Keep Golden Isles Beautiful’s annual School Recycling Challenge kicks off this week, offering the community a chance to participate in a non-traditional recycling effort that will reduce landfill waste.   The recycling challenge will take place until Oct. 18, and the public is invited to bring oral care products, cereal bags and pens, markers and highlighters to participating schools. Those plastic items will be collected, weighed and sent to a recycling center.   “By recycling these used items that are normally tossed in the trash, we are able to make an immediate impact on waste reduction,” said Lea King-Badyna, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful executive director, in a statement.   The collected items will be taken to TerraCycle, an organization focusing on non-traditional recycling and eliminating the idea of waste.   “Again this year, the streamlined process makes it easy for participating teachers and schools to concentrate their challenge efforts and contributions towards community stewardship,” King-Badyna said. “We hope schools will find the experience so easy and fun that they will continue recycling non-traditional items via TerraCycle or our office even after this year’s challenge is over.”   TerraCycle melts down the plastic into pellets and reforms those into low-grade plastic products.   The collected items from each school will be weighed, and the schools that collect the most will win prizes. Last year, schools collected a record total of 155 pounds of items, said Christy Trowbridge, executive assistant of Keep Golden Isles Beautiful.   The recycling challenge aims to not only reduce waste in landfills, Trowbridge said, but also educate students about the importance of recycling. This message is also provided to all third grade students in Glynn County through a Keep Golden Isles Beautiful program called “Is Trash Really Trash?”   “It’s been nice to kind of tie this challenge in with that program,” Trowbridge said.   A Hello GoodBuy community grant supports the recycling challenge, and the Episcopal Church Women of Christ Church Frederica have donated to cover the cost of shipping the items.   Thirteen schools are participating in this year’s challenge, and community members wishing to donate can contact Keep Golden Isles Beautiful at info.kbgib@gmail.com or 912-279-1490 to verify a school’s participation and arrange to drop collected items by the school.

Harvest Snaps is bringing back, by popular demand, two limited edition holiday flavors: Salted Caramel Red Lentil Snack Crisps and Cinnamon Brown Sugar Red Lentil Snack Crisps. Baked (never fried!), these indulgently crunchy, veggie-first snack crisps feature non-GMO red lentils as the first ingredient and are only 130 calories per serving, making them a deliciously better-for-you alternative to traditional holiday treats. They also pack 6 grams of plant-based protein and 3 grams of fiber in every serving, are certified gluten-free, and completely free of artificial flavors, colors, cholesterol, and the common allergens soy, nuts, wheat and eggs. Sold in festive 3-ounce bags, Harvest Snaps’ Holiday Snack Crisps are currently available for retailers to order and planned to be in stores this November. All of Harvest Snaps’ packages are part of the TerraCycle recycling program, an initiative led by Calbee North America to help reduce waste and give back to charity.   For more information from Calbee North America: calbeena.com

Recently, there has been a notable shift in consumer mindset from “What’s better for me?” to “What’s better for us?”   Today’s “mindful mindset” represents consumers’ focus on the bigger, broader picture and what’s best not only for a person, but also for their family, the community and the world. Customization and personalization still matter and appeal to consumers, but there is a growing and increasingly ingrained sense of responsibility when purchasing products, especially in regard to sourcing, sustainability, social accountability, health and wellness.  

The mindful mindset: From ‘me’ to ‘we’

  Consumers are increasingly holding businesses to new standards, expecting companies to look beyond what’s merely good for the bottom line and consider what’s good for employees, customers, communities and future generations.   This shift started with millennials and has become an industry priority—especially among the emerging Gen Z demographic. Gen Z, composed of people born between the mid-1990s and the early 2000s, is increasingly concerned with how businesses are run and how they incorporate the idea of mindfulness. A recent report from McKinsey noted that Gen Z consumers are “mostly well educated about brands and the realities behind them, […] and try to learn the origins of anything they buy.”   This “good for we” philosophy is gaining momentum with Gen Z around issues such as zero-waste initiatives, climate-positive efforts and fair labor practices. And these trends aren’t specific to Gen Z.   Such examples of mindfulness play out across the attitudes and behaviors among various age groups. In that same report, McKinsey found that 70% of respondents across generations “try to purchase products from companies they consider ethical.” And Technomic’s 2019 Value and Pricing Consumer Trend Report indicated that the definition of what constitutes value is also changing to include more aspects of quality and service.

