Cutting Down On Plastics In Your Life Part One: Bathroom

Photo credit: Flickr/Josh Kezner

Doesn’t it seem like so many products these days are made of plastic?  In fact, you can’t really live in today’s world without having some form of plastic in your home.  It is literally everywhere we turn.  And I do admit, there are some plastic items that we can’t avoid, like appliances, electronics and most medical equipment. So while we can’t eliminate plastic from our world, we can minimize our consumption.  But where do we start?

First, let’s talk about the real downside of plastic.  Standard plastic is a petroleum product, meaning the more plastic we buy, the more oil we use.  We should all be familiar with why that is a problem thanks to the Gulf tragedy.  But not only is plastic made from oil, there are other harmful chemicals that are used in the process, not to mention tons of water, which is a precious resource.  But one of the real tragedies is that only a small percentage of plastics get recycled.  Most plastic products get tossed in the landfill or inadvertently end up in the ocean, where it further pollutes our water and can poison and choke marine life.  And it stays wherever it lands for a very long time because plastic isn’t designed to break down.  In a nutshell, plastic production is a toxic process that pollutes the environment and our bodies and will be a persistent problem well beyond our lifetimes.  When you think about it that way, it doesn’t seem fair that we get to do all of that in the name of convenience, right?

Well, enough doom and gloom.  Like I said, we will never be rid of plastic completely but we as individuals can be conscious of how much we consume and buy less.  For starters, let’s look at what we can do in the bathroom to eliminate excess plastic:

Health and beauty items – Most come in plastic packaging so that you don’t, say, shatter a glass shampoo bottle in your shower.  Plastic bottles are usually recyclable but most times, the lid is not.  There are some organizations that are starting to collect caps and lids, check www.earth911.com for a lid recycling program near you.  But if you want a way to reduce your consumption of those pesky things, try buying liquid items in bulk.  Some stores have giant jugs of shampoo, conditioner and soaps so that you can refill your own bottles.  This turns your one-use item into a several-use item.  Or try bar products.  This eliminates the plastic altogether.

Another culprit, lip balm tubes and caps.  Those are also not recyclable but you can get the same type product in a metal tin, or some even come in a paper tube with paper cap.  I have two that I love made by a company called Organic Essence.  When I am done, they will go in the garbage, but they will break down to nothing in no time.

Toothbrushes are another item we (hopefully) all use and rarely think of recycling.  There are a few brushes on the market that are recyclable and some companies that have return programs for your used ones.  Unfortunately, there is not a non-plastic option for your oral hygiene but if you can find another home for these plastic sticks, that is the next best thing.

Your shower curtain is maybe one of the largest plastic items in your bathroom.  Not only is this item not accepted in your recycle bin, having one in your shower can off-gas toxins into your air.  You can re-purpose a vinyl shower curtain in ways that you would use a tarp or protective covering but you still want to be careful what it is coming in contact with.  When you need a new curtain, try a natural fiber one.  I have one made of hemp fiber and that is all I use.  There is no need for a separate liner.  I will say that a small amount of water does come through but it is very minimal and to me, a little water is better than the consequences of the plastic.  Another benefit, my hemp curtain naturally resists mildew and it will last much longer than any vinyl one I have had in the past.

What ways do you minimize plastic in your bathroom?  Share your ideas here, or if you need more help with getting away from plastics, email me at Melissa@ecohomeconsults.com.  And check in on Thursday when I talk about cutting down on plastics in the kitchen.