Do you find some sustainable swaps more difficult than others? Over the last few years, I’ve made hundreds of small changes as I work towards a greener life. Most were easy and quickly became habits, but a few things were more challenging. Read on to learn about some eco-friendly swaps that took a few tries and tips on how to adjust if you run into the same thing.
Sustainable swaps that weren’t easy for me
Stainless-steel straws and metal water bottles
When I first tried metal straws, I hated them. For me, it was a mental block that dated back to my cancer treatments. One of the chemo drugs left a horrible metallic taste in my mouth that never seemed to go away. The instant I put a stainless-steel straw in my mouth, that taste came back. I had a similar issue with metal water bottles.
I reminded myself that I eat with metal utensils every day and a straw is no different. That helped me overcome my aversion to metal, and now I drink my breakfast smoothie with a stainless-steel straw every day.
Toothpaste tabs
For the longest time, I resisted toothpaste tabs and other alternatives to plastic toothpaste tubes, primarily because it was hard to find zero-waste products with fluoride. When I discovered Smyle toothpaste tabs with fluoride, I thought I’d give them a try.
Toothpaste tabs definitely took some getting used to. I found them a little strange at first, largely because they don’t foam like toothpaste. Determined, I stuck with it and have been using them for a couple of years now with no problems.
(You can find my full review of Smyle toothpaste tabs here.)
Bamboo toothbrush
While we’re on the topic of dental care, plastic toothbrushes are a big environmental problem. I tried a bamboo toothbrush a few years ago and hated it. Honestly, it was a texture thing—there was just something about putting a wooden toothbrush in my mouth that didn’t feel right to me.
After a while, I decided to give bamboo toothbrushes another try and was determined to give them a fair shot this time. It took a few weeks to get used to the texture. These days, I don’t even notice any more.
Shampoo bars
Shampoo bars have come a long way in recent years. The first time I tried one, I didn’t like it at all. It felt dry and didn’t lather well.
Resolved to make this work, I tried a few others until I found one I liked. Now I’m hooked and will never go back to bottled shampoo.
(Check out 5 reasons to swap your bottles for bars to learn more about the benefits of bar products.)
Conditioner bars
It took me a while after switching to shampoo bars to give conditioner bars a try. At that time, they just weren’t as readily available.
At first, I rubbed the conditioner bar on my wet hair like I do with the shampoo bar. Then I learned it works better if you rub the bar between your hands and then use your hands to apply the conditioner to your hair.
Unlike shampoo bars, I admit that conditioner bars don’t work as well as liquid conditioner. They’re okay for my short curly hair but my daughters still prefer liquid conditioner for their long hair. The good news is, there are refill options for conditioner now at The Body Shop and local bulk supply stores like Molloy’s.
(For a full roundup of all my favourite bar products, take a look at Bars! The simplest plastic-free swap you can make.)
Facial oil bar
A few years ago, I replaced my night cream with coconut oil, but I found it to be too greasy for daytime use under makeup. A search for plastic-free moisturizer turned up facial oil bars from Lush.
The first one I tried was a little hard to apply and didn’t glide on my skin easily. I eventually settled on their Argan Facial Oil bar. It glides on easily in warmer summer temperatures. In the winter, sometimes I warm it up a little in my hand before applying.
Epilator
After researching alternatives to plastic razors, I settled on an epilator. As I wasn’t sure I’d like it, I initially bought an inexpensive dry epilator. After a while, I upgraded to a more expensive wet/dry model.
An epilator is an adjustment compared to shaving. It takes longer so you have to set aside time to do it. It also pinches a bit as it pulls the hair out from the root. On the positive side, you only need to do it every few weeks.
(Read more about my epilator experience and other hair removal options in Try these zero-waste hair removal options.)
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Tips for overcoming challenges with sustainable swaps
After a few false starts, and some trial and error, I was able to get used to all these products. Now, I wouldn’t go back to the products I used to use. If you run into similar roadblocks with sustainable swaps, here are some ideas to overcome your objections.
Ask yourself why
The first step is to figure out why you’re having trouble adapting. Is it just a mental block, like my aversion to metal straws? Does the product just work differently than what you’re used to? Or, is it truly because the product doesn’t meet your needs?
