Written by: Fannie Dancose, October 2020
Everyone has to do their part for the environment. Whether it’s composting, biking, buying less, or advocating for a greener economy, everything counts. One easy way to start reducing your waste is by buying alternative products with less packaging or greener ingredients.
Ever wondered how to cut down on your waste to reduce your bathroom trash can to the size of a small jar? Well, read along to learn how to swap disposable products for reusable and compostable ones.
- Toothbrush
Brushing your teeth is important for your health. However, reducing plastic is also important for your health and the health of the planet. By choosing a bamboo toothbrush or one with a disposable head, you decrease the amount of plastic that goes into landfills. When throwing out a bamboo toothbrush, all you have to do is remove the bristles to recycle them and put the handle in the compost. If this option is not available to you, don’t forget that a regular toothbrush can go into the recycling bin.
- Dental Floss
Along with brushing your teeth, flossing is really important (even if we know that we don’t do it as often as we should… Shhh don’t tell the dentist!) Well, now it’s even possible to buy compostable floss made of silk or bamboo fibre. It does the same job in your mouth but is better for the earth.
- Cotton Swabs
Cotton swabs might be compostable if made from paper, but the raw material is generally not a sustainable crop. In fact, cotton cultivation uses 20,000 L of water to produce one kilogram of cotton (1). And sadly, cotton farming uses plenty of pesticides and fertilizers. Moreover, plastic swabs often end up in our environment and can make their way to our oceans where animals mistake them for food. Luckily, you can now buy reusable swabs made of a soft and flexible plastic (TPE). that are easy to clean and do the same job as regular cotton swabs.
- Shampoo
Bottles of soap and shampoo are also a source of waste that we can eliminate - just go back to the old soap bar, no packaging needed! Bar shampoo has become more and more common and cleans just as well as conventional shampoo. You can also support local shops by buying them from a soap maker.
- All-purpose Cleaner
You can make your own all-purpose cleaner for your bathroom with water, vinegar, and aromatics of your choice. This way you can reuse the same container and reduce your waste. And did you know that vinegar disinfects as well as a commercial cleaner? If you want to scrub some dirt off in your bathtub, try baking soda. For a fresh smell, add ingredients like lemon or orange rind, a rosemary branch, or peppermint essential oil to the water and vinegar mix.
- Bonus: Razor
Have you ever thought about the ecological impact of disposable razors? They are not always recyclable and it is estimated that 163 million consumers in the U.S. used disposable razors in 2018 (2). So that means that approximately 163 million (and probably more) razors ended up in a landfill in the U.S, all of that in just one year. Fortunately, there is something you can do. Trade your plastic razor or a safety razor. Safety razors are made ofl metal with one blade that you can change when it becomes dull. As they are built for a lifetime, you will definitely never throw away a disposable razor again! Plus you will save a lot of money in the end!
Reducing waste can be seen as a huge task. But by making small changes and switching one product at a time, you will be surprised by the amount of garbage you don’t produce anymore!
References:
-
-
