Sustainable Swaps: Single-Use Plastic-Free Cotton Swabs
It's one of those items we don't usually think too much about. That tiny little piece of plastic couldn't make that much of a difference, could it? Then a photo changed it all. Photographer Justin Hofman captured an image of a seahorse he stumbled upon in Sumbawa, Indonesia, clinging to a plastic ear swab. It quickly went viral, shocking and saddening people around the world, many who hadn't yet realized how out of control our plastic habit has become. The truth is millions of these swabs are flushed down the toilet every week! They're small enough to fit through sewage filters and end up in the ocean, endangering wildlife while they break into smaller and smaller pieces, entering the food chain, and sometimes even ending up in our food!
Thankfully, there are alternatives for this particular plastic habit! A number of brands have presented sustainable alternatives to this single-use item and groups like City To Sea have been fighting to get more to make the switch, converting Aldi, Asda, Boots, Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Superdrug, Tesco and Wilkinsons in 2016 with their campaign #SwitchTheStick!
Find some more of our favorite sustainable swaps below!
ZWS ESSENTIALS
Plastic-Free
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet, making it a great swap for the plastic part of ear buds. This pack comes with 200 ear buds packaged in a cardboard container.
HYDROPHIL
Plastic-Free
If you're in the UK, we also really like the ones by the vegan company HYDROPHIL. They’re made with bamboo and cotton, 100% biodegradable, and water-neutral. They’re also packaged in recycled cardboard, making the product 100% plastic-free!
LAST OBJECT
Reusable
If you’re going to use a plastic option, make it the last one you ever have to buy! The LastSwab is a long-lasting reusable alternative to ear swabs made with a medical TPE tip, rods made from polypropylene (PP) that's reinforced with glass fiber, all in a recycled, ocean-bound plastic case! And we know what you’re thinking. “A reusable ear swab? That can’t be sanitary.” However, it’s easy to clean with soap and water, and it can be used up to 1,000 times. The LastObject's outer packaging and recycled ocean-bound plastic cases can be recycled in a standard recycling bin when you’re done using them. You can also dispose of them in one of their bins around the US or mail it in.
Just a reminder: Some of these options may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase the item, a small % helps us keep this site up and running. Affiliate links are only used when available and do not determine whether or not an item is featured. All items are tried independently by our team.