The product development and merchandising approach: From ‘yours’ to ‘ours’

  Those who make and sell products to consumers are thinking collectively, too, aligning with their customers and partners. Accordingly, product development and merchandising processes are increasingly collaborative with different and transformative partnerships between consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers and retailers. The connections between individual, consumer, purveyor and retailer are stronger today than even just a few years ago.   As a result, production processes around sourcing, product development, packaging, transportation, merchandising, storage and waste are being reevaluated to determine if these areas are meeting more collective standards.   A shifting mindset and a more comprehensive approach to products and processes are reflected in the strategy of one global company with a history of innovation in the CPG industry: Procter & Gamble (P&G). P&G describes this as being “a force for good and a force for growth.” While sustainability has been a priority for decades at P&G, the concept of doing what’s right has expanded in definition and implementation in recent years.   “Now more than ever, consumers expect brands to take action in solving some of the most complex challenges facing our world today,” said Virginie Helias, chief sustainability officer for P&G. “At P&G, we have a responsibility to be a force for good and a force for growth. We work hard to enable and inspire a positive impact on society and the environment.  We do this by innovating across products and packaging, making responsible consumption irresistible and mainstream for the 5 billion consumers we serve each day.”  

Making the connection: The eco-footprint within the retail footprint

  Consumers want to do the right thing. They want interconnectedness and positive change, but they also seek more information about the products they use, eat and drink.   Retailers can help make this connection at the store level by educating shoppers and employees about sustainable products and usage, and offering information about the mutual commitment to doing the right thing for consumers, the world and the future. This can be done in a number of ways, including educational point-of-sale signage via social media or other forms of digital communication, sampling or tastings, or retailer educational classes that are focused on improving health, wellness and lifestyle. Store team members should be educated about the sustainability of products in the store in order to serve as on-site ambassadors for the retailer and its offerings.  

Examples of actions taken

  P&G has taken several “we”-minded actions with its partners as it works toward sustainability goals around climate, water and waste. After the company achieved its many of its 2020 environmental sustainability goals, it announced “Ambition 2030,” which also added new targets to align with consumer values as they relate to sustainability and social responsibilities. For example, P&G reached its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities by 30% before 2020 and has since increased that goal to reducing emissions by 50% before 2030.   Looking forward, the company is transitioning to 100% recyclable or reusable packaging as part of its 2030 initiative, keeping with consumers’ burgeoning interest in more sustainable packaging solutions. Already, many P&G brands, including Pantene, Tide, Cascade and Crest™, have developed new durable and refillable packaging. Earlier this year, the company’s Herbal Essences brand, in partnership with TerraCycle, created recyclable shampoo and conditioner bottles made of 25% recycled beach plastic. P&G scientists and engineers are also testing new capabilities such as circular solutions for electric rechargeable and manual toothbrushes, as well as the recycling of used hygienic products.   Transformative partnerships are integral to these kinds of improvements. Earlier this year, P&G teamed up with Loop, a circular e-commerce platform developed by TerraCycle, which allows packaging to be collected, cleaned, refilled and reused. Loop collects used products from consumers’ doorsteps for reuse or further recycling. Eleven of the company’s brands will take part in the Loop platform, including Pantene, Tide, Cascade and Oral-B, among others.   The value of these kinds of partnerships is pivotal in providing consumers not only with products that meet their evolving values, but also with information to help them make decisions at the point of sale that align with their more mindful priorities. In parallel, P&G’s retail partners bring the “we” to life by underscoring the mutual commitment to doing the right thing for their consumers.  

Three fashion brands here are tackling the problem of plastic waste!

Plastic pollution is a major global problem. 8.8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into our oceans each year. A plastic bottle can take up to 400 years to break down. A tragic fact.   Initiatives are proliferating and we must encourage them to reflect these three Canadian fashion brands, which manufacture their models from recycled plastic.  

