Household products are used by everyone every day and are having a major environmental impact when you add up all of the pieces. Between the excessive packaging and the chemicals in the products themselves, we can all be doing so much better.

 

Let’s start off with cleaning products.

All of the chemicals that go into your toilet, sink, or tub all eventually get washed into the ocean. Water treatment plants remove solids from the water, and they sanitize it. There is nothing in place to remove harmful chemicals or microplastics from the water. The only way we can deal with this type of pollution is to stop contributing to it.

Use this website to search the products you use and find out what is in them and whether or not they are a hazard to your health. If they are dangerous for you, they are dangerous to other living beings as well.

In addition to the products themselves, we must also think about the packaging they are in. Remember that every single piece of plastic that has ever been created still exists because it does not break down.

 

I have a challenge for you– try to take it upon yourself to keep a list of every single plastic item you touch in a day. You may be shocked at how quickly your list will grow.

Think about all of the plastic that you have in your bathroom alone- toothbrush, floss, toothpaste tube, bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and the list goes on. Luckily, there are plenty of environmentally friendly alternatives to all of these things!

 

As a consumer, you have the power to influence companies and encourage them to become more environmentally conscious. Businesses adjust their strategies based upon the wants and needs of their customers. We have seen plenty of examples of this as restaurants adjust their menus to accommodate for gluten free and vegetarian customers. Change will come when people demand for it to happen.

Unwrapped Life and Lush are examples of companies that are doing something to take on this particular issue. Have you ever heard of a bar of shampoo? I hadn’t either until recently when I saw a video about it on Facebook. Because it is solid, it eliminates the need for a plastic bottle to contain it- a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. Did I mention they also use natural ingredients and do not test on animals?

 

What can you do about this?

  • Follow online tutorials to make your own products without harsh chemicals!
  • Buy things that are not wrapped in plastic
  • Contact companies that have excessive packaging, ask them to do better
  • Opt for paper/wood alternatives instead of plastic
  • Choose to buy from companies that have a focus on sustainability
  • Clean less often and use environmentally friendly supplies
  • Concentrates use less plastic packaging per amount of product
  • Larger containers use less plastic per amount of product than smaller containers/travel sized products

 

Check out some of these environmental alternatives-