Vegan. Zero Waste. Sustainability. These have all been buzzwords for a while now, but for me, they are more than just a trend; they’re a life-long commitment. I’m going to steer clear of talking much about veganism today, as I think it warrants a whole post to itself (look out for that soon!).
I also want to make it clear that you don’t have to be vegan to live a more zero waste lifestyle. While obviously animal products do have a huge impact on the environment, I know it can seem too overwhelming and daunting to many. So, even if you’re not quite ready to explore being vegan yet, doesn’t mean you cannot think more about your consumption and waste output.
Just learning some facts and opening my mind started a shift in me to want to produce less waste. I have by no means completed my zero waste journey, but over the last year or so I have made small, simple changes that I’m really happy about.
I wanted to share these quick and easy changes I’ve made, to inspire you in your future purchasing. Most of these are not much more expensive than the ‘regular’ disposable products we normally use. And any extra pennies are spent well in the knowledge that these are better quality, will do less environmental harm, and are often better for health too!
So here are a few items I managed to swap over very quickly.
Toothbrush and toothpaste
The first item I swapped was my toothbrush. For me, it was the most obvious disposable plastic product I used. Having seen a few alternatives on the market, knew it wouldn’t be too difficult to make the switch. I found these bamboo toothbrushes online, but you can also get them in health food shops. I really like these toothbrushes and I now feel much better when it comes to the end of their lifecycle, knowing I’m not adding so much plastic to landfill.
The toothpaste took a little longer to work out. I had first made the switch from Colgate etc when I went vegan. So I was already used to trying more ‘natural’ kinds of toothpaste, with a few hits and misses. It wasn’t until I had finished one and threw it away, that I realised, while better for the environment in one way, there is still plastic being used. There weren’t many good alternatives for a while, save for making it yourself.
Luckily a small pot of Truthpaste was included in a Sulibox I received. I recommend the Sulibox for those just starting out as they’re a great way to try out new products at a good value price. This came through the post at just the right time and I have since repurchased a bigger pot. It lasts a really long time, and so while it is more expensive than conventional toothpaste, I think it balances out in the long run. It took a little while to get used to, as it is quite ‘grainy’ and needs to go on ‘dry’ onto the toothbrush, but now I hardly notice a difference.
Soap
Another simple swap is from handwash to soap. Those antiseptic handwashes by your sinks may be really handy, but you can get through quite a few. So adding further to the unsustainable rubbish tip. Unless you’re dedicated to refilling pots, (which I would still consider, but haven’t pursued yet), it was easier to go back to good old-fashioned soap.
It may be a little messier around the sink area and the lack of artificial bubbles was disconcerting, to begin with, but this has been the simplest swap so far. Often cheaper, and much kinder to your skin, this was a win-win situation.
Toilet Paper
I hadn’t considered loo roll in my zero waste journey at all until I learnt how bad it really was for the environment. Toilet paper is (duh) made of paper. So while I had diligently been turning to digital over paper in most areas of my life, this had completely passed me by. A quick search on google showed me the error of my ways, and so I turned to Who Gives A Crap instead.
I tried the free trial and loved it right away. Not only was it convenient having it all sent to your house. But because you were buying in bulk, it worked out at around the same price (or less) as conventional toilet paper! The paper is made of Bamboo or recycled paper, and is completely biodegradable, yet still lovely quality and nice and soft. Plus, the packaging has really brightened up my bathroom!
There are other eco-friendly toilet paper options available, such as Renova (which you can buy in some supermarkets). There’s also Cheeky Panda and Ecoleaf, both of which you can find in health food shops.
Vegan Deodorant
I’ve tried lots of different deodorants in the hunt for a good vegan one. I had settled on a Superdrug aerosol when I realised just how damaging aerosols can be for the environment as well. So here are a couple of alternatives I’ve tried.
The Earth Conscious deodorant stick roll-up is a nifty idea and good value. However, it seems to attract dirt no matter how clean my armpits are before putting it on. So instead, I turned to Fit Pit.
Lastly, the Fit Pit natural deodorant has now become a firm favourite. It is a really convenient size, has a subtle scent and, most importantly, easy to use. You just need a swipe or two on your finger, and so lasts much longer than you expect. I’ve been using it every day for about two months and as you can see, there is still plenty left!
I’ll be doing a few more detailed posts with even more products in the future. For now, I thought I’d start off with a few super easy ones so you can get going right away! Let me know which items you’re thinking about swapping, and if there are any other swaps you’d recommend!
PS. This post is in no way sponsored – I bought all these items myself.
I talk a bit more about myself and my vegan lifestyle on my about page, but a dedicated post is coming soon!
