Purging Plastic From Your Bathroom: 5 Changes You Can Make Today

Do you know how much plastic is in your bathroom cabinet and shower? Chances are, almost everything in your bathroom is either entirely or partially plastic. But it isn’t your fault, almost all bathroom products are made with plastic packaging on purpose, so finding eco-friendly and zero-waste alternatives can be hard on your own. We have 5 easy changes you can make at home to help decrease plastic pollution. 

Why Ditch Plastic?

Plastic pollution in our oceans is a major environmental issue. The United Nations reported that in 2021, 17+ million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean and a separate study in 2016 found that the United States was the largest producer of plastic waste in the world. With plastic being the material of choice for most bath and beauty products, a large amount of that plastic waste was once in our bathrooms. 

Beyond the quantity of plastic making its way into our oceans, there is a quality that plastic has that makes it especially dangerous for all parts of the ocean ecosystem: plastic doesn’t decompose. When plastic enters the ocean, it’s there to stay. Larger pieces of plastic just break into smaller pieces called microplastics, which are harmful for many reasons that you can learn about in our blog post here. 

In one year, a single person can go through a multitude of plastic products. According to Pela, in one year a person goes through 10 shampoo bottles, 5 conditioner bottles, 7 disposable razors, 8 loofahs, 4 tubes of toothpaste, 4 toothbrushes, 300 feet of dental floss, and 3 sticks of deodorant. Want to hear some even bigger numbers? Each year on average Americans use 900 million tubes of toothpaste and 1 billion toothbrushes. That is a lot of non-recyclable plastic ending up in oceans and landfills.

Sustainable Swaps

So what can you do today to help combat ocean plastic pollution? You can start in your bathroom! Featuring affordable products from Zero Waste Store, here are 5 bathroom swaps you can make and teach others about that help save ocean ecosystems from plastic pollution:

1. Loofah → Soap Saver Bag

Instead of a plastic loofah to exfoliate, go with a plastic-free, compostable soap saver bag. What’s great about this product is that it helps increase the longevity of your bar soap by allowing you to collect all the tiny pieces that otherwise would be too hard to use and put them inside the pouch to continue washing with. Available for $5.49.

2. Disposable Razor → Stainless Steel Razor

Disposable razors can be a pain because the quality just isn’t there leading you to buy more and more replacement heads and bases. Switching to a stainless steel razor can seem pricy at first, but pays off in the long-run because of their quality. Investing in a good razor means you can use it longer, buy less replacement heads, and prevent plastic pollution. Three options available for $24.99, $58.99, and $83.99.

3. Bottled Body Wash → Bar Soap

This is not only an inexpensive switch, but also one that could help you save money. Bar soaps are much more affordable, versatile, and eco-friendly than body wash from a plastic bottle. I know the bottles can look cute, but a healthy ocean is much cuter. You can get one here for $6.99, or go to almost any grocery store or specialty store and find bar soap in any fragrance you would like.

4. Tube Toothpaste → Toothpaste Tablets

What is amazing about this product is that it comes in plastic-free, compostable packaging and is refillable. instead of squeezing out the last drop of your tube toothpaste, pop a toothpaste tablet and always get the right amount for brushing your teeth. They are also a really affordable option starting at $1.50. Other great zero-plastic oral hygiene products are bamboo toothbrushes ($3.99) and mouthwash tablets ($1.50).

5. Bottled → Bar Shampoo & Conditioner

This swap may be the most confusing at first, but you have to get creative when you’re trying to save the planet. Instead of coming in a liquid form, shampoo and conditioner bars work like bar soap, but for your hair. What’s also nice is the affordable price and choices of fragrance. They are sold separate or as a bundle for $29.98. This swap may be a harder one for people with different hair-types so another great option is refillable shampoo and conditioner for $30.00.

Edited by Bolton