#bathroomgoals from the amazing @friederikchen
An Impossibly Easy Zero Waste Bathroom in 7 Steps
Harriet S. Co-founder of Zero Waste Cartel & surfer of very small waves.
In this article, you’ll learn how to create a beautiful and inviting zero waste bathroom. Warm butterflies will frolic from your soul, and friends will admire the charm radiating from your new eco-friendly bathroom.
But first a sad fact - the bathroom is typically one of the most wasteful rooms in our homes.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, shampoo, shower gel, and more - so many items contain plastic and nasty chemicals that harm the environment!
But you don’t have to live this way… As one of the great philosophers of the modern age once said… “it’s your life, it’s now or never.”
The truth is, there are many reusable or compostable alternatives which can help live a more sustainable life.
After you’ve read this article, you’ll be well-equipped to turn your bathroom into a gorgeous zero waste haven that oozes love and charm.
7 Tips for a Zero Waste Bathroom
1. Bamboo Toothbrush
Plastic toothbrushes are one of the greatest contributors to plastic waste as they either end up in the landfill or polluting our oceans.
The plastic handle is unnecessary and looks pretty damn ugly too.
Switch to a bamboo toothbrush and you will dramatically reduce your plastic waste instantly. Plus, it looks much more wholesome and feels smoother too.
Worried about compromising your dental hygiene though? These bamboo toothbrushes have bristles made from nylon 6 to ensure they follow the US standards of dental hygiene and boast recommendations from multiple dental hygienists.
Just make sure you pluck your bristles (or snap the head) before decomposing the handle as the bristles are not biodegradable.
2. Silk Dental Floss
Regular floss is made from nylon and often comes in a plastic container. It might be keeping your teeth plaque-free... but at the expense of our marine life.
Instead of this horrible plastic floss, switch to silk dental floss. It’s packaged in a refillable glass container, and is fully compostable too!
3. Bamboo Cup
Looking for a home to keep your bamboo toothbrush tucked away from the sink?
Handcrafted from sustainable bamboo, this bamboo cup will add some organic warmth and artisanal flair to your bathroom.4. Reusable Menstrual Cups
Did you know that tampons contain chemicals, bleach, and fibers that can stay inside you and potentially harm your health? Plus, the applicators break down into microplastics that can end up polluting our oceans, get eaten by fish, and then end up in our food chain.
Reusable menstrual cups are not just healthier for your body – they’re healthier for the environment as well.
There are a lot of health benefits of switching to menstrual cups, they are easy to use, and they provide excellent protection against leaks. There’s no reason to switch to these eco-friendly alternative.
5. Bamboo Cotton Swabs
One of the most harmful single-use-products is the plastic cotton swab.
A product so detrimental to marine life that some nations like Italy and Scotland have banned them completely.
What’s worse is that plastic-cotton-swabs cannot be recycled.
And that's why they often end up in our sea- as you can see by @justinhofman's photo here.
Bamboo cotton swabs are biodegradable and are designed to be more hygienically effective than your average plastic cotton swab.
They're made with a thinner cotton tip which is recommended for a more effective clean. Thicker cotton swabs are more likely to push wax into your ear instead of clean it out. Yuck.
So if you want to switch to bamboo cotton swabs - the oceans and your ears will thank you for it!
6. Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
Disposable make-up remover wipes are not only laden with chemicals, but they end up floating in our oceans. They’s also expensive!
The good news is that you don’t need them to take off your makeup because you can do it naturally.
Apply a touch of melted coconut oil on these reusable makeup remover pads until you reveal your natural glowing skin. The wipes are super soft and made to suit even the most sensitive skin. They’re produced from sustainably grown bamboo.
P.S little fun fact - Bamboo is the fastest growing plant and in some cases, it can grow 3 feet tall in 24 hours. You can literally watch it grow with your own eyes!
7. Safety Razors
Did you know that 2 billion razors end up in our landfill, each year?
That’s a lot of razors...
And it’s no surprise when we learn that the average razor cartridge is meant to be used about 6-9 times before we chuck. That’s about 2 weeks before we need a new one :(
Needless to say, switching your disposable plastic razor for a reusable razor can have a huge positive impact on the environment.
The blades are made from stainless steel and can be recycled when you’re done. With proper care and maintenance, the razor itself can last you a lifetime.
So Go & Get Those Zero Waste Bathroom Goals
With the above 7 tips, you can rid your bathroom of wasteful plastic and turn it into the zero waste haven that you can be proud of.
A few honourable mentions that haven't made the list but are still worth giving a go:
- Plants: In our opinion, the more plants the better :) They add some gorgeous warmth, reduce carbon dioxide, are proven to help reduce stress levels, and add a lovely warm green color.
- Toilet Paper: Save the trees and swap your plastic-packaged tp for some recycled paper. Check out Who Gives A Crap.
- Toilet Brush: Swap your plastic toilet brush for a wooden toilet brush to add a little wholesome warmth in the corner of your bathroom. Use it with your own DIY toilet cleaner for maximum chemical-free living (check out the recipe for this here)
- Compostable Bin: If you ditch all your single-use plastic items, then you could even swap your bin for a compostable bin!
Not only can you turn your bathroom into a room of relaxation with no plastic in sight, but you can rest assured knowing you've done your bit to save the little blue planet that we all call our home.
We would love to hear how you get on! Comment with your tips below and join our zero waste conversation on our social media accounts.
1 comment
I would really love to buy the unpaper towels but I can’t afford the holder right now. Can I buy them separately? Otherwise, I will have to wait. Thanks, I am slowly transitioning to more earth friendly products. Thanks for making it fun.