that’s a lot of plastic razors piling up in landfill each year. Not to mention, if you don’t fancy cutting your skin to pieces so prefer to invest in some high quality ones, razor blades can end up costing you the earth in more ways than one. But we can tackle this by taking a trip back to the 1700s when the safety razor was created. The safety razor definitely looks a little daunting at first. Once you get over the slight panic of having an open blade skimming your most delicate areas, you can enjoy the sleek, velvety feeling that the safety razor leaves behind.
4. Reusable Period Products
There are so many reusable period products out there now that there really is no need to continue using traditional pads and tampons. These natural alternatives offer benefits for both the earth and our health. All while saving us money in the long run! With everything available from cloth pads to menstrual cups, and even period yoga pants, there is an alternative out there for everyone. Do your research on what reusable period product is right for you. You’re bound to find one that suits you, your period and your lifestyle, and be well on your way to having a zero waste cycle.
5. Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
Makeup wipes are a staple in many bathrooms, but they may actually be doing more harm than good to our skin and not cleansing it as well as we think. Makeup wipes can sometimes dry out skin and cause irritation, especially if they are on the cheaper side. Investing in a more expensive brand can definitely become quite costly. The amount that the average person will go through in their lifetime definitely doesn’t help the planet. Do your skin, the earth and your wallet all a favour and invest in some reusable makeup remover pads. Pair these with some coconut oil and you’ll never have to invest in disposable makeup wipes again! Even if you don’t wear makeup, you can use these to clean your face. These are a must-have for any zero waste bathroom.
6. Reusable Toilet Paper
Reusable toilet paper often known as ‘family cloth’ is an instant NO! for many people and simply a step too far – it just seems… icky. But don’t be so quick to judge as reusable toilet paper does wonders for the environment. According to The 9 Billion, one tree makes around 1,000 rolls of toilet paper and with Americans using 7 billion rolls a year, 7 million trees are sacrificed annually, solely for toilet paper. So if this is enough to make you take the leap and put your initial apprehensions behind you, you’ll discover a whole new multi-coloured, brightly patterned, much-less-gross-than-you-first-thought world of reusable toilet paper.
