Going Zero Waste

lastswab vs cotton buds
LastSwab vs Cotton Buds: An Honest Comparison (UK)
LastSwab is a silicone-tipped, reusable cotton bud that lasts for up to 1,000 uses. Standard cotton buds — whether paper-stemmed or the older plastic variety — are used once and... Read more...
uk cotton bud plastic ban
The UK Plastic Cotton Bud Ban: What Changed, What Didn't, and What's Next
On 1 October 2020, England became one of the first countries to ban the sale of plastic-stemmed cotton buds. Scotland had already acted in June 2019, and Wales followed in... Read more...
cotton bud alternatives uk
Cotton Bud Alternatives: What Actually Works (UK Guide)
Since England banned plastic-stemmed cotton buds in 2020, and with growing awareness of single-use waste, more people in the UK are looking for cotton bud alternatives. The good news: there... Read more...
reusable cotton buds guide
Reusable Cotton Buds: The Complete UK Guide
The average person in the UK uses around 415 cotton buds per year. Most end up in landfill — or worse, flushed down the toilet and into coastal waterways, where... Read more...
best reusable makeup remover pads
The Best Reusable Makeup Remover Pads: What to Look For (and What We Use)
The market for reusable makeup remover pads has expanded significantly in the last few years. That's a good thing — but it also means there's more variation in quality. Some... Read more...
how many uses do reusable makeup pads last
How Many Uses Do Reusable Makeup Pads Last? The Real Numbers
When people switch to reusable makeup remover pads, one of the first questions they ask is: how long do they actually last? The honest answer depends on the material, how... Read more...
reusable vs disposable makeup remover pads
Reusable vs Disposable Makeup Remover Pads: An Honest Comparison
Reusable makeup remover pads have one obvious claim: they're better for the environment. But before you make any swap to your skincare routine, the real question is whether they perform... Read more...
are reusable makeup pads hygienic
Are Reusable Makeup Pads Hygienic? The Honest Answer
The most common objection to reusable makeup pads is also the most understandable: "Won't they just spread bacteria back onto my face?" It's a fair question. But the short answer... Read more...
how to clean reusable makeup pads
How to Clean Reusable Makeup Pads (And Make Them Last)
Reusable makeup remover pads are one of the easiest sustainable swaps you can make — but only if they stay clean. A poorly cared-for pad can harbour product buildup, become... Read more...
Are Reusable Cotton Swabs Worth It?
Are Reusable Cotton Swabs Worth It? An Honest Answer
Reusable cotton swabs work as well as disposables for cosmetic tasks, cost less over time, and have a measurably lower environmental impact. Here is the evidence. Read more...
Complete Guide to Reusable Cotton Swabs
The Complete Guide to Reusable Cotton Swabs (2026)
Everything you need to know about reusable cotton swabs: how they work, how they compare to Q-Tips and Amazon Basics, what the EU ban means, and whether the switch is... Read more...
The Complete Guide to Reusable Cotton Rounds
Everything You Need to Know About Switching to Reusable Cotton Rounds If you use toner, micellar water, or makeup remover, you use cotton rounds. And if you use cotton rounds daily, you throw away over 700 of them per year. This guide covers everything: what reusable cotton rounds are, how they compare to disposables, which types are available, how to care for them, and which is right for you. What Are Reusable Cotton Rounds? Reusable cotton rounds are washable alternatives to disposable cotton pads. They are made from organic cotton,... Read more...
The Complete Guide to Reusable Tissues
The Definitive Guide to Switching from Disposable to Reusable Tissues Tissues are one of the last unconsidered disposables in most zero-waste bathrooms. This guide covers everything: what reusable tissues are, how they compare to disposables, the different types available, care instructions, and how to choose the right option for you. What Are Reusable Tissues? Reusable tissues are washable alternatives to single-use facial tissues. Instead of pulling a paper tissue from a box, using it for seconds, and discarding it, you use a small cloth — typically organic cotton or bamboo... Read more...
Why We Created LastSwab
Why We Created LastSwab
LastSwab started with a simple question: why does something used for 30 seconds need to be thrown away? The story of how we built a reusable cotton swab — and... Read more...
