Easy Ways to Reduce Bathroom Plastic

Ever since the Blue Planet hit our screens two years ago, awareness of the problem of plastic in the ocean has been growing. Most of us have switched to using paper rather than plastic drinking straws, and carrying a reusable coffee cup rather than relying on disposable ones. One of the biggest concentrations of single use plastics is in the bathroom. If you’re thinking of ways in which you can reduce plastic in the bathroom, here are some ideas to get you started.

Toothbrushes

Nearly all toothbrushes are plastic and the figures are staggering. In the US alone, a billion toothbrushes are thrown away every year. Luckily, there are a couple of great options. One is the electric toothbrush. All that needs changed is the small heads, and as the replacement heads are smaller, you’re reducing the volume of plastics thrown away. Bamboo toothbrushes are the eco alternative to plastic if you’d prefer to stick with the manual option. These are widely available online, and are starting to appear in large stores too.

Toilet Paper

Although recycled toilet paper is nothing new, the usual method of wrapping it is in plastic. Until now, loo paper wrapped in paper has been a much more expensive option than the regular version, but this is changing. Aldi recently announced that it was trialling plastic free packaging on its own brand paper, and other retailers are likely to follow suit. Avoid buying wipes branded as flushable. These are made with plastic, and as they don’t break down in the sewers, can contribute to fatbergs.

Back to Soap?

Soap has fallen out of fashion as we all switched to shower gel or liquid soap in the bathroom instead. However, going back to old-fashioned bars of soap could save dozens of bottles over the course of the year. Solid shampoo and conditioner bars are also available for those who want to reduce their impact further. Choose soap wrapped in paper or sold loose rather than bars sold in plastic wrapping.

Buy in Bulk

If you can’t manage without your shower gel or bubble bath, then try to bulk buy wherever possible. One large bottle uses much less plastic than several smaller bottles. Alternatively, see if there is a refill shop close to you where you can take empty bottles to fill up. While you’re filling up with shampoo and liquid soap, you can also refill containers with everything from cereal to coffee.

Ditch the Cleaning Products

Do you really need separate products for the floor, bath, sink and to clean the tiles? Probably not. It you have the time, you can mix up your own eco-friendly bathroom cleaner using baking soda, soap, water and vinegar. It will work just as well as the commercial products and will cost a lot less too. Just wash out one of your old trigger spray bottles to contain your new cleaner. It goes without saying that you should use up all of your existing products before trying to replace them with something more environmentally sound.