With plastic contributing to the world’s increasing waste, it is a great idea to switch to plastic-free products. Not only are plastic-free products better for the environment, these products are better for your body as well. Plastic contains toxins that can leach out and enter your body depending on the use of the product.
Here are some ways to make your bathroom plastic free:
- Instead of products that come in plastic tubes, try to find those same products that are in tablet form.
- Try to find bathroom products that are wrapped in paper, rather than plastic.
- Biodegradable products are a good alternative to plastic.
- Shop in stores organic sections to find more plastic-free friendly products for your bathroom.
Now that we’ve established how to reduce plastic waste in your bathroom, let’s talk about specific products that will make your bathroom plastic-free.
Tooth Powders and Tablets Instead of Toothpaste
This swap might be the hardest to get used to. Tooth powders and tablets don’t work like normal toothpaste and take some time to work into your life. But if used correctly, it is a great way to get rid of plastic tubes of toothpaste.
There are a variety of ways that tooth powders and tablets work. Some tablets contain fluoride in them to leave your mouth extra fresh. All you need to do is chew one of these tablets until they start to crumble. Then you will brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush as usual. This texture takes some time to get used to.
Some tablets require less work than that. In some tablets, all you have to do is pop them in your mouth and take a sip of water to start the fizz. Then you brush your teeth with a toothbrush as normal.
Tooth powders work a little bit different. Tooth powders are a powder in a jar that you dip your toothbrush into before brushing your teeth with it. Most tooth powders contain charcoal or peppermint that are activated with water to gently get rid of plaque.
If you still want a traditional feeling toothpaste, you can also make yours at home with an easy DIY recipe: 1-part baking soda and 1 equal part coconut oil. This very simple mix is dentist approved. The baking soda neutralizes acids and the coconut oil can help rebuild the healthy microbiome in your mouth. Crushed cacao nibs or bentonite clay are also excellent additions if your teeth are sensitive because they help to re-mineralize your teeth naturally.
Biodegradable or Reusable Cloths Instead of Makeup Remover Wipes
Traditional makeup remover wipes come in plastic packaging and continued use of these wipes contributes to global plastic waste. Traditional makeup wipes take up to 100 years to break down in landfills. That’s why biodegradable wipes are a great way to get rid of waste.
The biodegradable wipes are made up of compostable natural cloth. Some brands use aloe vera and green tea in order to keep skin from feeling too stripped and dry.
Dual-sided reusable cloths are another great option. Being reusable eliminates the biggest portion of waste that plastic creates. If they are not completely reusable, then you can at least use them multiple times. Reusable cloths are very soft and only require water to get rid of makeup and dirt on your face.
Soap Instead of Shower Gel
Not only does bar soap eliminate the need for plastic shower gel bottles, it is also much better for your skin. In recent years, both the packaging options and the soap formulas have improved significantly.
Many companies use essential oils, vegetable oils, and glycerin which is much more caring for your body than soaps of the old. These oils leave your skin soft without stripping it of hydration like many body gels do.
Soaps are often packaged in cardboard boxes that are typically recyclable. Some companies even use alternative types of recycled packaging for their soap.
Shampoo Bars Instead of Plastic Bottles of Shampoo
Shampoo bars take some time to get used to. At first, shampoo bars might feel like rubbing a brick on your head. To avoid this feeling, rub the bar in between your hands to create a lather that you can rub onto your hair. Rub the lather into your hair {at lengths} possibly reword because some people may not understand what this means to avoid buildup of product in your hair.
Bamboo Stick Cotton Buds
Plastic-stemmed cotton buds seem like they are too small to cause damage, but the effect of plastic is huge. Due to their small size, plastic-stemmed cotton buds can bypass municipal filtration and wash out to sea.. There they accumulate, break down into microplastics, and can be eaten by birds or other marine life.
Bamboo or biodegradable cardboard cotton buds break down more easily in landfills and pose less of a threat for birds or marine life.
If you want to avoid disposables completely, you can also get a reusable silicone q-tip set through Last Swab or buy a stainless-steel q-tip/ear pick from Amazon (it works better than you may expect).
Waterpik Waterflosser
Many dental flosses on the market are stored in hard plastic and the thread itself is made of nylon neither of which break down.
The Waterpik Waterflosser is reusable and prevents the accumulation of plastic from discarded single-use flossers. The Waterpik shoots a jet of water between your teeth which gets you a deeper clean than traditional flossing.
If you still want to floss with thread, opt for natural silk thread stored in a reusable, refillable glass jar!
Bamboo Toothbrushes
Roughly 80% of plastic toothbrushes end up in the sea and those same toothbrushes can take up to a thousand years to decompose. Swapping out your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo toothbrush is a great way you can reduce that waste.
Swap out your plastic toothbrush with one that has a bamboo handle only. Otherwise, you risk creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Bamboo toothbrushes are often made with animal hair which is not the most hygienic alternative. Instead, opt for nylon bristles which can still be recycled.
Why Is Bamboo A Better Alternative Than Plastic?
Not only is bamboo exceptionally prolific, fast-growing, and less industrially intensive to process, bamboo breaks down much easier than plastic. Plastic can take anywhere from one hundred to a thousand years to break down. The buildup of plastic is not only harmful to the planet and the environment, it is also biologically harmful to animals and humans.
Bamboo is compostable and breaks down in landfills much faster than any form of plastic. Bamboo usually only takes four months to three years to break down. That is only a fraction of the time that it takes for plastic to break down, even at its minimum requirement.
The ecofriendly bamboo option will save space in landfills and the health of many animals.
What Factors Contribute to The Decomposition of Materials?
Decomposition is based on three aspects. The conditions include the soil, the temperature, and the atmosphere in which the material is trying to decompose.
The materials that are trying to decompose usually must be fully submerged in soil. That is when the process begins. Some soils are dry while some are more hydrated. Different materials need different environments to properly decompose in.
The temperature also plays a part in the decomposition process and affects the soil and atmosphere. Often times the soil and the atmosphere are opposites based on the temperature. Hotter temperatures tend to create more humid atmospheric conditions, but also make soils dryer. Colder temperatures will have crisper air and more hydrated soil. The atmosphere of an area includes the type of environment which can fluctuate based on the season in which the material is trying to decompose. Some atmospheres only experience one season, some two, and some experience all four seasons.
The soil, temperature, and atmosphere of an area all play a crucial role in the decomposition of materials. Although they are all separate spheres, they all mix together to create one environment for decomposition. The soil is dependent on the temperature and the atmosphere. The temperature is dependent on the soil and the atmosphere. Most importantly, the atmosphere is dependent on the soil and the temperature. All of these aspects create various types of environments that will impact how well materials decompose.
Source: Get The Gloss
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