One bottle at a time...

When people think about reducing waste, it can feel like everything needs to change at once. In reality, the easiest way to begin is to focus on one small area. This month, we’re looking at the bathroom.

Bathrooms are often full of single use plastic. Bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and hand wash all add up over time. The good news is you don’t need to replace everything overnight. Start with just one product.

You might choose to switch your hand wash to a refill option. Bring back your empty bottle, top it up, and keep using it again and again. It’s a simple habit, but one that quickly becomes part of your routine.

Or you might try a shampoo bar or a bar of soap instead of liquid products. They last longer than you might expect, take up less space and remove the need for plastic packaging altogether. It can feel like a small change, but it’s often the one that surprises people the most.

Not every swap will suit everyone, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s finding what works for you and building from there. Once one change feels easy, the next one will too.

Making the switch to a more natural and low waste lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated. It can start with one bottle, one bar, one small decision. And when it’s easy to refill or pick up alternatives as part of your usual shop, those small changes tend to stick.

Geraldine Fitzpatrick