How to be sustainable. Cleaning and cosmetics

How to be sustainable. Cleaning and cosmetics

These are some of the things you can do as an individual to make your time on the planet a little more responsible. These are some ideas that we would like to share with you to make your way to the eco-friendly world easier.

If you have come this far, it is because you know that with small gestures it is possible to change the world. You know that your consumption habits directly affect the environment and you want to join us in this big change. You want to ACT NOW but you don't know how to start.

We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.

Today we want to show you what you can do at home that will bring you closer to a more sustainable life. From swapping some of your products to change the way you buy.

 

CLEANING

  1. Bulk cleaning.

There are many bulk stores that have cleaning products in their shops, so you can bring your own bottle or detergent container and refill it. Depending on the store, they may have dishwasher detergent, washing machine detergent, soap, etc.

  1. Sustainable cleaning

If you don't have a store that sells bulk products near you, another option would be to buy more sustainable products. In supermarkets themselves there are more and more environmentally friendly options, but you can also buy them online at any zero-waste store. It is important to look at the labels to check the ingredients before buying it.

 

  1. Make your own cleaning products

If you are a handyperson and you feel like digging into the subject, this is a very good option that will save containers for the environment as well as money from your pocket. With 4 or 5 ingredients it is possible to make an endless number of recipes for all areas of the house: scrubbing floors, windows, bathrooms, etc. Vinegar, lemon and baking soda are essential.

 

  1. Replacing scouring pads and cloths

Kitchen cloths and scouring pads are usually made of synthetic material that releases micro plastics every time we clean/scrub and when we dispose of them. 

In these cases, the best thing to do is to finish using the one you already have and the next time buy a sustainable alternative such as cloths made of vegetable materials or luffa or coconut scouring pads. These do not release micro plastics and once you throw them away, they can decompose and are not harmful to the environment.

 

  1. Make soap

Something very simple and entertaining at the same time. Most soaps (both for hand washing and dish washing) contain toxins that are harmful to the environment because they go down the drain, they are also bad to our health. A very convenient option is to buy natural soaps free of toxics, but you can also make your own soaps.

 

  1. Homemade air freshener

Air fresheners are something very used in almost every house but they are still toxic products that we breathe continuously. A very good alternative (apart from buying toxic-free air fresheners) is to make your own with essential oils. Mix a few drops of the essential oil with distilled water in a glass container (never plastic because it corrodes) and that's it.

Plants are also a very sustainable option to purify the environment. And remember to ventilate every day.

 

 

COSMETICS

  1. Durable products

Bathroom products such as make-up remover discs, wipes, ear sticks, dental floss, sponge, etc., are usually made of plastic and some of them are disposable.

It would be great to replace all those disposable products with reusable alternatives. For example, instead of cotton pads or wipes you can use cloth make-up remover pads so that they can be washed and reused.

In addition, all the plastic products we use in the bathroom will end up in a landfill or in the sea. To avoid this, the best thing to do is to buy a sustainable version the next time you have to buy one. For example: instead of a plastic toothbrush, a bamboo toothbrush (remember that the cedar goes into the plastic and the rest into the compost); or instead of a plastic sponge, a luffa sponge that can be composted.

 

  1. Sustainable cosmetics

In the same way that happens with cleaning products, most common cosmetic products, whether creams or any type of makeup, carry toxins that are harmful to the environment and to your body.

To avoid this, the best alternative is to do a little research and buy products from sustainable brands that care about the environment, do not test on animals and do not use plastic packaging. Some products we could change would be: toothpaste, shampoo, gel, conditioner, moisturizers, sun creams, etc.

 

  1. Intimate hygiene

We may never have thought about it, but it is incredible how many pads and tampons end up in the sea and in landfills every year.

These products are made with toxic materials that can intervene in our body. Ex: more vaginal infections due to tampon use, increased odor due to pad use, etc. More and more people are embracing the sustainable alternative: the menstrual cup and cloth pads. If you haven't tried them, you are already late, they are wonderful. The intimate hygiene brand I Love Cyclo has a lot of information about it.

 

 

GENERAL HOUSEHOLD

  1. Wrapping

The transparent paper and aluminum foil we use to wrap food and store it in the fridge are difficult to recycle, especially when they are stained. But there are reusable alternatives that will also save you a few bucks. Some examples are beeswax or soy wrappers, resistant silicone caps, etc.

 

  1. Napkins and tissues

Paper napkins and handkerchiefs may seem harmless but the truth is that, in the same way that toilet paper can melt in water (releasing toxic substances) this type of paper does not melt due to its composition.

A reusable alternative are the traditional cloth napkins, as well as the cloth handkerchiefs that our grandmothers used to have. It may seem cumbersome at first, but it is a matter of getting used to it.

For example, we have cloth napkins for family members (for everyday use) and we also have a roll of reused paper towels (from sustainable sources) for when guests come over.

 

Check what can you do in other areas of your life: 

How to be sustainable. Food.

How to be sustainable. Energy and efficiency. 

How to be sustainable. Clothes.

How to be sustainable. Transport.

How to be sustainable. Travel