Efforts to fight plastic pollution and promote sustainability have gained traction in Hollywood, with celebrities and brands endorsing zero-waste and plastic-free products. Blueland, Grove, S'well, and Dropps are among the brands offering eco-friendly alternatives for home cleaning, beauty, and personal care. Axiology, a favorite of celebrity makeup artist Katey Denno, offers a plastic-free makeup set. Izzy provides a refillable and reusable mascara, while MakeUp Eraser offers washable and reusable makeup remover cloths. Eu'Genia has a grapefruit face and body moisturizer in a reusable tin, and NOLE offers plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars made with sustainably grown batana oil. Zero Waste Essentials has a mini bamboo hair brush, and SUPERZERO offers a solid hand treatment bar. Cocokind provides reusable facial rounds made from bamboo and organic cotton, and Evolvetogether offers dissolvable powdered face wash packets. PÄ€PR Cosmetics has a multi-purpose balm in biodegradable packaging, and Lulu Organics offers a dry shampoo in a recyclable cardboard container. Bite offers a refillable deodorant in recyclable packaging, and Oui the People provides a stainless steel razor in a recyclable container. LastSwab offers a reusable cotton swab, and SuperBee offers toothpaste tablets in reusable, plastic-free packaging. Viking Revolution provides shaving soap in recyclable packaging, and Zero Waste Outlet offers a plastic-free sink cleaning kit. Almond Cow offers a plant milk maker, and W&P has a clean kitchen storage set. Blueland offers a plastic-free cleaning essentials kit, and Dropps offers laundry detergent pods in compostable packaging. Amazon offers reusable cleaning cloths made from absorbent fabric, and Grove provides concentrated cleaners in recyclable packaging. Public Goods offers compostable trash bags, and Force of Nature has a DIY multi-purpose cleaner kit. Package Free Shop offers wool dryer balls, and S'well offers reusable stainless steel water bottles. Cadence offers a skincare set in reusable magnetic capsules, and Stojo provides a collapsible silicone sandwich box. These zero-waste swaps from Hollywood-loved brands can help individuals reduce their plastic waste and carbon footprint.
In addition to the efforts of Hollywood celebrities and brands, individuals are finding creative ways to reduce waste and promote sustainability in their daily lives. A homeowner on Reddit recently shared a creative way to reuse bedsheet packaging by using it to store shoes while traveling. The packaging, which is typically made of durable material, can be repurposed for various uses, such as gift bags, packing cubes, art supply carriers, fabric scraps, and storage for adult items. This upcycling tip not only helps reduce single-use waste but also adds to the sustainable lifestyle that many are embracing.
Alora Baby, a startup backed by government grants, is aiming to revolutionize the baby equipment industry by introducing greener and more sustainable options for manufacturing and recycling baby products [36971c2b]. The company is starting with bedside cribs and is focused on shifting the narrative towards a circular economy. Alora Baby's founder, Angus Whiston, believes that better products should be cheaper at scale and plans to generate intellectual property through research projects to improve margins and reduce production costs. The company's remanufacturing process involves industrial processes such as sanding and re-boring to make each individual part of the product genuinely new. Alora Baby also emphasizes the importance of consumer behavior change in achieving a true circular economy. The company aims to have an authentic, practical impact on environmental sustainability and develop a non-greenwashing approach to manufacturing baby gear [36971c2b].
Breastfeeding should be seen as an environmentally friendly practice that helps the economy grow and is good for long-term development. Commercial milk formulas have environmental and health concerns as they use a lot of water and have big environmental costs. Breastfeeding is a natural, renewable resource that produces no trash and has a small impact on the environment. It also has economic benefits and saves money on healthcare costs. Supporters suggest including breastfeeding in national budgets and GDP calculations to promote female equality and sustainable development. Recognizing breastfeeding as a carbon offset could help promote and support breastfeeding, improve the health of women and children, and make the switch to sustainable methods more fair. Breastfeeding reduces waste and protects natural resources, while formula use creates a lot of trash and adds to the carbon footprint. Over 900,000 tons of CO2 could be saved each year if 90% of U.S. families fed their babies only breast milk for six months. Breastfeeding is important for protecting the earth.
