Five Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps under €10.
Starting your plastic free journey doesn’t have to be daunting.
The bathroom is a great place to start because there’s so many zero waste alternatives and while some zero waste swaps may certainly be an investment, here are some simple swaps you can make that aren’t going to break the bank.
The most environmentally friendly thing you can do is use what you have first.
But if you’re looking to swap out items without breaking the bank here’s five simple bathroom swaps for under a tenner.
1. Bamboo Toothbrushes:
Every plastic toothbrush ever made still exists in some shape or form.
Think about it. Although it degrades, this simply means that it just breaks down into smaller pieces, it never actually goes away.
Exhibit A
This baby was found in my garden, all bristles still intact and handle in mint condition with no signs of degrading.
A quick Google led me to finding this advert from the 50's and also the patent file
Mad stuff altogether!
Hence the toothbrush is one of the most popular swaps!
The average person will change their toothbrush every 3 months and lets face it, plastic toothbrushes are not cheap!
Our Hydrophil toothbrushes are relatively inexpensive and they come in both medium soft and extra soft. The handles are 100% biodegradable bamboo and can be home composted after use. Unfortunately there still hasn’t been any toothbrush created with biodegradable bristles, so the head has to be broken off and placed in your general waste bin, or else you can pull out the bristles.
Still. It’s a step in the right direction.
2. Cotton Buds:
According to the impact assessment presented to the EU Commission in 2018. Cotton buds ranked number 3 in the top 10 plastic polluters in our oceans! Coming in close behind plastic bottles and cigarette butts
Hydrophil Bamboo Cotton Buds €3.00
Bamboo cotton buds are yet another simple swap. Made from responsibly sourced bamboo and organic cotton, even if these do end up in our water ways (Please do not flush them!) they will biodegrade. They can also be home composted.
Some supermarkets are starting to introduce old school paper cotton buds which is great too. The more readily available all these alternatives are the better.
3. Conditioner Bars:
Another great swap! There’s nothing more satisfying than the clutter free shower and bath.
It makes cleaning so much easier too.
Conditioner Bars are certainly small and mighty, but they last forever- up to 6 months- if you treat it right! They won’t break the bank either.
Three Hills Soap Lemon Tea Conditioner Bar from €7.00
The best way of getting the longest out of your shampoo bars is to make sure to dry them off after use and to leave them air dry in between. If you’re storing them in the shower consider a slatted soap dish with a lid. I find these Ethique ones great.
4. Soap Bars:
Most handmade, natural soap bars can be used for both the face and body, which is the case for these Three Hills Soap Bars. So you’re essentially getting two products in one!
They last much longer than liquid soaps, but if you’d prefer to use the soap dispenser that you already have you can grate a bit of the soap bar into warm water, et voile! Liquid handsoap!
Here’s a round up of some of the most popular soap bars from out range:
French Pink Clay is unscented and is ideal for normal, dry or mature skin. €7.00
Activated Charcoal is wonderful for acne prone skin. Perfect for oily and combination skin. €7.00
Cypress & Cedarwood – Woody, balsamic and smoky. A firm favourite with men, it leaves you smelling AMAZINGLY fresh and clean. €7.00
Sweet Orange and Spearmint One of the most popular bars of soap. This baby smell like frosties sweets and will leave your bathroom smelling fresh and minty.It’s perfect for the face and body and is great for all skin types. €7.00
5. Toothpaste Tabs & Natural Toothpastes
The plastic free alternatives to conventional toothpaste and with half the amount of ingredients!
Most of our Oral Care range comes in both flouride or fluoride free options from toothpaste tabs, to natural toothpaste so we have a wide variety to suit everyone.
Here’s a round up of some of our most popular products all under a tenner.
EcoLiving Toothpaste Tabs €7.00
Available in 2 month supply with or without fluoride and packed in a home compostable bag, these babies give a nice lather, just like regular toothpaste, so they don’t feel quite as alien if you’re switching for the first time.
I’d recommend placing them in a lidded glass jar if storing them out in the open. The steam from the shower/bath could cause them to soften and crumble. Although even as a powder, they still make for an very effective teeth clean.
Hydrophil Sustainable Toothpaste from €9.50
Available with or without Fluoride this toothpaste is a very popular option. The tube is made from 95% renewable spruce wood from the EU and it comes with the NCS seal for certified natural cosmetics, which guarantees that this toothpaste does not contain microplastics and parabens, nor silicones, PEGs or phthalates. It’s also climate neutral with an improved CO2 balance of over 40% compared to conventional toothpaste tubes.
In conclusion:
Zero Waste doesn’t have to break the bank and with most of the products listed above, a little goes a long way. You get more bang for your buck and you’re helping to reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.
As with most zero waste swaps, it might seem like you’re not making much of a difference, but if we can reduce the demand for plastic products, then the demand for fossil fuels will dwindle.
We saw the difference that the lack of demand during lockdown made. Oil drilling and gas fracking practically came to a halt! We need to keep pushing for better alternatives and yes, it may take just that little bit more effort, but it’s so much more rewarding and if it doesn’t cost a lot to do? Well then what have you got to lose!?
Small Changes can have a huge impact.
You can check out our resources tab for tips.
Don’t be afraid to push back against the status quo and to have the conversations with friends and family.
The younger generations deserve that much at least.