Let's face it: if we don't make the change, it won't change. Most of what we put in the recycling bin for the sake of good consciousness won't get recycled anyway. I decided to get serious about low waste, composting, and contributing to reforestation. Ditching the single-use plastic is the minimum we can do daily!
This post collects successful experiences with low waste or zero waste products that don't compromise performance. Products that I tried at home and became my new standard. It was a long journey until getting the right combination between wellness, environment protection, performance, and design. I'm sharing my selection to facilitate your path in fulfilling this shared quest and values.
The concept of taking the water out or selling concentrate options of self-care and cleaning products is a strong trend allowing to reduce or eliminate the plastic containers while also reducing the space and energy needed during transportation. Most innovative brands getting to the market are adopting this trend, but not all of them work well. When a product does not deliver the right balance between result and consistency with its promise, trying can become frustrating and expensive.
Dropp's
Dish & Laundry products
I'm in complete gratitude to Dropps! It is not easy to find a product that delivers results and keeps its promises of effective, eco-responsible, and convenient products. I highly recommend trying. I handed some of these dishwasher and laundry pods to a few friends, and they've also been satisfied with the results. It feels good to reduce our impact while still not adding more work to our busy days. The downside? I wish they had a few more products for house cleaning in their offer and I hope that this will come. If you are curious to try out Dropps, you can use my referral code here for a $15 discount on your first purchase. What else about Dropps? Ingredient transparency, eco-responsible packaging, carbon-neutral shipping, and made in America.
No Tox Life
Dish Block® & Casa Agave™ Woven Soap Bag
This is another brand I fell in love with recently in my quest for low waste high efficient solutions.
Just opening their packaging is already proof that we can do better. Not a single plastic wrap! All are carefully packaged with care and intention. Certainly, no more plastic dish soap entering my kitchen from now on. I also found their woven soap bag a delightful way to add a gentle scrub to my skin while showering without having to consider extra time for it. I now use my neem & aloe soap from Banyan Botanicals with the No Tox Life woven soap bag. I will certainly try some of their other products soon.
Low waste toothpaste alternatives
When a product call for a change in our habits, replacing it becomes much harder. All toothpaste alternatives to my knowledge, demand some relearning and a need to adapt. Changing a toothpaste for a more natural one may not be that difficult but when shifting to a chewing tablet or a powder, it requires some patience. I've been exploring with satisfying results the Unpaste Tooth Tabs and Banyan Botanical's tooth powder with activated charcoal made from amalaki fruit.
Toilet papers
Reel toilet paper is made of 100% bamboo, which is a grass-like plant that grows extremely fast, therefore, providing fibers to make clothing and paper without using trees. I like this product, although some of my family members are still not fully convinced. If interested in trying it, I invite you to use my referral code here for 25% off on a subscription order.
Other great sources for zero/low-waste products are Earth Hero and Package Free offering a variety of products and brands. And for serious recycling, you can check out Terracycle.
About the Author: Carol Jamault is a Certified Health & Life Coach, Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), and Registered Yoga Instructor (RYT-200) with a corporate background in design and branding. She supports her clients in stress management and self-care through an integrative approach to wellness by providing bodywork services, consultations, and curated information and products to restore balance, improve individual wellness, and to boost vitality. Carol has been studying alternative healing, ethnobotany, circadian medicine, and Ayurveda since 2001. She is the founder of Hridayam Bodywork & Apothecary.