The Best & Worst of Zero-Waste, Pt. 3
"Nature brings beauty to every time and season."
-Unknown
Updates
Low-waste litter. Catalyst is a brand for which I happened to see advertising after writing "The Best & Worst of Zero-Waste: Companion Animal Edition." Their litter is made from upcycled softwood, and the plastic bags can be dropped off in plastic bag recycling bins at grocery stores. I also emailed them, and they confirmed that they are cruelty-free even though they don't mention it on their website.
Lotion bar. In Part 2, I mentioned that I was switching over to a lotion bar instead of bottled lotion, but my worries about the product came to fruition; it was very greasy and took several hours to fully be absorbed into my skin. Unless you have incredibly dry skin, I would not recommend a lotion bar because the oils used are generally too heavy for fast absorption. (Also, ensure you consume enough water, either by drinking it or eating water-rich foods.) However, I've decided to switch to Plaine Products' refillable bottles. Unfortunately, they do come with a (reusable) plastic pump, and I worry about the pump breaking over time, but one pump is significantly less plastic than buying a fully-plastic bottle of lotion.
Bamboo dog bowl. This dog bowl from Beco Pets is made from bamboo, rice husks, cornstarch, and PLA resin (a plant-based material). Though there are many options for sustainable dog bowls, I personally like the more natural look of this one, so I wanted to share it with anyone looking for something more aesthetically pleasing than a plain steel bowl. (But remember, if you already have bowls, don't go buy a new one just because it's cute.)
Bite floss. I've been using Bite toothpaste bits for over a year now, and I have been very satisfied with them. Recently, they launched a line of platic-free floss, which comes in a small glass bottle, and refills are shipped in a compostable plant-based pouch. While I'm still using up some of the other flosses I have, I plan to switch over to Bite's dental floss once those are gone. I had some questions about the floss that didn't seem to be completely clear to me from the description on their website -- what the floss is made of if not plastic, if the floss itself is compostable or just the refill pouch, and if the floss can be composted at home or only in industrial facilities -- and I've included their response below.
The Best of Times
Plastic Free Vegan Shop. I happened upon this shop as I was perusing Etsy, and I have to say that I'm in love! Two of my favorite things combined: environmentally-friendly products and veganism! They sell everything from soap to reusable tea bags to socks, and you can find them both on Etsy or their website.
Do your homework. Researching companies to ensure that they're not just greenwashing is one of the least exciting parts of zero-waste (in my opinion), but it is pretty important. You want to be confident that the brands you support also share your values and aren't just cashing in on the eco-conscious community. However, the good news is that when companies do good things, they really like to talk about it! They'll often advertise on their website or even on their packaging how and where their products are manufactured, their charitable contributions, their environmental initiatives, and more.
They know that consumers want to support businesses that do good things, so they try to share these kinds of things as much as possible. If you see that a brand you usually buy is unusually silent about their good deeds, odds are that there's nothing positive to report. (Also, beware of greenwashing and humane-washing tactics by companies like Dawn who use cute images of baby animals being cleaned after oil spills to appeal to consumers' natural love of animals and hatred for catastrophes that harm animals.)
Invest in experiences. Instead of spending your money on things, it's far more rewarding to save up and invest your money in an experience. Concerts; vacations (I'm thinking more like hiking in Death Valley than gambling in Las Vegas but to each their own); hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities; spending time with friends/family; and even just going out to the movies are far more rewarding experiences than the brief rush of adrenaline you get when purchasing a material object.
Mouthwash tablets. I don't know why I was surprised to learn that mouthwash tablets, like toothpaste tablets, are a thing that exists, but I was. As soon as Bite launched their mouthwash, I added it to my subscription. It definitely took more getting-used-to than toothpaste tabs, but it does work remarkably similar to liquid mouthwash. (Just bite and swish with water.) An interesting little bit of information is that Bite uses nHAp, a non-toxic fluoride alternative, in their mouthwash, if that interests you. Also, each mouthwash order comes with a free travel tin.
The brand Georganics makes both mouthwash tablets and liquid oil pulling mouthwash. I don't know about the legitimacy of oil pulling (swishing oil in your mouth for as long as 20 minutes), but if that's something you want to do, then they have that option. Georganics makes several vegan-friendly oral hygiene products that are more affordable than Bite, and I will be trying out their mouthwash after I finish with Bite to see how they compare, so I'll have an update on that whenever Part 4 is released.
