You might have seen videos or articles of women fitting their trash into mason jars on your timeline for the past year or so. Young women such as Lauren Singer and Kathryn Kellogg belong to the zero waste living movement. Zero waste living is definitely more than just trying to fit your trash into a small container; it’s the overall effort towards sustainability, specifically through reducing single use products and reusing our resources efficiently.
It can be daunting to try to achieve that level of waste reduction, especially since plastic is essential to our daily routines. This is mainly the case for our grooming and self-care routines. Most—if not all—of our grooming products come in plastic packaging or are single-use only. But when there’s a demand, there’s a supply. International and local businesses that sell alternative and sustainable products have been popping up recently to meet the needs of those who wish to go green.
Here are just some products to get you started on your zero waste self-care routine:
Go Zero PH Bamboo Toothbrushes
An estimate of a billion toothbrushes end up in landfills every year. Sadly, there isn’t an alternative tool for everyday dental hygiene. But Go Zero PH sells bamboo toothbrushes as an eco-friendly alternative. The best part is that you don’t need to shell out a lot of money for one piece! Available online.
Zero Basics Black Toothpaste
If you plan to go zero waste with your dental hygiene, might as well go all the way, right? Zero Basics offers a myriad of grooming supplies but their black toothpaste is their best-seller. It contains activated charcoal, which is known to effectively whiten one’s teeth. It also aids in removing stains, plaque, and tartar. Available online.
Lush Shampoo Bars
The way certain products are packaged also contributes to landfill and non-biodegradable waste. Shampoo bars are a great alternative to bottled liquid shampoos. Lush, who is no stranger to helping the environment, has a wide array of shampoo bars for different types of hair. Aside from reducing packaging waste, the great thing about Lush’s shampoo bars is that they can last up to 80 washes, outlasting two to three average bottles of shampoo. Available at Bonifacio High Street.
Sinaya Cup Menstrual Cups
Some studies have shown that an average woman disposes 250 to 300 pounds of menstrual products in her lifetime. Menstrual cups are one way of curbing our carbon footprint. Sinaya Cup has brought the fairly new innovation to the country. The cup is made of medical grade silicone and can handle up to 12 hours of blood flow. Not only are they eco-friendly, they also allow more physical activity and comfort compared to menstrual pads or tampons. They offer comprehensive instructions and FAQs to assist you in purchase and usage. Available online.
Ka Nami Reusable Cloth Pads
If menstrual cups seem too intimidating for you, you can try Ka Nami’s reusable cloth pads instead. If taken care properly, they can last up to 5 to 10 years. These colorful pads come in different sizes that are either perfect for heavy flow or even for everyday use as a panty liner. The cloth material is also less irritating than cotton in sanitary napkins. Since you’re ordering online, Ka Nami thought ahead and uses biodegradable kraft paper and jute string for the packaging. Available online.
Hamsa Earth Conscious Collections Reusable Facial Rounds
Cotton balls or rounds may seem eco-friendly since they’re biodegradable (depending on the brand). However, this essential tool in cleansing our faces still come in plastic packaging and is still prone to turning into landfill if not segregated properly. Therefore, an easy alternative is to switch to reusable facial rounds. Hamsa Earth Conscious Collections sells vibrant facial rounds re-purposed from scrap cloth. Cloth can also be less abrasive than cotton, thus preventing premature wrinkles to develop. Available online.
Art by Lara Intong
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