I'm sure we're all aware that it was Earth Day on April 22nd 2021, but how many of us can truly say that we, as individuals, do our part for the planet?
It's so very easy to simply go to the supermarket and buy your go-to items; another set of cheap plastic razors for your grooming needs, your hair-approved shampoo and conditioner, food produce in plastic packaging, household cleaning supplies...in plastic packaging. Are you seeing a theme?
It's easy.
It's convenient.
It's damaging our planet.
There are so many ways in which we can improve our shopping habits, which have a direct impact on both the environment, and often, even our own wellbeing. I am avoiding using product brands here but I will post brands (if requested) in the comments.
Let's start with a product that most of us have now at least heard of:
📷 Foamie
Shampoo, conditioner, and soap bars.
I know, I know...why make the switch when the products you've been using for years still work great for your hair? Well those bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash (that come in plastic bottles) contain 75-85% of water. Yes, you ready that right. Water. Yes, that stuff that comes out of the taps in your home. Not only is this an obvious waste of packaging, it also costs more to transport, and is frankly, a waste of your money. Bars, however, are concentrated. This means that they last 3 times longer than a bottle, work just as well with added water from your shower, AND are easier, more cost effective and environmentally friendly to transport. You can also take these on holiday with you without that pesky liquid limit. These bars always come in eco-friendly packaging, as they are made and distributed by environmentally aware brands. You may see the price of some and think "£6? But my shampoo is only £2.75." If you factor in the above, that initial cost is worth it and is less taxing on both your bank balance and the planet's health.
📷 Milly and Sissy
Soap
I think everybody can agree, that as much as we washed our hands before Covid, we’ve all been washing them more these last 12 months! Before there was liquid hand wash, there was bars of soap. They’re still around, and they smell much nicer than they used to. You can also purchase soap powder, which comes in compostable packaging and makes up a whole 500ml bottle once mixed with water.
📷 Floe Oral Care
Dental Care
Toothpaste has never been the most exciting of conversational topics. It is what it is - you clean your teeth with it, and it comes in plastic packaging. We all know about bamboo toothbrushes, and you can now get recyclable electric toothbrush heads. Did you know that you can also get toothbrush tablets, which come in glass jars or recyclable metal tins? Zero plastic, and wonderful for travel! There are now a number of brands that offer these, with different flavours, and all are dentist approved. There are also brands that offer oral care subscriptions. Without naming names, the brand I use deliver to my door once every 3 months, and provide a different toothpaste for morning and evening (infused with lavender - it sounds weird, it's lovely, honest) and their toothpaste comes in sugarcane packaging.
📷 Jungle Culture
Shaving
Although many people now use electric shavers or epilators, there are some places that require a little more precision. Plastic razors are not recyclable due to the blades not being readily removable. Instead, you can make a one-time purchase of a safety razor (mine is made of bamboo and stainless steel) and buy cream and the blades to refill the razor. My legs have never been smoother, and the planet is happy about that.
📷 Smol
Laundry
Nobody enjoys doing laundry; it's tedious and feels like a never-ending cycle. However, the way you wash your clothes can have a huge impact on the environment. Rather than buying the usual detergents (again, more plastic bottles), you could instead purchase laundry capsules or soap nuts that are inexpensive, effective, biodegradable, and are delivered in eco-friendly packaging. I however, use dissolvable concentrated detergent sheets, which come in very slim cardboard packaging and are my new favourite.
If you don't have an outside area where you can hang your clothes to dry when it's not raining (thank you, English weather) then you can also invest in eco-eggs, which both smell amazing, and have been proven to reduce the drying time in your dryer by over 25%, which reduces your bills and carbon-footprint further. You only need to replace the fragrance stick every 2 months or so.
📷 Peace with the Wild
Household Cleaning
Rather than buying all of your surface cleaning supplies, anti-bacterial or not, in plastic bottles, you can purchase dissolvable sachets that you simply need to top up with water in a bottle. Cleaning supplies in plastic packaging have the same water and packaging issues that shampoo and conditioners have, and let's face it, they're never aesthetically pleasing are they? There are several brands that offer eco-friendly cleaning products, and you can purchase optional glass bottles for these.
Cooking, Baking and Storage
Silicone, silicone, silicone! Rather than using cling film and foil, which can be cleaned and recycled, but is still wasteful, you can use silicone mats to both cook and bake with. These products are able to withstand temperatures of up to 230 degrees, are easy to clean, and easily stored. You can also use silicone covers to store leftovers in bowls or on plates.
📷 Hello Fresh
Shopping for Food
Some supermarkets and brands have reduced their plastic packaging, however there is still more work to be done. Some shops have replaced plastic bags for fruit and vegetables with mesh or paper bags. We all know about the ‘bag for life’ rather than the 5p bags we all used to purchase. Some brands even have a "reduced plastic" packaging in which their food is vaccum sealed instead.
If you’re like me, and you absolutely hate food shopping, then an alternative is using meal subscription boxes. These meals come in eco-friendly packaging and the boxes, with the precise amount of each ingredient, are delivered to your door. The products are locally sourced, your food waste is reduced, and the meals are healthy, tasty, and convenient. The downside to this option is they can be pricey, particularly if you are feeding a family.
📷 Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go – App
I feel like this app requires a separate section. ‘Too Good To Go’ is an app for your Android or Apple smart phone, from which you can purchase a mystery bag from shops in your local area, that consist of food that would usually be thrown away that evening due to the expiry date. You can check daily which stores, and even some restaurants, have bags available that day, purchase a bag for around £4, and collect that afternoon/evening. Some of the products you get are ok to freeze, though shops are legally unable to sell past the expiry date. This reduces food waste and can be great to help you to reduce your food shopping costs.
Together, we can make a difference. By being as ecologically savvy as possible with all of these amazing options we have available, we can all reduce the impact that we, as individuals, are having on our planet.
Every day.
Not just for Earth Day.