In a world more aware of our environmental footprint, making conscious, sustainable choices can feel overwhelming. But what if I told you that creating a greener home, starting by creating a plastic free bathroom, is easier than you think?
As women who care about our families, furry friends, and the beautiful planet we share. We are all looking for ways to make a difference. The good news? You don’t have to overwhelm yourself by changing your entire life overnight! Small and simple swaps in your daily care routine can help you reduce your household’s plastic footprint and inspire positive change.
I’m always impressed by New Zealand’s incredible eco-conscious brands. So I can’t wait to introduce you to some of my go-to favourites!
Just a heads-up: These recommendations are purely my own. I’m not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the New Zealand brands I’m featuring. Since I know not everyone can easily get these products, I’ve linked to similar items on Amazon. Just so you know, those Amazon links are affiliate links, and I might get a small commission from them.
Why make the Switch to a Zero Waste Bathroom? More than just a Trend!
Embracing these eco-friendly alternatives offers benefits that extend far beyond your bathroom counter.
Less Plastic: A Greener Path Forward
On average, each person in New Zealand will throw away 58kg of plastic waste per year. This makes New Zealanders among the highest waste generators in the world. Making these small switches over time in your family’s bathroom can help you reduce your plastic footprint. These switches keep our environment pristine and wild animals healthy.
Less Water: Conserving our most precious resource.
Producing one kilogram of plastic takes 10 litres of water. So, the 58kg of plastic we throw out wastes 158kg of water. Don’t forget about all of the water in liquid products as well, which may contain between 60% to 85% water. By choosing reusable and solid alternatives, you aren’t just reducing plastic waste. You are also playing a vital role in conserving our planet’s precious water resources.
Let’s have a look at five effortless ways to green up your bathroom!!
Hair Care: Ditch the Bottle, Embrace the Bar!
Shampoo and Conditioner
I made the switch to solid shampoo and conditioner back in 2020, and I haven’t looked back! The first brand I tried was Ethique shampoo and conditioner bars. With high quality and whose bars seemed to last forever. I loved knowing all their packaging was compostable. At the time of this post, Ethique has saved 41,661,174 plastic bottles from being produced!
More recently, I’ve been using Anihana shampoo and conditioner bars. I initially tried them after getting one at an event, and found them to be a great, more budget-friendly option. Anihana are also committed to compostable packaging. While Ethique has more online reviews, both brands deliver excellent results. While they also are both committed to keeping plastic out of our bathrooms.
- Ethique Beauty Everyday Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Set (Amazon)
- ANIHANA Shampoo and Conditioner Bars (Amazon)
Oral Care: A Brighter Smile, A Greener Planet
Brushing your teeth is one of the first things we learn growing up. Maintaining a good oral hygiene practice twice a day, is incredibly important for our health. But does this essential routine need to come at a cost to the environment? Think about this: if we all replace our toothbrushes every three months, as recommended by dentists. An estimated 20 million toothbrushes are discarded in New Zealand alone every year! Oral care products are normally made of plastics that will linger in landfills and oceans for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Slowly breaking down into microplastics.
Toothbrushes
Whether you prefer a manual or electric toothbrush. Innovative brands are now helping us reduce the plastic footprint of our daily brush. While some brands are making steps forward by using recycled plastic for toothbrush handles. This often doesn’t solve the end-of-life problem, as they can still be difficult to recycle further. My focus here is on solutions that are biodegradable and use renewable resources.
One key study highlighted that using bamboo toothbrushes offers comparable hygiene conditions to plastic alternatives. This means you don’t have to compromise on your oral health to make an environmentally sound choice. With no negative hygiene trade-offs and significant environmental benefits, bamboo toothbrushes truly are the better option for a conscious consumer.
- Solid Premium Bamboo Toothbrush.
- CaliWoods Bamboo Toothbrush.
- Eco Warehouse Bamboo Sonic Electric Toothbrush
- Philips Sonic Electric Toothbrush Bamboo replacement Brush Head.
- Greenzla Bamboo Toothbrushes for Adults (Amazon)
- Philips Sonicare Compatible Bamboo Electric Toothbrush Heads (Amazon)
- SURI Sonic Electric Toothbrush (Amazon)
Toothpaste
We’re all familiar with toothpaste typically coming in difficult-to-recycle plastic tubes. The multi-material design of these tubes often makes them unsuitable for standard recycling facilities. Meaning they nearly always end up in landfills, where they contribute to plastic pollution.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way! There are many creative brands offering toothpastes in jars, tablets, or powders that generate little to no waste. A brand that consistently receives glowing reviews, founded by an oral hygienist, is Solid Oral Care.
Floss
Traditional dental floss is typically made of synthetic materials like nylon, which is a petroleum-derived plastic. Even smaller, more problematic, are plastic floss picks, which are often too small and made of mixed materials. Making them un-recyclable and immediate contributors to plastic waste.
The good news is that many eco-friendly floss brands are creating biodegradable alternatives. Ensuring that your oral care routine doesn’t contribute to long-term pollution.
Body Care: Sustainable Swaps to Smooth Skin
Soap
While liquid soaps have been all the craze lately, it’s time to switch back to the old-fashioned bar soap. For your hands and your body. It doesn’t have to be boring, though. From your local market to eco-friendly stores, you can find divine soaps for every occasion. I love EcoStore’s range of soaps, which I get at the supermarket. Lemongrass is my favourite.
