Recycling - the beauty of smarter choices

The beauty of smarter choices

Caroline Topping looks at more ways we can refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot

The above has become a bit of a mission for me. A couple of years ago I started thinking about my mother’s dish cloths. I have no idea why I used washing up sponges when I set up home. Ease, maybe, or my partner’s influence on me. But seeing how many germs they harbour, how dirty they become and knowing they have to be thrown into my incineration bin has made them a ‘no go’. So I started knitting my own cotton ones, which can be used, washed with my other laundry and used again until they start to fall to pieces…when they can then be re-knitted. For stubborn washing up that needs something more rigid, I use a hard scraper and some of my friends use a piece of coconut shell. Moving on to deodorant, some time ago I put a request on Facebook ‘What do people use for deodorant which has longevity, is better for the planet and uses minimal packaging?’ I was pointed in the direction of ‘Pitrok’ natural crystal deodorant stick. I have to admit the £5 price tag did make my eyes water, but I’m glad I made the change. That container of Pitrok has served me for nearly two years, saved me approximately 10 cans of alternative spray deodorant (my previous item of choice) and left me with only one small plastic container to dispose of. A purchase I will be definitely be repeating when it finally expires. My latest find and, again, something which has previously accumulated a lot of waste, is my daily skin care products. I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily, so that’s three items of packaging I’m left with every couple of months. I emailed the manufacturer of my current product of choice and asked them to collect this packaging in and recycle, but they replied they had no plans currently to do that. So I found a company called ‘Beauty Kitchen’. The product is made in England, they don’t test on animals, they take back all their packaging, wash and reuse it. This is a total win-win-win for me and the product feels great on my skin. Finally, I have to say that I love my ‘Who Gives a Crap’ toilet paper. They donate 50% of their profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world. It feels strong, lasts ages and no plastic packaging.

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