Denise Braun, co-founder and president of All About Waste, a circular economy consulting firm, is at the forefront of the movement towards a waste-free world. Braun's career evolution began in 2001 when she volunteered for disadvantaged communities and participated in beach clean-ups in Brazil. She then worked on LEED projects in Brazil before moving to California in 2011 to focus on zero waste and the circular economy. At All About Waste, Braun and her team provide services such as policy development, compliance, stakeholder engagement, waste audits, and circular economy consulting. They prioritize capability building within their workforce and have a particular interest in sectors with high waste volumes and landfill diversion challenges. Braun's favorite projects are portfolio projects that standardize zero waste practices. She also highlights the key drivers behind the growing interest in a circular economy, including legal requirements, cost reductions, carbon emissions reductions, community impact, and brand elevation. Outside of work, Braun actively engages with schools and small groups to inspire and learn from them, shops wisely to reduce waste generation, and enjoys gardening [fb7b0167].
Single-use waste accounts for nearly 90% of waste in landfills, making it crucial to find alternatives and reduce plastic pollution. By embracing reusable options and creative upcycling ideas, individuals can contribute to protecting the environment and minimizing their environmental impact. The idea shared by the homeowner on Reddit has been praised by other users who expressed their desire to avoid throwing things away and find new uses for items that would otherwise end up in the landfill [87b1e840].
Good Sammy, a Western Australian organization, is actively working to reduce waste and improve ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices. They sell pre-loved clothing and household items to reduce waste and partner with Fibre Economy to debrand and reuse branded workwear. Good Sammy also collaborates with South Metropolitan TAFE and Curtin University to drive the circular economy. They have a Net Zero Action Plan and Resource Recovery Plan in place to reduce carbon emissions and divert items from landfill. Good Sammy is also a Containers for Change refund operator, encouraging recycling and waste reduction. Another organization, Foodbank WA, focuses on redistributing excess or imperfect food to those in need. They have reduced waste through their Community Kitchen and donate organic waste to RichGro for fertilizers. Both Good Sammy and Foodbank WA welcome donations, volunteers, and corporate partnerships to support their waste reduction and sustainability efforts [eb161780].
Zero-waste fashion is gaining traction as a necessity, challenging the throwaway culture of fast fashion. It focuses on reducing textile waste by choosing versatile, quality pieces, caring for clothes consciously, and embracing second-hand chic. Zero-waste fashion designs and produces clothing without creating textile waste, encouraging consumers to make mindful decisions when purchasing, caring for, and disposing of garments. Seasonal outfitting within a zero-waste framework emphasizes versatile pieces and sustainable materials. Tips for zero-waste living include responsibly decluttering, prioritizing ethical brands, and cultivating mindful shopping habits. Care for clothes consciously by washing when needed and repairing damages. Embrace second-hand items to reduce waste and promote circular fashion [ae2b3e36].
Fast fashion, characterized by rapid production and distribution of clothing to reflect the latest trends, is causing serious environmental and social consequences. The global fast fashion-dominated clothing and textile sector is responsible for 2-8% of global carbon emissions and 9% of annual microfiber pollution to oceans. It also uses about 215 trillion liters of water annually and exploits workers in inhuman conditions for little pay. To build a more sustainable wardrobe, individuals can buy fewer items of higher quality from sustainably conscious brands, repair, reuse, and recycle clothing, prioritize natural fibers, and choose simple, timeless pieces made from safe, recycled, or renewable materials. However, it is important to be diligent when shopping and make informed choices as most fashion retailers cannot guarantee the sustainability of their clothing. The ubiquity of greenwashing across the fashion industry makes it hard to determine the credibility of claims made by fast-fashion retailers [a1d77d67].
Plum, the vegan beauty brand founded in 2014, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It offers over 300 innovative products and continues to innovate in self-care. Plum has been a game-changer in India’s beauty industry, setting new ethical and effective standards. The brand has released multiple films showcasing the 10-year journey. Shankar Prasad, Founder and CEO at Plum, expressed gratitude to customers, partners, employees, investors, and stakeholders. Plum has pioneered the beauty industry by offering high-quality, animal-friendly products and promoting sustainable packaging. They were India’s first brand to promote recycled packaging and reduce plastic waste. Plum aims to continue innovating and creating well-loved skincare, haircare, body, and makeup products [e9eb48a5].