The bathroom is where I decided to begin my changes. Perhaps because this is where we start our day, and so issues continue to circulate my head for the whole day! We all recognise that we must reduce plastic consumption, because we do not ‘consume’ plastic. It stays on this planet, somewhere as a man-made compound of chemicals. So, a plastic shower gel bottle will only be needed for a few weeks, but then we will put it in the recycling bin.
Only since fairly recently have we had such access to a recycling opportunity for some plastics. It remains unknown how effective these schemes are. Plastic was invented mid-20th century, intended to last forever. They succeeded, but the horrific, everlasting, problem is only now recognised! Somehow, in some form this man-made waste will exist eternally.
OK, the first step that i took, was to end my needless ‘consumption’ of shower-gel bottles. The answer?
… Just use a bar of soap!
Soap ----------
Bars of soap can be bought anywhere. As a regular customer of many of their ‘ethical products’, medical supplements, and foods, i sourced my ‘Oliva soap bars’ in Holland & Barrett.
I have bought Shampoo bars (not ’Shampoo bottles’), at the same place, to solve the identical problem to ‘Shower Gel bottles’. It can be slightly surreal rubbing a bar of shampoo, into your hair, instead of squirting a bottle, but you get used to it!
Again, they are widely available, any local chemist should help.
Toothbrush heads ----------
The next set of products, that i want to discuss are toothbrushes. The general guidance, supplied to us by professionals, is to change toothbrush/or brush-heads every three months, or so. This is fair enough, although what happens to our old one? A plastic body combined with different polymer fibres (the actual brush fibres) poses another problem. We cannot recycle these ourselves. Yet again we hope that ‘plastic recycling will sort it out’! This may be satisfactory for some, however I have found a better solution. If you have an electric toothbrush, it may be difficult sourcing a compatible product. I use an Oral-B toothbrush, and was ever-so happy to find alternative, sustainable heads. I didn’t like feeling ’trapped as an Oral-B customer forever’. As far as i am aware this company does not offer sustainable options. They produce the device but then hold your custom to just consume endless, everlasting plastic widgets, every couple of months! Do you really want to add to the constant flow of everlasting litter? What can be done?
The ‘LiveCoco’ tooth brush heads are brilliant.
A charcoal brush sits on the tip of this polymer ’toothbrush head’. The charcoal is obviously biodegradable, the plastic body needs to have polymer properties, for function, but it is an easily recyclable Polymer (not everything is). These fit onto Oral-B toothbrushes.
For a piece of confidence, LiveCoco actually suggest sending old heads back to their HQ (London), enabling them to ‘complete the recycling loop’!
or a similar version…
I also provide photos of my ’spare’ (to take on holiday etc)…No plastic. Wooden handle, Charcoal brush … Fully biodegradable
Tooth paste tablets
One of the most common and generic problems that we used to face was toothpaste tubes.
Everyone brushes their teeth twice a-day. Previously we all used to have to discard our empty toothpaste tubes to the regular rubbish bin. Their complex properties (security, weight, safety, etc) called for the need of a non-biodegradable, man-made composite. Our world will forever be littered by toothpaste tubes!
The solution? Forget them.
Don’t use them.
But?
Don’t use toothpaste.
Find an alternative...
Many small companies can be found offering similar items. Large toothpaste companies are yet to get involved, so it seems. I guess that by promoting such a sustainable rival option, may not be very popular within their main industry.
So, what are Tooth-Tabs?
I receive, through the post, every three-months, 3 paper sachets, each with a month’s supply of little tablets. I ordered a ‘tablet-storage-tin’ with my first order. The tin holds 1 month’s supply of tablets.
Step 1: Rinse your toothbrush with water, in preparation.
Step 2: Place one tablet in your mouth. Chew it, progressing in between teeth, around your mouth. Do not swallow it, just chew it.
Step 3: Once the paste can be felt, around the mouth, bring your brush in. Brush for 2 minutes.
So simple!
The relative compactness of this tablet works amazingly. You will realise the ridiculous quantity of ‘colouring gels, and foaming agents’ we receive in toothpastes. Not only will you be eliminating the harmful plastic tubes, but you will be restricting all the harmful man-made gels etc, from entering your body.
Alternatives
Bamboo is such an obvious material, suited for many applications in our bathrooms. It grows, surrounded by water. The plant has an incredibly high strength-to-weight ratio, so if applied correctly, can be an immense use. It was purchased as soon as i spotted the ‘Bulldog Bamboo Razor’. Yet again, I was scared of becoming entrapped in an unsustainable ‘Gillette’ loop, forever! Whilst the razor heads to this newer option, are still plastic, at least the body’s arm is biodegradable bamboo. The advantage with bamboo, over other woods, is its survival against water. The wooden grip is perfectly satisfactory as well.
Bamboo cotton buds are also a brilliant option. I have seen them advertised on Instagram, have none myself, but seem a brilliant solution.
Wooden combs are also a perfectly sound way of reducing your plastic consumption.
The final example that I want to suggest, to eliminate needless plastic consumption is cardboard packaged loo paper!
Fruit instead of Mouthwash
I haven’t fully eliminated them yet, because a breakfast followed by a ‘Mouthwash’ can be a rapid way of rinsing your mouth clean, in a busy morning.
However, I have more free time in the mornings, especially since the global lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
I have time to make my own Macchiato Espresso, have my breakfast cereal, and finish with a banana and an apple.
Consumption of the apple has eliminated my need for a mouthwash (in MY mind).
Just like Shower-Gel plastic bottles, why use more everlasting plastic rubbish, if we can work out our way around it?
Deodorant
So many bathroom products are plastic!
We must do what we can, to eliminate them.
I know that it may seem such a large task, it could be seen as never-ending. I recognised that my task could always be tackled. One more plastic product, that is used daily, must have a suitable replacement?...
My plastic, anti-perspirant/deodorant has been sitting on my basin, defiantly laughing at me... ‘Irreplaceable’?
I search supermarkets and unsurprisingly, I find no adventures made. Big names supply and protect big names.
We should all recognise that no risks are taken by those at the top.
’No economic risks’.
Big names. Plastic bottles.
:(
My search continued, and I finally succeeded, earlier this week!
‘FoodForThought’! (http://www.foodforthoughtuk.com)
A solution is to lose the need for a waterproof container. Why not use a safe, natural chemical, as a solid soap bar?
There is no need for a liquid chemical (which would need safely containing - in a plastic bottle).
Aiding application, there is to be moisture of some kind, either your washed skin or the soap bar can be lightly dampened with water!
I strongly approve of this solution. The problem is recognised, and tackled right back at an early stage (avoiding the concept of liquid deodorant, and the need to store a liquid).
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