Sustainable alternatives to common household and personal care items

​By Ivan Chen

Many everyday items have a hidden environmental cost. (Credit: Lisaphotos195/Pixabay)

Many of the products we use every day to maintain our homes and personal health have negative environmental effects that go unnoticed. 

Here are some common household and personal care items that seem harmless but have hidden environmental footprints — and what you can use instead.

1. Paper towels

Paper towels are the go-to choice for cleanups, but they are typically used only once and require large amounts of trees, water and energy to produce. Not all paper towels are made from virgin wood pulp. Some paper towels may be manufactured with recycled paper, which lessens the environmental impact. Either way, it’s still a common form of waste. 

A better alternative is reusable paper towels or cloths. These can be washed and reused significantly more times than standard paper towels. 

2. Toilet paper

Toilet paper is a washroom essential, but it’s also an extremely disposable product: after a few seconds of use, it’s flushed away. A lot of wood pulp that is used to make toilet paper for Canadians and Americans comes from Canada’s boreal forest. Logging can cause short-term deforestation and negatively impact wildlife.

Alternatives to regular toilet paper include recycled or bamboo toilet paper. While they may require a higher upfront cost and some installation, bidets are effective at drastically cutting down toilet paper use.

3. Laundry detergent

Liquid laundry detergent is commonly sold in large plastic jugs, whereas laundry pods are coated in polyvinyl alcohol, a plastic that isn’t biodegradable and can contribute to microplastic pollution. Some detergents also contain harmful chemicals like phthalates. 

To make your laundry routine more sustainable, consider refilling detergent directly at a bulk store. 

Try to also find healthier, eco-friendlier detergents. The Environmental Working Group provides lists of safer, more sustainable household and personal care products.

4. Disinfectant wipes

Many disinfectant wipes are made with synthetic fibres, preventing them from being recycled or composted; after one use, they’re thrown away. Wipes may also contain a harmful chemical group called quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), which have been linked to a range of health problems like metabolic disruption and asthma. 

Using reusable cleaning cloths with disinfectant sprays that can be refilled is a more sustainable option. 

5. Dish sponges

Regular dish sponges may seem insignificant and harmless, but they are commonly made of plastic. When sponges are exposed to friction from being scrubbed on dishes, they risk shedding microplastics. And since they’re plastic, they cannot be recycled or composted.

Look for sponges that are made of plant-based materials, like cellulose or loofah, as they can biodegrade. Dish brushes made of bamboo are another good option.

6. Disposable razors

Disposable razors are usually made of a combination of metal and plastic. Since this makes them a mixed material item, it complicates the recycling process and often leads to razors becoming waste. Billions of razors end up in landfills each year. 

A sustainable alternative is a stainless steel safety razor. It doesn’t contain plastic, lasts much longer, generally offers a better shave and reduces waste in the long run.

7. Soap bottles

Soap stored in bottles, whether that be hand soap, shampoo or conditioner, creates plastic waste and requires more water and energy to produce. Liquid soap’s high water content and bulkier packaging increase transport resources and carbon emissions.

Bar soap uses less packaging and is less resource-intensive to produce. If you want to stick with liquid soap, consider refillable options from zero-waste or bulk stores.

8. Makeup wipes

Makeup wipes are a convenient way to remove makeup, but they are another common form of waste. 

Makeup wipes are a single-use item. Similar to disinfectant wipes, they are also often made of synthetic fibres, which means they don’t break down easily. This means that they will accumulate in landfills or the environment.

A more sustainable choice would be to use micellar water with a reusable cloth. Micellar water is more effective at removing makeup, while the cloth can be washed and reused many times. 

Summary

On their own, these swaps may seem small, but collectively they can make a difference. Every reusable, refillable or biodegradable alternative helps cut down on pollution, reduce emissions and lessen the demand for often resource-intensive production. Choosing a sustainable alternative is a step toward a cleaner, healthier future.

Edited by Jess Blackwell