Are you keen on transitioning from a normal disposable bathroom to a zero waste bathroom? Thatโs awesome!
Keep in mind that going zero waste is a journey. Itโs not about rushing out to buy a pile of new eco products โ after all, how wasteful is that! The idea is to use through what youโve already got as you usually would. Then when you need to replace an item, research a more sustainable option and go for that.
One-by-one youโll gradually move towards having a more earth-friendly bathroom by eliminating plastics, disposables and toxic chemicals.
Today Iโm going to share with you some really brilliant zero waste bathroom swaps to consider for when you need to replace each old item as you go.
Iโve also included a zero waste bathroom kit (with a checklist) down the bottom, just to summarise the types of items to consider as you transition to a more eco-friendly bathroom.
RELATED POSTS:
โข Eco Hair Removal >
โข Eco Periods >
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Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING |
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โ Plastic is made from fossil fuels (think coal, natural gas and crude oil), meaning itโs not a renewable resource. |
โ๏ธ A renewable resource is one that can be used over-and-over again. Great examples of renewable resources include glass, stainless steel, wood and cardboard. |
? Bamboo and hemp are great paper replacements as they are extremely fast-growing. A dedicated bamboo plantation for paper products is much more eco-friendly than cutting down virgin (native) forests. |
? Corn starch (fermented plant starch) is becoming a great plastic replacement and is much more sustainable than petroleum based plastics. |
Toothbrushes

Plastic Brush โ Bamboo or Corn Starch Brush
Bamboo toothbrushes are a fast-growing tend, and for good reason. Theyโre way more eco-friendly than the old plastic counterparts weโve all grown up with.
The great thing about bamboo toothbrushes is their end of life. Once youโre done, you can pull out the bristles with pliers (unfortunately, theyโre not biodegradableโฆ yet) and throw them into the bin. The bamboo brush handle can be tossed into your home compost or burnt with your other fire wood.
For those who donโt like the wood feel in their mouth, check out the biodegradable cornstarch toothbrushes. Again, remove the bristles and throw them into the rubbish, then compost the handle.
ZERO WASTE TOOTHBRUSHES | |
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Made From | Bamboo or Corn Starch |
Has Very Little | Plastic (only the bristles) |
Disposal | Bristles โ remove and discard Bamboo handle โ compost or burn Corn starch handle โ compost |
Price (eBay) | Bamboo: From $2.99 AUD โ Corn Starch: From $10.50 AUD โ |
Toothpaste

Tube โ Tabs, Powder or Homemade
The eco issue with toothpaste is itโs tube. Generally they are made from layers of plastic laminate, with a thin sheet of aluminium. As yet, I havenโt found a zero waste toothpaste option on the supermarkets shelves. However, there are other options available.
Lots of individuals and small earth-friendly businesses have seen the problem and are taking it upon themselves to solve the issue.
The zero waste toothpaste alternatives include:
- Toothpaste tablets (chew the tab, then brush with wet toothbrush)
- Toothpaste powder (sprinkle onto wet toothbrush, then brush)
- Homemade toothpaste
Easy DIY homemade toothpaste:
Mix the following ingredients together and store in a jar.
- 6 tbsp coconut oil
- 6 tbsp baking soda
- 25 drops essential oil (e.g. eucalyptus, peppermint & grapefruit)
- 1 tsp stevia (natural sweetener)
- Activated charcoal (optional)
ZERO WASTE TOOTHPASTE | |
---|---|
Made From | Coconut oil, baking soda, essential oils, stevia, activated charcoal |
Has No | Plastic or preservatives |
Disposal | Jar โ recycle or refill Other packaging โ compost or recycle |
Price (eBay) | Tabs: From $11 AUD โ Powder: From $15 AUD โ |
Floss/ Dental Picks

