Turn every space in your bathroom into a more sustainable sanctuary using these easy ideas.
AT THE SINK & VANITY
Update your bath accessories with better-for-the-planet designs, which are often made from bamboo thanks to the material’s natural ability to repel moisture and resist mold, mildew, and bacteria. Known for its durability, rapid growth rate, and regeneration abilities, bamboo is one of the most renewable resources around—which is why you’ll see it as a sustainable alternative to plastic and slow-growing woods in items like soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, and waste bins.
Save water at the sink. In addition to encouraging your family to turn off the tap while washing hands or brushing teeth, you can go a step further and replace old or inefficient sink faucets and faucet aerators with low-flow versions featuring the WaterSense label (a third-party certification that ensures items meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s criteria). According to the EPA, this move can save your household an average of 700 gallons per year—or the amount of water needed to take 45 showers.
Even the smallest choices can make a difference, such as selecting more eco versions of your everyday items. Reach for sustainable products like zero-waste silk floss, naturally sourced toothpaste, reusable or biodegradable versions of cotton swabs, and bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic.
IN THE SHOWER
A good rule of thumb in the bathroom? If it touches your skin, make sure it’s sustainable. Try our certified organic cotton bath towels (now available in limited-edition colors), bath sheets, washcloths, hand towels, and bath rugs that are as soft and effective as they are eco. Nearby, hang organic cotton robes that keep you comfy while keeping toxins and chemicals away.
For the shower itself, choose an organic cotton curtain along with its safe, non-toxic companion: a liner that’s both PVC- and plastic-free and machine washable, so you can launder it instead of replacing it when it needs a clean. To conserve water, install a WaterSense labeled low-flow showerhead and commit to taking a shorter shower overall (under five minutes—use a timer if you want to challenge yourself!).
Update your wash routine with personal care products that offer safe, naturally derived ingredients (think shampoo, conditioner, and body wash like our White Citrus & Lime Collection) and better-made bath items that last longer than their conventional counterparts, such as safety razors that help cut down on the plastic waste that disposable ones create.
IN THE WATER CLOSET
One of your easiest changes? Switch to toilet paper made from recycled content or sustainable alternative fibers. It’s a simple way to support companies using eco-minded methods to make tissue products and it lessens the impact paper production has on our forests.
The main source of water usage in your home happens to be your toilet. If you’re still using a more inefficient older model—which can use as much as 6 gallons per flush, says the EPA—upgrade to a low-flow WaterSense option. You’ll reduce the water used by 20 to 60 percent while reducing your water bill at the same time.
Choose nontoxic air fresheners to keep your space feeling clean and refreshed. Our favorites? Plant-based room sprays, reed diffusers using ethically sourced essential oils, and, of course, our double-wick Natural Soy Wax Candles featuring three calm, soothing, and uplifting scents.
EVERYWHERE ELSE
Purify the air (and liven up your space) by adding a potted plant or two. The warmth and humidity of a bathroom can be perfect for plants like orchids, ferns, aloe vera, bromeliad, snake plants, air plants, and Chinese evergreen.
As in any room in your home, it’s smart to swap out any incandescent lightbulbs for LED or compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. They last much longer, use less energy, and help lower your electricity costs.
On cleaning day, opt for sustainable products using the same criteria you use with choosing personal care items. Keep the room sparkling with cleaner cleaning solutions that are plant-based, nontoxic, and use thoughtful packaging—and won’t harm you or the earth.
SHOP CONSCIOUSLY WITH UNDER THE CANOPY