Dear Eartha, I enjoyed your recent article on plastic free swaps in the kitchen. I’m always trying to make more sustainable choices in my life and appreciated learning some new tips. Can you share more switches for a different area of the home?  

You got it. Let’s continue with “Sustainable Swaps: Bathroom Edition.” Next time you’ve gotta go, take a look around your bathroom and you might notice a surprising number of plastic products lurking about. Have no fear — there are also plastic-free options for almost all these items. It can be overwhelming to change your whole routine all at once, so take it one at a time and find what works for you. Let’s walk through a few possible swaps to make your commode a bit more up to code. 

Shampoo and conditioner

It’s estimated that Americans throw out 552 million empty plastic shampoo bottles a year. Check the ingredients next time you’re lathering up your locks — chances are the largest component is water. Instead of paying to bottle up and transport mere water, try out shampoo and conditioner bars. These solid bars lather up in your shower and often last longer than a bottle, saving you money in the long run. Feeling crafty? You can also make your own shampoo and conditioner with just a few simple ingredients. The best part is you can decide what goes in and tailor the ingredients and essential oils to what suits you.

Deodorant

You know what really stinks? The deodorant industry reportedly produces over 15 million pounds of plastic waste each year. The good news is that many brands are shifting toward more sustainable packages for this daily product. Stick to the basics with a solid deodorant in paperboard packaging, or get adventurous with deodorant lotions in glass containers and recyclable aluminum tubes. We’ve come a long way from the crystal rock deodorant my hippie parents were fond of, though that is still available, too — free love and plastic-free packaging for all. 

Toilet paper

We likely all agree toilet paper should be packaged until it makes its way to our bathrooms, but it doesn’t have to be wrapped in plastic. Paper or cardboard packaging work just as well. While we’re on the topic of toilet paper, rolls made of post-consumer recycled content or bamboo are the best options for reducing environmental impact. What’s the ultimate bathroom swap? Although you may be hesitant to get on board with the more hygienic bidet — the norm in much of the world — these devices not only leave you squeaky clean but are also great for reducing or even eliminating toilet paper needs.

Cleaning products

While nothing is likely to make the unglamorous task of cleaning the bathroom all too pleasant, avoiding further contributions to the estimated 2.5 billion plastic cleaning bottles that end up in landfills each year might help. There are plenty of ways to scrub toilets and clean sinks while eliminating the plastic involved: hand soap, tub cleaner, glass cleaner and even toilet cleaner are all available in tablets that dissolve in water. Invest in glass spray bottles and you’ll never need to buy a plastic cleaning bottle again.

Toothbrush and toothpaste

You know that two-minute timer rule for brushing your teeth that you never really observe? Well, here’s something important that you can do for a whole two minutes: Look around for some sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes. Electric toothbrushes with replaceable heads or plant-based toothbrush handles and bristles are great options to help reduce your plastic waste, as are toothpaste tablets, which often come in refillable glass containers. Do you floss regularly? Of course you don’t, but if you did, plant-based floss could be a great option.

Why plastic-free matters

When we talk about making sustainable lifestyle changes, we tend to focus on the big ticket items rather than the stuff you find in your bathroom. But the plastic used in our cleaning and personal hygiene products comes from the same non-renewable and non-biodegradable petroleum we want to avoid. Taking some incremental steps like recycling the No. 2 bottle from your favorite shampoo can be a great start. And trying out a few of these sustainable swaps can meaningfully contribute to a wider reduction in plastic waste and environmental degradation, too.

Ask Eartha Steward is written by the staff at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation. Submit questions to Eartha at info@highcountryconservation.org.