Our daily routines may seem harmless, but your bathroom could be a hidden source of ocean pollution. With toxic chemicals and plastic waste silently pouring into waterways, these everyday items have far-reaching effects on marine ecosystems. From ‘forever chemicals’ to the plastic particles strangling ocean life, this article reveals smart, sustainable swaps that are not only better for the planet—but better for you, too.
The Earth’s oceans, which cover 70% of the planet and produce over half our oxygen, are suffocating under the weight of human-made pollution. Plastic waste is the largest contributor, with an estimated 170 trillion plastic particles currently floating in the seas. These plastics, along with harmful microplastics, pose serious threats to marine wildlife through entanglement and ingestion—and their danger doesn’t stop at sea. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly found in household products, are another insidious threat. These ‘forever chemicals’ persist in the environment, leaching into ecosystems during production, use and disposal, and have been linked to health issues in both wildlife and humans.
While the scale of ocean pollution may seem overwhelming, individual action has real power. The products in your bathroom—often overlooked—are a major contributor to both plastic and chemical pollution. By making mindful swaps, you can reduce what goes down the drain and into the sea.
One simple switch is replacing shower gel bottles with natural soap bars. Unlike most liquid soaps, which are packaged in single-use plastics and often contain PFAS, solid bars come in compostable packaging and are formulated with fewer harmful ingredients. It’s a change that benefits both your skin and the ocean.
Disposable razors are another hidden culprit. Designed for short-term use, they are discarded in the millions annually, many ending up in waterways. A reusable stainless steel razor offers a sleek, sustainable solution—long-lasting and recyclable from handle to blade.
Hair care can also be part of the solution. In the UK alone, over half a billion shampoo bottles are thrown away each year. Shampoo and conditioner bars are now widely available, plastic-free and often free from synthetic chemicals, with the added bonus of outlasting multiple bottles.
The plastic toothbrush is another major offender. With 256 million discarded annually in the UK, their environmental toll is significant. Bamboo toothbrushes, with compostable handles, offer a biodegradable alternative that cuts down drastically on waste.
Finally, rethink your toothpaste. Traditional toothpaste tubes are hard to recycle and often filled with chemicals that leach into ecosystems. Instead, try toothpaste tablets or aluminium-packaged pastes—effective, eco-conscious, and fully recyclable.
Small choices made daily can compound into significant environmental wins. Swapping just a few bathroom staples for eco-friendly alternatives helps cut plastic and chemical pollution at the source, safeguarding our oceans and their vital role in global health.
This shift towards sustainability isn’t just about ethics—it’s about impact.
Norcros plc (LON:NXR) is a leading B2B producer of branded bathroom and kitchen products for its UK, South African and selected export markets. The portfolio of eleven operating companies (7 UK, 3 South Africa) is characterised by strong individual brands, together providing product breadth and channel diversity from a strong supply chain base.
