Four ideas for a zero waste bathroom
Add article to favourites
One of the questions that comes up frequently on our Facebook Group is about zero waste personal care. Many products come in plastic, contain microbeads or cause waste in other areas.
Here are some ways you could reduce the impact of your personal care routine:
Plastic free products
Take a look at an average bathroom shelf and you’ll find an array of plastic bottles for shampoo, shower gel, conditioner, deodorant and even toothbrushes and toothpaste.
With a little shopping around you can find brands to help support you on your zero waste grooming routine.
I’ve spoken before about Sally at Natural Spa who supplies sells an array of products that are plastic free. Clay is suitable for washing your hair or skin and comes in a cardboard tube, her crystal deodorant stones come wrapped in cardboard and tied with string and argan oil (a brilliant moisturiser for skin, hair and lips) comes in a glass bottle.
Lush sell toothy tabs ( a plastic free tooth cleaning product) and you can indulge your love of soap as they will cut chunks off a big piece for you to take home naked! They also have a take back scheme for some of their packaging.
If you’re despairing about the amount of half used toiletries you have at home, that you really don’t want to use any more, I’d urge you to reconsider. After all, the most zero waste purchase is not to make one at all! If you’re determined that these plastic-laden toiletries have to go, here are 8 ways to recycle half used toiletries.
Donate old medical supplies
Chances are, you’ve got some old medicines hanging around. Sadly there aren’t many places that actually reuse / recycle medicines, but you can at least return them to your GP for safe disposal.
There is one charity called Inter Care who send high quality medical aid to rural health units in sub-Saharan Africa. While they can’t accept medicines from householders, they will accept a few things from you such as bandages, emollient creams, gauze, sanitary pads, or blood and urine test strips.
Check out this page to find out how you can encourage your GP or hospital to register with Inter Care.
Fit and dispose wisely
Many of us love a home makeover programme, but it does mean that ripping out perfectly good bathrooms and shower rooms is on the increase. With the construction industry one of the most wasteful sectors, it’s worth thinking about how you could reduce the impact of your shiny new refit.
The ideal place to start is with choosing a company that understand sustainability. Geberit focus on low energy and water consumption combined with ecologically friendly materials. For example, this toilet cistern can help reduce water consumption with dual flush and stop flush. The flush volume is also adjustable from 6 to 3L.
If you’re removing an old bathroom, either try and sell it or give it away to extend its life. Failing that you could repurpose – how about this inspiring creation from Vicky – she upcycled an old bath into a garden chair!
DIY
Talking of DIY, there are many products for cleaning yourself and your bathroom you can make at home.
Browse the internet and you’ll find numerous recipes for toothpaste, grab the strawberries, bananas and avocados that are turning brown and use them on your skin and hair! You can use lots of kitchen ingredients such as olive oil on dry skin, coconut oil as a hair conditioner, bicarbonate of soda for scrubbing the sink and vinegar on your tiles, windows and mirrors.
One of my favourites is to mix up some yogurt and oats to use as a gentle skin exfoliator / moisturising treatment. And the best bit? You can eat any leftovers!
What about you? What tips do you have for a zero waste bathroom?
Readers who viewed this page, also viewed:
I’m a greenwasher! Come and discover what's lurking in my bathroom cabinet
Don’t throw it away… That's rubbish, just throw it away ... How many times have you heard that or said…
