How To Turn Your Bathroom Into A Plastic-free Environment?
With climate change and global pollution, it is necessary for consumer habits to change to achieve true sustainability. One of the first steps that environmentalists and experts on the subject have asked is to eliminate or limit single-use plastics. In this article we will teach you how to have a plastic-free bathroom.
Plastic is not in itself harmful. Since its invention it has brought great benefits to humanity. For example, in the medical industry it has made it possible to develop prostheses and devices for surgical interventions. However, its excessive use has affected the environment.
The Center for International Environmental Law, in agreement with 7 other organizations, published in 2019 a study on the adverse effects of plastic in the world.
This report states that there are various substances used in the production and released in the domestic use of plastics that are associated with the development of various diseases, such as cancer, reproductive problems, neurological damage and changes in body weight.
Importance of reducing the consumption of plastics
Reducing the use of plastic has many environmental benefits, as it avoids a large amount of solid waste that is difficult to degrade. In addition, it contributes to preserving the fauna and flora of the world and water sources.
Also, reducing plastics at home can help you avoid being in contact with particles that can be negative for your health.
A 2019 World Wide Fund for Nature report indicated that about 75% of all plastic produced in the world to that date had already become waste and that a third of that waste had entered marine and terrestrial ecosystems. or fresh water as pollution.
This has generated a very large environmental imbalance, so we citizens must act to mitigate its impact.
Ways to turn the bathroom into a plastic-free environment
Converting the bathroom into a plastic-free environment is an easy task. However, you may need to make a lot of changes to your shopping options to choose green and healthy alternatives.
Although they sometimes seem to involve higher expenses, in reality, in the long run, they may be cheaper investments. Many of the products that we will point out are reusable for several years.
Replace plastic containers
Most packaging for personal care products is made of plastic. However, home or decoration stores often sell glass or ceramic storage containers.
In addition, you can choose some beautiful ones that contribute to the decoration of the bathroom. Similarly, wastebaskets are usually made of plastic. However, it is also possible to find them in other materials, such as aluminum or ceramic.
Use rechargeable and sustainable cleaning products
After swapping out your plastic bathroom containers for ones made of ceramic or glass, you’ll need to fill them with soap, oil, conditioner, shampoo, and other toiletries.
Every day the brands that allow to recharge the packages themselves with various products for personal cleaning are more popular . Therefore, it is important that you locate a store of this type close to your home.
Use bar soap and shampoo
Replacing cleaning products with ones that are free of plastic packaging is an excellent step to conserve the environment. However, many of the traditional cleaning products, even if they are packaged in glass containers, can contain chemicals, such as parabens, which act as endocrine disruptors.
Bar soaps and shampoos are usually organic and natural, making them a perfect alternative for a plastic-free and eco-friendly bathroom. You can also make your own natural soaps at home.
Leave the disposable razor blades
The razor blades, almost entirely, are made of plastic and have a very short lifespan. However, there are alternatives in various materials such as bamboo or steel that allow long-term use of up to 10 years.
The razor blade should only be changed each time it wears out. Make sure you get a machine that is easy to find replacement parts for later.
Swap your plastic brushes for bamboo brushes
Both toothbrushes and hairbrushes can be replaced by bamboo or wooden brushes. They are free of plastic and also biodegradable.
Even bamboo toothbrushes can be buried in the garden. They have an average duration equal to that of the other brushes. However, they do not generate hazardous waste for the environment.
Use natural fiber dental floss
Did you know that most dental floss or floss are made of plastic? In general, they are produced from nylon or polyethylene.
However, it is increasingly common to find ecological alternatives. In this regard, the most frequent are made of natural bamboo or corn fibers. They work the same and even taste minty too.
Change your menstrual hygiene products
The menstrual cup and washable cloth sanitary napkins are environmentally friendly alternatives to sanitary napkins and disposable tampons, which contain highly polluting packaging and plastic materials.
The menstrual cup is made from certified medical silicone and can last up to 10 years. Cloth towels are washed after each use and work for several years, depending on how well they are cared for.
Although there may be many doubts and insecurities when it comes to changing such intimate products, the safety of these alternatives has been demonstrated by various studies. In this regard, an article published by the Colombian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ensures that the menstrual cup is a comfortable, safe and efficient alternative.
Replace plastic sponges
Most sponges or brushes for scrubbing your body in the shower are made of plastic, although this is not always the case. However, there are natural fiber alternatives that are very efficient and do not affect the skin.
One of the most popular, especially in tropical or subtropical countries, is the loofah from the luffa plant, which also works as a powerful exfoliator.
Use coconut oil or natural moisturizers
Coconut oil has many properties for the skin and hair. Therefore, it can be an excellent alternative to traditional creams and moisturizers that are packaged in plastic.
You can use it with sugar to make an exfoliant, without adding anything to hydrate the skin, or on the nails to strengthen them, as well as on the ends of the hair to give it shine and hydration.
In addition, it is a natural ingredient free of petroleum derivatives or endocrine disruptors. Make sure you buy one in a glass jar.
If you don’t like coconut oil very much, you can also opt for other natural products such as almond oil, shea butter or cocoa butter.
Buy reusable makeup remover wipes
To remove make-up, wet wipes or cotton balls are usually used. However, they can be a major source of contamination.
For example, the Society for Marine Conservation notes that wet towels are responsible for most sewer clogging problems. An excellent alternative, which is also inexpensive, is to buy or make cloth wipes that you can wash and reuse.
Switch to the bamboo ear cups
The ear cleaning cups usually have plastic swabs that are used for less than a minute and end up in the trash. However, in the market there are little cups with the bamboo stick, so they generate a lower environmental impact and can be packed in a glass container.
A clean and plastic-free bathroom
Once you have removed the plastic products from your bathroom, you will also have to look at the ones you use for cleaning. The bathroom is an area of the house that is used every day and in it are stored objects for personal care that are in contact with delicate areas of the body.
It is a space that is exposed to a lot of bacteria and humidity. Therefore, it is essential to do a correct cleaning.
However, if you want your home to be plastic-free, you should also review the products you use for hygiene. Therefore, we advise you to buy ecological soaps and disinfectants that you can store in glass containers and refill each time they run out.
