With 12.7 million tonnes of plastic winding up in our oceans each year, according to Greenpeace, it has never been more important to reduce the amount of plastic we use. What better time to cut down your plastic use than during Plastic Free July? Plastic Free July is a movement that encourages people to reduce their plastic waste.
Small changes in your day-to-day life can have a big impact. Here, we explain how to reduce plastic in your beauty routine.
1. Use hair and body bars
Did you know that many of our bottled hair and body products also available in the form of solid bars? These include face wash, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, and body wash.
Commonly referred to as “naked” products due to the lack of packaging, these plastic-free bars are a great alternative to bottles of hair products and body washes.
Not only do these bars lack plastic packaging, but some can also actually last a lot longer than the average bottled alternative.
2. Make your own products
The use of plastic microbeads in cosmetic and personal care products was banned in the UK in September 2016. These were commonly used in face scrubs and masks, and toothpastes.
Although this is a great step in the right direction, these products unfortunately are typically still sold in single-use plastic packaging.
Cut down the plastic you use by making your own face scrubs and masks using natural products. Oats, almonds, and brown sugar are commonly used in place of plastic microbeads and are easy to source.
3. Switch your dental products
There are several sustainable alternatives to toothbrushes, dental floss, and toothpaste.
Swap your plastic manual toothbrush for one made of bamboo, or an electric toothbrush with replaceable brush heads.
Plastic-free toothpaste is also commonly available. You can get toothpaste in glass jars, or toothpaste tablets – just chew with water to activate then brush!
4. Use reusable cloths and pads
Ditch the wipes! Not only are these bad for the environment, but they are also not great for your skin either.
Instead, use reusable face cloths and pads which can be used, rinsed, washed, and reused. They are kinder to both your skin and the planet and can even save you money too.
5. Switch your deodorant
All it takes is a simple swap. There are now many options available for refillable deodrants. These usually come in a metal case and are a deodrant bar rather than a spray. Not only are they easy to refill, there are subscription options that send refills directly to your door, meaning you never have to worry about running out.
6. Get a metal razor
Plastic razors may be cheaper to buy initially but typically need to be replaced often, meaning they can be expensive over time.
Investing in a good-quality, reusable metal razor, known as a safety razor, will save you money in the long run, is more environmentally friendly, and is likely to give a better shave.
These simple yet effective changes can have a massive impact on creating a cleaner and safer world for all its present and future inhabitants.
It is important to remember not to overwhelm yourself by trying to make too many changes at once. Take a few small steps towards reducing your plastic use, to begin with, and try not to put too much pressure on yourself.
If you try one alternative and it does not work for you, do not give up. There are so many environmentally friendly options out there, so keep trying until you find one that works for you.
Your free time is valuable, and you may not want to spend it organising your bathroom cabinets and dressing table. If you feel like you could do with some professional help in cleaning your home, you could hire a domestic cleaner.
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