Bathrooms are a zero-waste advocate’s nightmare. Pouring soaps and shampoos down the drain, flushing toilet paper, disposing of diapers, pads and tampons – it all adds up to a lot of garbage!

Studies show that bathrooms are responsible for more than 30% of all household water usage. Flushing the toilet alone can consume almost 7 gallons of water, making it one of the most significant contributors to water consumption.

But zero-waste living doesn’t have to mean zero bathroom fun! There are many zero waste products that can be used in your bathroom without adding any trash.

This blog post will discuss zero waste tips for the bathroom and zero-waste products you can use instead of common ones.

What is zero waste?

Zero-waste living is about reducing your trash to zero. This can be achieved by bringing reusable bags, containers and utensils with you when shopping or dining out so that none of the disposable ones is used.

It also means recycling whenever possible – for example, tinfoil can often be recycled into new tinfoil sheets, paper can be recycled into new paper, etc. Zero-waste advocates also strive to live plastic free by avoiding plastic packaging such as plastic bags, straws and bottles.

When zero-waste living is applied to the bathroom, it means finding zero waste bathroom swaps for everyday products such as soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes or toothpaste.

Is zero waste living expensive?

Most people assume that a zero-waste lifestyle is expensive, however, that’s not exactly true. Zero waste products cost almost the same as their disposable counterparts. Additionally, some zero waste products can be used again and again, saving you money in the long run.

For instance, zero-waste toothbrushes such as bamboo toothbrushes can last for several months. Additionally, zero waste shampoo and conditioner bars are cheaper than conventional ones because they do not contain any fillers or fragrances to make them look and smell pretty.

5 Tips On How To Make Your Bathroom Zero Waste

If you are at a loss on starting with your zero waste journey, zero waste bathroom products are a great place to start. Here are zero-waste bathroom tips that you can try to have a zero-waste bathroom.

Tip #1: Start removing the trash from the bathroom

The first zero-waste tip is to remove everything that creates waste. That includes disposable razors, cotton swabs and tampons/pads. Additionally, you can remove the plastic-wrapped soaps and shampoos and other zero waste products that do not fit your zero waste bathroom goals.

You might also want to look into zero waste toilet paper options such as reusable cloth wipes or recycled newspaper inserts – just make sure there is always a trash bin in your bathroom.

Tip #2: Decide what zero-waste items you want to replace the trash with

After removing all zero waste products from your bathroom, zero in on zero-waste alternatives for each of them. For example, if you use cotton pads or makeup removal wipes, look into reusable cloths or make a DIY version at home using old t-shirts and flannel fabrics. If you need cleansing milk or body lotion, find bar soaps without any fragrances that fit your skin type best.

Toothbrushes can be replaced with bamboo toothbrush options readily available online, whereas metal razors are an option too.

Tip #3: Start zero waste bathroom swaps one at a time

It can be easy to get overwhelmed with zero-waste living, so take it slow. Try zero waste products in the bathroom one by one until you have zero-waste items for each task completed. It might sound tedious, but after some time, zero waste will become second nature, and your entire home will go zero-waste!

Tip #4: Be mindful about how much water each task consumes

While taking shorter showers might not seem like an excellent idea at first, being mindful about how much water you use when taking a shower or brushing your teeth can make a zero-waste living in the bathroom more accessible.

For example, if you always let the tap run while brushing your teeth, try turning it off and only turn it on enough to wet the brush. You might have to get used to this at first, but it will become a habit in no time.

Tip #5: Refill your shampoo and conditioner

Refilling your shampoo and conditioner might be a bit of a hassle, but it will save you from buying new plastic bottles every single time. Moreover, zero-waste shampoo and conditioner options such as bar soaps are much cheaper.

To go plastic free, make sure to put your shampoo and conditioner in glass jars with lids that seal tightly. You can reuse old jars or purchase zero-waste shampoo and conditioner bars instead of buying them in plastic bottles every time you run out.

 

10 Zero Waste Bathroom Essentials For Sustainable Living

Now that you have a general knowledge of how to go zero waste in your bathroom, it’s time to replace commercial products with zero waste bathroom swaps that will help you live more sustainably.

The zero-waste bathroom swaps below are not only better for the environment, but they are also reusable, sustainable and healthier! Here are 10 zero-waste bathroom essentials that will help you have a zero-waste lifestyle:

Safety Razor

This zero-waste bathroom essential that you cannot miss is a zero-waste safety razor. These plastic free razors have replaceable heads and can last for years. They are not only better for the environment but also great if your skin is sensitive to harsh chemicals found in commercial shaving creams and foams.

Safety razors are an eco-friendly zero waste bathroom swap. They come in various options such as double edge safety razors, butterfly safety razors or cutthroat. Some are made from recycled plastic, while others are stainless steel.

They all give you the same results but require different handling techniques; make sure to read reviews before purchasing one for yourself!

Reusable Cotton Rounds

Do you use cotton pads to remove makeup, nail polish or even for cleaning up eyeshadow fallout? You can make zero-waste swaps in your bathroom by using reusable cotton rounds instead of disposable ones.

