As the dangers of climate change are now a daily conversation, we must all do our small -but important- part. If reusable eco coffee cups and water bottles are becoming part of our everyday lives, we can do much more in our everyday routine. We can all be more conscious about what we buy, choosing carefully our products in order to decrease our environmental footprint. Unluckily, most eco-friendly products are not advertised, yet they are available in many shops and of course on Amazon. So here there is a list of more eco-friendly products you can use as substitute for your everyday life from shampoos to makeup.
1.Shampoos & Soaps
• Soap, Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
These compact and eco-friendly products are a great alternative to common shampoos and conditioner. Not only they help our planet as they often come without packaging as many come wrapped in paper, but they are also free from chemicals like sodium laurel sulphate (that makes liquid shampoos lather up), ensuring gentle cleanse for your skin and scalp.
Brands: Lush, Foamie, The Natural Soap Company
–> Deodorant bars are also a eco-friendly must have!
• Buy in bulk
Another option is to buy directly 5 or 10 liters of shampoo and soap and to fill up a recyclable soap dispenser. This way you will not use as much plastic as buying every time different containers
2.Sponges & Cotton Pads
• Loofah Sponge
This 100% vegetable sponge is an amazing substitute for common plastic ones you get at the supermarket. It is perfect for creating a bubbly lather and exfoliating your skin. In addition, Ecotools produces a sponge called EcoPouf, created from 100% recycled plastic and recyclable themselves.
• Reusable Makeup remover pads
We have an obsession with single use, landfill-filling toiletries from wipes to cotton pads, but they are basically impossible to recycle. Reusable Makeup removers Pads are washable bamboo cotton pads available from Amazon. They remove makeup with ease, are very durable (survive washing and drying) but also gentle on your skin.
3. Period Products
• Period cup
It’s cheap, it’s hygienic, it’s more efficient than pads/tampons, it’s reusable and durable ( 5-10 years), it’s comfortable, it’s available in different sizes and shapes, and finally is ECOFRIENDLY.
• Reusable tampon applicator + 100% cotton tampons
100 billion period products are thrown away each year, most of which contain plastic and cannot be recycled, but applicator is for life. the applicator can easily pop into your bag and be washed at your own convenience. The impact on the planet decreases much more with pure cotton and sustainable tampons.
Non applicator tampons are another option!
Brands: DAME
• Period underwear
If you’re not a fan of using an insertion product, period “panties” might be the ones. You may need more than one pair per cycle (time for washing and drying), but they are extremely comfortable and definitely gentle for the planet.
Brands: Thinx, Lunapad
• Reusable pads
An eco-friendly alternative to all of the waste of normal sanitary pads. Super easy to use: you simply put them in your underwear and they absorb your flow. When they’re ready to be changed, instead of throwing them away, rinse them in cold water, then add them into your laundry cycle.
Changing habits is undoubtedly hard, but these eco-friendly options are simple, great for our planet and your wallet in the long run! Use your money towards positive change without renouncing to taking care of yourself. Last but not least, by buying more of these eco-friendly products, you will encourage companies to source and produce their products in a sustainable way.