The (Almost) Zero Waste Bathroom
A low-waste bathroom is an approachable and impactful way to reduce your environmental footprint while simplifying your daily routine. While going completely zero waste might not be realistic for most of us, adopting a “low waste” mindset allows for flexibility and practicality.
It’s about making thoughtful swaps where possible and reducing unnecessary waste — without sacrificing convenience or comfort.
In this guide, we’ll share simple and sustainable ways to create a low-waste bathroom. From reusable items to eco-friendly alternatives, these ideas can help you reduce waste in ways that fit your lifestyle without the stress of being perfectly zero waste.
Elements Of A Zero Waste Bathroom
To put yourself in the right mindset, think of the 80/20 rule. It comes from the Pareto principle, which says that roughly 80 percent of our results come from 20 percent of our effort. It’s also a nice lesson in balance whether it pertains to your diet, screen time, workout frequency, etc.
Or this quote from Anne-Marie Bonneau may also inspire you, “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
By replacing some of the disposable items in your bathroom, you can make a big impact without stressing yourself out. These changes start within the home, so let’s focus on one room where going zero waste can greatly benefit your health and wellbeing — the bathroom.
Here are the items most people can seamlessly switch to zero waste in the bathroom.
Personal Hygiene
Showering or taking a bath the zero waste way can be fun and soothing. All you need to know is how to find the all-natural products that suit you best. You might be surprised by how much you like nontoxic, plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars. Or you can make your own shampoo from natural ingredients.
We’re old enough to remember buying a 3-pack of Ivory bar soap at the grocery store. It was cheap. It worked fine. And all you threw away was a little cardboard box instead of a big plastic bottle. These days we make our own bar soap (and we’ve just recently tried making a shampoo bar). If DIY isn’t for you, try Zum’s bar of goat milk soap – frankincense and myrrh smells so good!
You can also make your own liquid hand soap and keep refilling an existing container to cut back on all of those plastic hand soap bottles.
For menstrual care, reusable options like a menstrual cup or disc, washable pads, or period underwear significantly reduce monthly waste while being healthier for your body. Period Nirvana offers loads of advice on choosing reusable menstrual supplies.
Dental Hygiene
Look for toothpaste tablets that come in a glass container. Or you can switch to sustainable toothpaste with 0% plastic ingredients. Even the package is reusable, as the paste comes in a glass jar.
Naturally, a zero waste toothpaste needs to go hand-in-hand with a good zero waste toothbrush. That way you eliminate all plastic and freely recycle every single piece of your dental hygiene menagerie.
And you’ll be happy to know you don’t have to worry about plastic bottles of mouthwash. According to holistic dentist Dr. Mark Burhenne, “Using mouthwash every day is like using an antibiotic on your gut every day.” It’s disruptive to the oral microbiome and not necessary at all.
Makeup + Beauty Products
Replace disposable makeup wipes or cotton balls with reusable cotton rounds. These washable and durable alternatives are perfect for removing makeup or applying toner, and they’re easy to clean.
Beauty products typically contain harmful ingredients. Fortunately, there are plenty of consumers out there who want to both look their best and save the planet. That’s why you can find so many amazing DIY makeup options online that cater to the eco-friendly beauty enthusiast.
Of course, you can always find green manufacturers that happily produce makeup that is plastic-free and contains no harmful ingredients. By purchasing these products, you’ll be helping the ecological cause in another crucial way. Nearly all zero waste makeup products are made cruelty-free.
Upcycling glass jars to store reusable cotton rounds, q-tips, or small beauty products is another effective way to reduce waste while keeping your bathroom organized.
Hair Accessories
Switch to bamboo hairbrushes, compostable hair ties, or wooden combs as sustainable alternatives to plastic versions. They’re greener and more gentle on your hair.
And the next time your curling iron breaks or dies, consider replacing it with a heatless option. Heatless hair stylers have gotten some modern upgrades, and they’re so much better for your hair. They don’t use any energy, and they don’t contribute to electronic waste in landfills.
Shaving
Both men and women can benefit from using a plastic-free stainless steel safety razor. All you have to do is replace the blades from time to time. Luckily, you can easily find recyclable steel blades that go with almost any brand of razor out there.
Bar soaps designed for shaving can also replace canned shaving cream, offering a plastic-free and natural option.
Sustainable (but not zero waste) Bathroom Swaps
As we mentioned before, there are reasons we called this the almost zero waste bathroom.
Toilet Paper
Right now, there are a lot of recycled toilet paper options on the market which the zero waste crowd uses. And indeed, the sentiment behind the idea works; buy recycled paper and save trees in the process.
However, our nether regions can be quite sensitive. And truth be told, a lot of recycled toilet paper out there simply isn’t that safe. So, until a completely safe alternative is available, you might want to stick with regular toilet paper. Alternatively, you can use a bidet and a small washable towel as a healthy, waste-free alternative.
Of course, you can still reduce the amount of waste you make with regular toilet paper if you shop smart. By buying in bulk, you will reduce the amount of plastic packaging that ends up in the landfill.
Deodorant
Yes, there are eco-friendly deodorants out there. In fact, some of them cost far less than the popular brands and offer the same amount of protection.
However, they can come with drawbacks. Some eco-friendly deodorants are not that great for people with sensitive skin. Community Goods’ natural deodorant comes in a cardboard tube and smells amazing.
In other words, if the environmentally responsible option harms you in any way, choose the nontoxic option instead. As parents, we feel the priority is reducing our family’s chemical body burden first and worrying about the environment second. The good news is – most of the time these two priorities go hand in hand.
As you can see, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Small, thoughtful changes can make a big impact over time. By adopting a mindset of progress over perfection, you’ll be contributing to a healthier planet while making your home more sustainable.