Want to reduce waste in your bathroom without overhauling everything? Start with simple swaps like bamboo toothbrushes, shampoo bars, safety razors, refillable makeup and a shower filter. These small changes cut down single-use plastic, reduce exposure to harsh chemicals and make your daily routine feel a whole lot better.

Key Takeaways

• The bathroom is one of the easiest places to reduce waste
• Simple swaps can replace everyday single-use plastics
• Many low-waste alternatives last longer and work better
• You don’t need to swap everything at once to make a difference

Why is the bathroom a great place to start?

Have you ever paused to look around your bathroom and noticed just how much plastic is everywhere? Toothbrushes, shampoo and soap bottles, razors and makeup... it adds up quickly. And the tricky part? Most of it can't go in your kerbside recycling. 

Our bathrooms are one of the most wasteful rooms in the house, but there's news… it's also one of the easiest places to start your low-waste journey and you don’t need to overhaul your entire routine overnight. Let’s dive into the top five bathroom swaps, all designed to help you reduce waste and toxins without compromising quality or convenience. 

1. The Easiest Swap: Bamboo Toothbrush & Plastic-Free Toothpaste

If you’re looking for a quick win, this is it.

Around 3.5 billion toothbrushes are sold globally every year, and most of them end up sitting in landfill for decades. Switching to a bamboo toothbrush is a simple way to cut that down. Just remove the nylon bristles before composting the handle.

Toothpaste is another sneaky one. Traditional toothpaste tubes are made from mixed materials, which makes them almost impossible to recycle. Instead, try alternatives like toothpaste in glass jars, tooth powders, toothpaste tablets or tooth tonics. They work just as well, have both fluoride-free and fluoride options and are packaged 100% plastic-free or come with refill options! 

2. Soap bars (shampoo, conditioner, body & face)

This is one of those swaps people wish they had made sooner. Australians throw away around 179 million personal care containers each year, and a huge chunk of that comes from products we use every single day in the bathroom. 

That’s where bars come in.Whether it’s shampoo, conditioner, body wash or even face cleansers, switching to solid bars can dramatically cut down packaging without changing your routine too much. You’re still cleansing, hydrating and caring for your skin and hair… just without the plastic bottle.

And the benefits go beyond waste! Solid bars typically last longer than liquid products, they’re compact, travel-friendly and are often made with more concentrated and gentle ingredients.Once you find the right bars for your hair and skin type, it becomes one of the easiest habits to stick with.

3. Reusable safety razors

 Disposable razors are convenient, but they come at a cost. Each year in the US alone, 2 billion disposable razors are tossed in bins, that's more than 63 razors going into landfills every second! Just like plastic toothbrushes, disposable plastic razors are made from mixed materials, meaning they're almost impossible to recycle.

A plastic-free reusable safety razor flips that completely.You keep the handle and simply replace the blade. It’s a much lower waste option, and surprisingly, many people find they get a smoother shave with fewer ingrown hairs.

If you’ve been hesitant, you’re not alone. Watch this video here to learn all about how to use our reusable razors. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature.

4. Low-waste & refillable makeup

Beauty lovers, this one’s for you!

Makeup is one of the biggest contributors to bathroom waste, and it often goes unnoticed.In Australia alone, around 10,000 tonnes of cosmetic waste end up in landfill each year (yikes)!

The good news is there are incredible brands like Aleph Beauty and Scoop Whole Beauty that are changing the game with  100% natural, refillable and plastic-free makeup options. Think multi-use and refillable products in sustainable glass and bamboo. 

5. Shower filters (for cleaner waste)

This is one of those upgrades you don’t think you need… until you try it.Your shower water can contain chlorine, heavy metals, limescale and other harsh impurities that you don’t always notice day to day, but your skin and hair definitely do.

The Tappwater Shower Filter uses a 4-stage filtration system to remove over 70 contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, limescale, pesticides and even mould. The result? A shower that feels noticeably gentler on your body. People often notice benefits like:

• Softer, less dry skin
• Healthier-looking hair with more shine
• Reduced irritation, especially for sensitive skin
• Less buildup that can contribute to dandruff or scalp discomfort

It’s also incredibly easy to install, with no tools required, and each filter lasts up to 6 months before needing a simple replacement.It’s a small change that can make your everyday routine feel a lot more comfortable.

Start Small, Dream Big

You don’t need a perfectly zero-waste bathroom to make an impact. Switching just one or two products can reduce a surprising amount of waste and toxins over time. And often, these swaps last longer, work better and feel nicer to use.

It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing what you can, when you can.And that’s more than enough!

Lots of love,
Ellie xo

FAQs About Low-Waste Bathroom Swaps

What are the easiest bathroom swaps to reduce waste?

The easiest bathroom swaps include bamboo toothbrushes, shampoo bars, safety razors, refillable makeup and shower filters. These changes are simple to introduce and can significantly reduce everyday waste.

Do shampoo bars and soap bars really work as well as liquid products?

Yes, shampoo, conditioner, body and face bars work just as effectively as liquid products. Many people find they last longer, feel gentler on the skin and reduce packaging waste.

Are bamboo toothbrushes better for the environment?

Bamboo toothbrushes are a low-waste alternative to plastic toothbrushes. While the bristles still need to be removed, the handle can be composted, helping reduce landfill waste from billions of toothbrushes.

What are the benefits of using a safety razor instead of disposable razors?

Safety razors reduce waste because only the blade is replaced, not the entire handle. They also tend to give a closer shave and can help reduce irritation and ingrown hairs over time.

What does a shower filter do for your skin and hair?

A shower filter helps reduce chlorine, heavy metals and other impurities in water. This can lead to softer skin, shinier hair and less irritation for people with sensitive skin or scalp conditions.