Plastic Floss โ Eco Floss
Most dental flosses are made from nylon (a silk-like thermoplastic), which comes housed in a plastic container and more plastic packaging for the shelves.
These days there are lots of great companies making eco floss. What the hell is eco floss? Think normal floss, but made from compostable fibres such as bamboo and corn. The floss is coated with a natural wax like candelilla, making the whole thing fully compostable.
Your floss with be stored in a cute little glass jar with metal lid, as opposed to plastic. Refills are generally packaged in cornstarch bags or recyclable/ compostable cardboard.
ECO-FRIENDLY FLOSS | |
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Made From | Compostable fibres (bamboo or corn) & natural wax |
Has No | Plastic |
Disposal | Jar โ recycle or refill Cardboard โ compost or recycle |
Price (eBay) | From $12.90 AUD โ |
Cotton Tips

Plastic Tips โ Bamboo Tips or Stainless Ear Picks
Cotton tips have long been a bathroom staple. But with each little stem being made from plastic, you can imagine the long-term environmental ramifications for something we literally use once.
There are two great zero waste bathroom swaps for cotton tips. The first are stainless steel ear picks, which are washable and reusable. The second comes in the form of the disposable cotton tips that youโve become accustomed to, but the stem is bamboo (compostable).
ECO COTTON TIPS | |
---|---|
Made From | Bamboo or Stainless Steel |
Has No | Plastic |
Disposal | Stainless Ear Picks โ wash in soapy water & reuse Bamboo Cotton Tips โ compost or rubbish |
Price (eBay) | Bamboo: From $5.50 AUD โ Stainless: From $4.20 AUD โ |
Band-Aids

Plastic Strips โ Bamboo Strips
Okay, band-aids are tricky as theyโre not something that you can wash and reuse once youโre done. They need to be disposed of. Enter Patch bamboo strips. You can find these at Coles, Woolworth and on eBay.
ECO BAND-AIDS | |
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Made From | Bamboo, biodegradable paper, recycled cardboard tube |
Has No | Silicone, parabens, latex or thimerosal |
Disposal | Cardboard tube โ recycle Paper โ compost or recycle Plasters โ compost bin or bury in soil to break down naturally in weeks |
Price (eBay) | Patch Strips: From $6.95 AUD โ |
Toilet Paper

Virgin Forest TP โ Bamboo/ Recycled/ Reusable TP
Toilet paper is not something we put a whole lot of thought into. Most people just grab their usual pack in the shopping, then keep on strolling.
The thing is, regular toilet paper is harvested from virgin forests (meaning naturally grown and aged trees) that should be remaining intact as wildlife habitat. Not to mention the huge amount of water and resources that go into acquiring, processing, producing and transporting the plastic-wrapped paper. Paper that we literally use for two seconds, then flush down the toilet.
Sustainable toilet paper options:
- Bamboo/ recycled toilet paper
- Reusable (washable) toilet unpaper
- Bidet attachment for your toilet
There are few companies around now, who make bamboo toilet paper. Bamboo is a very fast-growing resource, which in this case, is planted for the sole purpose of wiping our bums.
Also available is recycled toilet paper, famously made by Who Gives A Crap, among other companies. I know how recycled toilet paper sounds โ old loo paper has been recycled to create new loo paper. Nope, itโs actually old office and school papers that have been pulped down and turned into toilet paper.
? READ: Who Gives A Crap [full review] > |
If youโre game, you can try some washable unpaper toilet rolls, which fit nicely on your normal toilet roll holder. Just throw the used ones into a lidded bucket and wash every other day. Net Zero Co. are one of the many companies creating these flannels. Also, check out Etsy for plenty more.
Finally, you could opt for a bidet attachment for your toilet which will give you a little squirt of water to clean off with.
Personally, Iโm still a modern gal who likes to wipe and flush, so itโs recycled toilet paper for me. But whatever tickles your fancy.
ECO TOILET PAPER | |
---|---|
Made From | Bamboo, recycled paper or cotton flannel |
Has No | Plastic or virgin forests |
Disposal | Toilet paper โ flush Paper/ cardboard packaging โ recycle, burn, use as gift wrap Reusable TP โ wash in machine on hot cycle |
Price (Who Gives A Crap) | Recycled: From $38 AUD โ Bamboo: From $44 AUD โ Reusable: From $44 AUD |
Tissues

