Vogue Scandinavia's eco beauty expert Babba Rivera pin points the key products to take the sustainability of your routine to the next level
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Our beauty products help us feel more confident out in the world and, in many cases, they also aid in body health. But at what cost to the planet?
The beauty industry’s waste problem has been well documented, particularly in the area of packaging, where paper unnecessarily contributes to forest devastation and plastic containers fill up landfills and find their way into our oceans. The New York Times reported just last year that nearly 95 per cent of recyclable empty beauty product packaging still wound up in landfills and oceans.
The issue doesn’t end there.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the production of a single kilogram of cotton requires as much water as the average person would drink over three years. Consider all the single-use cotton pads and cotton swabs — i.e. Q-tips — that end up in your trash bin just seconds after being pulled from their (probably non-sustainable) packaging. Keep in mind, too, that these cotton products are not compostable because they’re partly made of synthetic materials. They also become contaminated when used to remove makeup, nail polish, and other substances.
Fortunately, greater awareness of this waste problem has led to innovation in beauty sustainability. One of the hottest — and most welcome — trends in beauty is reusability and refillables. Here are simple changes you can make today for a better world
Stop using single-use cotton pads
A company out of Copenhagen called LastObject manufactures reusable products, one of these being cotton pads. Take it from me, they’re just as effective as the single-use products and easy to clean. According to the company, seven of its reusable cotton pads replace 1,750 single-use pads. That’s a lot of water saved and freed-up space in landfills. Their cotton pad alternative is almost identical to cotton pads in the way they feel, and are super easy to wash. After using it, I simply rinse it with gentle soap and water, and let is air dry next to my sink for the next day. And when needed, I throw them in the wash for a deeper cleaning.
Swap out cotton swabs for a reusable opinion
From the same Danish company, you can switch out your go-to cotton swabs for reusable ones. Same as their rounds, just one of its reusable swabs replaces 1,000 single-use swabs. Nothing else to explain there, the case is water clear.
Look for a compostable deodorant
Finally, there’s Fussy, who’s made a natural deodorant of clean and effective ingredients that come in plastic-free, compostable refills. Its original casing, the company says, is designed to last a lifetime.
I hope you’ll start filling your bathroom cabinets with these terrific products whose creators have sustainability foremost in their minds. They’ll keep your body looking and feeling great, and put your mind at ease, knowing that your planetary footprint won’t run so deeply.