Work Toward a Zero Waste Bathroom
If you’re looking to reduce waste and make healthier choices that are friendlier to the environment, a zero waste bathroom is a great place to start. Here’s why:
We tend to create a lot of trash and recycling in the bathroom, not to mention the products we’re washing down the drains or flushing down the toilet. That means we have room to make a real impact with a zero waste bathroom!
We tend to find a configuration of ritual purchases for the bathroom and stick to it. We can use those habits to our advantage; once we optimize them, we can just lock in again, and the benefits will compound on their own.
Even if you already follow a lot of the suggestions below, there’s almost always room to improve. And many of the bathroom product swaps are fairly simple.
So start here! Choose one of the zero waste swaps below. Would it make an impact in your situation? (Not all of them will apply to everyone. Zero waste bathroom products are fun, but no need to buy a new razor if you don’t shave. And don’t throw out the perfectly good plastic hairbrush you already have just because bamboo brushes—like this one from Zero Waste store—and combs exist. Wait until you need to replace it anyway!) Try your choice for a few weeks and work it into your routine. Adjust as necessary, and let it develop into a welcome, nurturing part of your day.
Then try another suggestion. This list is meant to inspire you, not overwhelm you, and long-term change (even when it’s for the better) is best done deliberately. Think about what will make the most impact in your life, and start there. Soon you’ll be moving from a zero waste bathroom to a zero waste kitchen and then to your whole zero waste home.
And, because brainstorming zero waste products and options is fun, please do let us know if you think of more ways we can add to this list! Here is a Pinterest board for more inspiration as well, for all you fellow pinners.
Zero Waste Toiletries
Get a toothbrush that isn’t made out of plastic. Sure, toothbrushes are small, but when your species is using 3.6 billion of them a year, it adds up. Look for a bamboo one (here's one from Package Free, for example) you can compost.
You can hunt down zero waste toothpaste, too. Try chewable tablets (such as these from Grove), find toothpaste in a jar or toothpaste in a metal tube, or even make your own at home. Here’s a roundup of options to get you started, from Earth Friendly Tips. (And here’s their roundup of floss options too. You can get silk instead of plastic.)
Switch your plastic bottle of shampoo for a plastic-free shampoo bar (from Lush for example). They last longer, you can travel with them, they have more natural ingredients, and they tend to have minimal packaging—certainly much less than the two or three shampoo bottles they’re replacing. Here are a few good options selected by Elle to get you started. You may have to experiment to find the right zero waste shampoo for your hair, but once you do, you can say goodbye to those bottles.
Bar conditioners are absolutely a thing too! Here are a few options from Refinery29 to get you started. Keep in mind that a bar conditioner may not lather as much as the bottled stuff. In our experience, it works just fine, but you may need to try multiple options to find the right one for your hair. Or, look for refillable conditioner from a local package-free store, if you have one, or from somewhere like Loop, which carries a handful of options.
Switch from body wash to bar soap (from Lush or literally anywhere else). Similarly to bar shampoo, bar soap tends to have less packaging. Plus, it’s an opportunity to support a local artist or friend who makes soap, or even make it yourself. The variations are endless and exciting. (There’s always the classic stuff at the grocery store too!) You may need to experiment until you find the right one for your skin, though; some people may even want to stick with body wash. At the very least, avoid the type of body wash with “exfoliating” microbeads. Make yourself a salt or sugar scrub instead—here’s a Pinterest board of recipes from around the web.
Lotions, moisturizers, and body oils come in bars and glass jars too, and there are many lovely sustainable options out there. (From Earth Hero, for example.)
Consider getting refillable lotion, refillable shampoo, or other toiletries from a local zero waste store (if there’s one near you), a bulk foods store to which you can bring your own container, or an online supplier that sends refillable containers such as Plaine Products or Loop.
Stock your zero waste bathroom with reusable and/or more natural products for when you’re having your period. (For a bit of a shock, estimate the number of pads or tampons you use each month, then multiply it by 12. Then multiply it by the number of years you’ve been having a period...and join us in our amazement. Horrified amazement.) Hello Glow has a write-up of a few options if you need a place to start. Do some research and find a safe, comfortable option that appeals to you.
Swap your disposable razor for a reusable one. People love their Leaf razors, but you can also easily use any safety razor. We discard 2 billion razors and refill blades a year, and generally we’re not recycling them. An old-fashioned safety razor, however, is built to last, and the blades themselves are a much smaller amount of waste. They may even be recyclable near you. This is a change that could take some getting used to, but once they adjust, a lot of people prefer the close shave and inexpensive new blades.
You can DIY your shaving cream, too. Or some people just use coconut oil.
Remember that not all recycling is created equal. If you can opt for buying a product in aluminum rather than plastic, for example, that’s a win.
Deodorant is particularly tricky, because in most cases, a healthy step in the right direction will involve ditching your antiperspirant. And while there are some wonderful products out there—here’s a rundown from New York magazine—they still might come in a disposable container. Your best bet is to find something long-lasting in a container (preferably not plastic) that you can recycle, such as Native’s plastic-free line. Or find one, like Schmidt’s for example, that you can return to the manufacturer to be reused.
Opt for reusable cloth hand towels, washcloths (BB&B), makeup remover wipes (Amazon), eyeglass wipes (Amazon again), and handkerchiefs as much as you can, instead of using something disposable or plastic. If you want to go ahead and embroider your monogram onto the corner of those handkerchiefs, don’t let us stop you from expressing your fanciest creativity.
How about a pumice stone and a natural sea sponge (this one is from Package Free shop) instead of a plastic loofah?
What about cosmetics, beauty supplies, and other toiletries to stock in your zero waste bathroom? It’s worth it to start at the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website. It can help you identify whether something has any potentially toxic ingredients. Then take a look at the packaging: Is it a lot of packaging for a little product? Is it plastic? Is there a good alternative? And do a little exploring; you’ll never know about the wooden cotton swabs (Well Earth Goods) until you look.
Cleaning Supplies
We can talk about general cleaning supplies such as glass cleaner and counter cleaner another time, but certain things are just bathroom-specific. First to mind, obviously, is a toilet brush. So necessary, even for a zero waste bathroom. So…plastic. But it doesn’t have to be! There are bamboo and other alternative options out there. Find something you can work with.
General Zero Waste Bathroom
Install a bidet. Bidets have been in the US news more than ever (thanks, Covid-related toilet paper shortage.) But not only can they help you reduce the amount of toilet paper you use (you’ll have to do your own math on that), they’re good for your hygiene and easy to install.
Or, consider family cloth—reusable cloth wipes.
If you have an older shower, a low-flow shower head could help you reduce your hot water usage, which means (bonus) you could save money every month too. Energy.gov has a quick test you can use to see if it would help you.
While you’re at it, fix any leaky faucets! Again according to Energy.gov, “One drip per second wastes 1,661 gallons of water,” or about $35 a year.
Let us know what else you think of on your journey toward a zero waste bathroom!
