Sustainable Bathroom Products: 8 Eco-Friendly Swaps

No one ever looks at a used piece of dental floss and thinks, "Gosh, I wish I could keep this forever." Because that's disgusting. And yet, when you use traditional floss from a single-use plastic box, you're pretty much guaranteeing that your relics of dental hygiene end up in a landfill for the better part of eternity.

But floss isn't there alone. Bathroom products are a huge contributor to the waste that ends up in landfills or the ocean. Think about all the hard-to-recycle plastic packaging and single-use products like cotton swabs on your shelves and in your shower. Fortunately, there are loads of low-waste products that you can swap in for your less sustainable bathroom essentials. Here are eight sustainable bathroom products that will help you limit plastic waste and single-use products for a more eco-friendly space.

Reusable littles Bottle | Dental Wood Brush

Dental Hygiene

Plastic toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, and floss are hard to recycle or compost and often destined for garbage island. Instead, consider biodegradable, sustainably sourced alternatives like bamboo toothbrushes and toothpaste in tablet form. Our zero waste favorites include the Public Goods Bamboo Toothbrush, Bite Fresh Mint Toothpaste Bits and Mouthwash Bits, and Package Free Silk Floss.

Shaving

Stay away from disposable plastic razors and their bulky plastic packaging by opting for a metal version like The Detox Market Razor. Not only will it last longer and give you a better shave, but it also comes in recyclable packaging.

Body and Hair Care

Ditch the endless supply of empty bottles from hair care products and body washes. Switched to bar soap—preferably the kind without packaging that you can get from health food stores. Hair products are also now available in bar form. Shampoo bars and conditioner bars are just as effective as their bottled cousins, and they don’t have extraneous packaging you'll need to ditch once you've used them up. We like Zero Waste Path. Their products are vegan and cruelty-free. Plus, they have tons of options for all skin and texture types, so it’s easy to find an option that's right for you.

Reusable Cotton Rounds

While you might think that a natural material like cotton will biodegrade over time, regular cotton pads are made using a bleaching and mixing processes that prevents them from breaking down. You can avoid this by using reusable cotton rounds made with sustainable materials like these Humble Earth Co. Reusable Bamboo Cotton Rounds.

You might have noticed that bamboo often makes an appearance on eco-friendly product lists. That's because bamboo is naturally sustainable. It grows quickly and doesn't require any pesticides or herbicides. Plus, it's naturally biodegradable, so it won't stick around in landfills for centuries like plastic will.

Cotton Swabs

Nearly 1.8 billion plastic cotton buds are used each year, and nearly 10% of them end up in the ocean or in waterways. Opt for compostable options like bamboo cotton buds. Or try a product that gives back like the LastSwab Reusable Cotton Swabs.

Toilet Paper

Stop flushing trees down the toilet. Look for TP that's made from sustainable materials and has plastic-free packaging. Choosing bamboo toilet paper or recycled toilet paper will help cut back on the massive amount of deforestation caused by ordinary toilet paper. Who Gives a Crap, one of our favorite sustainable brands, makes a couple of low-waste options.

Natural Loofah For Shower and Exfolation

Shower Scrubber

A good scrubber can exfoliate your skin, improve circulation, and leave you feeling squeaky clean. But most sponge poufs aren't exactly clean for the planet. They're made of non-recyclable plastics. On top of that, they harbor bacteria, so you need to throw them out monthly. Instead, opt for a natural loofah. They’re more hygienic and 100% biodegradable.

Water Mindfulness

Save water with a hai bluetooth shower head. Whether you opt to use our full-flow, 2.5 gallons-per-minute (GPM) showerhead or our eco-efficient WaterSense-certified 1.8 GPM design, hai makes it easy to save water without compromising on shower quality.

The Bluetooth-enabled hai showerhead pairs with a companion app where you can set water and energy-saving targets and monitor water usage with mobile notifications or hai's custom LED light. The hai light reminds you when to get in (never step into a freezing cold shower again) or get out based on your preferences and goals.