Out of all the rooms in your home, your bathroom is probably the biggest hotspot for disposable plastics – but not anymore! We all need to re-evaluate how much plastic we’re bringing into the home, how much plastic we’re throwing away, and ways in which we can improve. For this blog, we’ve put together five swaps you can make in your bathroom to reduce your plastic waste. These swaps are simple, sustainable, wallet-friendly and planet friendly – the perfect way to Make a Change!
SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER BARS!
Shampoo and conditioner bars are extremely concentrated blocks of moisturising oils, made without the nasties that commercial products usually contain, e.g. parabens, synthetic fragrances, SLS’s, preservatives, and other questionable chemicals!
Depending on your hair type and how often you wash your hair, a shampoo bar can provide the equivalent number of washes as three bottles of shampoo. A conditioner bar can last 6-8 months and save you purchasing five bottles of conditioner. Shampoo & conditioner bars are better for you, better for the planet, and better for your wallet. What’s not to love?
If you’re curious, check out Ethique's Heali Kiwi Calming Solid Shampoo Bar, it's an F&F favourite with a 5 star rating and 220+ reviews.
Shop all of F&F’s shampoo & conditioner bars here!
2. SWAP OUT YOUR DISPOSABLE SKINCARE PRODUCTS FOR…
CLEANSING BARS / REUSABLE MAKEUP REMOVER PADS!
Making the swap from a cleanser in a disposable plastic bottle to a cleanser in bar form can greatly reduce your plastic waste and save you money! We have a whole bunch to choose from here.
If you’re still looking for a plastic-free way to take your makeup off, look no further! These Green + Kind Reusable Makeup Remover Pads are fabulous machine-washable alternatives to disposable face wipes, cotton rounds and cotton balls. They can be used with soapy cleansers, oil cleansers and makeup remover.
Find our facial cleansing bars and reusable makeup remover pads here!
3. SWAP OUT YOUR DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH / TOOTHPASTE TUBES FOR…
BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSHES & TOOTHPASTE TABLETS!
In Australia, we dispose of 30 million plastic toothbrushes per year! Toothbrushes are usually made of a non-recyclable combination of plastic, rubber and nylon for the bristles. Swapping out your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo toothbrush is a super simple way to cut down on your plastic waste. Our very own best-selling Bamboo Toothbrush is compostable (apart from the bristles) and made with MOSO sustainable bamboo.
Toothpaste tablets are growing in popularity – and for good reasons. They’re zero waste, affordable, convenient, and easy to use. Simply pop a tablet in your mouth, let it dissolve, then brush normally for two minutes.
Find all bamboo toothbrushes here and toothpaste tablets here!
4. SWAP OUT YOUR DISPOSABLE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS FOR…
MENSTRUAL CUPS / REUSABLE PADS / PERIOD PANTIES!
Many of us will have grown up using disposable menstrual products such as tampons and pads. The average Australian woman will dispose of 10,000-12,000 used sanitary products in her lifetime. Imagine if we could reduce this number to zero?
Menstrual cups are quickly becoming the most popular zero-waste alternative to pads and tampons. They’re sanitary, easy to use, and will usually last up to 10 years! Shop our range here or read more about menstrual cups here.
Reusable pads are also gaining popularity – they’re environmentally-friendly, cost-effective, easy to wash, and come in so many beautiful designs.
You’ve heard about period panties, right? Period underwear is the new kid on the block when it comes to feminine hygiene. These regular-looking knickers can help you to manage your period and LBL. The ModiBodi Vegan Bikini Heavy/Overnight period underwear can absorb two tampons worth of liquid or around 3 teaspoons. Use alone on heavy period days or overnight for protecting your sheets!
For more information about plastic-free menstrual products, check out this blog.
5. SWAP OUT YOUR DISPOSABLE PLASTIC RAZORS FOR…
A REUSABLE RAZOR!
It's not something we often think about, but disposable razors are probably one of the most wasteful things we use every day. In fact, approximately 2 billion razors are disposed of in the U.S. every year! Reducing this number to zero could be achieved by purchasing a single reusable razor.
Safety razors are a great plastic-free choice when it comes to shaving. Purchasing a single razor, like the best-selling Green + Kind razors will not only prevent countless disposable plastic razors from going into landfill but will also save you a considerable amount of money. All razors and blades can be found here.
For more information about safety razors, check out this blog.
Any small change is a change so do what you can - it's better to make one change and have it stick than to try everything and it be overwhelming. Good luck!
