Simple Swaps - June 2021
The June box brings you some fabulous products for you to swap in your bathroom. If you'd like to know more about the brands in the box you can read about them here but let's get to the juicy stuff and let you know exactly what you'll be getting in your June 2021 Simple Swaps Box.
Essentials Box
Swap this 
for this 
Why it's Better
Not only are traditional toothbrushes made entirely of plastic, the packaging almost always contains a lot of plastic too. We all know the problem with plastic don't we? It stays in our landfill. It never breaks down. Even 'degradable' plastics that break down into smaller pieces will never completely disappear. These toothbrushes from Eco Smile Co are made from bamboo. Bamboo is completely natural, biodegradable and it's a great product for sustainability. Because it's a grass, it grows and regenerates quickly so not only are we not using plastics, we're not destroying forests to make it. Unfortunately the bristles on these brushes don't break down but the bamboo and the packaging are biodegradable and compostable and as I type this, Eco Smile Co are preparing to launch a new range of toothbrushes with compostable bristles as well. They will be the first available in Australia so make sure you keep an eye out.
Swap this 
for this 
Why It's Better
Okay so, plastic, obviously. Not only are these little tins of toothpaste tablets plastic free, but the ingredients in the actual toothpaste are better for you. They are vegan and cruelty free, taste great and don't contain fluoride. Refills are available in a compostable pouch, and they also come in strawberry flavour which is great for kids.
Swap this 
for this 
Why It's Better
Reusable is always more sustainable than buying things that are going to get thrown away, and of course there is the plastic packaging. These wipes are made from certified organic cotton and hemp and contain no synthetic fibres so even at the end of their long life they are completely biodegradable. You can find the care instructions on the Be Eco website.
Swap this 
for this 
Why It's Better
There are a couple of problems with traditional bath/shower puffs. Firstly, plastic of course. When they ultimately get thrown away they will potentially sit in landfill for hundreds or thousands of years! Secondly, because we use them in the bath and shower microfibres from the plastic get washed down the drain and enter our waterways. This 100% natural cotton/hemp exfoliating glove contains no plastic in the glove or the packaging, lasts for ages, is washable and biodegradable at the end of its life. What have you got to lose by making this swap?
Swap this 
for this 
Why It's Better
Let's start with, you guessed it, plastic. Are you sick of it yet? We are. It's great that we have the option to recycle but it's even better if we can switch to something that doesn't use any plastic in the first place. Not to mention the questionable ingredients of most big brand store bought body washes and shower gels. These Mudgee Soaps are small batch processed, contain no plastic packaging, no palm oil, no animal testing or synthetic fragrances. The list goes on. We all love the convenience of a pump pack but is it really that hard to swap back to a good old bar of soap? Especially when there are so many benefits to both you and the environment.
Deluxe Box Additions
Swap this 
for this 
Why It's Better
Need I say plastic? This is one of the items I am most excited about including in the box. Disposable razors are a huge contributor to the amount of plastic we throw away from our bathroom (I'm going to go out on a limb and guess second only to cotton buds?) Unfortunately it's a pretty big-ticket item so we could only include it in the deluxe box. They can take some getting used to using so I'm including a link to an instructional video here. Don't be scared though, these are an amazing eco-friendly addition to your bathroom. And not only is the actual razor a much more sustainable option, the replacement blades are inexpensive and also contain no plastic so completely break down.
This one isn't a swap but given the bar of soap, I thought a nice little bamboo soap dish would be a great addition to the Deluxe Box. This dish will keep your soap raised and let it drain so it dries out properly and will look super cute on your bathroom sink.
Bonus Addition
This is a swap we made in our household quite some time ago and I decided last minute to add it to the boxes as a bonus item. I'm sure most of you have heard of Who Gives A Crap by now and have been wondering what it's like. We get the Premium version and to be perfectly honest it's not quite as soft as some of the supermarket luxury brands, but it is of course, plastic free, made from sustainable bamboo, Australian owned and as an added bonus Who Gives a Crap donate a massive 50% of their profits to building toilets in third world countries! Definitely worth trying right? There's also the convenience of the subscription so you don't ever have to think about buying toilet paper ever again! Remember that one time during the pandemic when everyone went mad? Well, if it was to happen again, you'd be covered.
And there you have it. Our June products explained. As always, we hope you love them as much as we do and can't wait for you to tell us what you think.