At Natracare, we love connecting with brands who share our mission to reduce waste and protect the planet, and we recently partnered with our friends at Friendly Soap to offer a social media giveaway of plant-based period care and natural soap bars. Friendly Soap are passionate about creating natural, ethical alternatives to everyday bathroom essentials. In this guest blog, Chris Mathers from Friendly Soap shares some simple zero waste swaps for your bathroom routine that are kinder to your body, and the environment.
Our bathrooms are often where a surprising amount of hidden plastic waste sneaks into daily life. Shampoo bottles, wipes, cotton pads, tampons, they might feel small on their own, but over time, they add up. In fact, bathroom products are one of the biggest contributors to household plastic waste, and unlike the recycling we’re more active about in the kitchen, less than half of bathroom plastics ever make it into the recycling bin. The rest ends up in landfills or the ocean, where it lingers for centuries and harms our planet.
Fortunately, we now live in a world with so many great alternatives to plastic. In this blog, we’ll share some practical, plastic-free swaps for your bathroom essentials, simple changes that can help reduce waste, protect the planet, and keep your daily routine both effective and sustainable.
1. Switch to Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
Shampoo and conditioner bottles pile up fast, and most of them never get recycled. Solid bars are a simple switch that does the same job, without the waste. They last longer, take up less space, and come in compostable or plastic-free packaging.
Friendly Soaps Shampoo and conditioner bars are a perfect alternative. Each solid bar is handmade with natural, plant-based ingredients, leaving out harsh chemicals like SLS, parabens and synthetic fragrances. They clean your hair without stripping its natural oils, helping it feel soft, nourished and hydrated. They’re also compact, travel-friendly and last much longer than liquid.
2. Choose Organic Cotton Tampons
Most mainstream tampons are wrapped in plastic and made with conventionally grown cotton that can be treated with pesticides or bleach. That’s not just an issue for the planet, but also for your most intimate skin. Organic cotton tampons offer a simple, plastic-free alternative. Natracare’s Organic Tampons are made with GOTS certified 100% organic cotton and nothing else. No plastics, no phthalates, no hidden chemicals, just pure cotton that’s gentle on your body and better for the planet. By making the switch, you also reduce the amount of single-use plastic heading to landfills every month.
3. Biodegradable Intimate Wipes
Sometimes you want to feel fresh quickly, whether during your period, while travelling, or after sex. The problem is that most mainstream wipes are made from plastic fibres and contain alcohol or harsh preservatives. They also don’t break down after use and can irritate sensitive skin. Natracare intimate wipes are made with 100% certified organic cotton cloth and a gentle organic formula. They’re pH balanced, free from alcohol, parabens and SLS, and suitable for sensitive skin. Most importantly, they’re biodegradable and compostable, so they won’t leave lasting waste behind.
4. Rethink Your Everyday Basics
Not every sustainable bathroom swap has to come in a box. Some of the best changes are about shifting habits. A simple switch, such as using a flannel or reusable face cloth instead of disposable cotton pads, is practical, cost-effective, and can last for years.
Other easy swaps include:
- A bamboo toothbrush instead of plastic.
- A safety razor with replaceable blades instead of disposable razors.
- Toilet paper made from recycled or bamboo fibres, packaged without plastic.
Small changes like these not only cut out plastic, but they also bring a sense of simplicity and mindfulness back to your routine, proving that sustainable habits can be practical and surprisingly easy to adopt.
5. Everyday Essentials, Rethought
When making changes, it’s important to remember that sustainability isn’t a finish line; it’s a journey. Every positive change you make, no matter how minor it seems, is a step toward reducing waste, cutting down on plastics, and making your daily routine a little lighter on the planet.
The most important thing is to begin. Focus on one change today and let it grow from there. Over time, the small decisions you make in your bathroom, seemingly ordinary essentials, can add up to a real, lasting difference for both your home and the environment.
