The Best Eco Friendly Bathroom Products 2023
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One of the biggest myths when trying to go green at home is that it requires a lot of money and a complete overhaul of everything you use. But making more sustainable choices can be as simple as changing your shower curtain, using organic towels, or choosing brands that are offering more sustainable packaging.
Small steps can lead to big changes over time and these eco friendly bathroom products will have you moving in the right direction in no time.
The best advice we can give is to take it one product at a time as you run out of shampoo, for example, switch to a shampoo bar and so on. The idea is to ease in.
And consider a garbage audit as well, this will help you see where you are creating the most waste. We talk all about how to do a DIY garage audit in the ultimate guide to a zero waste kitchen.
Our top recommendations for eco friendly bathroom products
Before you dive into our top picks, we've got a ton of great info at the bottom of this post to help you make more informed decisions. We are talking about why making the switch to more eco bathroom products is essential to reduce waste PLUS we break down how we choose all the products and brands we feature here on the Hub.
Eco Friendly Bathroom Products: Personal Care
1. Shampoo & Conditioner
Shampoo bars are one of the easiest swaps you can make, one shampoo bar can eliminate up to 3 plastic shampoo bottles and can give you 80-100 washes. There is a transition, so make sure you try a few, you will absolutely find one you love. Shampoo bars are easy to use, great to travel with, and take up little space in your eco friendly bathroom.
We could cover 1,164 football fields with all the plastic shampoo bottles we throw out yearly!
The best thing about shampoo bars is there are so many options to choose from. We love these vegan shampoo bars which like most bars come with either no packaging, reusable packaging (small tins), or a cardboard box.
Etee's 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner Bar makes going plastic-free so easy. We've tried them and love them, say goodbye to tangled hair and hello to soft manageable tresses. They also smell so good thanks to the infusion of lavender and chamomile!
Upfront Cosmetics is another brand we 💚 especially the Refreshing Shampoo Bar which is infused with uplifting, fresh, herbal, floral tones of lemon, rosemary, and lavender notes.
If shampoo bars are not your thing Plaine Products makes some of the best Eco Friendly Shampoo and Conditioners, their containers are made from 100% aluminum which has higher recycling rates than plastic. You can send the bottles back to be refilled or you can return them as part of their bottle return program.
2. Tooth Care
Plastic toothbrushes suck! The handles are made from plastic and rubber which makes them impossible to recycle. A bamboo toothbrush is much better, the handle can be composted, just make sure to remove the nylon bristles before you do that! Check out Etee's reusable bamboo toothbrush which has a replaceable head reducing waste even further.
Toothpaste tubes are another waste stream we have to contend with, instead, we recommend these zero waste toothpaste brands, all of which are taking a huge bite out of the plastic crisis.
We also love these toothpaste tabs from Earth Hero made from high-quality natural and organic ingredients free of fluoride, SLS, and glycerin. This product kills bacteria and promotes fresh breath and healthy teeth and gums. All the benefits without all the toxins!
Did you know traditional dental floss is coated with plastic? They use plastic because it makes it easy for the floss to slide between your teeth, but plastic! In your mouth! Um no! Instead, you can try one of these zero waste dental floss brands, sure to put a healthy smile on your face.
EcoRoots is another fantastic online zero waste shop that offers a range of low-waste products including a floss and refill bundle. Their floss is made from bamboo and works just as well if not better than its plastic alternative.
For mouthwash check out EcoRoots mouthwash tablets made from entirely natural and non-toxic ingredients. The Fluoride, Glycerin, and SLS-free formula help to restore a healthy pH balance to your mouth, maintain good oral health, freshen your breath, and decrease sensitivity.
3. Skin and body care
Body wash = more plastic packaging! So choose brands that either offer refills, or packaging that can be reused or recycled. Some of our favorite natural & organic body washes include Etee's Body Soap Bars which are phenomenal, they have so many to choose from.
All of them are made with super-natural ingredients that will nourish and moisturize your hands and body! Their lather and scrub sets come with an eco-friendly loofah, which is a great alternative to those pesky plastic ones!
