December 23, 2020

Sustainable Resolutions for The New Year

With a challenging 2020 almost behind us we all deserve a fresh start, and we are so excited to bring in the New Year!

We’ve just launched our Sustainable Sale with up to 50% off our favourite plastic free treats and waste zero goodies, making it even easier for you to start making sustainable choices ready for the new year. This prompted us to start making and sharing our new year’s resolutions!

If we continue to use and produce plastic at the same rate that we do now, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. Small changes make big difference so here’s some simple but sustainable swaps to add to your list for an easy way to Join the #ReuseRevolution for 2021:

Education then Action

You’ve started educating yourself on how to take action just by reading this blog! It’s really important to understand what sustainability is and why it’s beneficial so

we’ve outlined some helpful books, including ‘Cradle to Cradle’ which is the core inspiration for everything we do here at Beauty Kitchen. Just make sure to look at second hand books before buying them new, and pass on to friends once you’ve finished:

Ditch the Disposables

Plastic straws are so 2020…quite literally seeing as the UK banned them this year! From here on out try to refuse disposable items when they are offered to you, and instead opt for reusable wherever and whenever you can. It sometimes requires a bit of pre planning but our advice is to always be prepared.

Reusable straws, cutlery, tupperware…you name it, there is generally an easy reusable alternative to most single use items. Over 4 billion plastic bags end up being thrown away every year, so make sure your prepared for some last-minute shopping errands by always carrying a reusable tote with you. Another shocking fact is that 2.5 billion coffee cups are STILL being disposed of every year with less than one in 400 being recycled. Well stop right there, because our reusable Premium Hot & Cold Water Bottle will take care of that issue!

Shop Second Hand

First of all, make the most of what you already have before buying into any trends. If you do need (rather than want) something new, try shopping second hand. Think of it as a fashionable treasure hunt, you never know what incredible finds you will end up with. Charity shops are a must, but for a virtual option try Facebook Market Place or apps like Depop and eBay.

Shopping for second hand is the best way to reduce your impact when it comes to clothes waste as you can instantly avoid creating demand for raw materials. Don’t forget to also donate any clothes you don’t wear anymore too!

Choose Natural Materials

Still on the topic of clothes and textiles - when you do purchase clothes, pay more attention to the materials they are made of. Over 60% of materials used in the textile industry consist of synthetic materials that pollute our land and oceans with tiny plastic fibres (microfibres) each time we wash these materials. It’s actually estimated that around 165,000 tons of plastic fibres enter the sea and an additional 176,000 dumped across land EACH YEAR.

Steer clear of polyester, nylon, acrylic and Lycra and instead opt for natural materials like bamboo, hemp and cotton. It’s why we created our new reusable bath accessories as sustainable alternatives to your usual single use/plastic bath accessories. Find out more about these here!

Do It Yourself

DIY is the foundation of where Beauty Kitchen started so we have no hesitation in encouraging this! DIY products give you full control over what goes into them, whilst tailoring them to your own needs. Starting with a handful of small simple and natural ingredients will be easier to manage and less wasteful – look in your cupboard for these essentials:

White Vinegar diluted with 3 parts warm water – a cheap & effective natural surface cleanser
Bicarbonate of soda mixed with water into a paste – makes for a powerful stain remover
Lemon juice – the citrus acid is a great natural bleaching agent so pop a capful of it in with your whites next time you wash your laundry

Try Something New

Making sustainable swaps often calls for having an open mind and trying new things, which to us is the exciting and fun part of living a waste zero lifestyle! Hair care bars are something new to our line up and a completely different Waste Zero experience to your usual shampoo and conditioner routine. SLS free, cruelty free, waste free…there’s no nasties here. Just be sure to let us know what you think if you try them out!

Say no to Plastic Packaging

Potentially the simplest swap listed here as you’re already in the right place for all your sustainable bathroom needs! It’s our mission to create the world’s most sustainable products in the world, from the inside out. Considering 95% of beauty packaging waste is thrown out after one use, we are here to change this.

All of our packaging is created with the end in mind, from our compostable pouches, FSC approved cardboard, wood pulp film and most importantly…our reusable packaging that is part of our Return·Refill·Repeat programme. This is where we wash and reuse our packaging ready to be reused again and again – it’s completely Waste Zero!

Waste Zero Shopping

Similar to above, single use food packaging is also a huge issue. Around 40% of plastic is used in packaging and whilst it preserves our food for a few days longer, it’s definitely not doing any good in terms of preserving our planet as most of it is of course single use. Be mindful when doing your next food shop, look out for paper bags to pop loose fruit & veg in but the best option is to reuse (as always) your own veggie bags or tupperware.

We’ve supported Zero Waste stores a lot this year and definitely recommend that you visit your local one for easy accessibility to sustainable choices when it comes to food and household essentials.

Start Composting

Make the most of your organic food waste by composting! It’s simple – start by building or purchasing a large bin to compact your waste into. Just make sure there’s enough space for water to drain and worms to easily get into (they will covert your waste into compost!) and let them do the work! Over time, your compost will become dark brown/almost black and soil like with a spongey texture – this is when you can use it in the garden to improve your soil quality.

To include in compost:

Vegetable & fruit peelings
Garden cuttings & leaves
Teabags (that don’t contain plastic fibres)
Crushed eggshells
Ripped up cardboard

For some more simple sustainable swaps, take a peek at our Join the #ReuseRevolution blog. Becoming sustainable doesn’t have to be challenging at all. Take it simple and slow to start with for the New Year - it will soon grow to be second nature to you!