The bathroom is one of the easiest places to cut plastic at home. Most of the bottles, tubes and sticks we use every day are plastic and are used up within weeks. The simplest swaps are bar soap, shampoo bars, a bamboo toothbrush, tooth tablets, and personal care products like natural deodorant and lip balm in compostable cardboard tubes.
This guide covers the easiest plastic-free and zero-waste bathroom swaps in New Zealand, what to look for in each, and how to make the switch without wasting what you already have.
Plastic-free bathroom swaps at a glance
|
Bathroom item |
Usually comes in |
Plastic-free swap |
|
Deodorant |
Plastic stick or aerosol can with plastic cap |
Natural deodorant in a compostable cardboard tube |
|
Lip balm |
Plastic tube |
Lip balm in a compostable cardboard tube |
|
Moisturiser |
Plastic tub, pump bottle or tube |
Solid moisturiser in a plastic-free paper tube |
|
Hair styling |
Plastic tub of wax or gel |
Natural hair clay or hair stick in plastic-free paper packaging |
|
Dry shampoo |
Aerosol can with plastic cap |
Powder dry shampoo in plastic-free paper packaging |
|
Shampoo and conditioner |
Plastic bottles |
Shampoo and conditioner bars |
|
Body wash and hand wash |
Plastic bottles and pumps |
Bar soap |
|
Toothpaste |
Plastic tube |
Tooth tablets in a compostable refill bag |
|
Mouthwash |
Plastic bottle |
Powder mouthwash in a compostable paper tube |
|
Toothbrush |
Plastic handle |
Bamboo toothbrush |
|
Dental floss |
Nylon floss in a plastic case |
Plant-based floss, such as corn-based or bamboo floss, in a glass or metal refillable case |
|
Razor |
Plastic disposable razor |
Metal safety razor |
|
Cotton pads and buds |
Plastic packaging, plastic-stemmed buds |
Reusable cloth pads, paper-stemmed buds |
Plastic-free personal care swaps
Personal care products are some of the hardest bathroom items to find without plastic, because they're usually sold in sticks, tubes and tubs. Slo Naturals makes a full personal care range in plastic-free packaging. Every product is natural, vegan, cruelty-free and made in New Zealand.
Deodorant
Most deodorants come in a plastic stick or an aerosol can. Slo Natural Deodorant is aluminium-free and uses magnesium, zinc and plant oils to keep you fresh all day. It comes in a home-compostable FSC-certified cardboard tube with no plastic case, and is PETA-certified vegan and cruelty-free. Our bicarb-free Sensitive range (Sensitive Vanilla and Sensitive Wild Orange) is a great fit for teens, first-time users and sensitive skin.
Read our natural deodorant FAQs
Lip balm
A lip balm tube is small, but most people go through several a year. Slo Natural Lip Balm is made from organic jojoba, olive and rosehip oils, cacao butter and plant-based candelilla wax, in a compostable cardboard tube. Choose Vanilla + Cacao, Pineapple + Coconut or Peppermint + Vitamin E, or a natural tint with Raspberry + Rosehip or the Cherry Blush Lip and Cheek Tint.
Body moisturiser
Swap your plastic tub or pump bottle for a Slo Natural Body Moisturiser, a solid, water-free moisturiser in a plastic-free paper tube. Push it up from the base and glide it over dry spots like elbows, knees, hands and heels. It travels without leaking and comes in five scents, including Vanilla + Cacao and Lavender + Jasmine. For an all-in-one balm, try our Everything Balm Body or Everything Balm Face.
Hair styling
Hair wax and gel usually come in plastic tubs. Slo Natural Hair Clay adds volume, texture and light hold with organic jojoba oil and shea butter, in a compostable paper tube. For sleek styles and flyaways, our Medium Hold Hair Stick uses rice wax and organic jojoba oil, in FSC-certified compostable paper packaging.
Dry shampoo
Aerosol dry shampoos come in cans with plastic caps and propellants. Slo Natural Texturising Powder & Dry Shampoo is a plastic-free powder that absorbs oil and adds texture between washes. Choose Light Hair (lavender and ylang ylang) or Dark Hair (wild orange and cacao), both packaged in paper.
Toothpaste and mouthwash
Toothpaste tubes are hard to recycle. Our Tooth Tablets, developed by a dentist, are a fluoride-free alternative with micro-hydroxyapatite. Just chew a tablet into a paste and brush. Pair them with our Natural Powder Mouthwash, which comes in a compostable paper tube. Refills for both come in compostable bags.
More easy plastic-free bathroom swaps
These everyday swaps are widely available in New Zealand supermarkets, health stores and zero-waste shops.
• Shampoo and conditioner bars. One bar typically replaces two to three plastic bottles. Keep it on a draining soap dish so it dries between uses and lasts longer.