4. Shaving
Eco friendly bathroom products like zero waste razors or zero waste shaving creams are essential to creating a waste-free bathroom. There is a bit of a learning curve when using a safety razor but once you get the hang of it, you'll be a pro in no time.
We love this one from Earth Hero, it's easy to use and has a sturdy handle made from solid brass and a single high-quality steel blade, this eco-friendly safety razor removes hair easily without tugging or pulling at the skin, which means fewer razor bumps and ingrown hairs.
For zero waste shaving cream, our go-to is Badger Balms organic shave bar, this glycerin-rich soap bar contains coconut oil and aloe vera that creates enough "slip" for your razor to give you a bump-free, ultra-smooth shave.
5. Period essentials
The good news is there are so many fantastic options in this category. We don't need to be using cotton tampons!
Did you know cotton is the most pesticide-laden crop on the planet, we certainly do not want that anywhere near our private parts, the same goes for sanitary pads, they are actually lined with synthetic fabrics made from...you guessed it...plastic.
Check out our guide on zero waste periods to find what works best for you, it's packed full of helpful tips too.
Our favorite tampon replacement has to be the Lunette Menstrual Cup, not only will you reduce waste but you will save a ton of cash too, in fact...
Using a menstrual cup pays for itself after just three months and saves you around $500
If a cup is not for you, take a look at Saalts period panties, they have a HUGE variety of styles to choose from depending on your flow, they are made with Modal which makes them as soft as a cloud. They are breathable and have no PFAS or other harmful substances.
For sanitary pads, our top suggestion would be these from Viv, they are made of friendly softness and ultimate absorption and are naturally antibacterial, allergen-free, breathable, super soft & more absorbent than cotton and organic cotton products, saving the equivalent of 48 plastic bags per period. Also free from phthalates and BPA!
6. Makeup
Makeup, like all personal care, is really personal it can take a while to find what you love and what works for you. We've got lots of resources and guides to help you, check out these posts: zero waste makeup brands, low waste makeup brands, green beauty brands that are killing it, zero waste mascara, organic lipsticks that slay, all-natural makeup removers, the best reusable cotton rounds, zero waste lip balms, organic face wash, zero waste deodorants, affordable natural makeup, and organic moisturizers!
Eco Friendly Bathroom Products: Accessories
1. Shower Curtain
Let's start with an eco friendly shower curtain! Did you know that plastic shower curtain liners are made with a plastic known as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), its normally a very hard type of plastic but they add chemicals to it to make it soft and unfortunately those chemicals can off-gas in the home, creating VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which can contribute to indoor air pollution. Best to pick a curtain that's toxin-free.
For that, we turn to Dream Designs, they carry a beautiful collection of organic and natural bathroom accessories, that not only look good but are great for the planet too.
Their hemp shower curtains do not need a liner, hemp is naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial so you won't see all that nasty black stuff on this curtain. It's also leak-proof, and Oeko-Tex-certified non-toxic!
2. Bath Towels & Mats
There is nothing better than getting out of a hot shower and wrapping yourself in a soft, spa-like bath towel. As mentioned earlier conventional cotton sucks!
Organic cotton on the other hand is a far better choice for your home, it uses less water and resources to make and can actually be completed at the end of its life. Although we recommend you cut up old towels and reuse them to clean your home.
Coyuchi's organic bathroom towels are super soft and ultra-absorbent made with GOTS-certified organic cotton and manufactured with regenerative agriculture.
It does not get any better than this! Please make sure to check out their bathrobes as well, which are basically like wrapping yourself in a cloud!
For bathmats, we recommend looking at both Coyuchi and Minna, both offer great options for your home. Bathmats are normally made from synthetic materials and the underneath padding is usually held together with toxic glues and formaldehyde.
With Minna, you get these stunning, fair trade, handcrafted mats that are made with 100% recycled denim threads (so cool), and with Coyuchi you're getting soft, certified organic mats in a range of lovely colors.
3. Toilet Paper
Ahhhh toilet paper!
“Americans could save more than 400,000 trees if each family bought a roll of recycled toilet paper — just once.” Greenpeace
From Canada to Indonesia forests are being cut down to produce throwaway tissue products like toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels. It kills us to think that these products are ending up in the trash while their toll on the plants is forgotten or ignored. We can do better! This guide on eco friendly toilet paper is a place to a great start.
