A zero waste lifestyle is all about committing to habits and making more sustainable swaps when your plastic laden supplies run out. It can feel overwhelming but start small. Better yet, start free! Read on for a few of our favorite free habits and bathroom product swaps that we’ve made over the last few years!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend products that we personally use and love and think our readers will find useful. Please see our disclaimer for details.

FREE ECO-FRIENDLY HABITS

REUSE YOUR TOWEL

More towels mean more laundry. Try using your bathroom towel for a week before giving it a wash.

USE LESS PRODUCT

Use smaller amounts of product so you have to purchase them less often. Take a closer look at how much face wash, moisturizer, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner that you’re using. See if it’s possible for you to cut back!

SHORTER SHOWERS

A shower can use upwards of 5 gallons of water per minute. Take a look at your shower routine and see if you can shorten it. Even if that means shutting off the water while you shave or soap up!

ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCT SWAPS

Here are a few products that have replaced some of the plastic in our bathroom. I encourage you to responsibly finish what you have before making a switch, but keep these in mind when that time comes! Some of these products may seem expensive at first glance. But remember that you’re paying for products that you’ll use time and time again in place of disposable ones that require an ongoing cost.

SAFETY RAZOR

Replace: Disposable Razor
Tommy gifted me a safety razor from the Package Free Shop for Christmas 2 years ago and it really got me thinking about all the plastic we use that can easily be replaced by more sustainable options. If you use one disposable razor a week, you could be going through over 50 a year. And chances are, they’re still sitting in a landfill somewhere. Switching to a safety razor is eco-friendly and CHEAP! Not to mention you wind up with a much closer shave.

BOTTLESS SHAMPOO

Replace: Bottled Shampoo
We love Lush’s Jumping Juniper shampoo bar. Lush is constantly updating their ingredients and practices to become more sustainable. They even offer a recycling program for some of their packaging and most of their products are vegan!

BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH

Replace: Toothbrush
My mom has a habit of buying things in bulk, so Tommy and I are set on plastic toothbrushes for years to come. Though we haven’t made this switch yet, bamboo toothbrushes are absolutely on our radar! Bamboo is less water-intensive to grow than other trees and the toothbrush handles can be composted in your backyard compost! Just remove the bristles and recycle them where nylon is collected.

ECO-FRIENDLY PERIOD SWAPS

Here are a few bonus products for those of you lucky enough to experience periods!

MENSTRUAL CUP

Replace: Tampons
I was an avid tampon user for years. When someone recommended a menstrual cup, I had a lot of questions. For me, there was a pretty steep learning curve, but it has been one of the best swaps I’ve made to date. I’ve come to understand my period so much better and on most days, I only change it twice which means a lot less time spent in the bathroom! From an environmental standpoint, you’re using one product over the course of at least two years as opposed to hundreds of tampons a year. I use the Diva Cup, but there are a ton of options out there so do some research to find the one that works best for you.

PERIOD PANTIES

Replace: Pads
The menstrual cup is incredible but, like tampons, it isn’t foolproof. I invested in a few pairs of Thinx panties as a backup on heavy days and oh man what a game-changer this was! These panties act as a pad and they’re super cute and comfy too! Their absorbency is dependent on the style, so you can purchase a set that coincides with your needs! Click here to get $10 off your first order!

What bathroom swaps have you made? Share them in the comments below!