This week, I wanted to show you all the things I don't buy anymore due to zero waste. Mostly because I've learnt how to make my own. Let's get started!
1. Deodorant
All the ingredients are super easy to find plastic free and the deodorant lasts forever and ever. Most natural deodorant recipes used heaps of baking soda, but it kept giving me a rash. Now I've finally formulated the perfect recipe, I have linked it down below.
2. Lip Balm
Instead, I use a multi-purpose balm that I make myself. You can use it on your lips, face, hands and feet. Using multi purpose products its really one of the best ways to reduce waste. Because it's truly multi-purpose, it means I don't have to buy individual products, you have all of them in 1.
3. Soap
I love making my own soap. With just one kilogram of lye and a single oil, you can make hundreds of soaps to last a lifetime. I have lots of soap recipes on on my channel, so make sure to check the tutorials in the description box down below for inspiration.
4. Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
I love making shampoo and conditioner bars rather than buying liquid products in plastic packaging. Because they are so concentrated, they last for longer. And because they are essentially water free, this helps reduce carbon emissions during transportation. The cool thing about making your own bars, is that you know exactly what's in them.
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5. All-purpose Surface Cleaner
Did you know you can repurpose food waste and combine it with vinegar to clean surfaces? Rather than buying cleaners full of toxic chemicals, I make my own by infusing citrus peels or pine leaves and vinegar. Trust me when I say it really does pick up the smell of the fruit you decide to infuse in it.
6. Toothpaste
Instead I use dental tabs to clean my teeth. I am not going to lie, it took me a while to get used to using these. But I am now really happy with this swap. I use a brand called Happy Tabs, which I will link down below, they dissolve very nicely and taste like regular toothpaste. Have you every tried them?
7. Sanitary Pads
Rather than having to buy menstrual products every month, I use the cup. I would say this is the most "suffered" swap which took me 2 cups to get right, and to be honest, I still have a bit of learning curve ahead, but this swap literally changed my life. It's so comfortable I almost forget about having a cycle.
8. Body Butter & Lotions
I absolutely love body butters, although sometimes I feel they can be a tiny bit too heavy on the skin. So I also like to also formulate lotions which are rich yet fast absorbing. I have a really easy to follow recipe for you also linked down below.
9. Gift Wrapping Tools
There's so many things you can find around the house that can be used to wrap gifts. Instead of buying gift wrap, I like to reuse packaging paper. I then tie the paper together using some twine, some compostable paper tape, or this almond based compostable glue, which I have been using since childhood.
10. Candles
Have you tried making candles before? It’s seriously easy and to be honest, soy wax is so affordable, I’m still using up the kg I got last year! You can use the soy wax also for other projects such as body balms.
11. Bath Bombs and Salts
I firmly believe that giving up on self-care as a part of zero waste living is not the right way to go. I rarely take baths, so never really bought many bath products, but making my own bath bombs and salts makes a bath feel like a really relaxing treat.
12. Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo sprays are disposable and so wasteful, aerosol products are also super bad from the environment. So, I make my own using just three ingredients: arrowroot powder, rhassoul clay and chocolate.
13. Parchment Paper
I stopped buying parchment paper and I use silicon baking mats instead. They are much easier to clean than I thought and they come in many different sizes.
14. Disposable Razor
This was one of my first swaps: it's great because you only need to change the blades, which are quite easy to find plastic free. Blade after blade, you collect them into a metal tin until you have a few to recycle. The actual razor, well that is forever!
There are so many things we can make ourselves rather than buying them. If you'd like to learn more about DIY zero waste products, sign up for my weekly email series, Makers Letters and be updated with new zero waste recipes and trends!
