5 minute read
Pompom plastic-free choices
Smile Lifestyle Inspiration Smile T HIS is how two mums responded to our global plastics crisis …Cecily Henderson and Katherine Rhodes talk silicone bibs, bamboo We are not advocating for parents to throw toothbrushes and how families can manage a plastic-free lifestyle… away what they have What inspired you to set up PomPom? already but rather to make a different I launched PomPom with a great friend, Katherine Rhodes. We set up the venture choice next time they in response to the plastic crisis, as parents ourselves we were drowning in colourful are shopping. plastic – the most convenient and conventional route – but recognised how We started trawling local shops and much we, and our kids, were adding to the online. The mind boggles with options world’s plastic problem. – how to tell what works, what breaks,
Katherine and I have four children what leaks; the ‘mumma blogs’ are between us (ages three, two, one and a world within themselves! Then of twenty-months), and when we both course, half the options are ugly. The decided to start looking for alternatives, inconvenient truth rears its head again. we discovered that finding good looking, So slowly we made time. We shared long lasting plastic-free designs for kids tips. Our friends started asking us for took time, energy and thought. (None of recommendations, their friends started which we had enough of!) asking us for tips… We soon realised that
we could answer those questions; what if the plastic-free choices were made easy without sacrificing aesthetics? What if those choices kept your life original and imaginative but ethical?
PomPom was born! In October, we launched our website, PomPom (https://shoppompom.com), with unusual and stylish designs that children will love, play with or use again and again. PomPom is plastic-free from product to packaging, with toys, gifts, games and playroom ideas. PomPom is the home of the indoor climbing triangle – which is an eco-friendly foldable, wooden climbing triangle, inspired by Dr Emmi Pikler.
How do you believe your products inspire families to start or sustain a more eco conscious lifestyle? We are a design-led store. We are aware that the eco-friendly decision is made so-much easier if it looks great and works brilliantly! We hand pick items created by brands that love design and creativity like we do. Our desire to be free from plastic works hand in hand with our aesthetic.
We hope to inspire families to make small swaps that are easy and actually workable but have a huge impact.
Alongside our bestselling games and toys, we stock practical, everyday products for children such as bamboo toothbrushes, shampoo bars (yes, they actually work!), beeswax wraps, silicone bibs, bamboo bowls, plates and mugs. These are all sustainable alternatives to household items that are regularly replaced.
We are not advocating for parents to throw away what they have already but rather to make a different choice next time they are shopping.
There is a lovely meme circulating with the slogan, “but it’s only 1 toothbrush” says 7.5 billion people!”
We believe that millions of families making small changes is better than a handful of people living perfectly plasticfree. Together we are stronger!
What would you say are the biggest hurdles for a family striving to be plastic-free?
Mentally striving towards plastic-free is such a huge mountain, particularly when you are juggling families, home, work, life admin and an international pandemic! Take small steps.
Plastic Packaging is a huge hurdle and avoiding it takes so much time and effort. Unless you are a superhero parent, with the patience of a saint and buckets of time on your hands, to find all the plasticfree alternatives is really tough - from food to cleaning products, as it is rare to find everything in one shop.
However, don’t give up. It doesn’t matter if you are not 100% plastic-free, it matters that you are striving to make a difference. Every time you make a choice to take your own bags to the supermarket, use your own reusable water bottle and refuse a plastic straw, you are having an impact.
Start where you can, take it in stages and as you discover for yourself and your family what works, then move on to your next swap!
The alternatives exist, it is a question of finding them and we are always happy to make recommendations, if we don’t sell it, we will know someone who will!
How can we inspire others to look at plastic-free alternatives – any tips?
By making it convenient:
Shops like PomPom have a responsibility to make the plastic-free choice convenient and desirable. If it looks great and helps the environment, the choice is made easy.
Education: We all care about what affects us, and the shocking stats of plastic affect us all. Did you know we eat a ‘credit card’ a week
of plastic through microplastics in our water and fish? Did you know that 1,000 metric tonnes of microplastics rained down on America’s US parks and wilderness? (A study hasn’t yet been done on the UK, so I don’t have those statistics.) Microplastics are going into our children when they suck on plastic toys or being released into our water when plastic bowls are run through the dishwasher. That is not fear mongering, it is fact.
Present giving: Choose to give a plastic-free gift, people notice packaging and design and crucially, usefulness. I gave all my family beeswax wraps a couple of Christmases ago along with their ‘main’ present – they are converted! If they love it, they too will be inspired in the journey.
shoppompom.com
