Our bathrooms often fly under the radar where plastic waste is concerned. Instead, we focus on reducing plastic waste when we’re out and about by carrying a reusable coffee cup, reusable shopping bags or even a reusable straw.
Whether it’s the innocent plastic wrap around a tampon, the hearty plastic toothbrush or the more concealed microscopic plastic beads in beauty products, our bathrooms punch above their weight in our overall plastic waste footprint.
Here’s how you can get started and reduce plastic waste in your bathroom.
RETHINK YOUR RAZOR
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If you shave, ditch the disposable razor and opt for varieties where you can replace the head instead. Alternatively invest in a rechargeable razor or hair epilator or wax using cotton, reusable strips.
CHOOSE A BIODEGRADABLE TOOTHBRUSH
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More than 30 million plastic toothbrushes are disposed to landfill in Australia each year! Swap your regular plastic toothbrush for a biodegradable toothbrush made from cornstarch or bamboo.
SWITCH TO REUSABLE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS
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Similar to nappies, single-use sanitary pads contain plastic and take years to break down in landfills. Tampons are individually wrapped in plastic, which means even if you use these you’re still consuming plastic every cycle. Choosing reusable cloth pads or a silicone menstrual cup over conventional menstrual products is not only better for the environment, it’s a big win for your health and wallet too!
BOYCOTT THE BEAD
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Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic ranging in size from 5 um to 1000 um (1mm) in size. They’re found in beauty products like facial and body scrubs and even some toothpaste, where their purpose is to provide a grainy texture for exfoliation. These tiny beads of plastic create havoc in our waterways where they’re ingested by small marine life.
MAKE YOUR OWN TOILETRIES
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The best way to boycott the bead is to choose natural, organic body and beauty products or learn to make your own from pure, raw ingredients. If you’re feeling like going the extra mile and breaking up with commercial shampoos, conditioners, body washes and even deodorants, you might like to have a try and making your own plastic-free versions.
Source: lauratrotta