Forest Tissues โ Bamboo Tissues or Hanky
With tissues, weโre looking at the same issue as with the toilet paper. The tissue paper is sourced from virgin forests, making it completely unsustainable.
So as with many zero waste bathroom swaps, youโve got a few options. You can go for a brand that makes the tissues out of bamboo, or you can go old school and use hankies.
HANKIES:
I have personally tried the hanky route and I did prefer the feel of soft fabric on my nose, as opposed to thin paper that just breaks.
But, I didnโt like that the mucous would not always break down in the wash, so I found myself rinsing each hanky straight after use. A hot wash is also recommended.
Rather than buying new hankies, just cut up old sheets and stack them in a nice box, or opt for vintage (unused) hankies from op shops.
BAMBOO TISSUES:
There is a brand called No Issues, which is 100% made from bamboo and they are available at Woolworths for $2.50 per box. This is a really easy zero waste swap that you can do in your regular groceries.
Who Gives a Crap also do boxes of bamboo tissues (12 boxes for $24 = $2 per box), that you can order with your toilet paper.
ECO TISSUES | |
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Made From | Bamboo (tissues) or repurposed sheets |
Has No | Virgin forests |
Disposal | Toilet paper โ compost or bin Hankies โ wash in machine on hot cycle |
Price (Who Gives A Crap) | From $1.67 AUD (per box) โ |
Shampoo & Conditioner

Plastic โ Refill Bottles or Bars
The obvious problem with regular old shampoo and conditioner is not just the plastic throw-away bottles that they come in, but also the synthetic chemicals that are used in the liquids.
Luckily, there are two easy zero waste bathroom swaps for shampoo and conditioner.
Firstly, if you donโt want to give up the liquids that youโve come to know and love, head to a bulk food store and refill your old bottles. Places like The Source have eco shampoo, conditioner, dishwashing liquid and soap available for refills.
Secondly, you could opt for shampoo and conditioner bars. Theyโre literally like bars of soap that you run through your wet hair, lather up, then rinse as usual. If you really want to keep things as simple as possible, youโre in luck because even Coles and Woolworths have a few eco bars on offer, which come in recyclable boxes. Otherwise stores like Lush have a wide range of shampoo and conditioner bars.
ZERO WASTE HAIR CARE | |
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Made From | Natural ingredients |
Has No | Plastic, toxic chemicals |
Disposal | Cardboard box โ recycle, burn or compost |
Price (eBay) | Shampoo Bar: From $7.50 AUD โ Conditioner Bar: From $9.00 AUD โ |
Soap

Plastic โ Refill Bottles or Bars
Switching to a no-waste soap is one of the easiest zero waste bathroom swaps.
Buy soap bars that are package-free (handmade soap is good for this) or in a box that can be recycled or burnt. Many soap bars in the supermarket come in boxes, so this is one that you can easily incorporate into your grocery shopping.
If you like to have the pump bottles with liquid soap, instead of buying new bottles each time, simply refill the ones youโve already got. Bulk food stores often have refill stations for liquid soap pump bottles.
HANDMADE SOAP | |
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Made From | Various |
Has No | Plastic |
Disposal | Cardboard box โ recycle, burn or compost Pump bottles โ refill |
Price (eBay) | From $5 AUD โ |
Deodorant

Plastic โ Eco Packaging or DIY
Deodorant from the supermarket is awful stuff. It stinks, comes in plastic and is riddled with toxic chemicals, which frankly, get smeared way too close to breast tissue for my liking.
I make my own natural deodorant and itโs honestly the only stuff that works for me.
DIY Deodorant:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then store in a cute little jar. For sensitive skin, reduce the baking soda and add more arrowroot.
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp arrowroot powder
- 2 drops essential oil (for scent)
- Enough liquid coconut oil to make a nice paste
If youโre not keen on making your own deodorant, there are plenty of options available that do come in sustainable packaging, such as deodorant sticks in cardboard and natural pastes in aluminium tins.
ZERO WASTE DEODORANT | |
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Made From | Natural oils & butters, arrowroot, Vitamin E, zinc oxide and other natural ingredients |
Has No | Plastic or toxins |
Disposal | Cardboard โ recycle, burn or compost Jars โ repurpose or refill |
Price (eBay) | From $13 AUD โ |
Hair Removal

