19 Zero Waste Bathroom Alternatives & Products
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Making your bathroom more sustainable is easier than you may think.
By just doing a few easy swaps and switches, you’ll be able to avoid lots of plastic waste and also simplify and reduce the products you use & need.
In this article, I’ll give you a list a list of zero waste bathroom essentials that will help you reduce your waste and make your bathroom more eco-friendly.
Let’s jump right in!
19 Best Zero Waste Bathroom Products:
1. Recycled toilet paper
Toilet paper is something we use almost every day without fail. Most pick the cheapest brand on the shelf or go for whatever feels the most comfortable.
Did you know the US consumes the highest amount of toilet paper rolls worldwide at the cost of deforesting millions of acres annually!? Yikes.
To make it more eco-friendly, you can either choose bamboo or recycled toilet paper. Your butt may not notice the difference, but the trees certainly will.
My favorite option is Who Gives a Crap (US / UK / Europe / Australia). For more options, check my article, with 18 plastic-free & eco-friendly toilet paper options.
2. Plastic-free shampoo & conditioner
To reduce the amount of waste, switch to shampoo and conditioner bars, or liquid refillable ones, in sustainable packaging.
You can look at zero waste online stores to find sustainable shampoo and conditioner bars or check my article with 21 of the best eco-friendly shampoo & conditioner bars.
If you prefer to use liquid shampoo and conditioner, try out Plaine Products, or take a reusable container to your nearest bulk store.
3. Eco-friendly soap
Ethique, HiBar face wash, Doana skin care, and UpCycle are all great options. Their soap bars are palm oil-free, made with sustainably sourced & natural ingredients, and wrapped in plastic-free packaging.
4. Dry shampoo
Dry shampoos can come in handy, but, the conventional ones aren’t good for you or the environment. That’s why you can make your DIY dry shampoo with just 2 (or 3) ingredients; it is super duper simple and effective.
All you have to do is mix equal amounts of arrowroot powder (or corn starch), cocoa powder (for brown hair), and clay. For more details, check my DIY dry shampoo recipe + video here.
5. Plastic-free razor
To help reduce the number of razors in landfills, you can try metal safety razors like Jungle Culture, Rockwell, or Albatross. These products last much longer than those single-use plastic razors. The only thing you need to change is the razor blade, which is super cheap and lasts many shaves.
6. Bamboo toothbrush
Nowadays, you can easily find bamboo toothbrushes from brands like Isshah, Leafico, or check local stores.
Prefer something more long-lasting? Try the sturdy aluminum brushes from The Goodwill Company.
7. Eco-friendly toothpaste
You can buy or make a DIY toothpaste with baking soda, coconut oil, and peppermint essential oil. I tried the homemade one, but I prefer to buy plastic-free tooth tablets or to use a DIY toothpowder. Some great eco-friendly toothpaste products are:
- Geoganics toothpaste, tooth tablets, or tooth powder
- Good Organics Toothpaste Tablets
- Davids Toothpaste – spearmint or peppermint toothpaste
- Weldental Chewtabs
- Nelson Naturals Fluoride Free Toothpaste
- DIY toothpaste or toothpowder
8. Zero waste dental floss
There are lots of great zero waste flossing products you can easily find online, in ll recyclable or compostable packaging. If you floss every day, many brands offer plastic-free alternatives, such as:
9. Tongue scraper
This thing changed my life for the better. 😀 It is certainly an amazing way to keep your breath fresh, fight bacteria, and enhance your sense of taste. They are usually made of stainless steel or copper and are very easy to clean. You can find eco-friendly tongue scrapers here:
10. Zero waste deodorant
Using a zero waste deodorant will help you reduce deodorant stick waste and avoid brands with harmful skin irritants. If you want to use a zero waste deodorant that comes in a biodegradable container and is made of organic essential oils, I recommend brands such as:
Or you can also make it yourself and follow my guide for DIY zero waste deodorant.
11. Eco-friendly makeup
Traditional makeup packages are notoriously difficult to recycle and typically contain harsh irritants for your skin. There are great eco-friendly & natural brands, such as Elate Cosmetics or River Organics, that offer everything you might need – eyeliners, eyeshadows, mascara, lipstick, foundation, etc.
12. Natural perfume
Conventional perfumes may include respiratory or hormone disruptors harmful to you and can build up in your body over time. If you want to keep using perfumes, you can get some that are not harmful to you. Check some of these brands that offer natural and safe perfumes:
- Lush
- Dirty Hippie Cosmetics
- Vegan roll-on aromatherapy by Robin Creations (Etsy store)
Additionally, you can DIY a liquid or solid perfume by diluting and combining a couple of high-quality therapeutic-grade essential oils.
13. Reusable cotton rounds
Reusable cotton facial rounds are another great, sustainable, easy-to-find bathroom product. Use them to remove makeup or to apply facial cleansers. You can find brands that sell these here:
14. Menstrual cups or panties
Most tampons and menstrual pads are terrible for the environment. They are not biodegradable and add to the list of products in landfills.
Menstrual cups, on the other hand, are reusable, washable, and require fewer changes than the average tampon and pad.
If you never used one, you can find all the answers to questions you might be wondering about in my FREE E-BOOK:
Curious about menstrual cups?
Unlock the Ultimate Menstrual Cup Handbook by joining my newsletter! You’ll also get a weekly dose of positivity with Good News Monday & get instant free access to the Almost Zero Waste Hub — a growing collection of eco-friendly resources & exclusive content.
You can even take it a step further by investing in reusable organic pads or period panties, which are washable, and you can either combine with the cup or wear on your “light” days.
15. Eco-friendly ears swab
Most of us grew up using Q-tips regularly, but the good news is that there are sustainable alternatives for these, too. The Oriculi earbud, for example, is washable, reusable, and made from bamboo.
16. Bamboo hairbrush
Wooden hairbrushes are much better for your hair since the plastic ones cause your hair to break more. The wooden bristle brushes are smooth, and your hair will slide over them, so they won’t break your hair. You can check this wooden comb and hair brush.
17. Zero waste body moisturizer
Plenty of zero waste moisturizers will keep your skin looking fresh and hydrated at all times. Some of my favorite cruelty-free moisturizers include Loli Face Oil or Ethique. Alternatively, you can follow my guide and make a DIY body butter or look for local eco-friendly brands.
18. Skincare products
There are plenty of sustainable & zero waste skincare options – from make-up removal to moisturizers, soaps, oils, etc. A couple of cool ones that I found are:
- Mad Hippie Antioxidant Oil – made with organic argan oil
- Farmstead Apothecary Natural Cream – natural, organic & cruelty-free, suitable for all skin types
- Ethique Solid Face Cream – vegan, cruelty-free, rich and creamy for dry & mature skin
- Loli Organic Face Oil – balances oil production, shrinks blemishes, and illuminates the skin
19. Zero waste cleaning products
Brands such as Earthy Edith, Meliora, and Bestowed Essentials have all-purpose cleaners made of plant-based ingredients and refillable or plastic-free packaging. You could also make your bathroom cleaning products with baking soda, apple cider vinegar, essential oil, or other DIY combinations.
Summary
Now that I’ve given you the rundown of my favorite zero waste bathroom products, I’m sure I’ve missed some great items. Do you have any suggestions on how to reduce your waste when it comes to bathroom essentials and products? Let me know in the comments section below!
How toilet paper affects the environment (Infographic by Tushy):
