RickyWith sustainability and plastic waste frequently in the headlines (finally!), everyone is busy looking for alternatives to single-use plastics and other materials. When you properly look at what single-use plastic you’re using, it can considerably add up.
My local council are fantastic at recycling so many products at the kerbside. However, when the new recycling system came in around 5ish years ago (or more), the general waste bin was mainly being filled up with packaging. Yes, this has slowly gone down over the years, especially with new recyclable packaging coming into the market (I’ve noticed this majorly with vegetarian food at Tesco), it could be much better.
Both Laura and I have been sharing products with each other that we’ve discovered and it was about time we shared these with you! We’ve searched far and wide for some unique products which are either sustainable, biodegradable or recyclable.
I hope you like many of these items for the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. Let me know in the comments of any other brands you’ve discovered that we should check out!
For the Bathroom
When it comes to hand washing, obviously the best thing to get is a bar of soap. However, if you’re like me, I really hate using soap. A bottle of handwash is always better! The Iona Handwash by Tincture is gentle enough to be used frequently and will cleanse and care for your hands. It has a pH neutral formulation which is kind on all skin types and includes active botanical ingredients such as chamomile, sage, bay and clove. The handwash is made right here in the UK (so fewer air miles) with all natural ingredients and is fully biodegradable. The packaging is easily recyclable too – perfect!
Have you seen those horrific pictures and videos of used toothbrushes washed up on beaches? Put it simply, that plastic toothbrush you use for a couple of months could take about 500 years to decompose! This Bamboo Toothbrush from Atlas & Ortus not only looks great, it’s completely natural. Made out of 100% bamboo, this is completely biodegradable and comes in recyclable/compostable packaging. At this moment in time, hardly any large supermarkets sell bamboo toothbrushes. So please support the small businesses, such as Atlas & Ortus, that invest in finding alternatives to plastic toothbrushes!
Buying sustainable products doesn’t mean you have to skimp out on buying beautiful decor pieces for the home. You can purchase some incredible sustainable or recycled products from many high street and online stores. This Assini Hammered Glass Bottle from Shimu would look great in the bathroom or anywhere else in the home. The bottles are handmade and carefully hammered into shape. The texture and character of each bottle make them very unique. Plus, the bottles are made out of recycled glass which makes them sustainable.
For the Bedroom
Now, this is something a little different. Rather than lugging home a huge bedframe from a furniture shop, this bed frame is made out of cardboard and comes in a box. The Room in a Box comes flatpack and it’s as simple as pulling the frame out to expand it. Place your mattress on top and you’ve got a bed ready to sleep on! Made with AVANA corrugated cardboard, this makes the bed 100% recyclable. A minimum of 70% of the cardboard is made from recycled paper fibres, with the remainder coming from sustainable forestry. It may be cardboard, but due to its unique design, it’s very sturdy. Perfect for as a guest bed or even your main bed!
When I showed Laura this duvet, she was so surprised! To be fair, I was the same when it arrived in my inbox! This is the first ever duvet to be made using 100% renewable energy in The Fine Bedding Company’s award-winning Eco Factory. And you’d never guess what the duvet is made of. The incredibly soft and light fluffy filling is made out of plastic waste, yeah you read that right, plastic! The 10.5 tog double duvet is made out of approximately 120 PET plastic bottles! It’s not just the filling which is great for the eco-conscious, the cover is made out of 100% recycled materials. It’s incredibly soft and hypoallergenic and will keep you nice and comfy in bed. To top off all these green credentials, the packaging is made out of 100% recycled packaging and is fully recyclable. If you’re looking for a new duvet, make sure you get this Fine Bedding Eco Duvet!
A very quick and easy way to be more sustainable with bedroom furnishings is to opt for 100% organic cotton. With the price of cotton on par with many synthetic bedding of similar quality, cotton is definitely the best way to go! The Scenario Organic 100% Cotton Duvet Cover from La Redoute is extremely good value and comes in multiple colours. It’s made out of organic cotton which has been produced without the use of pesticides or chemical products. If you’ve ever dreamt of hotel-like bedding, this is what you need!
For the Kitchen
On my recent visit to Lakeland, I spotted these highly versatile Stasher Reusable Food Storage Bags. So what makes them better than the plastic ones? Well firstly, it’s reusable so no waste. It’s made out of pure premium food grade silicone. It can be used to store food in the freezer, fridge and it’s heat-resistant up to 250c – now that is incredible! The patented pinch-lock seal is airtight, watertight and leakproof. There are so many uses for this be it storing fresh food, dairy or any leftovers from a meal. They’re also great for marinating food! Don’t leave these at home on your holiday either, use them to put your phone in whilst on the beach, storing your cabin-sized liquids and more. When the bag does come to the end of its long life, they are 100% recyclable. I’m definitely buying a few of these!
Time to ditch the cling-film for something reusable which also looks great! These Beeswax Wraps from Atlas & Ortus have an incredibly unique design compared to other beeswax wraps I’ve seen. They’re reusable, biodegradable and can be wrapped around food to help keep them fresh. These have so many uses such as wrapping up a sandwich, cakes, pastries or covering over a bowl of food. What’s even better is that they’re individually made in Chelmsford, Essex, using local organic wax. I love when a company is proud to share exactly where their product is made!
If you’re taking lunch into work, you’ve got plenty of choices as to what to pack your lunch in. You can opt for plastic (which may not be recyclable), or glass (which is sometimes heavy) or something versatile and natural like this Eco Lunch Bag from Chalk & Moss. This is a heavy canvas made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. It features adjustable straps depending on how much you’ve got stored inside. When it gets a bit dirty, simply wash it. It comes in a choice of 3 colours and can be used for all other things such as a wash bag, storage etc.
One thing which really annoys me at the supermarket is plastic bags for loose fruit and veg. Why offer the plastic bags? I may look stupid with them loose in my trolley before getting to the checkout, but I don’t need the plastic bag. What I do need are these Carrinet Veggio Reusable Fruit and Veg Bags from Lakeland. They come as a pack of 5 and these can be easily stored in your reusable bag. They’re made out of a high-quality polyester net which is extremely hard wearing and have been stress-tested to 10kg. So you can fill them up with all the fruit and veg you need! The mesh makes it easy to wash the produce in one go and can be simply left to dry on the draining board.
I hope you liked this round-up of sustainable homeware alternatives! Please let me know your favourites in comments below.
Ricky
Laura