After you have made your own home- made creams and lotions you need to store them in something. If you have
nothing else, you can use your PLA deli pots – they seem to last just fine, and then you can compost them.
Old glass jam jars are fine for storing the excess but you want to think twice before using glass in the bathroom what the hard tiles, slippery hands, bare feet and shattering potential.
Nope this is a case for an unbreakable product. Plastic bottles are good in the bathroom. You can see what you have and they are totally safe. The greenest way is to reuse the pots and bottles you already have – my old shampoo bottle is still going after 5 years of refills
Pretty Bottles
But when it comes to bottles that can be seen, I am shallow and I like the bathroom to look good. So I recycled all my old bottles and bought some funky plastic that look nice. Also some rather swish aluminium bottles. Please note – all the suppliers I use line their products with a resin ( plastic) liner.
In the boudoir (a marginally less dangerous environment), you can use glass, by far the nicest product. Once again the uber green amongst can reuse jam jars however I went out and bought simple glass jars which I matched with aluminium lids.
Closures
You can get all sorts of closures for bottles from simple screw caps to flip lids, pumps and sprays. It really depends on the nature of your product. You can get plastic lids but I use aluminium caps and lids because they look the best and can be easily recycledt.
Please note that all closures almost always have a small plasticised paper disc inside.
I have been using my bottles jars and lids for years now and they are still looking good and working well.
Believe me you will forget what is in your bottles and you will have to label them. You can write on the bottle with a waterproof pen though in my experience the writing does eventually wash off. You can buy plastic labels from the supplier below for a very reasonable rate. Apparently they last for five years so you might think that this is fair trade off. Or you can use wooden or aluminium labels ( try garden stores or craft stores), or even cardboard tags and tie them onto your bottles.
People are always asking me how I stay so young and lovely looking with no plastic in my bathroom cabinet. Easy I say – I get all Blue Peter and make my own products. Its quicker then trying to choose between a hundred different shampoos and it’s really simple, fun to do, so much cheaper and I get to control what goes on my body, where it comes from and what environmental impact it has. Incidentally have you seen what goes into commercial cosmetics? There are regular scares about the toxic chemicals used – try safe cosmetics website and the ewg database for a few horror stories. If you are of a nervous disposition you might want to skip reading this and just take my word for it. On the other hand, if you feel those are rather hysterical, you could try reading the infinitely down to earth Colin a cosmetic scientist. While he tends to dismiss the wilder toxic claims of the green movement, he also debunks many cosmetic industry fantasies being sold today. Sadly that lotion isn’t actually dramatically different but just the same old emulsion of fat and water. Believe me, you are paying a lot of money for very little. On a personal note I have long suffered sensitive skin reactions to store-bought potions. If I make my own, and don’t use a preservative, I don’t.
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Cleaning your teeth involves so much plastic what with the tooth brushes and tubes of toothpaste. And even plastic in the tooth paste. At least 12 Crest toothpastes were identified as containing microbeads of polyethylene (PE). You can find a full list here And Crest are by no means the only manufacturer who does this.
Lucky for you I have researched a number of plastic free products for you to try.
Do You Need Dentifrice
You might want to consider if you even need to use a dentifrice. According to many a good brushing will do the job just as well…
Some products such as bicarbonate of soda and salt can be used neat to clean your teeth.
Otherwise its a combination or different abrasives in the form of a powder or paste. The key to making tooth powder is to find something abrasive and ugh to remove the plaque but not so harsh it removes the enamel . here
Though after reading all the provisos you might prefer to buy ready made.
Ready Made Toothpaste
In A Tube
There are still some tooth pastes come in metal tubes BUT be aware that all metal tubed toothpastes I have come across have a plastic cap and the tubes are lined with a plastic liner. In A Jar
Some pastes are being sold in glass jars with metal lids. Chances are the lids are plastic lined but it’s an improvement.
I have tried natural toothbrushes and I am not that keen. They quickly go kind of pulpy and I didn’t feel they are up to the job. So have gone back to my electric toothbrush consoling myself with the thought that
a) the heads are half the size of a normal plastic toothbrush
b) I make my own toothpaste and
c) these are my TEETH.
Here are the compostable options Bamboo Brush
Ther are a number of all-natural, bamboo toothbrushes on the market some of which I have reviewed. Bamboo Brush With Nylon Bristles
In my opinion, these work better than all bamboo toothbrushes. Some claim the nylon bristles are biodegradable others dispute this claim. Best to treat this a reduced plastic option. Biodegradable Cornstarch Bristles
This is an interesting new project that might lead to better things.
Its quicker then trying to choose between a hundred different shampoos and it’s really simple, fun to do, so much cheaper and I get to control what goes on my body, where it comes from and what environmental impact it has.