Plastic โ Metal Razor, DIY Wax or LASER
Itโs no surprise that hair removal is one of the biggest culprits of bathroom rubbish. Plastic, throw-away wax strips and disposable razors are the most common types of hair removal in our modern culture.
However, fear not. There are a range of ways you can be hair-free without it costing the earth.
? READ: 5 Eco Hair Removal Methods > |
- Swap a disposable razor for a stainless steel safety razor & blades
- Swap plastic wax strips for DIY sugar waxing
- Remove hairs from the roots with an epilator
- Permanently remove hair with laser hair removal
- Pluck small areas with metal tweezers
ECO HAIR REMOVAL | |
---|---|
Made From | Natural ingredients/ stainless steel/ laser or epilator machines |
Has No | Disposable plastic |
Disposal | Metal razor blades โ recycle Sugar wax โ bury in garden or dissolve down the drain |
Price (eBay) | Safety Razor: From $13 AUD โ Epilator: From $16 AUD โ Laser: From $12 AUD |
Hair Brushes & Combs

Plastic โ Wood or Bamboo
When it comes time to replace your old, dead brush and comb, avoid going for another plastic set. The best zero waste hair brush option is to opt for a bamboo or wooden brush.
See if you can get one with wooden bristles so that the whole thing can be burnt or composted at the end of its life. If not, you can pull out any plastic bristles, then burn or compost the rest.
ECO BRUSH & COMB | |
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Made From | Wood or bamboo |
Has No/ Little | Plastic |
Disposal | Wooden handle โ burn or compost Plastic bristles โ rubbish |
Price (eBay) | From $5 AUD โ |
Moisturiser

Plastic โ Glass or Metal
The next zero waste bathroom swap is to replace your plastic bottles of moisturiser (when theyโre all used up) for more sustainable packaging. Look for moisturisers and body butters that come in either metal or glass containers.
Have you ever tried organic coconut oil as a face and body moisturiser? Itโs brilliant stuff and very cheap and accessible from the supermarket! Please note that it doesnโt work for every skin type when it comes to a facial moisturiser.
ZERO WASTE MOISTURISER | |
---|---|
Made From | Metal or glass containers |
Has No | Plastic |
Disposal | Glass or metal containers โ reuse or recycle |
Price | From $15 AUD |
Make-Up Remover

Plastic + Disposables โ Reusables
We really donโt need to be rubbing make-up remover solutions over our face to get the make-up off. Oftentimes, itโs just more unnecessary chemicals going into the skin.
All you need is a wet face washer or reusable cotton or bamboo pad to gently remove your make-up.
No chemicals, no disposables and less crap that you need to buy.
ECO MAKE-UP REMOVER | |
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Made From | Cotton or bamboo |
Has No | Plastic, chemicals or disposables |
Disposal | Wash in the washing machine with your other laundry |
Price (eBay) | Face Washer: FREE (use what youโve got) Reusable Pads: From $10 AUD โ |
Pads, Liners & Tampons

Disposables โ Reusables
When it comes to having a zero waste period, there are a few different things you can try, so that you can figure out what works best for you.
TAMPONS:
First up, if youโre not keen on moving away from tampons, I hear you. Keep in mind that youโre best option is to go with 100% organic cotton tampons, which are free from pesticides and will break down a lot quicker than their plastic-riddled counterparts.
PERIOD PANTIES:
Next up, period panties come with inbuilt protection to stop you from leaking through. Theyโre great for any time of the day and perfect for young girls who are still getting used to the whole thing.
Modibodi is a great brand if youโre looking for menstrual underwear โ they even have pairs for pregnancy.
REUSABLE PADS & LINERS:
Then youโve got reusable pads and liners, which are made from cotton and flannel fabrics. They simply attach around your underwear and clip together with a fastener. After use, just pop the liner in a lidded-bucket with cold water and put through a cold wash in the machine each day.
MENSTRUAL CUP:
Lastly, you can swap out tampons for a silicone Luna Cup or Moon Cup. You insert it during your period and empty it out in the shower or toilet as needed, with a rinse under the tap.
ECO MENSTRUAL ITEMS | |
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Made From | Organic cotton, flannel, silicone |
Has No | Plastic |
Disposal | Tampons โ discard as usual Period panties/ pads/ liners โ soak in cold water, wash in cold cycle Menstrual cup โ wash in soapy water |
Price (eBay) | Period Panties: From $6 AUD โ Reusable Liners: From $8 AUD โ Menstrual Cup: From $6 AUD โ |
Air Freshener