Compostable makeup. This is not a drill! Repeat: This is not a drill! River Organics is a brand making vegan, compostable makeup products. In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, I lamented the fact that it's very difficult to find plant-based, cruelty-free, low-waste makeup, but it seems River Organics answered my prayers. If you wear makeup and are interested in trying more sustainable brands, be sure to check them out!
Plaine Products. After using their lotion, I was very satisfied with this brand's products, and as I recently used up the last of my years-old Bath & Body Works hand sanitizers, I decided to purchase their travel-sized hand sanitizer. The only issue I have with it is that the smell is incredibly strong, though not unpleasant, but other than that, it does its job well as a hand sanitizer. In addition to hand sanitizer and lotion, Plaine Products also makes shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and other personal care products. And one of the great things about them is that they will send you free shipping labels to return the aluminum bottles so they can be reused. We need more businesses like this!
Plastic-free chip clips. Of course, buying bags of chips isn't very zero-waste, but you can also use these clips for other purposes. If you do want to have some on hand, choose ones made of silicone, metal, wood, or other plastic-free materials. (Or you can use wooden clothespins instead, which may also encourage you to start hang-drying your clothes instead of throwing everything into the dryer.)
Thrift old towels/t-shirts. You can use these to make almost anything: cleaning rags, kitchen towels, DIY hankies, etc. Of course, you can always use your own old t-shirts and towels, but if you don't have any you're willing to part with quite yet, you don't need to go out and spend a bunch of money on new products.
Grocery bulk sections. According to the EPA, food packaging generates over 80 million tons of waste in the US every year, nearly 30 percent of all waste produced in the country. Out of that total, about 15 million tons are plastic, of which more than 10 million tons go into landfills. By shopping in bulk sections at your grocery store, you can eliminate or greatly reduce your food packaging waste by using produce bags, glass jars, or other reusable containers instead of buying packaged products or using the flimsy plastic bags provided in bulk sections. Additionally, you can buy larger (or smaller) quantities than what is usually sold in stores because you get to decide just how much of each food item you need.
Metal letter opener. Letter openers certainly shouldn't be a high priority for anyone (and, really, we should all be reducing the amount of physical mail we receive), but if you're sick of ripping open envelopes with your hands, choose a metal letter opener instead of a cheap plastic one.
Vegan deodorant. Impact Veganics is a brand I only recently heard about on the Our Hen House podcast. Their deodorant is packaged entirely in compostable paper, and they donate 100 percent of their profits to animal rights charities. I emailed them to ask what organizations they specifically support, and I've included their response below.
The Worst of Times
Grocery bulk sections. You'll notice that this is both a good and a bad thing. The negative side of bulk sections is that you don't know exactly how they're being filled, particularly in generic grocery stores; there could be more or equivalent levels of plastic waste used in the packaging and transportation process of items used to fill bulk bins as there are with other packaged foods. It's possible that you could be contributing to the same amount of waste without even knowing it. There isn't always a way to be completely zero-waste, but as long as you try to do your best, that's what counts.
Eco-friendly subscription boxes. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the desire to purchase subscription boxes (I've done it before), but most often they're filled with things you wouldn't ordinarily buy or, more importantly, need. They make you feel like you're getting a good deal by offering the products at a lower rate than they'd be if sold separately, but you're still paying $50 or so per month for unnecessary products. With "eco-friendly" or zero-waste subscription boxes, not only are they not vegan -- making them eco-unfriendly -- but you're still paying for these products to be created and shipped. Being zero-waste is about buying what you need from sustainable, low-waste producers and prioritizing homemade and/or pre-owned products when possible; it's not about buying a bunch of random, unnecessary products just because they may be better for the planet than the generic alternative. These subscription box companies are just greenwashing this trend.
Tongue scrapers & brushes. I was really excited to try a tongue scraper because, as we all know, oral hygiene is very important to our overall health, and from reviews I'd heard, they do a good job in getting a better clean. However, after using mine for a while, I can't notice any significant change. Perhaps I'm removing some bacteria that I wouldn't be able to notice, but I can't see how there could possibly be significant amounts of harmful bacteria in my mouth. Instead of buying a scraper or brush specifically to clean your tongue, just use your regular bamboo toothbrush.
be conscious, be kind, be vegan
Related posts you may enjoy:
"Proof That Wool is an Environmental Hazard"
"10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Every Day"
"Earth-Friendly School Supplies"
"The Best & Worst of Zero-Waste"