Once you understand why you’re having trouble adjusting, you can take steps to address your concerns.
Do some research
The next step is to do some research on the best way to use the product. An Internet search will turn up all sorts of great information. That’s how I learned the conditioner bar trick.
Feel free to drop me a note any time using my contact form. If I have experience with a similar product, I’ll do my best to help you out.
Try different options
Not every product works for everyone so keep trying different options until you find one that works for you. If you like the idea of a shampoo bar, or a facial oil bar, ask friends for recommendations of products they like.
Be open to some trade-offs
Finally, sometimes it’s worth making a trade-off in the interest of reducing waste and living more sustainably. Some of the eco-friendly and plastic-free products I’ve tried aren’t perfect, but I can live with a little imperfection in the interest of doing my part for the good of our planet.
What about you? What sustainable swaps have you found difficult to make in your journey toward a greener life? Drop me a comment below and let me know.
I so agree that some swaps are way easier than others! Toothbrushes are definitely one. The cost of bamboo toothbrushes is prohibitive for me and now my dentist tells me I need a special extra soft type of toothbrush. So that’ll be a work in progress for a practical sustainable option. Conditioner bars are on my list to try, but I have long (and difficult lol) hair, so I haven’t made that leap yet.
Yes, Bamboo toothbrushes are pricey. I found some on Amazon that weren’t too bad. And Etee’s are softer-bristled so they might work for you.
Yes, conditioner bars aren’t the best for long hair. I refilled my daughter’s conditioner at The Body Shop last week and it was $15 for a small bottle. I’m going to try the conditioner from our local bulk refill store next to see how she likes it.
Last time I saw a dentist here in Germany, he said he couldn’t understand why people use bamboo toothbrushes. I mean, really? These days, we use an electric toothbrush, not perfect but the lifespan is definitely longer.
I have started refusing the free toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss when I go to the dentist, too. They really don’t get it.
Never heard of an epilator before, but now I have. And that is a pretty interesting swap for plastic razors indeed. For me, if I were to swap something for shavers, it might be a straight-edged razor which can last forever. I’ll probably nick myself with that thing though. Thankfully, I don’t grow much facial hair, so I get to use a razor longer than most men typically would (and I’m talking 10x longer here, lol). Thanks for this post!
Hi Stuart, Thanks for dropping by!
I thought about a safety razor but I’m not very steady-handed so I worried I’d cut myself. The epilator was a better choice for me!
Thanks Michelle! What an inspiring post. I have wanted to switch over to shampoo bars but with my long curly hair I wasn’t sure how well it would work. I’ll have to give it a go. I know what you mean about the bamboo toothbrushes too. My daughter decided they were switching over and bought a bulk case from Amazon for her and her three kids and husband. She couldn’t handle the texture and went right back to plastic. Her review put me off them but maybe I’ll have to try one myself before making a choice. Great post, lots to think about. Have a wonderful day!
Hi Roze! Thanks for dropping by.
My daughters both use shampoo bars and they have very long hair. I love mine and they’re especially great for travel!
The bamboo toothbrushes were definitely a challenge for me but now I don’t really even notice any more.
Thanks, Michelle! I’m like you — it took a while to get accustomed to reusable, metal straws (I’m a little klutzy and kept clanking the straw into my teeth) but once I got the hang of it – no big deal! Now I’m experimenting with shampoo bars. Appreciate the encouragement and good info! 😉
Thank you for dropping by and commenting, Victoria. It’s interesting that we all have our little challenges with different things! When I told people about my challenges with metal straws and bamboo toothbrushes, I got some raised eyebrows.
I understand all of that! 😊😊😊
Thanks for sharing the alternatives that you use and how you made the switch.
Thank you for dropping by and commenting.
I can relate to all of these items Michelle, save for the straw as I rarely use straws. Your tips are spot on as well, you have to be willing to research, try, try again and often keep trying until you find a product that fits you. I also remind myself that sometimes I have to be okay with not finding the “best sustainable solution and find a way to off set using a tried and true product in a better way while upping my game somewhere else.
That’s such a great point Deb. It’s all about balance. There will be some tradeoffs we’re not willing or able to make but we can make up for that in other areas.
Thanks for reading and commenting!