
How much single use plastic is lurking in your bathroom?
It can be argued that the health and beauty industry is up in the top 5 when it comes to plastic pollution. From packaging to single use plastic products, it creates over 120 billion units of plastic packaging each year.
When you consider that most of the plastic waste generated by the beauty industry takes between 500-800 years to break down, it becomes obvious that current manufacturing and purchasing practices simply aren’t sustainable.
It is estimated that only about 95% of that plastic packaging is disposed of after one use. More worryingly only 14% of it is recycled with the majority of it ending up in landfill or incinerators.
Reduce, refill, reuse
We are only now beginning to understand the extent of the issue that this is causing globally. Microplastics are being found in the water, air and now in our lungs and bloodstream.
It’s a good time to look at your bathroom and see what small swaps you can make to help reduce plastic pollution in your beauty routine.
Tackling single use plastic in dental care
It’s scary to think that your first ever tube of toothpaste is likely still sitting in a landfill somewhere, not even close to degrading. Whilst conventional toothpaste manufacturers are reluctant to ditch the single use plastic tubes, there are a growing number of plastic-free options available. Truthpaste uses glass as it’s the most sustainable way to package our products but we are always looking for new ways to improve and reduce our carbon footprint. It’s often harder to find sustainable oral care products for children, which, unfortunately, still seem to come predominantly in plastic.
Single use plastic in period products
Tampons and sanitary towels are some of the worst offenders when it comes to landfill and single use plastics. If not made from natural materials, towels can take up to 800 years to decompose and applicators around 500 years. Luckily, there has been a recent surge in plastic free alternatives including period pants, reusable towels and cups. Not only are these more comfortable to use, but they are also much more sustainable in the long term.
Are plastic cotton buds banned?
If you want a very small swap with a huge impact then this is a great place to start. Cotton itself takes around a year to decompose while plastic stems are more problematic. Their size means that they often end up in rivers or oceans adding to microplastic issues affecting marine life. Whilst these have effectively been banned for sale in the UK to end-users, they can still be sold to businesses.
Bamboo and even paper cotton buds are now starting to replace the plastic stems. It’s important to remember that these still can’t be recycled, but they are more sustainable and will cause less damage to the environment.
Are face wipes biodegradable?
Face wipes block drainage systems, and sewers and pollutes rivers and waterways. Not only that, they aren’t actually very good for your skin! The majority contain synthetic fibres and plastic so they are not biodegradable. There are biodegradable alternatives, although make sure that they do not require special composting like some bioplastics. More sustainable is to get a reusable, organic cloth which is available from most zero-waste or refill stores. Most of the available options only need a little water to work and are easy to clean.
Make your haircare zero waste
It’s unfortunate that most big brand beauty comes in a plastic bottle. For decades we have been sold the idea that beauty needs to be shiny and glossy and should come in shiny glossy bottles and tubes. It’s encouraging to see that more and more options are available for everyday self-care from refill stores and independent retailers. Shampoo and conditioner bars are a great alternative to plastic bottles and last much longer. Skincare like moisturiser and toner can be bought in glass packaging or you can refill old jars or bottles from a zero-waste store. Most zero-waste products don't contain some of the harmful chemicals that conventional, mass-produced products use either, so it’s better for you and better for the environment.
The health and beauty industry has a long-time association with excess and decadence. Indulgence and self-care don’t need to be wrapped in layers of plastic to be enjoyed. Both consumers and manufacturers need to make changes if we hope to reduce the damage being caused by plastic to our ecosystem.
Give your beauty routine an eco upgrade!
Giving your bathroom a clear-out is always a good idea from time to time. It’s a great time to look at any small swaps you can make to give you a more sustainable self-care routine. It’s exciting trying out new products and experimenting with eco alternatives.
Resources
Ritchie, H. (2018) FAQ's on plastics. Our World in Data
London Recycles (n.d) 10 easy ways to reduce your waste
Prabhakar, M. (2020), Plastic free beauty: The new normal?. Beat the microbead
Benson, S. (2019) How to swap out your single use beauty products and save the planet. Dazed Digital
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Let customers speak for us
from 628 reviewsI ordered a spatula as we've always used a wooden one & wanted something more hygenic & ended up with 3 because I hadn't noticed I'd clicked on toothpaste complete with a spatula so each pot I received came with their own so we now have plenty of easy to clean spatulas!

Happy to buy these after my dentist gave me the plastic version which I don't want to use then these popped up on Truthpaste.

Love it, leaves my teeth/mouth feeling clean and fresh, though I have previously used the wintergreen flavoured toothpaste and I do prefer the flavour of that one. Both gave the same cleaning and whitening experience though I prefer the blast of fresh wintergreen flavour :)
Any chance of a charcoal based toothpaste with the wintergreen ingredients?!?! :)
Overall love your toothpastes, brand, everything! Great price, quality and beliefs

Makes cleaning my teeth something I look forward to. A pleasant experience without the normal foaming quality and with the thought that you have put something much more wholesome in your mouth. Teeth feel clean and the taste is much more subtle than ordinary pastes.

I have been using this toothpaste for over a year now. It leaves a lovely fresh taste and I like to use plastic free products.

This amazing mouth wash works really well and tastes delicious 😋

Very handy for getting that toothpaste powder from the jar

I really like this one. It has got rid of my bad breath, and my teeth feel really clean after using it. It is definitely one of my favourites, along with the wintergreen. And best of all, its fluoride free.

they sent it i got it and its ok no bad stuff like SLS, Fluoride, Carregeenan etc...

Better than any of the competition. So easy to use and reach those little corners. Love the long handle. Last so much longer as well. A joy to use!!

This is my second order from truthpaste. This is a great bundle to add to my collection as it has the mouthwash cup and I needed more toothpaste, mouthwash and floss and I now have a spare spatula for my travel bag. Ordered the fennel toothpaste this time having tried all the flavours - this one is my favourite. Great products.

I have tried all the truthpaste flavours and the charcoal Peppermint & Spearmint is my favourite! I keep coming back to Truthpaste every time. My dentist has even commented that my brushing has improved.. of course it has! I'm no longer using harsh chemicals! Thank you truthpaste for providing us with excellent products!

My children love this toothpaste and use it without any issues.

Original: Peppermint & Wintergreen (100ml)

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