GOING GREEN
THREE WAYS TO CUT DOWN PLASTIC WASTE IN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE
WE’RE coming up to Plastic Free July (plasticfreejuly.org), an initiative designed to encourage us all to work towards a world where plastic waste is a thing of the past.
As Plastic Free July reminds us, we can all do our bit to help by examining our buying habits. The bathroom is a good place to start.
Here are three ways to reduce plastic waste in your beauty routine...
TRY ‘NAKED’ PRODUCTS
THINK your shampoo, soap or shower gel has to be poured out of a plastic bottle? Think again.
“Shampoo bars are a fantastic and easy way to start reducing your plastic usage,” says Rowena Bird, Lush co-founder and product inventor. “One Lush Shampoo Bar is the equivalent of three 250ml plastic bottles of shampoo, and will last you up to 85 washes.”
OPT FOR REFILLABLE PRODUCTS
“WHILE loads of brands tell you their products are ‘100% recyclable’, that doesn’t take into account that only 9% of plastics are successfully recycled globally,” says Nick Torday, co-founder of Bower Collective, which sells reusable dispensers and refill packs of body wash, hand wash, shampoo and conditioner.
BUY PLASTIC FREE ALTERNATIVES
IT’S not just plastic bottles, tubes and tubs we need to cut down on – don’t forget beauty essentials like brushes.
“Plastic hairbrushes, make-up brushes and toothbrushes are all contributing to the plastics crisis we are facing – 111 million plastic toothbrushes are thrown into landfill sites every year,” says Joanne Maclachlan, founder of The Eco Friendly Living Co.
“But there is a sustainable alternative – bamboo. Bamboo toothbrushes are toxin free, vegan, eco-friendly, sustainable and come with soft bristles.”