When surveying the landscape of personal care, particularly the spheres of haircare and skincare, one cannot overlook the staggering problem of plastic waste. To fully comprehend the scale of this issue, here are some startling statistics:

The Shampoo Bottle Conundrum

In the United States alone, a staggering 552 million shampoo bottles find their way into landfills every year. Crafted primarily from non-recyclable plastic, these vessels require centuries to decompose, thus, accentuating our waste predicament.

The Skincare Packaging Dilemma

Skincare, another major contributor to the plastic waste problem, paints a grim picture with its alarming statistics. Astonishingly, the beauty industry was responsible for generating over 120 billion units of packaging in 2018 alone, a substantial portion of which eventually pollutes our landfills and oceans.

Microplastic Pollutants

Several personal care products hide insidious pollutants within them - microplastics such as microbeads or microfibers. These diminutive plastic particles, upon entering our rivers and oceans, contribute to water pollution and pose a substantial threat to marine life.

7 Eco-friendly Initiatives for a Plastic-Free July

As we navigate the seas of Plastic Free July, here are seven eco-conscious initiatives you can embrace:

1. Minimizing Single-Use Plastics: Shifting to compostable alternatives for single-use items like shampoo bottles can significantly reduce plastic waste. Opt for sustainable options such as shampoo bars and conditioner bars, zero-waste floss, zero-waste laundry detergent, deodorant cream, zero waste lip balm and more.

2. Choosing Plastic-Free Packaging: Prioritize personal care products encased in sustainable packaging, such as glass bottles or metal tins. Seek out brands that align with eco-friendly packaging principles.

3. Creating DIY Beauty Products: Dabble in the art of DIY beauty, using natural ingredients. This practice can lessen your reliance on store-bought products, promoting the use of simple, plastic-free ingredients.

4. Refill and Reuse: Embrace brands that provide refillable options for their haircare and skincare range. Many companies now advocate for reduced plastic waste through refillable products or mail-back schemes.

5. Solid Personal Care Products: Welcome the world of solid personal care products like shampoo bars, body wash bars, lotion bars which circumvent the necessity for plastic packaging. Such products typically come minimally packaged or wrapped in compostable materials.

6. Plastic-Free Skincare Products: Opt for skincare products that are not packaged in solid plastic. Instead, look for glass, metal packaging and refillable options.

7. Supporting Sustainable & Small Brands: Patronize haircare and skincare brands that champion sustainability and transparent packaging policies. Rally behind companies that are actively committed to reducing plastic waste and bolstering eco-friendly practices.

At EcoRoots zero waste store, we are on mission to help you reduce your impact and we offer products that are carefully and sustainably made for you and the planet. Check out our low-waste and plastic-free everyday essentials here. Good choices can make great changes!