Brands like Who Gives A Crap are changing the game with their tree-free toilet paper. Made from either bamboo or recycled paper products, what's really cool is they offer a subscription that ensures you will never run out!
If you are willing to take it to the next level you can try reusable toilet paper! Yep, you read that right! We are not quite there yet ourselves, but these Toilet Unpaper Rolls from Marley's Monsters are worth a mention.
We've been using a Tushy Bidet and we LOVE it so much! It would be great to see more people in North America using this device. We use way less toilet paper and that's saved us a ton of cash! Well worth it!
Eco Friendly Bathroom Products: Water-Saving Devices
Water is a precious resource and we want to make sure that we are saving (not wasting) as much of it as we can, there are many ways to save water in the bathroom, choose a low-flow showerhead and a dual flush toilet.
According to the EPA "the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and $130 in water costs per year by replacing all old, inefficient toilets in their home".
A dual-flush toilet gives you the choice of flushes, there are two different buttons that perform two different kinds of flushes depending on the waste in the toilet, pee or poo! Dual flush toilets typically use 4-6 liters of water as opposed to the old-style flush systems which use a massive 13 liters per flush.
Purchasing a new toilet is a very personal thing, there are lots of things to consider: the brand, the height, the top, and the shape, this helpful toilet guide is worth a read.
For a low-flow showerhead, our top recommendation is the High Sierra Classic Plus, it's got an award-winning patented nozzle and is really easy to install. And the best part is your shower water usage will be reduced by 40%, plus the reduced electricity cost for heating less water! Win-Win!
Eco Friendly Bathroom Products: Cleaning Products
We love to clean here on The Eco Hub and have covered so many topics with lots more to come! All of your cleaning guides are filled with lots of great information from what kinds of toxins you need to avoid in cleaning products to zero waste cleaners and natural cleaning products to help reduce plastic in the home.
You see in most cases we use way too many cleaning products, we have ones for floors, doors, ovens, windows, toilets, glass, countertops, wood, you name it! It's overkill! You really only need 1-2 really good ones.
We recommend having an eco friendly cleaner that disinfects as well as an all-purpose cleaner that you can use everywhere, and for that, we turn to Elva's All Naturals 1 Cleaner, it's by far the best eco-friendly bathroom cleaning product!
You can use this on ANY surface in your home, it's septic and greywater safe, vegan, and cruelty-free! It has a light scent that you will love and it cleans like a green champ! We promise you will LOVE it as much as we do!
If you like a good DIY you can always try here money-saving recipes or give refills a go too!
Why should you consider eco friendly bathroom products?
It's simple we waste a lot of water in the bathroom when we brush our teeth, shower, bathe or flush the toilet. We go through a lot of single-use plastic containers like shampoo, mouthwash, toothpaste, etc.
The average person in the USA produces about 280 pounds of plastic waste per year and a lot of that comes from the bathroom. On top of that, we are exposed to some pretty nasty chemicals from both our skincare and cleaning products.
Shopping for eco friendly bathroom products can be tricky - Here's what to look for:
If you visit The Eco Hub often you know we have pretty strict criteria for the brands we feature, we really try and vet each brand as much as we can.
We've been doing this for a long time and luckily we know quite a few of the founders. For skincare and cleaning products we want to know if the ingredients are sourced sustainably and are free of toxic chemicals, we also want to make sure they are palm-oil-free, vegan, and cruelty-free and have sustainable packaging options.
For bathroom accessories like towels, shower curtains, and bath mats, we look for fabrics and materials that are eco-friendly, third-party certified, and have less of an impact.
We also take corporate responsibility into account and look at all facets of the company's business model, are they B Corp Certified? Do they work with local charities and is there any greenwashing going on. All of the brands featured in this post are doing their part by giving consumers more sustainable options!
Final thoughts on eco friendly bathroom products
If this list tells us anything it's that there are lots of options to choose from when you are trying to make your bathroom more sustainable. As we said earlier, don't try to start everything at once, pick one item then move on to the next. It's taken us years to turn our home into a green oasis!
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