When it comes to climate change, we all know we have a part to play, that's a no brainer. But when thinking about reducing the amount of waste we produce, rarely do we immediately consider the waste generated from our beauty and personal care products.
From the copious number of cotton pads used daily to the plastic packaging of your beauty and personal care products, there is a TON of waste that we generate constantly. The scary thing is that even if we, as consumers want to recycle the plastic packaging of our numerous beauty and personal care products, most of them cannot be recycled at all or only contain a small portion of recyclable plastic.
The cosmetics industry produces more than 120 billion units of packaging globally and yearly resulting in a loss of 18 million acres of forest annually according to a Forbes article.
While the figures and facts can be shocking, it has only spurred people to initiate change through the zero waste beauty movement. More and more people are choosing to use alternative products that are more environmentally friendly. More and more companies are starting to change their stance on plastic packaging.
Now there are alternatives that span the entirety of the beauty and personal care product range. For solid shampoos, try outAidilic’s andOasis Skin’s range of shampoos which come in an array of scents and are suitable for different hair types.
As for bar soaps, don’t forget to try out the range fromOasis Skin,Nablus,Aidilicand TGC.
For facial pads, why not giveBareface, the Face Eraser a try? It is gentle on the skins and easy to use - a little bit of water and all that makeup comes off just like magic! More importantly it is reusable so say goodbye to cotton pads for good!
When it comes to menstrual hygiene products, it may come as no surprise that tampons and pads are not the best for the environment. According to a National Geographic article, “over the course of a lifetime, a single menstruator will use somewhere between 5 and 15 thousand pads and tampons, the vast majority of which will wind up in landfills as plastic waste”.
With more environmentally friendly options like menstrual cups available, more women are opting for this option. Some who are on the fence or reluctant to make the switch have raised concerns about the effectiveness of menstrual cups, its costs and whether it is convenient to use.
Well let me assuage your fears. Firstly, “menstrual cups are safe to use and may be just as effective as other sanitary products in preventing leaks” according to a report published by The Lancet Public Health and cited in an NPR article. As for their higher costs in comparison to tampons and pads, it is important to remember that these menstrual cups are reusable and can last up to 10 years so you'd actually be saving tons of money in the long term.
As for whether it is convenient or not, customers who have purchased theFreedom Cup have said that it is easy to use. The Freedom Cup also comes in two sizes (mini and grande) to allow for beginners to slowly get comfortable with using it.
Last but not least, if you love using a shower sponge or bath mitt, have a look atByiroiro bath mitts! It is handmade with the softest organic eco-cotton yarn and will not irritate your skin so it is suitable for those with sensitive/eczema skin or for use on babies/kids.
Remember that when it comes to helping our planet Earth, while the phrase is reduce, reuse and recycle, reducing and reusing always come first before recycling!