Month: March 2019

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Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Brands

by Christina Manuel ♥ 2 Comments

Women use an estimated total of 12 cosmetic products daily that contain over 168 different chemicals. Some of these chemicals cannot be broken down in the environment and can pollute aquatic life. Instead, consider these brands that follow green practices.

Chemicals and packing used in cosmetic production can pollute the environment. (Photo by Bruno Glätsch)

Kjaer Weis

All ingredients used are certified natural or organic. Packaging includes stainless steel compacts that can be reused and have a minimal impact on the environment.

Elate

Bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic packaging because it’s biodegradable. (Photo by Tuan Nguyen Khac)

All compacts and tools are made of bamboo. Elate also offers cosmetic refills wrapped in seed paper that you can plant to grow flowers or herbs instead of discarding.

Alima Pure

All compacts for powder and foundations are reusable. The brand is carbon neutral and also donates one percent of annual gross revenue to 1% For The Planet, which supports environmental groups working to protect the planet.

100% Pure

Instead of adding extra chemicals, 100% Pure uses essential oils as a natural fragrance. (Photo by Marina)

This company describes natural ingredients as, “from nature and ONLY undergo chemical changes due to biological processes such as fermentation, distillation, and cold processing.” The color in products is made from fruit, vegetable, tea and other plant products. Fragrances are made from essential oils.

Vapour

Vapour uses only natural ingredients and packages cosmetics in aluminum and glass, which are recyclable. The company operates in a USDA organic laboratory that uses Forest Stewardship Council certified paper and soy ink produced from a wind-powered facility.

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Reduce Your Flu Season Waste

by Christina Manuel ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With winter finally coming to a close, aren’t you glad flu season is ending too?

Wrong! In the U.S. the flu season is usually between December and February but peaks in January and March until it comes to an end around May. If you’re a victim of the late-winter flu, combat your symptoms in a more natural and less wasteful way instead of running to the drug store and buying pharmaceuticals that can end up polluting the environment.

Curb that cough

Calm your cough with a spoonful of honey and lemon. (Photo by Steve Buissinne)

Like most things bought at a supermarket, household medicines are sold in an unnecessary amount of packaging. In 2015, 77.9 million tons of packaging waste were thrown away. Skip the packaging and add a squeeze of lemon to a spoonful of honey and let it dissolve in your mouth before swallowing to coat your throat and curb your cough.

For a sore throat

Ditch single-use tea bags and make your tea with a reusable tea infuser. (Photo by Couleur)

You’ve probably heard your mom say this a thousand times, but drinking tea can help soothe your throat. Cut out single-use tea bag waste by making your own tea with a reusable tea infuser. You can heat up this simple ginger tea recipe to soothe your throat. Don’t forget you can also compost your biodegradable scraps like ginger and lemon peels.

Knockout your headache

Try using essential oils the next time you have a headache. (Photo by Mitchf1)

Drop that pill bottle and instead take a few drops of peppermint essential oil and massage it into your forehead and temples. The cooling effect peppermint has on the skin can relieve migraines and headaches. You can also use an aroma diffuser and add drops of lavender or eucalyptus essential oils to inhale and relieve headache tension and sinus pressure.

Ditch the tissues

In the U.S. a person will use 50 pounds of paper tissue products per year, and the EPA estimates that 28 percent of household trash is paper. Ditch tissues and purchase an organic tissue book with cloth pages that you can wash and reuse.

For more severe congestion, purchase a neti pot to flush out mucus and clear your sinuses with a saline solution. You can reuse the neti pot every flu season.

Disposal


Flushing medicine down the toilet can pollute the environment. (Photo by Andrew Martin)

According to Mother Nature Network, more than 100 different pharmaceuticals have been found in bodies of water around the world. If your symptoms persist and you end up relying on pharmaceuticals from a physician, make sure to properly dispose of your medicine so it doesn’t end up in the environment.

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Sustainable Workout Habits

by Christina Manuel ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Whether you exercise at a gym or at home, there are plenty of ways to make your workout habits more eco-friendly.

Ditch electric machinery

Ditch the treadmill and complete your cardio routine outside. (Photo by Profivdeos)

The average treadmill emits 110 pounds of carbon dioxide annually if used two and a half hours per week, which is the government recommendation. Instead, complete your cardio workout outside by biking, hiking or mapping your own running route.

Buy sustainable workout clothing

Buy workout clothing from brands like Sundried that are partnered with Low Carbon Innovation Fund to ensure they have the smallest carbon footprint possible. You can also try BAM clothing made from biodegradable bamboo cotton.

Resell or donate old gym items

Donate your athletic shoes to your local Nike store. (Photo by Michal Jeník)

Sell and buy gently-used gym equipment to cut down on waste. You can also donate used athletic shoes to Nike to be ground up and repurposed.

Workout at home

The average passenger vehicle emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year. Cut down on greenhouse gas emission and workout at home with items you already have as substitute weights.

Showering after the gym

Reduce unnecessary plastic packaging by using bar soap, shampoo and conditioner. (Photo by kohnrebecca0)

              A standard shower head uses 2.5 gallons of water every minute. After your workout, take a shower in 10 minutes or less. Freshen up with bar soap and bar shampoo and conditioner, made with eco-friendly ingredients and no packaging. You can also use bar deodorant that contains essential oils instead of aluminum.