Did you know that an average American home has over 300,000 items in it? Yikes! Now while this number includes things like furniture and clothing, a lot of these items are consumable goods.
Consumable goods are the reusable products that you continue to rebuy on a consistent basis. These are your pantry items, cleaning products, and personal products. One of the rooms that contains the most consumable goods is the bathroom.
Your bathroom holds a lot of 'stuff'. From shower necessities to beauty and skin products, there are a lot of items that you continually use. The thing about most of this stuff is that it gets tossed out and thrown away, ending up in trash, landfills, and our ocean.
If you're someone like me, you hate the idea that how your live your day-to-day life is impacting and affecting the plant and natural environment. The idea that my dental floss used to clean my teeth can be the cause for a marine animal to choke and die is some karma I'd wish to avoid in this lifetime. That's why I try my best to find and use sustainable goods and products that lessen my carbon footprint and damage done to this green and blue planet I care so much about.
Sustainable and zero-waste products aren't as intimidating as you might think. I know that the term 'zero-waste' can cause this 'all or nothing' mentality or give the idea that it's an expensive lifestyle to live, but being someone that has done this for years, even when being a broke college student, I'm here to tell you that it can be a lot easier and cheaper than yo believe. Switching to zero-waste products is safer for the natural environment, but it's also better for your health and better for your wallet in the long run.
Continue reading to find my list of what sustainable zero waste swaps you can be making in your bathroom to create a more holistic home and live a happier and healthier life.
Toothbrush
Do you also have more toothbrushes than teeth? Everytime I go for my regular dental visit, I always get bombarded with a plastic baggie full of plastic items: dental floss, mini toothpaste, and the plastic toothbrush. This got so bad that I could have probably started my own dental hygiene store. Nowadays I skip the gift bag from my dentist. Instead of all this plastic, I opt for eco-friendly options.
For my toothbrush, I love using bamboo kind. Made from renewable bamboo, they are a sustainable and zero-waste choice for your bathroom. For even more healthy living, try one with active charcoal bristles. Active charcoal is a natural ingredient that cleans and whitens your teeth. And as always choose a bamboo toothbrush that also has recyclable or biodegradable packaging.
Toothpaste
Talking about teeth, another obvious plastic problem is toothpaste. Most toothpastes come in plastic tubes that are not recyclable and many of these products have harmful chemicals like Flouride. An easy and simple sustainable swap is toothpaste pills or tablets. These are effortless to use, just pop in your mouth and chew. You don't even need to wet your brush prior. They often come in a tiny and compact case, making them excellent for travel as well.
Shampoo
Another travel friendly bathroom product are shampoo bars. If you don't know about shampoo bars, then you're missing out! Instead of a plastic container, this shampoo looks like a bar of soap yet works to create lushious and shiny locks. Simply wet and lather into your hair.
For a great shampoo bar, Ethique makes a variety of bars to work for any and every hair type. Free of plastics, parabens, phthalates, preservatives, dyes, synthetic fragrances, waxes & silicones, they are the ultimate zero-waste bathroom swap. Oh, did I mention they're also cruelty-free AND palm oil free? Yep, and I bet you thought this bar couldn't get any more eco-friendly.
Conditioner
Similar to the shampoo bars, conditioner bars are also a great swap in going zero-waste and plastic free. These conditioner bars contain natural ingredients that are known to lead to luscious hair. They have coconut oil which helps to moisten hair and even repair dry and damages locks. Lime oil is another natural ingredient used, which prevents dandruff and promotes hair growth and shine. Don't you just love the healthy benefits of nature?
Soaps
This zero-waste swap is probably the one you are already doing, and that's using a bar of soap instead of a liquid body wash. While many liquid body washes come in plastic bottles that seem recyclable, sadly most plastic isn't recycled. But that's for another blog post. Soap bars clean just as well and can save you money because you often get more washes out of them. Liquid bath wash is also prone to bacterial growth on its own (hence why so many liquid body washes have preservatives). Soap bars are also a great way to support your local community, since you can often find soap makers at farmer's markets and craft stands.
Loofah
This is another product that I questioned why I used to have so many of...and that's loofahs. While loofahs are great for exfoliating the skin and removing dead cells, most loofahs are made from mesh or nylon, which is plastic based. Instead, try a loofah made from natural plant fibers. They work the same but are compostable or biodegradable, making them a sustainable and zero-waste swap.
Razor
When a company that makes cheap lighters also makes cheap pens and cheap razors, I raise an eyebrow. Disposable razors or even disposable razor heads can lead to a lot of plastic that your bathroom is producing. Instead, try this zero-waste swap for the home: bamboo razors. Surprisingly, single blade razors are actually better for shaving. That is because they offer more precision when shaving, reducing the chances of ingrown hairs and skin irritation. Plus they are surprisingly cheap. While the razor itself is a bit of an investment, the blades are quite affordable, costing 20 cents a blade.
Makeup Remover Pads
Another daily disposable bathroom product is makeup remover pads. Many makeup pads not only come in plastic packaging, but contain chemicals in the cotton thanks to the pesticides they are grown with. If you're using makeup wipes, that is even worse for the environment, as they aren't biodegradable at all and often end up in the ocean. They also aren't great for your health. That's because a lot of makeup wipes use fragrances, chemical preservatives, alcohol, and surfactants.
The swap? Try reusable makeup pads. They are made often with 100% organic cotton or bamboo, which is soft and gentle for the skin. Plus they can be washed and reused again and again. This makeup remover product even contains a laundry bag so they won't get lost in the washer as well as a cute bamboo container to keep them organized and tidy in your bathroom medicine cabinet or vanity countertop.
Cotton Swabs
Cotton swabs and q-tips are often found in the bathroom, but they have so many uses. From cleaning keyboards to ears, they are a versatile and problematic single use plastic product. Now while there IS a reusable cotton swab option (yes I know), I still prefer the bamboo and cotton biodegradable options. I love the idea, but due to the size of a cotton swab and that this is still made from plastic, I see this also ending up in our oceans and landfills. Hey, as much as I'm an idealist and want a plastic-free world, I'm also a realist.
Creating a eco-friendly and zero-waste bathroom can be easy and aesthetically pleasing. If you want to learn more about creating holistic homes that are better for your health and happiness, check out my other blog posts or check out my whole product list on sustainable alternatives for your home. I always love helping people on their holistic home journey!
Your Holistic Home Helper,
Marissa
