12 Lifestyle
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
Start your day with a plastic-free beauty routine Sustainability is the buzzword right now. However, being eco-friendly with our beauty choices is more than a trend – it’s for the future of our planet Many of us love treating ourselves to•a new beauty product and wait eagerly for the delivery day to try it out. But how often are we shocked by the amount of packaging that comes with one • bottle of foundation? little Statistics report that 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry, including lids and cellophane, much of which is superfluous, non-recyclable and ends up in our landfills and in our oceans. It’s estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic makes its way into our oceans each year. A trend, which if continued, will mean we’ll have more plastic in our oceans than fi sh by 2050, according to the United Nations. Now is the perfect time to take a look at the beauty cabinet and make some simple swaps to reduce the amount of plastic we use in the packaging of our beauty essentials. Tessa Clarke, co-founder and
CEO of the UK’s top free sharing app OLIO, comments: “The fact that the beauty industry creates so much waste is shocking, and it’s easy to make a difference by making a few simple swaps. “It’s also worth looking at the products we no longer use. Instead of binning them, why not try giving them away via the OLIO app? The shampoo that doesn’t work for you could be perfect for someone else, and those old eye shadows could be just the ticket for a craft project. By giving things away, rather than throwing them away you reduce waste and help a neighbour out.”
Switch shower gel for a bar of soap Hand washing has taken on a whole new importance during our pandemic era. Many believe that soap dries out your skin but it’s simply not true – there are some great, moisturising soaps available. Buy a big box of soap in
bulk to reduce packaging through multiple orders, and why not make it enjoyable with a soap bar from luxury British fragrance house Miller Harris?
Get rid of disposables Use either a safety razor or a reusable razor with disposable heads. Try Freedom Razor – you will never have to buy a new handle again because once the investment is made you will only have to purchase replacement blades – economical for the wallet but also the environment. Also, replace your plastic toothbrush with a bamboo one instead, such as a Matana toothbrush. If you have an electric toothbrush, there are also bamboo replacement heads.
Reuse the container Choose a moisturiser which comes in a glass jar or metal tin. There are lots of different brands available and once you have fi nished it’s
• •
•
easy to recycle or reuse the jar. And it’s not just moisturisers, but face serums, foundations, and many other cosmetic essentials. • at the brand Ethosa, Have a look which launched its Powder-toGel Body Wash Blend Your Own Home Kit which includes a reusable aluminium bottle, shower powder, and oil-based fragrances.
Try refi llable It’s estimated that 1 billion lipstick containers end up in landfill each year, so it is best to buy refillable make-up and beauty items wherever you can. Charlotte Tilbury does a fantastic refillable lipstick range. Great for those that care about sustainability, New Wash shampoo comes in a handy subscription so you can sign up for regular refills at a frequency of your choosing. Imagine never having to pick up a bottle of shampoo, ever again?
Go slowly, you don’t have to become a green machine overnight! If you’re not ready to give up your bottled shampoo and conditioner, don’t fret. Natalie Elliott, campaigner and global speaker on toxic beauty, and founder of SAKRID self-care products offers some advice. She says: “Make small changes at first. Change your shampoo and conditioner or your facewash and moisturiser first and see how your body responds to this change. “You may find you experience small break-outs in acne at first as the body can finally effectively detox itself of all of the toxins that have been building up. But it usually only takes one to two weeks for the body to love the changes you have made.” by Laura Forsyth
Perfect eco-friendly Plastic-free choices toys for budding minds for everyday living Win a gift hamper with a range of Ethiqana artisanal products, toys and games. Worth £102! Enter online at checklists.co.uk/win/ethiqanahamper Ethiqana is a convenient, stylish, ethical and sustainable alternative to the usual. Economic empowerment, creative pursuit and ecofriendliness form the core of their mission. Enter the competition to win a gift hamper worth £102 containing a range of their artisanal products, toys and games. Ethiqana’s unique range of handmade wooden toys are coloured with organic plantbased food safe dyes without any chemicals making them completely safe for kids. As all parents know, there isn’t much that escapes the mouths of toddlers and young children. All of Ethiqana’s toys are carefully crafted and rigorously tested for safety to comply with CE safety standards. Their bright colours and tactile nature encourage children to use their imagination and creativity, without being influenced by sounds commonly found in battery operated toys.
checklists.co.uk
Their production partner is a non-profit sustainable livelihoods initiative for artisans that helps preserve this ancient artform and also looks after their welfare.
Find out more Visit ethiqana.com/wooden-toys to shop the full range and enjoy 10% off with code AUT10, valid until 30 November. Find them on @Ethiqana
@checklistsocial
How often do you think about the sustainability of what you buy? Every purchase adds to your carbon footprint and contributes to the health of the world. The Plastic Free Shop believes that shopping can be better for everyone. By being conscious of what they’re buying, people can easily make positive changes, while supporting businesses that work towards a more sustainable future. That’s why The Plastic Free Shop exists! The Plastic Free Shop helps you switch to good-quality everyday products that are planet friendly; from shampoo bars, toothpaste tablets and reusable coffee cups to wildflower seed balls, linen beach towels and much more. Sustainability is at the very core of The Plastic Free Shop, including reusing packaging for the parcels they post. The shop also doesn’t run sales, so you don’t need to wait for Black (or Green!) Friday to start making changes at home. The Plastic Free Shop encourages people to shop consciously
by stocking effective, long-lasting products and pricing them fairly for both customers and suppliers alike. After all, sustainability is so much more than just buying ‘green’.
Shop online This month, they’re supporting your efforts to reduce plastic, by giving 2% of your purchases during COP26 to the fantastic litter-picking charity, The 2 Minute Foundation, who are devoted to cleaning up the planet two minutes at a time. Just shop at theplasticfreeshop.co.uk
•
