Get the 20 Best Zero Waste Bathroom Accessories & Valuable Tips to Be Eco-Conscious

Written By: Saman Shoaib
Last Updated: July 27, 2023

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Just imagine your bungalow or a cottage; any type of home you live in has a zero waste bathroom. Your living standards will surely be transformed towards eco-consciousness even while moving to take a bath or evacuation.

No doubt, environmental concerns are now at the forefront of global conversations. In this scenario, creating a zero waste bathroom will be more than a blessing in disguise that endeavors to meet individuals’ preferences for eco-friendliness. As it not only reduces our ecological footprint but also promotes sustainable living and a healthier planet.🌱🌍

But one important thing to understand is about zero-waste living. If you’re a person to live life on your personal standards (what like; adopted, what doesn’t like; rejected). Such practice makes it a big challenging task to create a zero waste bathroom in your dwelling place. But not now.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover step-by-step strategies, valuable tips on creating a no-waste washroom, and a number of the best zero waste bathroom accessories that perfectly align with your eco-friendly goals. Scroll down and find the amazing facts!

Let’s Understand the Zero Waste Philosophy

It’s crucial to grasp the philosophy behind the zero-waste movement prior to diving into the practical aspects of creating a zero waste bathroom. Well, the concept is very simple though implementation may be challenging.

Minimize waste generation by adopting sustainable practices

that significantly prioritize reusability, compostability, and recycling.

Once you follow these principles of zero waste living standards, you will surely be successful in reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and pollutes our environment immensely.

Staying for a Little Period BUT Creating Huge Waste! Figure Out Why Bathrooms Do That?

Have you ever thought about how much waste we produce in the bathroom? Do it now! It’s because our bathroom rituals are hugely accompanied by numerous products that bring a lot of plastic with them.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

“The average American produces around 1700 pounds of waste yearly.”

According to the released research by Tap Warehouse (A British bathroom retailer),

“Brits recycle 50% of their bathroom waste, which accounts for 30-40% of total landfill waste, where nappies, toothpaste tubes, etc., can take up to 500 years to decompose.”

That’s a huge figure, which is hard to figure out HOW & WHY?

As you know, the bathroom is equipped with numerous products that need to replenish again and again. From toothbrushes to toothpaste, shampoo to conditioner, soap to face wash, toilet paper to cleaning supplies, everything is mostly used on a daily basis.

A point to ponder is that most of these bathroom accessories are made of plastics or non-recyclable containers. When they end up in landfills, they create a huge mess due to poor check-n-balance. Ultimately, such practices cause land, water, and air pollution to a huge extent. Seems awful? 🫢

Recycling Initiatives of Personal Care Products

Some developed countries, such as USA and UK, work on several recycling programs on small or large scales.

✨ According to a report commissioned by the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies, 7 out of 10 Americans claim they always or almost always recycle, and only 1 in 5 consistently recycle bathroom items. The company has started a recycling awareness campaign exclusively on Tumblr as a gentle reminder to recycle more items from the bathroom.

✨ Some leading cosmetics companies acknowledge plant-based toiletries. One of them is Aveda which uses 100& recycled PET in its packaging and has recycled 145 million plastic bottle caps through its ‘Recycle Caps with Aveda’ campaign.

✨ A skincare company – Origins, has made efforts in order to prevent products from ending up in landfill. In 2009, it established a recycling programme, ‘Return to Origins’, which recycles empty cosmetic bottles from any brand.

How You Can Create a Zero Waste Bathroom

Are you eager to adopt a transition of your water closet? Here are some valuable tips and tricks that need to follow and embrace zero-waste living forever.

👉 Conduct a Waste Audit

The very first step that you need to start a zero-waste journey is to conduct a complete waste audit. By the way, there is no any hard and fast rule for this. You have to analyze the products and materials what you currently use in your bathroom and identify all the items that lead to more waste. This may include single-use plastic bottles, disposable razors, and non-recyclable packaging. Will you do it? 🤔

👉 Embrace Minimalism & Declutter

If you want to minmize waste created in your bathroom, it’s crucial to declutter and embrace minimalism. Again, it’s also so simple. By auditing your bathroom, you must find several rarely-used items that have no specific purpose. Instead of keeping them more in your bathroom, get rid of them instantly by removing them. Thus, simplifying bathroom essentials help you to avoid unnecessary waste and focus on sustainable alternatives.

👉 Switch to Eco-Friendly Personal Care Products

It will surely be a significant step moving toward reducing waste in your bathroom once you switch to eco-friendly personal products. So, always look for products made from natural and organic ingredients, even that are packaged in recyclable or compostable materials. Do you know which items can come into this account? Shampoo bars, conditioner bars, and solid soap bars are considered as the perfect alternatives to their liquid counterparts.

👉 Invest in Zero Waste Accessories for Bath

Now the most important and useful step is to invest in those products that do not harm your body as well as this planet. Yes! Zero waste bathroom accessories. It’s highly recommended to push yourself to adopt green products (I mean to say, natural products 🤩 that promise to sustain more).

If you continue to read, you’ll find the 20 best Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps 👇. Choose any of your required ones and bring home happiness that our environment will also embrace by heart.

👉 Create a Composting System

Do you know how to compost? You have to implement this strategy in your home as well. Just apply a composting system in your bathroom, like a small compost bin, for several compostable items, such as; hair, nail clippings, tissues, etc. This way, a big chunk of your bathroom’s organic waste will be managed efficiently.

