Interested in making a few quick and easy zero waste swaps this year? It can be pretty daunting to know where to start if you’re new to zero waste/low waste—and no, you don’t need to go out and buy all new matching Mason Jars or bamboo cutlery.
I’m all for reusing what you currently have, even if it’s plastic! The goal in going zero waste, of course, is to reduce consumption isn’t it? It’s an opportunity to redefine our relationship with stuff.
If you don’t know where to start and are looking for a few quick wins, I’ve rounded up 3 easy ways to get started!
Shave The Earth With A Safety Razor
See what I did there? 😂On a more serious note, according to the EPA, Americans tossed two billion disposable razors in the 1990s. Our population has grown by about 75 million people since then, so I’ll let you do the scary math.
I’ve slowly made the transition to a plastic-free shower routine. I don’t shave every day, but when I do, I use this handy dandy safety razor. This gorgeous Merkur razor does a great job of removing hair without irritating my skin. The razor itself is made from a gold-plated stainless steel; if that doesn’t last a lifetime, nothing will! I’ve had this razor for 4 years now, and I haven’t purchased any other shaving tool (shaving creams/gels aside), including blades.
Getting the hang of using a safety razor takes a little bit of time, but it’s worth the effort. Not only will you save hundreds on purchasing plastic razors, you’ll reduce your waste, too.
You can purchase blades separately (100 blades for $8.00-10.00 USD), and they are recyclable. Blade banks are a great way to store them once you’re done with them. I personally use an old mint tin to store my used blades. You’re only a few steps away from an eco-friendly shave!
Switch to a Bamboo Toothbrush
With several billions of plastic toothbrushes finding their way to landfills and oceans every year, it’s no wonder that plastic is at the center of our environmental crisis. According to National Geographic:
“Of the 8.3 billion metric tons [of plastic] that has been produced, 6.3 billion metric tons has become plastic waste.”
Plastic takes hundred of years to degrade and only a fraction of it is recycled. With marine ecosystems being its eventual graveyard, plastic poses physical and chemical threats to both marine and bird life. National Geographic notes that, “by mid-century, the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish, ton for ton…”
What a horrifying statistic. How can we keep plastics out of our landfills and oceans? Use less of it! One way to minimize your plastic consumption is to switch to a more sustainable toothbrush. My favorite brand is Brush With Bamboo. The president of this company is one badass lady, too.
Give Your Scalp the Spa Treatment With a Wooden Hair Brush
I made the switch to a wooden hair brush a few years ago for two reasons: to reduce my waste and to be kinder to my hair. Has anyone else broken those plastic bristles on their hair brushes? A wooden hair brush is very gentle on tangles and doesn’t tear your hair. It also does a great job of evenly distributing oil from the root to the tips. I’ve had my Widu hair brush since 2017, and it’s still going strong.
It’s made with FSC certified ash wood, natural hornbeam bristles, and natural rubber. Widu’s hair brushes are handmade in Italy, naturally hypoallergenic, zero-waste — uses biodegradable parts, and comes in recyclable cardboard packaging. It doesn’t get better than that!
There you have it! Have you just started your zero waste/low waste journey or are you a seasoned pro? Let me know about your most meaningful sustainable swaps below!
FTC: This is not a sponsored post. I purchased all the items listed above. This post contains affiliate links.
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