By Jason Giovannettone, Climate and Sustainability Director
To help care for Earth, remove plastic from many commonly used items in your bathroom. Several ideas for alternatives are provided below. The following video from Brush with Bamboo shares the impact of toothbrushes with regards to plastic pollution.
Soap: A bar of soap is the best way to avoid plastics and minimize the amount you need to buy. Choose soap bars that are packaged in paper or cardboard and labeled as natural to minimize the use of chemical ingredients. Also look for soaps that do not contain palm oil; the development of palm oil plantations results in the burning of substantial areas of forest.
Shampoo & Conditioner: The best way to remove plastic from your shampoo and conditioner is to buy bar versions of both that are not packaged in plastic. Bars are longer-lasting and typically contain zero sulphates and fewer chemicals than liquid/gel form. Look for products with the Climate Pledge Friendly certification, which means changes were made to the product size and weight to minimize carbon emissions due to shipping and packaging.
Toothbrush: Choose toothbrushes made from bamboo, a renewable resource that can easily be grown without pesticides and is compostable. If possible, find a toothbrush that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which means the bamboo is grown and harvested in a sustainable manner. FSC certification also ensures the bamboo is not a type eaten by pandas or harvested from land that is inhabited by pandas. The certification guarantees that virgin forests were not cut down to clear land for growing bamboo.
Toothpaste & Dental Floss: Toothpaste tablets are available as a plastic-free option, though most (not all) do not contain fluoride, which is important to fend off tooth decay. Plastic-free options for dental floss rely on silk covered in vegan candelilla wax.
Green Tip
Select one bathroom item above and try a plastic-free option for at least one week.