👉 Repurpose & Upcycle

Before discarding old bathroom items, you must think of some creative ways to repurpose or upcycle them in a great way. Let me share some examples;

You can use glass jars to store cotton balls or as DIY bathroom decor.
Your old bath towels can easily be transformed into cleaning rags.
You can transform your old wood drawer into a shelf in your bathroom to keep lightweight items; hand towels, toilet paper, etc.
You can use your mason jars to store bathroom accessories, toothbrushes, cotton buds, etc.
Affix your old window boxes to your bathroom wall and put various dry products in it.

👉 Be Mindful while Water Usage

It should never skip into your mind that water is a great blessing of God. Always try to conserve it, not waste it, whether you’re using the bathroom or toilet, laundry or kitchen, or any other area. But here, we’ll talk in terms of bathrooms that can’t exist without water. So, be conscious and mindful while using water. Some useful tips are;

Wash your hands quickly in just few seconds and avoid unnecessary water wastage
Close the tap while massaging soap on your hands or even taking a bath
Choose bathtubs to take enough water at once instead of taking a shower
Fix any leaks promptly to reduce water waste any more
Collect excess water while waiting for the shower to heat up and use it for plants or other household tasks (if you’re used to with shower, than tub)

👉 Educate & Inspire

Last but not least, creating a zero waste bathroom should not be only a personal journey. But it also has to be an opportunity to educate and inspire others positively. For this, if your journey is running successfully, share your experiences and tips with friends, family, and of course, on social media platforms in order to encourage wider adoption of sustainable practices.

Explore the Best Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps

1️⃣ Biodegradable Toothbrush & Holder

Say ‘Good Bye’ to the conventional plastic toothbrush and ‘Welcome’ to a biodegradable alternative made from organic materials like bamboo. You will find these toothbrushes not only eco-friendly but also aesthetically pleasing and more effective in maintaining your dental hygiene without harming the planet. So, when you’re going to ditch your existing toothbrush? 🤔🪥

2️⃣ Sustainable Toilet Paper

Traditional toilet paper contributes to deforestation and wasteful consumption. Choose toilet paper made from recycled materials or bamboo, which has a significantly lower environmental impact.

3️⃣ Eco-Friendly Body Supplies

Replace chemical-laden cleaning supplies with eco-friendly alternatives. Vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap are excellent options for effective and environmentally safe cleaning.

4️⃣ Reusable Shower Products

Invest in reusable shower products such as loofahs, natural sea sponges, and washable shower caps. These alternatives are durable and can replace single-use items effectively.

5️⃣ Eco-Friendly Razors

Swap disposable razors for safety razors with replaceable blades. Safety razors provide a closer shave, are long-lasting, and reduce the waste generated by disposable razors.

6️⃣ Sustainable Bath Towels

Choose bath towels made from organic cotton or bamboo. These materials are not only gentle on the skin but also environmentally friendly.

7️⃣ Zero Waste Haircare

Explore zero waste haircare options such as shampoo bars and natural bristle brushes. These products are free from harmful chemicals and unnecessary plastic packaging.

8️⃣ Compostable Cotton Swabs

Conventional cotton swabs are a significant source of marine pollution. Switch to compostable cotton swabs made from organic cotton and bamboo.

9️⃣ Eco-Friendly Bath Mats

Opt for bath mats made from natural materials like bamboo or organic cotton. Avoid synthetic mats that release microplastics into the water system.

🔟 Refillable Soap Dispensers

Reduce plastic waste by using refillable soap dispensers for hand wash and body wash. Purchase liquid soap in bulk to further minimize packaging waste.

1️⃣1️⃣ Sustainable Storage Solutions

Organize your bathroom with sustainable storage solutions like glass jars, wooden baskets, and metal containers. These alternatives not only look aesthetically pleasing but also reduce reliance on plastic.

1️⃣2️⃣ Reusable Menstrual Products

For those who menstruate, consider switching to reusable menstrual products like menstrual cups or cloth pads. These options generate less waste compared to disposable tampons and pads.

1️⃣3️⃣ Biodegradable Dental Floss

Conventional dental floss is usually made from nylon, a non-biodegradable material. Opt for dental floss made from biodegradable materials like silk or plant-based fibers.

1️⃣4️⃣ Zero Waste Bath Toys

If you have children, choose zero waste bath toys made from sustainable materials like natural rubber or wood. Avoid plastic toys that can break down into harmful microplastics.

1️⃣5️⃣ Eco-Friendly Shower Curtains

Traditional vinyl shower curtains can emit harmful chemicals. Opt for eco-friendly alternatives made from organic cotton, hemp, or polyester fabric.

1️⃣6️⃣ Sustainable Bathroom Tissues

Use toilet paper made from recycled materials or bamboo. These alternatives are biodegradable and reduce the pressure on forests.

1️⃣7️⃣ Energy-Efficient Lighting

Install LED lights in your bathroom to reduce energy consumption and minimize waste from replacing bulbs frequently.

1️⃣8️⃣ Water-Saving Fixtures

Replace old faucets and showerheads with water-saving fixtures to conserve water and reduce waste.

1️⃣9️⃣ Green Cleaning Solutions

Make your cleaning solutions using natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils to avoid harmful chemicals and plastic packaging.

2️⃣0️⃣ Plastic-Free Toothpaste

Opt for toothpaste tablets or powder packaged in compostable materials instead of traditional plastic tubes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating a zero waste bathroom is a rewarding and fulfilling endeavor that significantly contributes to environmental preservation. By understanding the principles of the zero waste philosophy, embracing minimalism, investing in sustainable products, and adopting eco-friendly practices, you can successfully create a bathroom that aligns with your values of sustainability and eco-conscious living. Moreover, bringing home these 20 best zero waste bathroom swaps will pave this journey efficiently. So, when your this journey will start?