The following information is for guidance only. None of the following recipes or tips have not been tested on anyone other than me. I strongly advise you do your own research and proceed very carefully.
Disclaimer
Be aware of the risks of listening to someone who a) doesn’t have any training in this field, b) most of what they know comes from Google, That’s me I mean.
If you want a better informed opinion I suggest you head on over to the Aromantics website. They will sell you everything you need to make sun tan lotion including recipes you can download as a PDF. They have been in this game for years and are far more qualified then I am. The following is an account of my own experiences which may help you in your own research.
Fats and oils are used to keep the skin supple and prevent moisture evaporation. Many oils and waxes can be used neat such as coconut oil. Or they can be mixed with water as a cream or lotion. They can be harvested from plants and animals. Read more about fatty acids HERE
The oils used in creams/balms are usually vegetable derived though I suppose you could use lard if you wished (!)
Types Of Oil, Wax Or Butter They come in a variety of forms under the following headings – but it is a rough guide only. Liquid Oil – never solidifies Solid Oil – firm when cool but has very low melting point so sometimes it may be counted as an oil i.e. Coconut oil Butters – a solid oil. Has a high melting point. Rather confusing. Milk butter for example acts more like a solid oil, while Cocoa butter is more like a wax. Waxes – very hard-of a candle (wax), like consistency. Bees wax for example.
Which One?
There are hundreds of vegetable oils. Different skins like different oils and you will have to experiment to find what is best for you. You don’t need that many. I can make everything I need with a few oils.
I have listed them in order of hardness. However some liquid oils can be more oily than solid oils. Castor oil (liquid) is the thickest oil i know and can only be used mixed with others where’s coconut oil (semi solid) is very light
Almond oil – a lighter oil. Can be bought in big supermarkets, Asian shops and online Rapeseed oil – a lighter oil with quite a strong scent but U.K. sourced. Read More Olive oil – a richer oil can sometimes be bought on tap in the U.K. Used for cooking and cosmetics.read more Castor oil – a very thick oil – add it to lip balm. Can often be bought in chemists. Coconut oil– a semi solid light oil which has a very low melting point. Use neat as for everything from hair care to make up removal or add to creams and balms. Can also be used for cooking. Read more Shea butter – a rich creamy butter with a surprisingly low melting point. Good for making cream and lotions. There’s an introduction to shea butter here Cocoa butter – a hard wax which has a high melting point. Use neat as a lip balm or add to creams and balms. Bees wax – a very hard oil wax has a very high melting point add to creams and balms to make them firmer.
Cosmetics & Eating I love a multi tasking product and you cant do better than a moisturiser you cook chips in. Rapeseed oil – a lighter oil with quite a strong scent but U.K. sourced. Read More Olive oil – a richer oil can sometimes be bought on tap in the U.K. Used for cooking and cosmetics.read more Rice Bran Oil less “oily” than olive oil and rapeseed oil and not as malodorous as the latter. I used it to make suntan lotion and mosquito repellent.
CSometimes a wax is just too hard and an oil too liquid. Oils and waxes can be combined to create a more usable product. Examples would be combining a hard wax like cocoa butter with a softer oil like coconut. these are my favourites: Body Butter Lip Balm
Cream & Lotions
But still there are times when oils are are just too… oily. In this case you need to dilute them using water. As Water and oil don’t mix you will also need to add an emulsifier. The end result is cream or lotion. To make cream you will need the following Fatty acids of your choice- oil, butters & waxes. Water Emulsifiers: Water and fat do not naturally mix, you need to use an emulsifier. Preservatives Pots to put your cream in.
The cream or oil can be used as a carrier medium for active ingredients such as… Suntan Lotion– add Microfine Titanium Dioxide OR Zinc Oxide to make a suntan lotion Self Tan– Add DHA to make a fake bake that really works . Magic, age defying, cellulite busting potions- scour the internet for all the gubbins, the AHAs, enzymes and crushed pearls that are supposed to grant instant beauty and add them too. I can’t promise results, but it’s fun experimenting.
Containers
Once you have made your creams and balms you will need to store them. You can find a range of pots, bottles and closures here.
More
For the last 5 years now I have been I have been using home-made cream on face and body with no side effects. The plastic pots from the original kit have been reused a number of times. In fact they are still in use. They are great for traveling.
PLASTIC SPOILER Some of the above will come plastic packaged. As I get huge amounts out of one small bag of ingredients so I consider it a worthwhile compromise. It still represents a huge decrease in plastic consumption.
Making Other Personal Care Products
Its quicker then trying to choose between a hundred different shampoos and it’s really simple, fun to do, so much cheaper and I get to control what goes on my body, where it comes from and what environmental impact it has.
The following information is for guidance only. None of the following recipes or tips have not been tested on anyone other than me. I strongly advise you do your own research and proceed very carefully.
