Reusable Roundup
The idea of living a greener, more sustainable lifestyle has grown significantly over the past few years—states are banning plastic bags, the #trashtag challenge got people all around the world to clean up their favorite spaces, and, of course, there’s the #StopSucking campaign against plastic straws. We’re all too aware of the current climate crisis, but when it comes to finding larger solutions, or feeling like we can make a significant impact, we tend to get a little lost sometimes. If you’re ready to join the movement (or continue your journey) by voting with your dollar, here are a few brands that can help you:
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EarthHero is an eco-friendly online marketplace with a high-quality selection of curated brands and products to help consumers make environmentally friendly choices when purchasing products. With a variety of filters depending on the category, you can sort results to best fit what you’re looking for. For example, in the school supplies section, you can sort by age so you aren’t sifting through kindergarten level supplies for your middle schooler. In general, you can use filters like “cruelty-free”, “minimal packaging”, “plastic-free packaging”, “recycled content” and more to find products that align with your personal values. The website has a Zero-waste section where you can find products like reusable storage bags, straws, and water bottles as well as compost bins and other accessories to get home compost kits started. They also feature clothing products for men, women, and kids, and a series of kits that would make great gifts this upcoming holiday season! On top of all of the products it offers, EarthHero itself is a certified B Corp, member of 1% for the Planet, and a carbon-free partner, so you know you’re supporting a company that cares.
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Loop is a new service offered by Kroger and Walgreens that has been getting a lot of press lately for offering well-known brands in sustainable packaging. If you’ve seen images of Haagen Dazs in aluminum containers floating around your social media feeds, that’s Loop. It delivers your products right to your door in a branded tote, no subscription fee or membership fees, just a deposit on the packaging that your products come in. This eliminates packaging waste and other materials, and makes returning your empty containers easy. Once you’ve finished using your products, simply place the containers back into the tote and schedule a pickup time. Loop is responsible for cleaning and recycling all packaging so you don’t have to worry about a thing. One of the catches, however, is that the deposit for each container varies significantly. A bottle of Pantene shampoo only has a $2 deposit while a container of Clorox wipes has a $10 deposit (Note: the high price of the Clorox deposit might have to do with the fact that Loop also cleans and recycles the used wipes). Deposits can add up quickly and get expensive, especially when the containers hold slightly less product than their in-store counterparts. Since the company is new, they also don’t have the largest selection of brands or diversity within the brands yet (only 5 flavors of Haagen Dazs? Come on), but we’re looking forward to seeing how they continue to grow!
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By Humankind is a small brand determined to help you clean up your bathroom routine. Their deodorants and mouthwash tablets each come with refillable containers that are guaranteed for life. These refills can be ordered one at a time or on a subscription basis. They also have shampoo bars and bamboo cotton swabs to help you reduce your plastic use. Added bonus: every order comes with free shipping.
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Canned Water
Obviously single-use plastic is a problem, but when you’re on the go, it’s hard not to reach for that cold, plastic bottle of water. More consumers are demanding that companies like Coca Cola change their Dasani packing to aluminum to make it easier to recycle. Pepsi Co has started doing this with their brands, Aquafina and Bubly seltzer, and they plan on making LIFEWTR containers out of 100% recycled packaging (which is better than virgin plastic, but there’s still room for improvement). Vita Coco started the brand ever & ever which exclusively comes in aluminum cans for both its seltzer and still water options. Unlike the other brands, ever & ever's messaging focuses on the recyclability of aluminum and prides itself that its cans are made from 70% recycled material.
As the sustainability movement continues to pick up speed, we expect to see more brands taking sustainable initiatives. The more consumers that make eco-conscious decisions, the more brands have to take notice and change their behavior to keep up. So, if you’ve been feeling like you want to take steps towards a greener, more sustainable lifestyle, but haven’t been exactly sure how to start, we hope this little roundup has been helpful. Or, if you’re already on the path towards personal sustainability, but are looking for new ways to clean up, check out our video with EarthHero founder Ryan Lewis. Your choices make a difference, so choose wisely!
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