HOW TO REDUCE WASTE IN YOUR BATHROOM

Body lotion, hand cream, facial cleanser, mascara, shampoo, conditioner, hairspray/wax/gel... The list goes on, and yet we are hardly aware of how many of the products in our bathroom could actually come without a bottle, a jar, a tube or any other kind of packaging. Sure, some of them are recyclable, but what if you could find eco-friendlier alternatives without sacrificing your comfort?

Sustainability has been a huge topic lately and more and more people start reflecting on their way of living. And yet our precious habits that have been so handy and convenient over the past decades make it hard for us to imagine a big change of any kind. Also, there are so many different things we could do, so many approaches to take into account: reduce our CO2 emissions, only buy local products, reduce our waste...

THE BIG QUESTION IS: WHERE DO I START?

We had the same problem a few months ago, when we decided that it was time for a change. Since it is humanly impossible to do everything at once, we decided to put our main focus on reducing our waste production to begin with. Since then, we've researched the topic and tried some products and techniques that help us reach our goal. This project is surely a long-term one. We still have a lot to learn, and yet we would like to share the experiences we've made so far. So here are some suggestions to easily reduce waste in your bathroom.

1) Bye bye, soap dispenser

Zero waste is all about back to the good old basics. I bet you can remember the smell of your grandma's bar of soap in her bathroom from when you were a child. Did it smell like lavender? Or rather roses? Nowadays however, most people are using liquid soap. My mother used to buy special pump dispensers with funny motifs for children. Nice to look at, but really bad for the environment! A bar of soap is not only less expensive (in most cases) and lasts longer, its natural ingredients also go easy on your skin and the alkaline surface prevents bacteria from reproducing - unlike our beloved pump dispenser. The biggest plus: no more squeezing into the 100-ml-bag for the plane. Since a bar of soap is no liquid, you can take along as much as you like. Just don't exceed the maximum weight of your hand luggage... ;)

Same goes for shampoo, by the way! Lush for example offers a variety of shampoo bars and even conditioners with a nice tin to refill after using them up. If you really can't live without liquid soap and/or shampoo, you can usually find a liquid and waste-free version in so called zero waste stores. Just try out what works best for you. Your body, your choice!

2) Show your widest smile

The magic word is "bamboo"! You can easily find this alternative toothbrush in most drug stores, usually in a recyclable packaging. Otherwise, back to the zero waste store, where you can put them into your own little box to bring it home. There are versions made of bamboo and those made of wood, you can choose the appropriate degree of hardness of the bristles and there are even small exemplars for children. Before throwing them away however, make sure if the bristles are compostable as well. It really depends on the producer if you can put the whole thing in the compost or not. In any case, no problem with adding them to your stock of firewood!

To go with your new toothbrush, you could try some toothpaste tablets. Sounds weird? Believe me, the first time feels indeed somewhat strange. But it actually works pretty fine. Just make sure to choose a nice flavor, otherwise you will feel like brushing your teeth again afterwards!

3) DIY care products

We often don't know that there are great and natural alternatives for almost all of our care products. It's a lot of fun blending them together and suddenly the ingredients don't sound like chinese to us anymore. No more overwhelming product range in the drugstore, no more weird side effects and - most important - no unnecessary waste! Produce your very own exfoliating scrub, simply by blending some olive oil and sugar. You usually have both at home anyway and it has a great effect on your skin! While the sugar removes dead skin cells, olive oil nourishes and moisturizes your skin. Or how about a cleansing facial mask? Half an avocado, one banana and two tablespoons of honey. Voilà! Your skin will feel as smooth as never before. Go give it a try. For more ideas and recipes, check out diynatural.com

4) Win the game of throne

To not only relieve your bladder but also your conscience, resort to toilet paper made of recycled materials. Like that, you're not only saving a huge number of trees that are crucial to fight against global warming - the production of environment-friendly toilet paper also takes up to 60% less energie than the production of "fresh goods". And all this without any loss regarding comfort! Whether you prefer three or four plies, there is a suitable product for every sensitivity level. In the most perfect of all cases you can find your new companion for intimate moments wrapped up in (guess what!) PAPER. This prevents us from destroying our newfound reduced ecological footprint straightaway.

5) And so on

There basically is at least one eco-friendly replacement for literally everything in your bathroom! From towels made of recycled fabrics over deodorants in the shape of a salty stone to reusable tampons and vegan condoms. However, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable and that you don't force yourself to do anything. Tackle this new adventure in your own pace, try different things and see what works for you. You don't have to save the planet overnight and nobody expects you to turn your life completely upside down. Even the tiniest of all steps can have a huge effect - if it's a step into the right direction...