Disclaimer
Be aware of the risks of listening to someone who a) doesn’t have any training in this field, b) most of what they know comes from Google, That’s me I mean.
If you want a better informed opinion I suggest you head on over to the Aromantics website. They will sell you everything you need to make sun tan lotion including recipes you can download as a PDF. They have been in this game for years and are far more qualified then I am. The following is an account of my own experiences which may help you in your own research.
N.B. lines changes, products get removed. For more information why not ask the Plastic Is Rubbish FB group for updates. They are a great source of tidbits, personal experience and the latest news. Why not join them and share the plastic free love x
Those disposable pads and tampons? Not cotton wool as you might have thought but plastic. Sigh!
Why?
Along with cotton buds, tampons, applicators and panty liners make up 7.3 % of items flushed down the toilet in the UK.
For every kilometre of beach included in the Beachwatch survey weekend in 2010, 22.5 towels/panty liners/backing strips, and 8.9 tampon applicators, were found.
About 90% of the materials used to make sanitary pads and liners are plastic and include polyethylene, polypropylene and polyacrylate super absorbents.
Every year, over 45 billion feminine hygiene products are disposed of somewhere. Read more here
How
There is no doubt menstruation can be a grubby business. So three cheers for the mooncup using, reusable wearing, all green and lovely ladies of clean. Here’s what they use
Resuables
Because of the nature of the product, where it has to go and what it has to do the options do contain some plastic. Shop bought reusable pads may be made of synthetic fibres and have a waterproof backing (though some don’t). Silicone is non biodegradable and very plastic like. But they are reusable and so cut your plastic consumption by massive amounts. You can find out lots more via the product links.
Reusable menstrual pads / sanitary towel. They are as they sound. Reusable pad you wash after use. You can buy them ready made from smaller suppliers on Esty to bigger mainstream companies. You can even make them yourself. Read more here – buy or make Reusable menstrual pads / sanitary towel
Internal / Menstrual Cup – This is little silicone or rubber cup that you use internally. It collects the flow and is then emptied washed and reused. Before you squeal and scream read this.
Disposables
Not only do towels and tampons come wrapped in plastic, the fibres used to make them are often synthetic plastic. About 90% of the materials used to make sanitary pads and liners are plastic and include polyethylene, polypropylene and polyacrylate super absorbents. Natracare to a great range of almost plastic free menstrual products. Try these
Tampon with applicator made from organic cotton with a cardboard applicator in a paper wrapper.
Being committed to local shopping, I prefer to buy that way whenever possible. I would encourage you to do the same. One of the joys of living plastic free is mooching round the local shops seeing what you can source.
Buy from independent online traders
If you can’t buy local please do check the links above to the suppliers and buy direct from them and support their online businesses.
Finally ….If you can’t do that then I have put together and Amazon catalogue. Yes I know…
Mooncup Menstrual Cup Size B 1pieces £19.99
Comes in 2 sizes – check before you buy you can read a review on http://plasticisrubbish.com/2010/01/03/lady-stuff/
Amazon is a very dirty word at the moment and I thought long and hard before suggesting them. Heres why I went ahead….. No we are not entirely happy with Amazons recent history. However, we have always found their service to be good and their packaging usually compostable.
If you buy a product via this link we do get an affiliation fee for this. This is not why we do it.
Obviously I don’t ever buy those stupid little plastic wrapped packs of tissues. I use reusable handkerchiefs or, if desperate, toilet roll.
Butthere are times when a box of tissues come in handy …and then there are problems.
Buy what you think is a cardboard box of paper tissues and you may well find, once you rip open the dispenser bit, the hole is reinforced with a plastic collar….grrrrr
Unless you buy the cheapo ranges – so cheap they don’t bother to reinforce the hole.
Snot rags! Ughhh….. Remember the old days when you had a hanky tucked up your sleeve or even in the hem of your knickers, your home-made knitted knickers that is? Long gone are the clammy times of snot rags, hurrah for the disposable tissue….
Unless of course you care for trees, don’t like waste and won’t use plastic.
I fall into all of those categories so I don’t buy plastic packed throwaway paper hankies but I must admit the idea of using cloth made me squirm. Still needs must and I bought a whole load of reusable fabric, washable handkerchiefs from Huddersfield Market
and then some more from Organic Alley.
She sells organic, fair trade cotton hankies. She also has a whole load of info on why you are a better person for using reusables and how cotton hankies are not at all nasty….really.
I have been using mine for ages and they are a lot more comfortable than paper – not so scratchy on the nose. lighter on the environment and really useful for all sorts of other things too. Try them you will be amazed.
Which Hankie
Handkerchiefs come in all different weights of cotton and sizes.
Heavy cotton are good for big blows with lots of snot but harder to wash. And of course they are bulkier.
