In light of plastic-free July, where people are challenged to reduce their plastic-waste on all types of levels in their lives, let’s focus today on our bathroom and rethink the whole process in order to turn our bathroom into a plastic-free one. It is a significant step towards reducing our environmental footprint. With numerous eco-friendly brands on the market, making this transition is easier than ever. This blog will guide you through practical tips to achieve a plastic-free bathroom, featuring exemplary brands like The Wild Sage + Co, Georganics, The Natural Deodorant Co., …
- Choose Plastic-Free Soap Bars
One of the simplest swaps you can make in your bathroom is switching from liquid soap in plastic bottles to bar soap. Brands like Wild Sage + Co offer handmade soap bars that are not only free from artificial colours and artificial fragrances but also come with minimal packaging. These bars are a great alternative to liquid soaps, which often contain synthetic ingredients and come in plastic containers.
Benefits of Handmade Soap Bars:
- Eco-Friendly Packaging: Typically wrapped in recyclable paper or entirely package-free.
- Natural Ingredients: Wild Sage + Co. uses natural ingredients, ensuring a gentle cleanse without harsh chemicals.
- Long-Lasting: Bar soaps tend to last longer than their liquid counterparts, providing more value for money.
Next to soap bars you can also buy shampoo bars, face wash bars …
- Switch to Natural Deodorants
Conventional deodorants often come in plastic containers and contain chemicals that may not be skin-friendly. The Natural Deodorant Co offers a healthier and more sustainable alternative with their natural, plastic-free deodorants.
Features of The Natural Deodorant Co.:
- Certified Cruelty-Free: Their deodorants are "Leaping Bunny" certified, ensuring no animal testing.
- Natural Ingredients: Free from aluminium, parabens, and synthetic fragrances.
- Eco-Friendly Packaging: Available in recyclable or compostable packaging, reducing plastic waste.
- Commitment to Ending Animal Testing: The Natural Deodorant Co. is dedicated to the complete elimination of animal testing in the industry.
- Adopt plastic-free oral care products
Did you know that every year we consume globally 20 billion plastic toothpaste tubes which represents 1 billion barrels of crude oil and with that you can travel 70000 times around the earth. That’s crazy!
Plastic-free oral care essentials:
- Brushing your teeth with a bamboo or beechwood toothbrush doesn't require much adjustment, but it’s a simple way to avoid the future plastic waste associated with disposable plastic toothbrushes. Georganics offers excellent beechwood toothbrushes made from FSC-certified wood locally sourced in Switzerland. This local sourcing significantly reduces transportation emissions compared to bamboo toothbrushes, which are often sourced from China. By choosing locally sourced materials, Georganics supports sustainable forestry practices and ensures a lower carbon footprint, aligning with a commitment to reducing environmental impact.
- Toothpaste that comes in aluminium packaging or reusable glass containers is another easy step towards a plastic-free bathroom. Many brands now offer toothpaste in plastic-free packaging. Curious to try? Check out Georganics, which offers natural toothpaste in five different flavours: English Peppermint, Spearmint, Charcoal, Tea Tree, and Orange. Available in three different formats—paste, tablets, and powder—Georganics toothpaste comes in reusable glass jars, making it easy to find the perfect option for your needs.
- Plastic-free floss: You might not know it, but regular floss often contains plastic, which is difficult to recycle and can end up in the ocean. This plastic floss can get stuck between corals or, worse, harm aquatic wildlife by cutting into their skin or becoming entangled. Therefore, choosing compostable floss is essential. You can opt for bio-based floss made from castor oil or silk floss, which is naturally produced by silkworms. These alternatives are not only better for the environment but also help protect marine life.
- Opt for Natural Skin and Hair Care
Plastic bottles dominate the skincare and haircare market, but plastic-free options are available and effective. Look for natural skin and hair care products that avoid synthetic ingredients and plastic packaging.
Why Go Natural?
- Chemical-Free: Natural ingredients mean fewer irritants and more skin-loving benefits.
- Sustainable Packaging: Products packaged in glass jars, metal tins, or compostable materials are more sustainable.
- Zero Waste: Many natural products are available in refillable or reusable containers, reducing landfill waste.
- Embrace Reusable and Refillable Products
Single-use plastics are a significant contributor to bathroom waste. Embrace products that are reusable or refillable.
Here are some reusable product ideas:
- Safety Razors or 'Epilady': Durable and plastic-free, offering a close shave without the waste. It will help you to save approximately 15 razors per year per user, thereby significantly reducing plastic waste.
- Refillable Bottles: Invest in glass or stainless-steel bottles for your shampoos, conditioners, and lotions. Many eco-friendly stores offer bulk refills.
- Reusable cotton pads: Reusable cotton pads, made from bamboo fibre or organic cotton, are an excellent alternative to single-use cotton pads. They offer the same effectiveness in cleansing your face and can be even softer, for a gentle touch on your skin. After each use, wash the pads to remove makeup, dirt, and bacteria. Most can be cleaned by hand or in the washing machine. With proper care, these pads can last for months, providing a sustainable and cost-effective solution.
- Menstrual cup: is significantly more sustainable than using tampons, as one menstrual cup can last up to 10 years, reducing the waste of approximately 2,400 tampons per user, which helps to decrease the environmental impact associated with the production, packaging, and disposal of disposable menstrual products.
A plastic-free bathroom is a significant step towards reducing our environmental footprint and it’s more achievable than ever, thanks to the growing availability of eco-friendly brands. By making simple swaps and embracing reusable and refillable items, we can make a profound impact. Let’s commit to these changes and inspire others to do the same.
Remember, the best waste is the one that doesn’t exist!