Aerosol โ DIY Essential Oil Spray
One of the easiest zero waste bathrooms swaps you can do yourself at home is an air freshener. All you need is a little spray bottle, water and one or a few essential oils.
If you need to buy a spray bottle, opt for glass, otherwise just use what youโve already got at home.
Fill up your little bottle with water, add about 10 drops of essential oils, then spray away.
Some essential oil blend ideas:
- Wild Orange and Sandalwood
- Peppermint and Marjoram
- Tea Tea, Eucalyptus and Lemon
ZERO WASTE AIR FRESHENER | |
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Made From | โ Water โ Essential oils โ Glass/ recycled spray bottle |
Has No | Disposable aerosol cans or synthetic products |
Disposal | Spray bottle โ refill and reuse |
Price | FREE โ use what youโve got! Or, cost of small spray bottle + bottle of essential oil |
Toilet Cleaner

Plastic + Chemical โ Vinegar + Baking Soda
Squirty toilet cleaners, which come in plastic bottles from the supermarket are super convenient. But, theyโre filled with toxic chemicals which are no good for us or our waterways.
Here is another one of the simplest zero waste bathroom swaps, which you can probably already do with what youโve got in the cupboard.
Good old baking soda (bi-carb soda) + vinegar!
How to clean the toilet with baking soda & vinegar:
- Spray the toilet with vinegar & let it sit for a few minutes.
- Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda.
- Scrub bowl & flush.
- Use vinegar spray and damp cloth to clean the outside of the toilet.
ECO TOILET CLEANER | |
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Made From | โ Baking soda โ Vinegar |
Has No | Disposable plastic bottles or nasty chemicals |
Price | FREE โ use what youโve got! Or, cost of a box of baking soda and bottle of vinegar |

Zero Waste Bathroom Kit

Now that weโve gone through all of the common bathroom products one-by-one, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Please know that moving towards zero waste, especially in this modern-day world, is very much a journey. Focus on one bathroom item at a time and give yourself a minute to incorporate the new habit before moving onto the next.
Hereโs a summary for a zero waste bathroom kit.
REPLACE WITHโฆ | |
Plastic Toothbrush | ? Bamboo Toothbrush ? Corn Starch Toothbrush |
Plastic Tube Toothpaste | ? Toothpaste Tablets or Powder in jar/ tin ? Homemade Toothpaste |
Dental Floss | ? Eco Floss in glass or metal jar |
Plastic Cotton Tips | ? Bamboo Cotton Tips ? Stainless Steel Ear Picks |
Plastic Band Aids | ? Patch Bamboo Strips |
Plastic-wrapped Virgin Forest Toilet Paper | ? Bamboo Toilet Paper ? Recycled Toilet Paper ? Reusable Toilet Paper ? Bidet |
Virgin Forest Tissues | ? Bamboo Tissues ? Hankies |
Plastic Shampoo/ Conditioner Bottles | ? Shampoo/ Conditioner Bars ? Refill bottles at a bulk store |
Plastic Soap Bottles | ? Soap Bars ? Refill bottles at a bulk store |
Plastic (chemical-filled) Deodorants | ? DIY Deodorant ? Natural Deodorant in glass/ metal containers |
Hair Removal | ? Safety Razor & Blades ? DIY Sugar Waxing ? Epilator ? Laser Hair Removal ? Tweezers |
Plastic Hair Brushes/ Combs | ? Wooden or Bamboo Brushes and Combs |
Plastic Moisturiser Bottles | ? Glass or metal containers ? Organic Coconut Oil |
Pads, Liners & Tampons | ? 100% Organic Tampons ? Period Panties ? Reusable Pads & Liners ? Menstrual Cup |
Aerosol Air Freshener | ? Essential Oil Spray |
Chemical Toilet Cleaner | ? Vinegar & Baking Soda |