Light weight cotton hankies are good for day to day sniffles and wiping and are easier to carry, wash and dry.
Men’s handkerchiefs are usually bigger than ladies.
Small handkerchiefs are good for one or two blows. Big ones can see more service.
Patterned handkerchiefs don’t show up the stains.
Using Your Hankies
Get lots of small hankies, use them for a couple of blows then in the laundry. Use like a papper tissue rather than keeping them in your knicker leg for ages. It also depends (and I don’t want to get to specific here) on the quality of the mucas. Thick and green and its back to disposables!
Other Uses
Handkerchiefs can be used as little bags
As a headscarf (get a larger size!)
neckerchief
And a dust mask.
Check out these wooden and natural bristle nail brushes from Wilkinsons – a bargain at 59p.
If they don’t do them any more you can buy a pricier version from Ethical Superstore from Natural Collection
Natural Collection has been supporting sustainable production, ethical innovation and green ideas since 1999. Their range is an ecologically considered collection, which highlights the importance of consumer choice in the belief that we all have huge power and responsibility to change the world according to what we choose to purchase.
The Natural Collection range is produced in harmony with the natural world, harnessing nature’s benefits without exploiting her resources. They believe in responsible manufacture, from the gathering of environmentally friendly organic and recycled materials, right through to considerations of later recyclability and biodegradability.
There is no doubt that sanitory towels are plastic heavy. Yes you knew they came packed in plastic but did you know they were made of plastic? About 90% of the materials used to make sanitary pads and liners are plastic and include polyethylene, polypropylene and polyacrylate super absorbents. You can read more here
On the other hand reusable, washable sanitary towels might sound icky. Wait! For a great write up (actually a series of great write-ups) on a range of towels read Lucy Stableford-Grieve over at the the wonderful Pie Patch blog. The info is under Muff Fluff – love it.
Now as she helpfully pointed out (and I completely forgot to mention), “not all cloth pads are plastic free. You’d have to go for all natural fabrics.
A crucial part in the construction of cloth pads is a moisture resistant backing material to avoid bleeding straight through it. The vast majority of cloth pads use synthetic fleece or waterproof PUL for this. There are a few makers who offer wool interlock as a backing option (Mama Kloth or Honour Your Flow are two, I believe).
Then there are the top & core fabrics. Plush/minky is a popular top fabric because of its wicking properties but it is entirely synthetic. I have cotton, cotton jersey, bamboo velour, & cotton velour in my stash. You’d have to go for organic cotton to be sure of avoiding plastic entirely.
BUT overall I am happy to compromise on this because eliminating disposables in itself makes such a huge difference to my household waste. And cloth pads can last many, many years before they come to the end of their life. But if you want to be truly plastic-free it’s worth considering.”
Buy
I have never used these pads (being more than happy with my Mooncup), so cannot give a personal recommendations. Though I know people who rave about them. Sadly no one who can be bothered writing me a guest post. And yes I will try guilt tripping. In the mean time if anyone else out there feels fancy guest posting?
I can send you back to Piepatch and Lucy Stableford-Grieve who seems to have spent her life in the saddle and reiewed almost every pad available! You may want to read her reviews before committing to buy.
Here is and example of a ready made pad made in England with a review by Eco Fluffy Mama
Or the ubergreen who are handy with the needle canmake their own. You can find a pattern for home made sanitary towels with lots of useful info here and there are lots more on Pinterest
Products to deal with menstruation are plastic heavy ( see some stats). They are made from plastic, come wrapped in plastic, block drains and dirty the sea shore. You really don’t want that kind of rubbish inside you, your bin or your environment. The way to cut your trash is to get a menstrual cup.
Menstrual Cup
This is little cup that you use internally. It collects the flow and is then emptied washed and reused. Before you squeal and scream read this series of posts by one of the best environemental writers around.
Really, try them, they are easy peasy and the slight inconvenience is more than compensated for by the increased comfort factor. They are far more pleasant then other internal protection.
Some of the many advantages include
Never run out of protection
No need to take your bag to the loo with you
Great for travelling in wild and rugged places
No need to put of dirty, plastic sanitary items in the bin next to the loo.
Much more comfortable
Saves you loads of money
Don’t see your pantyliner out on the beach
Choose
I like Moon cups – made from silicone check out the site for more info. You can buy Mooncups in shops including
Natural rubber cups are available from Australia.They are called, rather dungeons and dragon like, The Keeper. It’s the same principle as the Mooncup but made of natural rubber rather than silicone. They will ship, see their website
I have long had the complexion of a teenager – all spots and grease. While in India this situation got a whole lot worse. In desperation I made myself a face wash out of apple cider vinegar. I normally use this to make a conditioning rinse for my hair so I figured that’s what’s good for the clogged up hair might work for the blogged pores. It works – it really does.
