Your Bathroom: Striving For Sustainability

Of course, there are plenty of ways to be conservation-minded in the bathroom. We use more water, more soap, and more paper in this room than any other in the average home.

Room for improvement? Of course!

If you missed our post on a greener kitchen, check out how you can sustainably cook, clean, and store things.

Okay, moving on to the bathroom!

Here are 14 ways to create a cleaner, greener bathroom. Jump to a specific category, or scroll through the full set!

H2OMG

Back to Top

1. Keep showers functional and shorter.

If we only knew… How many gallons would you guess goes down the drain during a 10-minute shower? Maybe five gallons? Fifteen gallons? It’s 80 gallons with a standard shower head.

Insanity. This puts undue pressure on water purification systems. Some areas rely on desalination plants, so the ocean is directly impacted. You can make a difference by purchasing a low-flow shower head or simply reducing your showers to 5-7 minutes. (Set a timer!)

2. Save “warming up” water for plants.

We all have that period from faucets on to when we hop in to the shower or bath. Purchase a 2-gallon bucket to capture that cold tap water for your plants.

Don’t waste this water unnecessarily, especially if you live in California or other drought-prone areas. Use this normally wasted water for your plants, your neighbor’s plants, or the tree around the block. Literally any use is better than precious, clean water going down the drain.

3. Swap plastic shower curtains for washable materials.

If you have a door, all set! If not, you likely have an inner and an outer curtain, plus plastic or metal rings on the crossbar. There are alternatives.

Water resistant fabrics, like burlap or hemp, can be easily washed in a washing machine. They also eliminate the risk of microfibers entering the water supply. As a bonus, look for wooden curtain rings, which will biodegrade when their time comes.

 

LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT

Back to Top

4. Read labels, and beware of unsafe microplastics.

Microbeads may be banned from "rinse-off" cosmetics, toothpaste, and face wash, but these tiny plastics persist in moisturizers, makeup, lip balms, shaving foams and others.

Microplastics plague the oceans today, and they are almost impossible to filter from water (or soil). They move up the food chain, from plants and plankton, to the fish and animals we eat. Before buying, read the label. Look for ingredients with “nylon” or “poly” or “copolymer” or “silicate” which are all...plastics.

5. Swap bottles for bars of soap, shampoo, and conditioner.

This one is surprisingly easy. Nearly every CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, and Target sells soap, shampoo, and conditioner in bar form.

Making the swap cuts down on the endless supply of plastic pump bottles we send to landfills each year. If liquid soap is too tough to quit, consider a brand that sends refills instead of new bottles each time you run low. (At least you’ll cut down on packaging.)

6. Redefine shaving, the old fashioned way.

Before disposable plastic razors and aerosolized creams, how did people shave? Oh yeah, with metal razors and gentle soaps, of course!

Thankfully, most shaving product companies now offer reusable razors. All you need are the replaceable blades, and you’ll stop contributing to the 2 billion razors tossed each year… And try unscented soap instead of packaged creams and balms. They work well, and they’re less expensive, per use.

7. Opt for all-natural loofahs and scrubbers.

Technically, your hands (+ soap) work just fine to clean your skin. But if you must have a scrubber, choose an all-natural option, not more plastic.

Pumice stones work well to reduce calluses and scrub off tough dirt. Natural sponges, like ones made from sea wool or loofah gourds, are the original scrubbers! The plastic loofahs and scrubbers we see today are imitations of what already grows naturally.

SWIPING + WIPING

Back to Top

8. Get on board with better deodorant.

The average deodorant stinks... First, the entire casing is plastic. Then before using, you have to remove and toss that extra plastic cap. (Cardboard is better.)

And then, the ingredients… Antiperspirants contain aluminum to prevent sweat glands from releasing sweat. This metal can accumulate in the body, taxing your kidneys at a minimum. (Baking soda is better.) Parabens prevent molds, bacteria, and fungi from growing on deodorant. They also act like excess estrogen when absorbed into the body. (Magnesium hydroxide is better.)

9. Reconsider not-so-wonderful wet wipes.

While convenient for the end-of-day makeup removal, blemish control, and personal hygiene, wet wipes leave a wake of worry behind them.

First, they are packaged in (you guessed it) plastic. So-called “flushable” options are rarely that. Instead, they form “fat-bergs,” floating lumps of congealed waste in sewage systems, never fully breaking down. Instead, choose washable cloth options or non-flushable, organic wipes.

10. A Q-tip cute tip: go with paper, not plastic.

Most cotton buds are connected by paper or wood these days. However, there are cheaper, plastic options still sold today.

Be a conscientious shopper, and avoid plastic options. Never toss cotton buds in the toilet. You can also simply use a gentle cleanser in the shower to keep your ears routinely clean.

11. Wood you rather…have trees, or toilet paper?

Tens of thousands of trees are toppled each day for our wiping needs. Three rolls, per person, per week is nearly 625 rolls for a family of four each year.

Those adorable bears do make Charmin seem wonderful, but it comes at a heavy (tree) cost. Instead, consider bamboo toilet paper. Bamboo grows much faster than trees and requires much less water to mature. If bamboo is not for you, try 100% recycled TP or plastic-free packaging instead.

 

ORAL ARGUMENTS

Back to Top

12. Plastic toothbrushes should make you bristle.

If we replace our toothbrush every three months, we will have thrown away about 300 toothbrushes by the time we reach the age of 75.

Electric toothbrushes are a step in the right direction, but still plastic-based. If this is your preferred route, at least go with a rechargeable option to reduce battery usage. And if you’re more adventurous, try out a bamboo toothbrush (yes, bamboo again!) with bio-based (not nylon) bristles.

13. Let’s assume you floss daily…with plastic.

With floss, we toss nylon, non-biodegradable wax, and chemical lubricants into our ecosystems. Then there are single-use, plastic flossing picks...

 

Today’s floss options are simply better. The fibers are made from silk, bamboo, or corn fibers. Wax comes from candelilla plants, coconuts, or bees. The flavor comes from mint or tea tree oil. It's new age floss that’s compostable. Plus, these companies usually offer refill spools, not new packaging each time you run out.

14. Toothpaste & mouthwash...tablets?

Why do we pay for single-use plastic packaging and water? It’s the first ingredient in most toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Some companies now sell toothpaste and mouthwash “bits” that, when mixed with a bit of water, foam and function just like traditional products. No tubes. No jugs. If you need the paste mouthfeel, no problem. Other companies package in recyclable aluminum, glass jars, or novel, sugarcane-based tubes.

🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊 

Our hope is to inspire people to perform their own small-scale beach cleanups whenever they visit our beautiful oceans. Every bit helps, so we hope you join the community and share your stories.

Thanks, and we’ll see you on the next wave!

Enjoy what you're reading?

Sign up to join our community, The Wave, and get articles, ocean magic, and product updates as we have them.

Never email trash, just the good stuff.

Thank you for being you.