Planet Friendly Must Haves

By Emily Bourne.

[Image description: A painting of hands holding the earth with a blue sky background. 
Source.]

I’ve compiled a list of environmentally friendly alternatives to highly purchased products below, because if companies won’t stop being careless with their planet-destroying products, we must take our own action!

However, despite this article being on what we can do, it is crucial that companies begin to stop being so wealth-seeking and finally consider the harm they’re causing to a world that has only ever nurtured them. Therefore, refusing to buy their products will act as a rebellion/protest against their reckless use of permanent materials that will never biodegrade. This, I hope, will lead to the recognition of the consumers want and need of eco-friendly products.

Plastics

Water bottles: Buy your own reusable bottle, instead of plastic bottles that you throw away each day – their transportation causes a large carbon footprint, but also plastic will never break down. Top tip: If you buy a cute one that you love, you’ll feel more inclined to keep it with you at all times!

Glitter: I wrote a previous article on the problem glitter proposes to our environment, which contains places you can find eco-friendly alternatives. Find it here.

Straws: You can buy reusable straws or straws made from recyclable materials. A commonly used site for eco-friendly straws can be found at ecostrawz.

Chemicals

Hair dye: Many commercial hair dyes contain various chemicals and dyes. In regular hair dyes there are harmful chemicals, such as:

• Ammonia: Known environmental toxin & especially is harmful to aquatic life.
• Benzene: Toxic to the environment.
• Coal Tar: A known carcinogen - coal tar is highly toxic to the environment.
• Lead Acetate: According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, there’s no safe level of exposure for this chemical. Moreover, it is also very bad for the environment.
• p-Phenylenediamine: Harmful to the environment (especially aquatic life).
• Toluene: Toxic to the environment.

These chemicals have harmful effects on humans, too. For more info on this click here and here.

Ask your hairdresser if they have eco-friendly or plant-based hair dyes – plant-based products containing henna are the safest choice!

Shampoo: Shampoo contributes to water pollution. Therefore check shampoo bottles to see if it’s eco-friendly and if it’s not… Don’t get it! A suitable place for eco-friendly shampoos and hair dyes is at the ethical superstore.

Other

Clothes: Buy clothes from eco-friendly brands, second hand stores and when clothes become of no longer use to you, dispose of them by taking them to charity shops or selling them. Do not dispose of them in waste bins.

Meat-free: Go meat-free to save the environment! You could do meat-free Mondays, go vegetarian or vegan. You can read how this helps cut pollution here and here.

Paper cups: buy your own reusable tea/coffee/hot drink cup! A lot of take-away cups at cafes are not eco-friendly as they cannot be recycled, and even those that can be recycled, are creating unnecessary pollution in their creation and transportation. You can buy reusable cups in most places, ranging in prices and aesthetics.

That’s all for today! Hopefully a second instalment of Planet Friendly Must Haves will be uploaded in the near future.

Thanks for taking the time to read how to help our planet, you little revolutionaries!