~ GREENISH GUEST BLOG ~

By Megan Holler

Mother, wife, social worker, and aspiring zero waster

If you’ve ever thought about making some environmentally friendly changes to your bathroom products, rest assured that it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We all have shampoos, conditioners, body washes, toothbrushes, toothpastes, flosses, deodorants, and toilet paper, just to name a few. But, by no means do you have to switch everything overnight. Even one, small change can make a big impact on your plastic waste. Thankfully, an increasing number of products are becoming available, ones that limit plastics and unnecessary chemicals, and, for those that require shipping, offer environmentally friendly shipping materials and other packaging. Some even come with subscription options, to take shopping lists out of the equation.

Below you’ll find a little more about my new, usual suspects in the bathroom. Try them out or, one of their competitors. My bet is you’ll find the trade-offs, if there are any, are worth the environmental savings and you won’t look back! Of course, there are quite a few not discussed in this article, like shaving and makeup products, so don’t stop here. Keep exploring!

I have not been compensated by any of the businesses listed below. I’ve just stumbled upon their products, from a variety of research methods and sources, and happen to enjoy them!

Shampoo and conditioner bars – Ditch the plastic bottle altogether and try out a bar option. There are quite a few companies out there, both available locally and online, offering these products. My personal favorite is currently HiBAR. With choices for normal, dry, and fine hair, you can find a match and have them shipped directly to your door, all in compostable or recyclable packaging. I’m even finding that they last longer than estimated, making them more affordable than marketed.

Bamboo toothbrushes – In order to stop the repetitive cycle of throwing out your plastic toothbrush every three to four months, swap it for one of the many bamboo options out there now. Synthetic bristles are still the norm, but for disposal, you can either snap off the handle and just toss the head, or spend a few minutes pulling out the bristles and compost the entire thing. There are a few companies researching options for compostable bristles, that are both plastic and cruelty free, so stay tuned! If you’re interested in the bristle conundrum, here’s a quick YouTube video by the Bite CEO & Founder.

Another new feature that you can find is replaceable heads. I haven’t seen these offered locally yet, but I’ve just received a 4-pack of replaceable heads from Etee. Now I’ll be able to keep the base of the toothbrush, while replacing and composting just the head of the brush, after removing the bristles. They’re even color coded, for our family of four. Another company offering this option is Bite. They are reportedly even working on a send-back program to recycle the bristles for you, no pulling required!

Toothpaste tablets – Toothpaste tubes are another ongoing source of non-recyclable plastic in our bathrooms. An environmentally friendly alternative is toothpaste powder or, a relatively new option, tablets. I definitely know plenty of people making their own toothpaste powder, and you can find a wealth of recipes online, but sadly I just haven’t found the time for that yet.

Instead, I’ve experimented with a few products, and my current favorite is from Bite. Their mint flavor leaves a great fresh feeling, without being too overpowering or sweet, and the foaming action is quite sufficient. They offer one-time purchases, or a subscribe and save option, with a reusable jar and subsequent refills in compostable bags. My kids are even eager to try their Berry Twist flavor.

Compostable Floss – Instead of throwing away both your floss and its packaging, you can now find floss itself made from materials like silk or corn starch, and refillable containers made of stainless steel or glass. I’ve been using a silk version from Wowe for a while with great success. Though my initial purchase was via Amazon, Etee is also making a silk version that ships in fully compostable and recyclable materials. For people that want a non-silk option, I’m intending to try out a 100% plant based product next, either by Fresh Labs or from Dental Lace.

Refillable deodorant – Plastic, disposable deodorant bottles have long been the norm, but a few new companies have put out some great alternatives. You can certainly find deodorant in biodegradable tubes, or even in bars, but my current preference is a refillable container, guaranteed for life, from by Humankind. With their subscription program, you receive a replacement cartridge every 4-6 weeks, in compostable/recyclable shipping materials. The cartridge itself is compostable, and the little bit of plastic remaining is recyclable, as long as you have a vendor that can accept it. As someone who needs deodorant more than I like to admit, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the natural formula, let alone the large reduction in plastic waste.

Recycled AND plastic free toilet paper – And, we can’t forget about toilet paper. For a long time I was using Seventh Generation, which I liked because it’s made from 100% recycled paper. No new trees were being used to create the toilet paper. However, what does a 4 or 24 roll pack come wrapped in? Plastic, and a good bit of it. So, when I heard about companies like Who Gives a Crap that eliminate the plastic wrap, I was quite excited. Who Gives a Crap also advertises that they donate 50% of their profits to non-profit partners in developing countries who are working to improve sanitation. Plus, with colorful, patterned paper wrappings, and a subscription service to boot, you can’t go wrong.

If you would like to be a Greenish Guest Blogger, Contact Greenish Neighbor.