August 2021: Self-care challenge
Choosing the right personal grooming products offers an opportunity to avoid damaging the planet. Let this be the month you overhaul what you’re using!
Pick one of more of the following challenges to do this month – or make up one of your own.
Choosing the right personal grooming products offers an opportunity to avoid damaging the planet. Let this be the month you overhaul what you’re using!
Pick one of more of the following challenges to do this month – or make up one of your own.
- ACTION: Refill your liquid shampoos, conditioners and body wash, or use solid shampoo, conditioner or soap bars to avoid single-use plastics.
- ACTION: Purchase soaps from an ethically conscious and local soap maker, such as Stephanie and her ‘Made in Fishponds’ range with its ‘no single-use packaging’ policy.
- ACTION: Make a difference whilst on the loo by using paper that’s recycled from local sources. Avoid rolls that are individually wrapped or come with packaging whose compostability is not guaranteed.
- ACTION: Ditch synthetic flannels and sponges for natural alternatives made from loofah or konjac, available at Smaller Footprints in Clifton Village. Or are your hands sufficient?
- ACTION: Try to stop using cotton buds or, if you need them, choose the bamboo option and never flush them down the toilet! When Waitrose stopped selling plastic cotton buds it estimated that would save 21 tonnes of plastic – not bad for a small product.
- ACTION: Bamboo toothbrushes can now be found with the bristles made from 100% castor oil! No plastic whatsoever, from Truthbrush in Devon or find in your local zero-waste shop.
- ACTION: Say ‘no’ to the disposable wet-wipe that likely contains plastic and other non-compostable materials.
- ACTION: Instead of shaving foam in a composite spray can, try using a solid bar or, probably as effective, handsoap, or a body wash whose container you can more easily refill.
- ACTION: Switch to reusable make-up wipes or wear less make-up and/or less often.
- ACTION: Opt for a stainless steel razor to avoid disposable, non-recyclable ones.
- ACTION: Use toothpaste tablets, a water flosser or floss made from natural materials, non-plastic interdental brushes, and mouthwash tablets which come in a glass jar and dissolve in water – much longer-lasting than the pre-mixed stuff that is packaged in single-use plastic.
- RESEARCH: Check out the awesome work the Bristol-based campaigning group, City to Sea, has done in relation to Plastic-Free Periods. Advice that can be good for your health, your wallet, and for the planet. Start with this short video.
- AMPLIFY: Tell your friends and family about the challenges you’re taking this month and ask them to join in.
