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Why You Need to Check Out this Ethical Amazon Alternative

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Mt Holyoke chapter.

Recently, I got the opportunity to review some products as a Brightly Scout. The products I reviewed were shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion from Public Goods. And let me tell you, I have a new favorite place to shop online! If you haven’t heard of them, Public Goods is a one-stop shop for products that are both sustainable and affordable. Here are my top reasons why I love Public Goods and why you should check them out!

Sustainable Packaging

When I first opened my package of Public Goods products, I was a little shocked and disappointed to see that all of the products were packaged in what appeared to be plastic bottles. I was confused because I thought that this was supposed to be a sustainable and low-waste brand. Upon further inspection however, I discovered that the bottles that I thought were made of plastic were actually made from sugar cane! 

 

According to their FAQ section, these sugar cane bottles are better than the petroleum-based ones because they are highly renewable. The process of converting sugar cane into plastic actually absorbs carbon dioxide from the air while releasing oxygen, making them carbon neutral. How cool is that?!

 

There are a lot of options for sustainable packaging, but this is the most creative I have seen so far. Additionally, you do not have to sacrifice convenience for sustainability here. I didn’t mind using bar shampoo and conditioner in the beginning, but now that I have found this, I am never going back!

Refill Option

Evevn more exciting than the sugar cane bottles is the fact that you get to re-use them as well! 

 

On their website, Public Goods has refill options for many of their liquid products. Instead of buying a whole new bottle, you can just buy the product in bulk and refill it yourself!

Now, I have not been able to try this yet as I have not run out of any of my products, but according to reviews these refills are very convenient and contain about 3 bottles worth of product. So you can save on both packaging and shipping costs there!

Affordable Products

Speaking of costs, you might think that sustainably packaged products like these would be more expensive than your regular products. Nope! All of the products are super reasonably priced. 

 

I was actually shocked when I looked on the website to see how much a bottle of shampoo would cost. I was expecting it to be somewhere between $10-$20 because that was how much I spent on my bar shampoo from Lush. But you can get a 12 oz bottle of shampoo or conditioner for $4.50! 

 

It is so exciting to see sustainable products finally become more affordable and therefore more accessible to people. With Public Goods, you no longer need to choose between saving money and saving the environment!

Variety of Products

Public Goods also has much more than just bath products like shampoo and conditioner. 

 

Their website has products from a wide variety of categories, including personal care, household essentials, healthy foods, vitamins + supplements, and pet care. Almost anything you can think of that you need, they have! All of these products are packaged sustainably, made with ethical ingredients, and are wildly affordable. 

 

It truly is a one-stop shop for everything, just like Amazon! (But better because they are more environmentally friendly!)

 

Overall, I loved the products I tried from Public Goods and I cannot wait to buy more from them. Aside from being sustainable and affordable, the products are just really great. The shampoo, conditioner, and body wash have all lasted me a long time so far, have great coverage, and smell amazing. The lotion also smells great and is super hydrating and absorbent! To hear what other lovers of sustainability have to say, be sure to read this review and if you decide you want to check it out, use code BRIGHTLY for 25% off!

 

 

If you would like to write for Her Campus Mount Holyoke, or if you have any questions or comments for us, please email hc.mtholyoke@hercampus.com.

Acadia Ferrero-Lampron is currently a sophmore at Mount Holyoke College, where she is majoring in International Relations. In her free time, she loves to read books, bake sweets, and try new sustainable products.
Mount Holyoke College is a gender-inclusive, historically women's college in South Hadley, MA.