Liquid soaps have had their moment, but it’s time to switch back to the old-fashioned bar soap! These don’t have to be boring; there is a divine bar of soap for every mood. I’m a massive fan of Ecostore’s range. Their Lemongrass soap is a regular in my supermarket trolley and always leaves me feeling refreshed. For an extra special bath add some essential oil like lavender with coconut oil, to create a sensory experience.
Moisturiser
Did you know that your favourite moisturiser can also come in a convenient, solid bar form? On a recent trip to the Pacific Islands, I packed the Anihana Rose and Chamomile Solid Moisturiser with me. Not only did it save space in my luggage compared to large bottles, but its gorgeous scent made me feel like an Island princess. These solid sticks are a dream to rub on in warm environments. Though back in New Zealand, I warm the stick in my hands a little, which does the trick.
Deodorant
I’ve loved making the switch to a solid deodorant. I love knowing exactly what I’m putting on my skin because the ingredient lists are so easy to understand. I’ve been a loyal user of Ethique deodorant, with the Vanilla and Lavender scent being my favourite.
Lip Balms
If you are anything like me, you’ve probably stumbled upon a drawer filled with a “graveyard” of old, empty plastic lip balm containers. I used to hate seeing all the waste, which is why I wanted to find a plastic-free option. I tried Ethique Juicy Nourishing Lip Balm, and I love it, and it’s now always in my university bag.
Shaving: Plastic-Free Options for a Smooth Finish
Safety Razor
My family all calls me the “Greeny” of the family. So, for one Christmas, I put a metal razor kit from CaliWoods on my Wishlist. I chose the gorgeous copper colour, and I’ve been using this kit for two and a half years now. It came with a safety razor, a 20-blade refill pack, shaving soap, a linen travel bag and a handy razor stand. Over this time, I still haven’t had to buy more blades for it!!
This razor has been my absolute favourite sustainable swap! I love it so much, but it’s worth noting that it does take some time getting used to. Unlike lightweight plastic razors, safety razors have a nice weight to them. Which means you only need light pressure to get a good shave. My tip? Practice shaving on larger areas like legs before moving onto more delicate spots.
Shaving Soap
Are you ready to ditch your aerosol cans of shaving cream? Swapping to a lovely shaving soap is a fantastic move. I enjoyed using the CaliWoods shaving soap that came with my kit. But without that on hand, a quality body soap works beautifully too.
Reusable Cotton Rounds and Cotton Buds: Smart Swaps for Daily Rituals
Reusable Cotton Rounds
Instead of buying disposable cotton rounds for your skincare routine, why not invest in some reusable facial rounds? These soft, absorbent rounds are perfect for removing makeup, applying toner, or washing our face. The best part? Once you are done, chuck them in with your washing and they will be ready for use again.
Cotton Buds
Most conventional cotton buds back in the day came with plastic sticks. Now, the first step you can do is make sure the ones you buy have bamboo sticks, which are biodegradable. Even better, there are leading brands that have created reusable cotton buds.
- CaliWoods Organic Cotton Buds
- Last Swab Reusable Cotton Buds (While not a New Zealand brand, they are an amazing example of innovation in reusables.)
Storage for all your Bars: Keep them Dry and Happy!
Storing your solid eco-friendly toiletries is the only tricky part. While they’re fantastic for reducing plastic, solid bars need to stay dry between uses to truly thrive. When bars remain wet, they continuously dissolve, becoming soft and mushy, meaning you go through them much faster. This reduces their cost-effectiveness and increases your overall consumption, reducing some of the environmental benefits.
I’ll admit, for the past five years, I’ve often left mine either directly on the bathroom shelf or in a two-tier Sistema container. While convenient, this isn’t ideal because the bars don’t get proper airflow and stay wet. My experience shows bars need proper air flow and drainage to help extend their life.
Luckily, many brands offer clever products specifically designed to store and carry solid toiletries. These solutions keep your bars dry and easily accessible. You’ll want these bar holders not just for your shampoo and conditioner. But also for your solid soap and moisturiser bars.
- Anihana Shower Shelf
- Ethique Haircare storage tray
- Ethique Shampoo and Soap Saver Bag
- CaliWoods Soap Box
Are you ready to make your own Plastic Free Bathroom?
There you have it! Five simple ways to transform your bathroom into a more sustainable, plastic-free retreat. From the refreshing lather of a solid shampoo bar to the satisfying feel of a bamboo toothbrush. Each of these swaps is a small step that collectively creates a significant impact in reducing bathroom plastic.
As you’ve seen, embracing these eco-friendly choices isn’t just about reducing plastic. It’s about conserving water resources, supporting incredible New Zealand brands, and feeling genuinely good about the products you use daily. It’s a journey towards a more conscious lifestyle, one where your personal care routine aligns beautifully with your values.
Thank you for Reading! I’d love to hear from you.
What will your first swap be? Share your choice in the comments below! Once you’ve tried it for a while, come back and let our community know how it is going. Together, by making these small swaps, we will make an enormous difference to our health and our beautiful planet!!!
Georgia xo