• Bar soap. The simplest swap of all, for hands, body and face. Choose bars sold in paper or with no wrapping.
• Bamboo toothbrush. The handle can be composted or used as a garden marker. The bristles are usually nylon, so snip them off and put them in the rubbish first. Pair it with tooth tablets for a plastic-free brushing routine.
• Plant-based floss. Look for vegan floss made from corn or bamboo fibre, coated with plant wax like candelilla rather than beeswax, in a refillable glass or metal container instead of a plastic case.
• Safety razor. A metal safety razor lasts for years, and you only replace the steel blades. Collect used blades in a blade bank or tin and ask your local council how to dispose of them safely.
• Reusable cotton pads. Washable cloth pads replace single-use cotton rounds for removing makeup or applying toner.
• Paper-stemmed cotton buds. A small swap that removes a common beach-litter item.
How to make the switch
The most sustainable approach is to swap gradually, as each product runs out.
1. Use up what you have first. Throwing out half-used products creates more waste, not less.
2. Swap one thing at a time. Start with whatever runs out next. Deodorant and lip balm are easy first swaps because you use them every day.
3. Give new products a fair trial. Natural deodorant can take 1 to 4 weeks to adjust to if you're coming from antiperspirant (here's how to make the switch), and shampoo bars can take a few washes to feel right.
4. Recycle or dispose of your old packaging properly. Rinse plastic bottles and check your council's guidelines, as kerbside recycling varies across New Zealand. Plastic tubes and pumps often can't go in kerbside recycling.
5. Compost what you can. Slo's cardboard and paper tubes can be torn up and added to your home compost or dug into the garden. Read more about why compostable packaging matters.
Plastic-free bathroom FAQs
What are the easiest plastic-free bathroom swaps?
The easiest swaps are bar soap, a bamboo toothbrush, shampoo bars, tooth tablets, and natural deodorant and lip balm in compostable cardboard tubes. They're affordable, easy to find in New Zealand, and work just as well as plastic-packaged versions.
How do I start a plastic-free bathroom?
Start by replacing products one at a time as they run out. Choose items you use daily, like deodorant, soap and toothbrushes, for the biggest impact.
What is a zero-waste bathroom?
A zero-waste bathroom uses products that create little or no rubbish once they're finished. In practice that means choosing solid products like bars, tablets and sticks, packaging you can compost or reuse, and refills instead of new containers. Few bathrooms are fully zero waste, so focus on progress, not perfection.
Is plastic-free personal care more expensive?
Some swaps cost more upfront, like a safety razor, but save money over time. Others, like bar soap and shampoo bars, often last longer than bottled versions. Natural deodorants and lip balms in cardboard are usually priced similarly to premium plastic-packaged brands.
Can personal care plastic be recycled in New Zealand?
Some can. Kerbside recycling in New Zealand accepts plastic types 1, 2 and 5 under national standards introduced in 2024, but pumps, caps, small tubes and mixed-material packaging often can't be recycled. Avoiding plastic packaging in the first place is the most reliable option.
What is the most sustainable deodorant packaging?
Home-compostable cardboard is one of the most sustainable options, because it breaks down completely with nothing left to recycle or landfill. Slo Natural Deodorant comes in an FSC-certified cardboard tube with plant-based ink and no plastic.
Are compostable cardboard tubes really compostable at home?
Slo's tubes are made from FSC-certified compostable cardboard with plant-based ink and a vegan wax paper lining, so they can be torn up and added to a home compost or buried in the garden. Smaller pieces break down faster.
Do plastic-free products work as well?
Yes. Plastic-free refers to the packaging, not the formula. Solid products like shampoo bars, deodorant sticks, solid moisturisers and tooth tablets are often more concentrated because they contain no water.
What is Plastic Free July?
Plastic Free July is a global challenge held every July that encourages people to reduce single-use plastic. The bathroom is one of the easiest places to start, and this guide is a good checklist. Read more about why plastic-free beauty is so important.
Where can I buy plastic-free bathroom products in New Zealand?
You can find plastic-free options at health stores, zero-waste shops, pharmacies, supermarkets and online. Slo Naturals' full plastic-free range is available at slonaturals.com, and Slo deodorants are stocked at New World, Chemist Warehouse and other selected stores. Find your nearest on our store locator.
Start your plastic-free bathroom with Slo
Slo Naturals was founded to make natural personal care that works and leaves no plastic behind. Our range of deodorants, lip balms, body moisturisers, hair styling, dry shampoo and oral care is natural, vegan, cruelty-free and made in New Zealand, in plastic-free packaging.
Shop the full Slo range · Shop natural deodorant · Shop lip balm · Shop oral care