EU Cotton Pad Regulations and the Shift to Sustainable Alternatives
How European Regulation Is Reshaping the Cotton Pad Market European environmental regulation has increasingly targeted single-use items, and cotton pads — despite being a relatively small product category — are directly in scope. Here is a practical overview of what regulations exist, what's coming, and what it means for consumers and brands. The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (2019/904) The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive was adopted in 2019 and came into force across member states in July 2021. Its primary mechanism is a ban on specific single-use plastic items — those... Read more...
8 Everyday Situations Where Reusable Tissues Outperform Disposables
When Reusable Actually Wins on Performance Most reusable alternatives to disposables involve some compromise on convenience. Reusable tissues are one of the exceptions — there are specific situations where cloth outperforms paper, not just environmentally, but in the actual experience of using it. Here are eight of them. 1. The Prolonged Winter Cold Three days into a heavy cold, your nose is raw, chapped, and sensitive. This is exactly when most people reach for Kleenex Balsam with added aloe and wish they could find something gentler. Cotton jersey does not... Read more...
Why We Created LastRound
The Cotton Round Nobody Thought About When we launched LastSwab in 2019, the response surprised us. People hadn't thought much about cotton buds — they were just part of the routine. But when asked to imagine how many they had thrown away over their lifetime, the number landed differently. That shift in perspective — from individual habit to cumulative impact — is what LastObject is built on. After LastSwab, we started looking at what else was sitting in the bathroom cabinet, used daily and discarded without thought. Cotton rounds were... Read more...
LastSwab vs Q-Tips: An Honest Comparison
LastSwab vs Q-Tips: An Honest Comparison
Q-Tips invented the cotton swab category. LastSwab was designed to replace it. Here is a direct, honest comparison across performance, cost, health, and environmental impact. Read more...
Why We Created LastTissue
A Box of Kleenex Isn't a Single Piece of Plastic Most people, when they think about plastic-free living, think about bottles, bags, and straws. A box of tissues doesn't obviously register as a problem. It's paper, after all. But a standard tissue box contains a plastic film window, a plastic opening tab, and in most cases the tissues themselves contain polyester fibres. None of it is recyclable once used. When we started mapping the disposable products in the average bathroom, tissues appeared consistently in the top five by volume. And... Read more...
LastRound vs Face Halo: Which Reusable Makeup Remover Wins?
Two Different Solutions to the Same Problem Both LastRound and Face Halo are reusable skincare tools designed to reduce disposable cotton pad waste. But they take meaningfully different approaches — different materials, different use cases, and different ideal users. Here is an honest comparison. Face Halo: The Microfibre Approach Face Halo launched in Australia in 2017 and built its brand around a single insight: microfibre can remove makeup with water alone. The product's weave creates a mechanical cleaning action — tiny fibres lift and trap pigment particles without requiring a... Read more...
LastSwab vs Amazon Basics
LastSwab vs Amazon Basics Cotton Swabs: Is the Cheapest Option Actually the Cheapest?
Amazon Basics cotton swabs cost almost nothing per unit. So how does a reusable swab that costs more compare on total cost, waste, and performance over time? Read more...
Are Cloth Handkerchiefs and Reusable Tissues Hygienic?
The "Gross Factor" Argument, Examined The most common objection to reusable tissues is hygiene — specifically, the idea that putting a used cloth back in your pocket is inherently disgusting or dangerous. This argument was deployed effectively by Kleenex's marketing campaigns in the mid-20th century and persists today, despite limited scientific support. Here is what the evidence actually suggests. The Science of Handkerchief Hygiene Academic research on handkerchief hygiene is surprisingly sparse — it is not a topic that attracts significant research funding. The available studies are mixed but broadly... Read more...
LastRound vs Generic Reusable Cotton Rounds: What's the Difference?
Not All Reusable Cotton Rounds Are Equal The reusable cotton round category has grown significantly since 2018. What started as a niche sustainable product is now available from discount retailers, fast-fashion brands, and dedicated sustainable brands alike. The price range runs from under £5 for a large pack of generic rounds to £18–£25 for premium options. The difference between them is not always obvious from a product listing — but it becomes apparent after 50 washes. The Generic Category: Pros and Cons Generic reusable cotton rounds — often sold in... Read more...
EU Plastic Cotton Swab Ban
The EU Plastic Cotton Swab Ban: What It Covers, What It Doesn't, and What Comes Next
The EU banned plastic-stemmed cotton swabs in 2021. The UK followed. Here is exactly what the law says, which products are affected, and why banning plastic stems alone does not... Read more...