Zero-waste beauty
Trying to eliminate plastic from your bathroom? Here’s what you need to know…
Sustainability is the current buzzword of the beauty industry, and with good reason – annually, the beauty industry produces more than 120 billion units of packaging globally*. While companies are becoming more environmentally responsible, there’s still a huge amount of confusion as to what can be recycled, and what exactly zero-waste means. Here’s the lowdown.
1 SHAMPOO? RAISE THE BAR
Unsure about ditching your faithful liquid formula? Shampoo bars last considerably longer than their bottled counterparts, and its packaging is a huge bonus too. Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo Bar, £7.99, is zero-plastic, meaning the cardboard packaging it comes in is fully recyclable. Some brands go further – the Faith in Nature Shampoo Bar, £5.79, has compostable packaging. To make it the most user-friendly, work the soap into a lather in your wet hands before applying to hair. This will help distribute the product further.
2 CLEVER CLEANSING
From bottles and tubes to disposable wipes, washing your face is full of plastic pitfalls. Even some cotton pads can contain microplastics. For a totally zero-waste approach, Beauty Kitchen The Sustainables Seahorse Plankton + Cleansing
Konjac Sponge, £7, is a brilliant option. Made from vegetable fibres, you can add the product and its packaging to your food waste bin once finished. Infused with chamomile and blueberry, you can use it with water alone for a deep clean. Soak it for a minute to soften the sponge first.
3 TOOLS OF THE TRADE
A regular feature in our bathrooms, toothbrushes and cotton buds are a common culprit at landfill. Big dental companies are creating greener alternatives, including the Colgate Bamboo Charcoal Toothbrush, £4, which is biodegradable (you’ll need to remove the nylon bristles first, though). For kids, Aquafresh Kids’ Bamboo Toothbrush, £4, features bristles sourced from renewable materials. As for cotton buds, The Humble Co Cotton Swabs, £2.13 for 100-pack, are also made from bamboo.
4 THE SWEET SMELL OF SUSTAINABILITY
While deodorant cans are recyclable, if they’re not empty they can be considered hazardous waste. For a truly cleaner approach, try Ethique Lime & Eucalyptus Solid
Deodorant, £11, which contains zinc oxide and bamboo to help absorb sweat (however, this product is not an anti-perspirant). The bar reduces to nothing over time, and the packaging can go into your food waste bin. Store in an airtight container to keep it fresh.
5 BODY BOOST
Soaps may have fallen out of favour in recent years, but they’ve had a makeover. Gone are the drying formulas and in their place, nourishing ingredients for softer skin. Kin Kind make gorgeous Bodywash Bars, £5, which last roughly 30 washes. Their Start My Day! lime and black pepper fragrance is a wake-up call on groggy mornings. For an extra moisture hit, follow up with their Butter Me Up! Moisturiser Bar, £7, which melts onto skin.