They shall then bathe their body in running water and will become clean.
Leviticus 15:13
There is a lot of plastic in our bathrooms! But let us try these four Rs: reduce, refill, return and recycle!
First of all – do an audit – what do we have here? Separate the essential items (toothbrush, soap, razor) from the less frequently or never used ones. You may find a lot of items that you never use, or unused gifts.
Start by donating, regifting or recycling the products you don’t plan to use.
Next look at which ones you can reduce or replace. Do some research to see what options are out there. (Much easier to hunt on line)
Here are a few great swaps to consider:
Soap: We all used to use soap bars and many have now shifted to ‘body washes’, ‘hand washes’ , ‘shower gel” etc, you can simply and cheaply go back to good old soap! There are also now shampoos in bar form but they can be a bit pricy – if you can afford it , try them out or include them in a birthday gift hamper for someone.
Razors: electric razors save a lot of plastic and cash in the long run (why are disposable razors soooo expensive!) or at least use one with a permanent handle. Think electric razor – Father’s day gift?
Some items like deodorant bottles – look for the brands that offer glass bottles.
Toothbrushes: You can’t use the same toothbrush forever, but if you can afford it look for toothbrushes made from bamboo or recycled plastic, rather than virgin plastic If you use a battery-powered toothbrush, use rechargeable batteries rather than single-use disposable batteries.
Makeup wipes : If so, then you’re likely creating waste on a daily basis from your makeup wipes. Instead, use a reusable washcloth
Loofahs: Plastic loofahs can be swapped for cotton washcloths or sea sponges, which are compostable.
Cotton swabs/ear buds: you can get ones which are not plastic now but with wooden handle.
The larger the container, the more less plastic per volume there is , and the more likely it is to get recycled. Try to avoid little sachets and go for the largest container. Many brands now do also have refills available – especially if you shop on line it is easier to hunt for these.
When recycling: remember to empty, rinse and replace the lid on your product – otherwise the remaining liquid might contaminate the rest of your recyclables.
Share which changes you aim to make with the group!