Less plastic, please: The Goods July edition
Hey,
Every July there is a campaign called Plastic-free July. In past years I’ve followed it closely and made a big attempt to reduce my own plastic usage. I don’t know how well I’ve done this year and admit that I’ve placed several Amazon orders, which are woefully dependent on plastic packaging and packing materials. It’s a work in progress. 🧐😣
What I can report as a win is that I’ve discovered an array of toiletries products packaged in CARDBOARD instead of plastic! This makes me excited and hopeful.
I recorded this video on Instagram earlier this month on this very topic, with some showcasing of these items. Clearly, I’m very excited about this 🤪
Today's edition of The Goods is to share some of those products in the hope that perhaps you’ll feel inspired to replace some of the old plastic-packaged necessities in your home and bathroom with these more sustainable, earth-friendly options.
Let’s dive in…
🦷 The Humble Co Toothpaste tablets
Oh my goodness I'm in love with this toothpaste. So easy to travel with, no tube that wastes the precious last drops, no plastic! easy to use, and the charcoal ones even naturally lighten your teeth. Score! These taste delicious and I'm so into it. Yes.
This is not the only company making cardboard-packaged deodorant sticks. In fact, earlier this spring I was at my dear friend Danielle’s house and saw what I think was a Secret deodorant stick in cardboard on her windowsill! I was very impressed, but didn’t see anything in stores near me until a somewhat recent trip to Whole Foods. Wandering down the toiletries aisle, I was absolutely stoked to see a selection of HiBar deodorant sticks with great natural ingredients, all packaged in cardboard. It’s been working great for me, and this is one product that I’m truly so happy to phase out. (side note: I’ve also tried little glass jars where you apply it with your fingers, and those have worked well also, so that’s another plastic-free path to deodorize your armpits.)
I already loved this floss, but for the longest time it came in plastic. Imagine my joy to see that it has started to come in a little cardboard box! YES! Dr. Tung’s for the win! I’ve heard several dentists say this is their #1 floss recommendation. I love it, and the one I buy has a subtle cardamom flavor, which is quite lovely.
💆♀️ Shampoo + Conditioner Bars
I love traveling with my Shampoo bar, because it takes up much less space than a bottle of shampoo (have you seen my hair? I require a lot of shampoo), and of course, no plastic required! I’m a doTERRA member so I’ve been using doTERRA’s shampoo bar. I’ve also used Trader Joe’s shampoo bar and found it to be pretty good. There are many on the market and I encourage you to give them a try. Here’s an article claiming to rate the top shampoo bars on the market in 2023.
🙌🏼 Lotion Bars
I was at my friend Monique’s home not long ago and after getting out of the shower, I asked her for some moisturizer. I usually use oil at home which I get in larger glass bottles, but it doesn’t travel so well. She asked if I’d like to try a lotion bar, and I was delighted! I really liked the smell and texture of the bar itself, and of course I also loved that there was no plastic involved. There are many lotion bars on the market. Check out your local Whole Foods, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, or whatever local grocery store near you might carry such things. And rest assured, it’s becoming more normalized to find these alternatively packaged products! This is the one I found at a local Sprouts grocery store and am loving.
🌎 Motivation: Our Planet II, episode 7
Ooof. David Attenborough has released a second season of Our Planet, a majestic and inspiring series which provides reality-checks on how humans are affecting our planet and the other creatures who share it with us. In Episode 7, we see the Laysan Albatross chicks and the horrifying reality that many of them die before even leaving the island due to choking on plastic. Indeed, they’ve done research and opened up many of the dead young albatross to find huge amounts of plastic in their stomachs, which is the cause of their early deaths. This is obviously super depressing, so sad, and a strong motivator for seeking small ways we can each reduce our use of plastic.
Let me know if you end up getting any of these! I’d love to hear what you think.
Let’s do this, together.
For a cleaner planet,
Britta
