The bathroom is made for humans as a waste room. Humans are not zero waste in or of themselves. In zero waste bathroom, there are things what you need in the bathroom, or you can redesign the used products like reuse and recycle rather than you sent them in the landfills or dump them out. The waste in the zero waste bathroom should be the waste that you can recycle and reuse.
It takes no efforts and no hard work in making your zero waste swaps and in this way you can reduce and eliminate all the waste.
Table of Contents
Tips to get started
Follow these tips to get started.
- Be realistic
- Use what you currently have
- Reuse Plastic Bottles
- Support Small Business
- Start with the Basics
- Treat Yourself
- Stick At It
Zero Waste Bathroom Essentials
Make the zero waste swaps that you can make to make your bathroom eco-friendly. You will be surprised that it is straightforward to make the zero waste essentials for your personal care, showering, for your cosmetics, and all men and women needs. Some of the zero waste essentials are described below. Let’s explore them and make your bathroom eco friendly.
- Switch to zero waste and recycled toilet paper
- Deodorant
- Zero Waste Shampoo and ConditionerZero Waste Makeup
- Zero Waste Moisturizers
- Soap
- Toilet Cleaner
- Bathroom cleaner
- Make your month more sustainable with zero waste essential
- Zero Waste Tooth Products
- Mouth wash
1. Switch to zero waste and recycled toilet paper
Toilet papers are essential for every bathroom, and human beings and toilet paper is the most wasteful thing. There are a lot of steps included in making these toilet papers like from harvesting the virgin trees and then the water and electricity, and other colors and bleaches used in the manufacturing process of the toilet papers. There is a lot of time-consuming process with a lot of waste in making the toilet papers so you should avoid them.
You can make a zero waste bathroom toilet paper with your reusable cloths; like washable wiping cloths. You can also use bamboo toilet paper or recycled toilet paper, and in last you have no waste and your bathroom will be zero waste bathroom.
2. Deodorant
Deodorant is the need of every bathroom so you can use deodorant which comes in the recycled form instead of using it in a traditional form which is non-recycled.
You can use deodorant cream, which comes in the glass container, and it can easily be recycled and reused again. This is an important essential of the zero waste bathroom.
3. Zero Waste Shampoo and Conditioner
Shampoo bottles that we usually use in our bathrooms get thrown away in the fields that cannot be recycled and reused in any way. Instead of using shampoo in plastic bottles, you can use it in aluminium bottles that can be recycled and reused. You can refill these bottles when the shampoo is finished.
Another option is also there you can use shampoo and conditioner bars because there is no waste of them as they come in the paper packaging only for wrapping purposes. These bars are also travel friendly and have a long-lasting effect also.
You can also have a reusable container from your nearest local store, and you can easily refill from there.
Instead of all these things, you can make your natural conditioner also. In every kitchen, there is apple cider present so you can use it as a zero-waste conditioner. It is a natural ingredient that will cleanse and soften your hair.
4. Zero Waste Makeup
Traditional makeup is very unhealthy for you and your skin and all these cosmetics always come in plastic jars and palettes that are incredibly difficult to recycle correctly.
But the zero waste makeup industry is on the rapid rise thanks to consumer demand. Everyone wants cleaner and greener products for both us and the earth.
Now, you can find everything from lip stains and highlighter to eye shadow and custom skin-matched foundation in zero waste makeup.
You can also make zero waste makeup for you at home with natural ingredients. There are tons of simple (though admittedly a little messy) ways to make your zero-waste make-up.
5. Zero Waste Moisturizers
People who have dry skin you have not to fear now. You can still moisturize without the pump bottles that have a bunch of different plastics involved, which is the waste. The most natural solution is to make your zero-waste moisturizer lotion. You can make this with a little coconut and essential oils at home.
Natural ingredients for body care products are beneficial for your skin. Plain old coconut oil applied straight out of the shower works like a charm. There are lots of product options out there, including our beloved bars, balms, creams, and more.
6. Soap
Instead of shower gel in a plastic bottle, you can switch to bar soap. You can also buy soap without any packaging readily available at some natural food stores and Whole Foods. These types of soaps have zero waste, and you can use them in your zero waste bathrooms.
7. Bathroom cleaner
Instead of using cleaning products in plastic bottles, switch to a naturally derived brand that is refillable or make your homemade cleaning products.
8. Toilet Cleaner
Instead of using toxic toilet bowl cleaner, you can switch to a safer toilet bowl cleaner and supplement with homemade fizzy toilet bombs, so you won’t have to clean so often.
9. Make your month more sustainable with zero waste essential
Just in case bathroom banter has not been personal enough so that we can talk about menstruation. If you have a zero-waste period, then you can reduce so much waste in the form of pad wrappings and plastic tampon applicators.
To put it in perspective, consider that on average, each woman will produce 2,400 tampons of waste in their life. So you should switch to a menstrual cup.
For overnight, pair your cup with some period panties or when you cannot be bothered with the container. These are just leak-resistant, absorbent underwear that replaces pads; only you can wash them and wear them again and again.
10. Zero Waste Tooth Products
Toothbrushes
You have to stop buying plastic toothbrushes because these are the significant wastes.
Everyone knows that plastic toothbrushes are tantalizingly cheap and come in a rainbow of colors, but they’re devastating the environment. Instead of using these plastic toothbrushes, you can use bamboo toothbrushes. Even if bamboo is not as colorful, it’s a quick replenishing resource that yields a biodegradable brush.
You have to be sure to remove the bristles before composting as no bamboo toothbrush has truly compostable bristles. Bamboo toothbrushes are super accessible these days.
Toothpaste
You should swap your non-biodegradable toothpaste than comes in the plastic with some natural toothpaste tabs or powder. You can make your toothpaste at home with natural ingredients very quickly.
11. Zero waste Hair Brush
You are using a plastic hairbrush or comb. When the time comes, you have to switch to a wooden hairbrush or comb. A wooden brush or comb does a much better job of pulling oil from the root to tip so you might be able to go an extra day without washing.
12. Mouth wash
Most of the mouthwashes are came in plastic bottles and contain some pretty nasty ingredients that should not be put in our mouth, or spit down the sink. You can make your mouthwash at home with natural ingredients and can use this in your zero waste bathroom.
13. Zero Waste Trash Bin
This zero-waste tip has saved enormous amounts of trash going to landfill. But composting and recycling is not just for the kitchen. We find it super helpful to even have a little collector bin right within the bathroom.
For compostable waste (like floss – per the above) you’ll either transfer the fabric into your actual compost bin or vermicomposter or take it somewhere where it is often composted.
For recyclable waste (like toilet paper rolls), we find it much easier to collect the bathroom recycling in one go when taking out the recycling rather than transferring small things to the main recyclable bin a few times a week. If you also need to have a trash can, either go linerless or use 100% biodegradable liner bags.
Conclusion
The idea of switching all the products you have become accustomed to over the years can be a daunting one. The convenience that comes with getting our bathroom essentials in plastic bottles and wrapping is hard to ignore.
However, with a little will power, and the tips, you can create a zero-waste bathroom free of single-use plastics and what’s more, you’ll feel more radiant and refreshed inside and out, every day.
