Group 7
We all buy and use products to keep ourselves feeling and looking good. But what if we told you there is a way you can achieve those same results while being more eco-friendly simultaneously? Below you will learn more about five sustainable hygiene products that will change how you consciously consume in your daily life.
1. Bamboo Toothbrushes
According to Dr. Jeremy Dixon of Gramercy Pediatric Dentistry, one billion toothbrushes are thrown out annually in the United States. No need to fear, though; bamboo toothbrushes are a better alternative as they are naturally biodegradable, leaving our landfills free of unnecessary plastic. For example, some companies like Better & Better design their bamboo toothbrushes to have reusable handles, leaving only the brush head needing to be replaced. So be sure to give a bamboo toothbrush a go and be confident in the knowledge you gained on how it will better our planet.
2. Natural Deodorant
We all want a deodorant that works well and smells good, but did you know that many harmful chemicals in most deodorants cause harm not only to yourself but even to marine life? You heard that right! Most deodorants have antiperspirants that contain a chemical called triclosan. Triclosan can wash off your body and into the water, causing harm to organisms living in the water. The good news is natural deodorants don't use chemicals like triclosan, and you stop the cycle of hurting the environment more.
3. Safety Razors
Are you tired of painful razor burns? If you are, a great solution would be to switch to a safety razor made entirely of stainless steel. Traditional razors with more blades do not guarantee a better shave. More irritation and cuts can be caused by passing more blades over the skin. Safety razors, however, utilize one blade, reducing the feeling of pain after shaving. Not to mention Safety razors are entirely recyclable, leading to less waste and a healthier planet.
4. Bar Soap
We all need something to wash our hands with; the hard part may lie in whether to buy bar soap or liquid soap. While bar and liquid soap have been shown to be equally effective, bar soap comes out on top because of its sustainability. The packaging itself on bar soap does not include plastic-like containers of liquid soap. A study in 2009 in Environmental Science & Technology found that almost 20 times more energy is required for packaging plastic versus producing cardboard packing for bar soap.
5. Bamboo Toilet Paper
Did you know that bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, growing up to 35 inches per day? Using bamboo toilet paper is also soft and breaks down quickly. All these facts make bamboo toilet paper an excellent type of toilet paper to use instead of standard toilet paper. Due to the rapidly growing plant, bamboo is a perfect material for a high-volume item like toilet paper.
Written by: Hailey Lambert, Mary Truong, Tianyu Shui,
Katrina Kowalczyk, Alexa Carpenter