Tips on How to Reduce Plastic in The Bathroom

We use toiletries on a daily basis and our bathrooms tend to be packed with plastic bottles, tubes and jars, but people often have leave these items at the bottom of their recycling list.

So if you're wondering on how to reduce plastic in the bathroom but don’t know how, we have a few handy tips on how to get started…

Firstly, you don’t need to throw away all your existing products – this would defeat the purpose. Instead, start replacing bathroom essentials one by one as you run out. Make a list of all the plastic items in the bathroom and give yourself time to research the alternatives.

Shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, liquid soaps… so many of our bathroom products come in a plastic bottle when there are lots of sustainable alternatives. If you are aiming for a zero-waste bathroom, here are a few handy swaps:

• Replace your liquid shampoo with a shampoo bar – these are more concentrated, therefore you won’t consume as much of the product and it will last you longer. It’s also often packaged in a recyclable material such as cardboard.
• Use soap bars instead of shower gel or liquid soaps – you can find solid soaps that are just as gentle and luxurious as a shower gel. As they don’t contain water, they will last longer. So find soaps formulated with natural-origin ingredients and minimal packaging to take care of your skin and the environment.

This may require a bit of effort in terms of researching products made of recycled materials (or their packaging) but it’s well worth the effort. 
Our products are all made of recycled materials and are designed for recycling:  

• Bottles are made with 75% recycled plastic 
• Tubes are made with 50% recycled plastic
• Spray bottles from 94% recycled plastic

Keep a recycling bin in the bathroom as well. That way, you won’t forget to recycle your bottles, tubes and jars when you can’t squeeze anything more out of them.

You’re meant to replace your toothbrush every three months so if you’re using a plastic one, think how many toothbrushes you are throwing away in a lifetime. One alternative is to use bamboo toothbrushes with biodegradable bristles, or at least switch to an electric one where you only change the head. 
Most toothpastes and mouthwashes also come in plastic packaging, but you can swap these with toothpaste tablets or powders that are more sustainable.

When it comes to single-use plastic, cotton buds are one of the worst offenders as they end up in sewage systems and into the sea. We’ve all seen disturbing images where marine animals are affected by them. Fortunately, there are biodegradable alternatives such as bamboo cotton buds so we would recommend stashing away some of those.

Nowadays you can find toilet paper made out of recycled paper in the shops, however most of the time it’s packaged in single use plastic. However, there are alternatives out there to switch to; all you need to do is a bit of online research. If that proves to be a bit tricky, then buy in bulk and you’ll cut down on some of the plastic packaging. Here’s an extra tip: you can re-use that packaging bag the toilet paper comes in as a waste bag!

Discover our range of clean, ethical products with packaging designed for recycling and learn more about our story.