From your toothbrush to your toilet paper, waste reduction in the bathroom requires a complete overhaul. Adopting a waste reduction lifestyle is one of the best ways to redefine our consumption and production systems by reducing the amount of waste we dump into landfills after using a product.
On average, people spend 30 minutes per day in the bathroom and only 50% of bathroom waste gets recycled; it is therefore important to make the environment as serene as possible. Transitioning to a sustainable bathroom reduces meaningless shopping, focuses on high-quality and long-lasting products, saves money, and saves the environment.
What does Bathroom Waste Reduction Entail?
There are plenty of opportunities to reduce waste in the bathroom. Consider taking your time when choosing the products you will replace to avoid being overwhelmed by changes all at once.
As you use what you already have and replace it with an option that ensures waste reduction in the bathroom, there are plenty of zero waste bathroom hacks to choose from. It is also possible to find a sustainable bathroom kit that allows you to replace multiple products with one.
Over time, you’ll replace plastic with more biodegradable materials, refill more containers, and choose unpackaged products. In your bathroom sink and shower, there are tons of waste reduction options.
Why the Bathroom Creates a Lot of Waste?
Waste reduction is necessary in the bathroom because we frequently have to replace cleaning supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, floss, and shampoo. These accumulate over time and cause a serious waste problem.
These products usually come in plastic or non-recyclable containers, which are mostly thrown away or left to rot in the environment. Compostable items such as cotton pads are commonly sent to landfills anyway since they cannot decompose. Over time, all of this adds up to a lot of landfill waste.
Even though waste reduction in the bathroom may seem daunting, it offers us a chance to become more mindful and eco-conscious. In addition, when our consumption habits are more cautious, it can also help us save money.
Why Aim to have a Zero Waste Bathroom?
Think about your bathroom routine for a moment. Getting out of bed, brushing teeth, and showering may be the first things you do. After washing, shaving, shampooing, and conditioning your hair, rinsing, and drying, you wash your body again. It’s time for skincare – wash your face, apply lotion, and put on makeup.
What is the number of products involved in that routine? Do most of those products come in disposable plastic packaging? Perhaps it even contains harmful materials such as microplastics.
Most people don’t even realize how many disposable items they use. In addition to damaging the environment, these products can have a serious financial and health impact.
Many sustainable beauty brands place a high priority not only on eliminating disposable plastics but also on human health. Many eco-friendly bathroom products are made of recyclable, reusable, or compostable materials. Organic products free of harmful toxins are equally important as what’s on the outside.
Read More: 10 Zero Waste Cleaning Tips: The Ultimate Guide to a Sustainable Home
8 Benefits of Waste Reduction in the Bathroom
1. Eliminating plastic waste
In addition to reducing plastic consumption, waste reduction in the bathroom also improves ocean and land quality. Cosmetics contribute to a loss of 18 million acres of forest every year by manufacturing 120 billion units of packaging. Plastic packaging, microbeads, and wet wipes are ingested by marine life, eventually resulting in blockages and death.
Learn more about the impacts of plastics on marine life in this post.
2. Boosting our well-being
Waste reduction in bathrooms helps us reduce the amount of waste we produce daily and stop contributing to the problem. Furthermore, sustainability and naturality are often intertwined. Besides reducing waste, we are also reducing the use of toxic chemicals, thereby enhancing our health.
3. Creating a serene atmosphere
When a space is cluttered, the mind is cluttered as well. A wonderful relaxing oasis can be created in our bathrooms through sustainable waste reduction. Go for products made with natural colors and scents, so you can have a peaceful, relaxing, and natural environment. Our lives are more mindful and happier when we have natural bathrooms.
4. Contributing to a better world
Life gets cynical when we constantly throw things away and waste them. We will have a ripple effect on those around us when we realize that every choice we make affects the world. Our sense of purpose is strengthened when we ‘go green’ and implement waste reduction strategies.
5. Creating a sense of belonging
Waste reduction in the bathroom gives us a sense of connection and belonging. One way to go about this is to patronize smaller brands because they tend to be more personal, honest, and transparent than larger corporations that are impersonal and produce uniform products. When we purchase an item from a brand, we develop a relationship with them. Relationships like this keep giving for a lifetime. Their ability to inspire is impressive.
6. Long-term savings and stress reduction
As a final point, we recognize that a bathroom that focuses on waste reduction is both efficient and stress-free. By using sustainable products for a longer time, we buy fewer products and use them for longer periods. The deal is a win-win for both parties.
7. Economic benefits
The choice to focus on waste reduction in the bathroom can be beneficial to the economy and can lead to jobs being created. Reducing, reusing, and recycling produce 10 times as many jobs as trash disposal, on average. The rental, repair, reuse, and sharing industries create more jobs.
8. Self-development
It is exciting to try new things, as it allows you to better understand yourself, your struggles, and your strengths. It is no different when you start your waste reduction journey. Some transitions are easy, and others are challenging. To accomplish this goal, patience and a desire to do it right are required.
Read More: 15 Successful Tips to Create a Zero Waste Bathroom
What does it Take to have Waste Reduction in the Bathroom?
In a bathroom that focuses on waste reduction, reusable and biodegradable products are used wherever possible to reduce waste. The following key elements might make up a zero waste bathroom:
- Sustainable toilet paper rolls made from unbleached bamboo
- Instead of disposable paper towels, use cloth rags to clean up spills and messes
- Using organic shampoo bars, unpackaged soap, and natural deodorants for personal care
- Any eco-friendly toothbrush alternative to plastic, including bamboo toothbrushes.
- You can reduce the amount of water you use in the bathroom by using composting toilets or waterless urinals
Bottom Line
Making your bathroom more environmentally friendly and sustainable is possible in a variety of ways. These benefits of waste reduction in the bathroom can help inspire you to seek eco-friendly cleaning products to have a sustainable bathroom.
Waste reduction in the bathroom helps you reduce waste and minimize your impact on the environment. You can embrace a simple practice like switching to reusable materials like cloth towels and washcloths. Making small changes to your personal care habits can be a great step toward creating a greener home, whether you are committed to a zero-waste lifestyle or not.
