Feel trapped by single-use plastics? Jessie Alice has some solutions. Photo: Anthea Christie Charalambous.
Our bathrooms are full of disposable plastic containers – they hold our sunscreen, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste.
All those single-use plastics add up quickly.
A family who goes through a bottle of shampoo and conditioner each month will throw away 12 bottles a year, and that’s a pretty thrifty family.
Scarborough woman Jessie Alice is so passionate about reducing plastic waste she started her own business, Evercircle, creating minimally-packaged, environmentally conscious products.
She shared her top tips for creating a more climate-conscious bathroom.
“Shampoo and conditioner bars have no plastic packaging and last about six months, so every bar replaces six bottles,” she said.
“The quality has really improved too. The shampoos used to be just a hard bar of soap, but now you can find ones like ours that are created by a hairdresser for use in the salon.
“Just like liquid shampoos and conditioners it might take a while to find the one that’s right for your hair type and texture.
“You want to shop around and keep an eye out for things that are salon quality.”
Jessie said another important thing to keep an eye on was the ingredients list.
Plastic isn’t just in the packaging – a lot of cosmetic products from haircare to moisturisers use petrochemicals and plastic-based ingredients such as silicones in their formulation.
Because these get washed directly down the drain, or rinse off when we go for a dip at the beach, they can have an immediate effect on our waterways.
Jessie said there were two ways to make sure your new conditioner wasn’t going to fill the ocean with synthetic chemicals.
“If you want to look at the ingredients make sure there aren’t harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate,” she said.
“Also skip silicones, parabens, synthetic polymers and synthetic fragrances. They can irritate sensitive skin and contribute to the chemical load in the environment.
“You want a product with an oil base like coconut oil or coconut butter. It might sound counterintuitive but oil can work beautifully as a cleanser – look at all the facial oil cleansers coming onto the market.
“If looking at ingredients labels feels overwhelming, you can download the Yuka app to scan products and see what’s actually in them.”
If the bars don’t work for you, more and more brands are offering refillable options, so you can use the same bottle over and over again and make a significant reduction in your yearly waste.
Shampoo, conditioner and body wash might be the big hitters, but there are lots of other ways plastic packaging sneaks into our toiletry cupboard.
Loofahs, razors and even dental floss all contribute to our collective plastic waste.
And those hair ties and clips that are forever disappearing? They’re vanishing straight into your local environment whenever they fall off or get lost.
On the plus side, they all have more environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Evercircle makes hair forks out of upcycled metal waste, for example, and you can find sponges and loofahs made of natural products such as cotton or the original luffa plant.
Reusable metal razors where the only thing you have to change is the blade are available, and waxed cotton dental floss is also an option.
For the truly dedicated, floss is reusable.
“I reuse my toothbrush so I thought why not floss,” Jessie said.
“I use the cotton waxed one so when it falls apart it just goes in the compost.”
Jessie saved her most important tip for last.
If the idea of running out and buying bar soaps, shampoos and conditioners alongside a luffa plant, stainless steel razor and waxed cotton dental floss feels a bit overwhelming, don’t.
“It’s about baby steps,” she said.
“I don’t preach perfection. I was zero waste at one point in my life – I also had zero friends and zero joy.
“Start slowly, maybe try a shampoo bar and keep your usual conditioner.
“Change takes time.”
