Happy almost-end-of Plastic Free July everyone! In case you didn’t know, Plastic Free July is a global campaign that encourages people to stop using plastic during the month. The goal is to raise awareness about the environmental problems caused by plastic waste, and to encourage more sustainable habits. It goes without saying that this initiative means a lot to us as a plastic-free razor company. Every year, over 3 billion plastic razors and cartridges are thrown in the trash. Now think of all of the other plastic items we use on a daily basis like cutlery, iced coffee cups, plastic bottles and more…
During the month, I wanted to take the challenge on myself and see how feasible it was to become completely plastic free. It was a journey, to say the least!
Accessing the Damage
To begin my plastic-free challenge, I started in the smallest room at home: the bathroom. I did this because I thought it would be easy… but I was quickly proven wrong! After looking around, I realized almost everything I touch is plastic. My haircare, soap dispenser, my entire skincare routine… all plastic! After a few minutes, I quickly realized 1) How overwhelming this challenge was going to be and 2) I’m not as eco-friendly as I thought I was. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of plastic personal care items.
The only zero waste items I had was my razor and Dermaplaner. Guess we all start somewhere right?
The most eco-friendly thing to do is to use up everything I had first, then swap. Not the instant gratification I was looking for, but accessing the damage inspired me to do my research and start making sustainable changes.
(Watch Part 1 of the challenge here!)
Getting Some Help
To find some inspiration, the second part of my journey led me to Sustainable Village, a plastic free shop in New York City. (They also have Leaf razors!) Here, you can bring your own jars, or grab one from their community shelf, and refill your products there. They had everything from personal care, kitchen accessories, cleaning supplies, and more.
Layla, who was working there when I visited, gave me a solid piece of advice: start making plastic-free swaps in chunks, and slowly work your way up. Layla started in her kitchen, and now has fully transitioned to a plastic-free lifestyle at home after working there for two years. It was here I made my first plastic-free swap, and switched my plastic hand soap dispenser for an aluminum one that I can bring back and refill.
(Watch Part 2 of the challenge here!)
The Results
By the end of the month, here’s what I was able to swap in my bathroom (or plan to, once I’m done with the products I’m finishing up!)
- Swapped out my plastic hair catcher in my shower drain for a steel one
- Switching from body wash to Smoosh Bar Soap (Citrus Ocean is my jam)
- Using hair concentrates in tins rather than haircare in bottles. Shampoo bars would also be a good alternative!
- Using my Leaf Razor and Dermaplaner instead of plastic cartridges
- Refilling my aluminum hand soap dispenser instead of buying plastic bottles
- Buying toilet paper that's packaged in paper, not plastic
Aside from these plastic-to-sustainable swaps that I made at home, committing myself to this challenge also inspired me to be more mindful when I was venturing outside, too. That meant remembering to bring my tote bags when shopping, asking for a glass cup for my iced coffee when I was working in cafes, and ordering less take out (my wallet was certainly happy about this one).
I’m not going to lie and say I was perfect, but I’m happy with the small changes that I was able to make throughout the month. Being plastic free is easier said than done, and it was definitely tougher than I thought it would be.
(Watch Part 3 of the challenge here!)
Reminder: Becoming plastic-free is a journey, and won’t happen overnight. It certainly didn’t happen in a month. I’m still slowly getting there myself! But I hope this inspires you to make some changes where you can. Small changes like this can add up to make a substantial difference.
