Swap for good.
With a few simple changes, you can make your bathroom rituals more sustainable — and even socially conscious!
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Swapping out some everyday bathroom items may not seem like a big deal, but every small action counts. From tampons to toothbrushes to toilet paper, the products we use on a regular basis have a big impact over time. Here are some ideas for more sustainable and socially-conscious options.
Less plastic, more impact. WinWin.
— Period positives —
Switch to organic tampons and bamboo pads.
Uganda and Sierra Leone are the two worst places in the world to be born a girl, partly due to poor access to sanitary hygiene and menstrual education. Often, when girls in these countries get their periods, they drop out of school. This was the inspiration for the founder of Tsuno — a social enterprise that donates an impressive 50% of profits to help fund girls’ education.
The Melbourne-based company doesn’t think pesticides or synthetics are cool in our bodies or the environment. Tsuno organic tampons and natural bamboo pads (which are super super soft and also super absorbent) are the go-to for disposable sanitary products. Beautifully packaged and designed to be displayed with pride (in cardboard of course) their box designs feature local artists.
Extra good:
Tsuno donate 50% of their profits to help fund girls’ education. When you subscribe, you can also donate a box to Australian women in need. How rad is that?
— Dental do-gooders —
Switch to bamboo toothbrushes.
The bad news? Every toothbrush ever made still exists today. The good news? We can switch to a Big Little Brush — that uses bamboo and nylon instead of plastic. This product takes about a year to breakdown, instead of 600. Yes, you read that right.
Extra good:
Big Little Brush profits are used to help fund primary health programs in remote Indigenous communities in Australia.
— Funky fresh —
Switch to natural deodorant (that functions!).
Plastic bottles are such a pet peeve of ours — deodorant packaging included. Good + Clean is a gentle and extremely high performing deodorant that is clean, good for you and good for our planet.
Extra good:
Good + Clean donate 10% of your purchase to protect animals, restore ecosystems and encourage sustainable practices.
— Royal flush —
Switch to recycled loo paper.
You are most probably familiar with the trailblazers in the socially conscious bathroom space, and if you aren’t, read on. Who Gives A Crap is a company driven by turning our everyday purchases like loo paper into something that has meaning and impact. They sell recycled toilet paper, tissues and paper towels (that actually do feel good when you use them).
Extra good:
Who Gives a Crap donate 50% of profits to help build toilets around the world.
— Swipe left (on plastic) —
Switch to soap bars, reusable cloths and plastic-free packaging.
From shampoo, hand soap, and body wash to face cleaners and wipes, there are some great alternatives that come in bars and simple cardboard. We love The Australian Natural Soap Company who make 100% pure virgin avocado oil soaps that are palm oil-free, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, detergent-free, biodegradable and vegan. For shampoo, check out Beauty & the Bees Shampoo Bar from Biome. Finally, switch your cleansing face cream and those disposable face wipes with a reusable makeup remover cloth like FaceHalo. This little magic cloth removes all makeup (including eyeliner!) without soap or cleansing lotion. Just throw it in the washing machine once a week. You won’t look back.
This may seem like a long list, and perhaps it feels slightly overwhelming. Remember: if everyone just made one switch, the impact on our environment and for our kids’ (kids’ kids’) future would be massive.