Inspired? See our 8 zero waste swaps for familes.
For more zero-waste inspiration, see Melissa Hemsley's 10 simple single-use plastic swaps and our plastic-free beauty swaps.
Reducing our household waste isn’t always easy, but even small changes around the home can make a big difference. Here are some simple refillable swaps for everyday household items to help cut down on waste at home.
Once you start trying to reduce your household plastic waste, it suddenly appears everywhere you look - from your food packaging to your cleaning products; from your bathroom to your makeup bag.
It can easily feel unavoidable. While recyclable packaging is a step in the right direction, avoiding waste altogether by using refillable products is even better.
Thankfully some brands out there are making it easier to reduce your waste by providing refillable solutions - whether it be refillable mascara or cleaning products straight to your door.
Here are some simple swaps to get you started:
Your household cleaning products likely come in plastic containers, and while there are eco-friendly options out there that use recyclable packaging, you can reduce waste even further by refilling everyday items.
(MORE: DISCOVER OUR FAVOURITE ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING PRODUCTS)
Soaps and shampoo bars are a great solution to eliminating plastic waste in the bath or shower. But if you’ve given shampoo bars a try and are still hunting for the one that works for you, refillable shampoo, conditioner and bodywash could be the answer.
• Established in 1974, Faith in Nature believes in harnessing the power of nature without harming it in the process. Its vegan shampoo, conditioner and bodywash products are made using naturally derived, cruelty-free ingredients, with 100% natural fragrance, and are free from parabens and SLS. While they don’t offer refills directly, many independent stores have set up Faith In Nature refill stations over the last few years (see a list of refill stations here).
• You can also refill at home by buying one of its 5 litre bottles and refilling yourself and once that's empty, return it for money off your next purchase.
If you take a look inside your makeup bag today, you might find it rife with plastic mascaras, foundation bottles, eyeshadow pallets and powder cases, which once disposed of will likely end up in landfill. Wouldn’t it be great if you could simply refill them?
It’s important to floss every day, we know, but commercial dental floss with its synthetic polymers and rigid plastic casing can be terrible for the planet. Luckily going plastic free doesn’t have to mean changing your daily dental care routine though.
• Georganics
Georganics natural dental floss is made from sustainable sources like bamboo fibre or ahimsa silk, coated with natural waxes and flavoured with essential oils. It comes in a glass dispenser that can be used over and over again, simply order your refills online.
After searching high and low for a natural deodorant that works, you might be wary of making the switch to a refillable deodorant. There are some great natural deodorant brands using recyclable and reusable paper and glass packaging (such as The Natural Deodorant Co and Meow Meow Tweet), but you can now go one step further with a refillable deodorant.
Inspired? See our 8 zero waste swaps for familes.
For more zero-waste inspiration, see Melissa Hemsley's 10 simple single-use plastic swaps and our plastic-free beauty swaps.