Reusable cotton rounds are gentle on your skin and reduce your carbon footprint in the bathroom. Not to mention they are zero waste alternatives for cotton rounds which is better for your skin!

Eco-friendly menstrual products

Menstrual cups, cloth pads or reusable menstrual products such as the Looncup are zero waste alternatives that will help you reduce your carbon footprint in the bathroom while being better for your skin too!

Instead of using tampons and pads, you can opt to use an eco-friendly menstrual cup. These zero-waste bathroom essentials catch your period instead of absorbing it, and they are easy to clean between uses too!

If you are uncomfortable using a menstrual cup, you can also use reusable pads, cloth pads or period underwear. They will not only be better for your skin down there, but these zero waste bathroom swaps also help reduce waste in your home since you won’t have to buy disposable products every month anymore.

These zero-waste alternatives come in various shapes and sizes, so make sure to do some research before buying one for yourself!

Bamboo Toilet Paper

This zero-waste bathroom essential is a sustainable and zero waste alternative to regular toilet paper.

Using bamboo toilet paper instead of commercial TP will help reduce your carbon footprint in the bathroom, and it’s better for sensitive skin too!

Bamboo TP is eco-friendly, biodegradable and comes with easy composting instructions. It is also strong, soft and has fewer chemicals than regular toilet paper.

So make sure to swap out your old plastic-wrapped toilet papers with these zero waste alternatives that not only feel great on your skin but leave you feeling clean after every use as well.

Zero waste shampoo bars

Did you know zero-waste shampoo bars are an eco-friendly zero-waste alternative to liquid shampoos?

These zero waste bathroom swaps come in different shapes, and they last for months. They also reduce plastic consumption since consumers no longer have to buy plastic bottles of commercial shampoo every time they run out; instead, all you need is your bar of zero waste shampoo!

Zero-waste shampoo bars work just like conventional soaps or body washes: wet the bar with water before lathering it up on your hair. Not only do these zero-waste bathroom essentials help save our planet, but they are better for sensitive skin down there too! So whether you experience dry scalp or dandruff, consider shampoo bars instead of buying more chemical-laden commercial shampoos.

Biodegradable bamboo toothbrush

A single plastic toothbrush can take several years to decompose in a landfill. Why not start your zero waste journey by ditching plastic toothbrushes with those made from bamboo?

These eco-friendly zero-waste swaps come in different colors, soft or medium bristles, so you can pick one that works best for you too! They even come in eco-friendly recyclable packaging too!

Not only will this zero-waste product last longer than conventional brushes, but they are biodegradable as well. So make sure to check them out if you want to live an eco-friendly zero-waste lifestyle at home. You’ll be reducing plastic consumption while keeping the planet clean – what’s not to love?

Zero waste toothpaste

Swapping zero waste toothpaste for conventional ones is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint in the bathroom.

Commercial toothpaste is packed with chemicals, and most of them come wrapped in plastic too! You can ditch these zero-waste swaps by switching to zero waste toothpaste that comes in a recyclable glass jar or even aluminum tubes instead of wasteful plastic packaging. You can even have them refilled in a local bulk store that offers zero waste products.

Zero-waste toothpaste is also better for sensitive skin and comes in a variety of flavors too! Whether you prefer mint or honey, there’s zero-waste toothpaste out there that will work best for your teeth and taste buds too :)

Compost bin

If you can’t compost your zero waste bathroom products at home, consider getting a composter.

Even if it’s just for the kitchen or outside of the house, having one will allow you to recycle organic matter in your household and reduce plastic waste since zero-waste composters come either made from metal or glass instead of wasteful plastics!

Not only that, but they also help us create rich soil, which helps plants grow faster – making zero waste living even better for our planet.

Zero waste makeup

Did you know zero waste makeup exists?

There are zero-waste cosmetics that help reduce plastic consumption in the bathroom. These zero-waste cosmetic swaps come in glass containers instead of wasteful plastics. They work just like conventional makeup too!

Zero-waste mascara, eyeliner or lipstick not only look good but feel great on your skin without worrying about any harmful chemicals seeping into your body either.

Eco-friendly and zero waste deodorant

Zero-waste deodorant is not as typical as zero waste toothpaste. Still, it’s a great zero waste swap to make in the bathroom.

These zero waste swaps come in recyclable aluminum tubes, and they reduce plastic consumption since you don’t have to buy disposable deodorants anymore; instead, all you need is your zero waste aluminum tube!

This zero-waste product also comes with a variety of scents, so whether you prefer citrus or lavender – zero-waste deodorant has got your back. You can even apply them on wet skin for extra protection throughout the day.

Start your zero waste journey with these plastic free bathroom swaps

There are so many benefits to choosing zero-waste bathroom essentials over products that use plastic.

It’s not only good for the environment and your health, but it also saves you a lot of money! From recycled toilet paper to bamboo toothbrushes, plenty of environmentally friendly options are out there that won’t break the bank. These bathroom essentials are also great if you want to help end single-use plastics in our society (you should!).

We hope this article has inspired readers about what they can do today to impact their own personal environmental footprint and the planet. Do you have a favorite bathroom essential that was not mentioned in the post? Let us know in the comment section below!