After the kitchen, the bathroom is the most wasteful part of the home. It’s therefore an important part of your journey to a zero-waste home. A zero-waste bathroom can take time to achieve, so please be gentle with yourself. Make small changes consistently and before you know it you’ll have achieved a low or zero waste bathroom.
Here are our top swaps to help you on your journey to a zero-waste bathroom.
Soap
For some reason, the humble old soap bar has been taken over by body wash, that of course comes in plastic bottles. Get back to the old school way and get yourself a soap bar, of course with zero packaging.
Our favourites are these organic, vegan and zero-waste packaging soap bars from The Tiny Yellow Bungalow, especially the BaliFlowers and Activated Charchol bars.
Shampoo
Did you know that shampoo bars work amazingly well? We were surprised too!
Simply switch out your shampoo in a plastic bottle for a shampoo bar. They’re super simple to use and leave your hair feeling as clean as a whistle.
We strongly recommend this shampoo bar. It’s got coconut milk for moisturizing, argan oil to protect the hair from damage and jojoba oil to stimulate hair follicle growth. On top of that, the paper wrap has seeds within so all you need to do is wet the packaging and then plant it!
Conditioner
When you swap your shampoo bar, you may as well swap out your conditioner as well. Why not try these plastic-free, vegan conditioner cubes?
Or you can make your own apple cider vinegar (ACV) spray. It’s surprising how soft it leaves your hair! Simply add 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of ACV to a spray bottle. After you’ve shampooed your hair, spray it on and leave for 5 minutes. Rinse well.
Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo is amazing but it can also be expensive! We’ll let you in on a little secret, it’s pretty cheap to make. Try this dry shampoo recipe, it’s super simple to make and is of course zero waste.
If you’d prefer to purchase dry shampoo, we recommend Fresh Locks Dry Shampoo, do be mindful though that it does contain a small plastic applicator.
Razors
You may not have thought about your razor when you were thinking about creating a zero waste bathroom. It’s something that doesn’t need replacing all that often but you will be purchasing new blades on the regular.
You’ll be happy to know that there are zero waste options out there!
We love the Leaf Razor. They say it’s the last razor that you’ll purchase and we have to agree! You can load up to three blades and it has a pivoting head for a super close shave. It’s definitely a zero waste bathroom must-have.
Makeup
We have found that makeup is one of the hardest products to swap out in a zero-waste bathroom. It’s not impossible but you might have to try a few brands out before settling on your favourite.
Of course, another option is to ditch makeup all together but if you’re not quite there yet, here are our top zero waste makeup brands. Our absolute favorite brands are Clean-Faced Cosmetics, River Organics and Elate Beauty.
Cloth makeup removers
If you’re wearing makeup every day, you’ll be using something to remove that makeup. An easy zero waste swap is to buy (or make) your own reusable makeup pads. They are so easy to wash, just throw them in with your regular load of washing as needed. We recommend having around 6-10 pads but it will depend on how often you’re wearing makeup and how often you’re washing.
If you have basic sewing skills, then we recommend this tutorial to make your own, you can even use old towels and clothing to make them!
Lip Balm
It’s hard to find zero waste lip balm but we’ve found a brand that uses a biodegradable tube. It looks like the regular packaging for a lip balm but it’s zero waste!
As well as that, this lip balm is also made of natural ingredients and is non-toxic.
Deodorant
If you’re like me and sweat a lot, it can be hard to find a deodorant that works well. And it’s even harder if you’re trying to find a non-toxic and zero waste version!
Our all-time favorite is No Pong, it’s an Australian brand and I don’t think you can purchase it in the US at the moment, they do ship internationally though.
The other zero-waste deodorant that I can recommend is the Elevated – Pits brand, it’s vegan, non-toxic, zero waste and made in the USA.
Facial skin routine
When talking about skincare products, we’re referring to cleansers, toners, moisturisers and other products like masks. Skincare is an important part of most people’s daily routine and an important part of creating a zero-waste bathroom.
There are a few brands out there now that are making products that are zero waste but our favorite is Earth Harbor.
Not only are they zero waste but they are actually plastic negative and are the first skincare brand to be Climate Neutral, Plastic-Negative and 1% For The Planet certified.
On top of that, their products are amazing.
Like zero waste makeup, skincare might be something that you need to experiment with and find the perfect match for you. Check out a few other skincare brands at the Zero Waste Store.
Dry Brushing
Have you tried dry brushing yet? It’s a great way to detoxify and exfoliate the skin. It also helps with circulation, helps break down cellulite and improves lymphatic drainage.
It’s an easy practice to add to your daily skin routine. Before your morning shower, start by using the dry brush at your feet and work up your legs using a circular motion. Work your way up to your upper body and then start at the fingers and hands, working your way up to your shoulders and armpits. Then take a shower and apply your chosen moisturizer to your body.
We recommend this zero waste dry brush to get you started.
Loofahs
Traditionally loofahs are from the cucumber fruit called a gourd. Of course over time, however, they have been synthesised. Obviously, when you purchase loofahs made from the gourd, they will break down and go back to the earth. This loofah is from organic plants and is completely zero waste. You can also get 10% off with the code ETHICALMAMA10
Toothbrush
It’s estimated that 1 billion toothbrushes are thrown into waste every year in the USA. that’s 50 million pounds of waste. Mind-blowing right!
Switching to a low waste (most toothbrushes still have nylon bristles) toothbrush is key in reducing our waste.
We love these bamboo toothbrushes. They’re made with ethically sourced bamboo and finished with a 100% natural, food-grade wood finish.
The Sustainable Tomorrowalso create a bamboo electric toothbrush. If you’re a lover of electric toothbrushes, then this is your more sustainable option. The outer shell is created from bamboo, as are the replaceable brushes and is 100% zero-waste packaging.
To get a 10% discount, use the code ETHICALMAMA10
Toothpaste
Zero waste toothpaste is becoming easier to find these days! This toothpaste is 100% natural, vegan, fluoride-free and of course 100% plastic-free. It’s sweetened with xylitol, is 100% safe to be swallowed and is great for kids.
If you’d prefer your zero waste toothpaste to contain fluoride, we recommended this toothpaste.
Mouthwash
Like toothpaste, zero waste mouthwash can be hard to find. We love the Georganics brand. They create mouthwash tablets that are dissolved in water, then gargled. They are made from 100% natural ingredients and completely plastic-free.
Period products
The amount of waste that is created with period products is mindblowing! Luckily over the last decade or so, there have been numerous brands that have come up with more sustainable and low waste options to help you create zero waste periods.
Some of the options include periods underwear, reusable menstrual pads and menstrual cups. For more information, we’ve created the ultimate zero waste period guide to help you on your zero waste bathroom journey.
DIY toilet spray
Nobody likes to enter the bathroom after someone has done a number 2. The aerosols that you buy are not only harmful to your health but also to the planet. There are so many reasons why you would want to create your own toilet spray, including creating a zero waste bathroom.
All you really need are some pure essential oils, a small glass spray bottle and water. Fill your spray bottle with water and then place 10 drops of essential oils. We recommend using citrus oils like orange, lemon or lime. It’s so easy to make and is something that you can swap out without too much work.
Which zero waste bathroom swaps are you going to make?
We hope our ultimate list of zero waste bathroom ideas helps you to create a healthier and more sustainable home for you and your family. There are so many ways that we can help ourselves and the planet when it comes to creating a zero waste home.