Norden, functionality and concern for the future 

Norden has the credo of wanting to rewrite the end of life in the history of plastic with functional outerwear, to withstand cold to -40 , all made from recycled plastic bottles. The products are designed in Montreal and created by a Chinese manufacturer certified according to WRAP and BSCI standards; Norden is certified by PETA and BCorporation.   More generally, every aspect of the company's business is focused on environmental well-being, with a tangible awareness from beginning to end. When you no longer need your coat, the end-of-life program ensures that it is repaired and resold or given to a person in need. If the garment is damaged irreparably, it will be sent to partners at TerraCycle , where it will be 100% recycled.   "Beyond changing our consumption habits, we must bring real solutions to existing waste. We are passionate about people, the planet and we value style, "says Mayer Vafi, co-founder and creative director of Norden. "We are at the intersection of fashion, performance, sustainability and trends. " Rose Buddha is Madeleine, Maxime and Benoit. All three decided to create clothes with the primary objective, not profit, but the respect of nature and people. The next question prompted them to take action: "How to sleep at night thinking that a mother on the other side of the Earth leaves her infant 15 hours a day on the floor next to her, because she has to sew our leggings? We could never do it. "   Since November 1, 2016, the brand has made its leggings with 79% recycled plastic (10 bottles per legging). Each piece is assembled with care, the seams are inspected and the fabrics carefully chosen to ensure a long life. In addition, the proximity of (local) production makes it possible to follow each step and ensure its quality. Recently, the company even offers a collection of jewelry made from their scraps. One more step towards zero waste! Also note that the company supports Tree Canada's mission :  to help strengthen Canada's urban forests and inspire people to participate and mobilize for community greening. Since 2018, the company has taken a green turn , manufacturing (100%) the outside of its bags with recycled bottles. But that's not all, Parkland leather diamonds are now also made from apples. A unique manufacturing process combines apple, solvent and polyurethane waste to form apple leather, 100% vegan, with the same qualities as animal leather. Side figures: It takes 12 plastic bottles to make a backpack Kingston Parkland, and more than 3.5 million plastic bottles that have been transformed into bags and accessories.

Sabe aquele objeto que você tem quase certeza que não pode ser reciclado e que, por isso, acaba descartando no lixo comum? A boa notícia é que a TerraCycle, empresa presente em 21 países ao redor do mundo, surgiu no mercado justamente para solucionar esse tipo de questão. Eles são líderes globais em soluções para resíduos de difícil reciclabilidade, isto é, que vão muito além daqueles itens que todo mundo sabe que são facilmente recicláveis, como papel, plástico, vidro e metal.

Porcentuais de reciclagem aumentaram nos últimos anos, mas dependem sobretudo do engajamento de quem compra e consome.

Absence of designated smoking areas, cigarette disposals render the policy inconvenient, creates litter It has been over nine months since U of T’s smoking ban was implemented. Announced in November, and implemented this past January, the ban was introduced with the intention of creating a healthier campus, away from the harmful effects of first and secondhand smoke. While the rule is meant to protect people’s health, it is ineffective as it currently stands.   Designated smoking areas   It would be a good idea to incorporate smoking areas on campus because they encourage people to smoke in a more secluded space, where non-smokers are less likely to inhale harmful smoke.   Unlike the university’s Scarborough and Mississauga campuses, UTSG does not have designated smoking areas. It is likely that administrators believe there is no need for such spaces due to the campus’ proximity to public streets, where people can legally smoke.   According to the campus policy, smokers must walk from their classes to off-campus areas to consume tobacco or marijuana. Most often, they congregate on the sidewalks of notoriously busy public streets such as St. George, Hoskin, and Harbord. These sidewalks are city property and do not fall under the university’s jurisdiction.   This affects all members of the UTSG community, both smokers and non-smokers. Smokers who have classes in locations such as King’s College Circle waste a lot of time getting to an off-campus sidewalk for a smoke break. This could affect their ability to get to class on time if they are scheduled back-to-back.   Students who live in residence may put their safety at risk by going to a public space alone for a smoke at night. Worst of all, because the ban gives smokers no choice but to light up on the street, passersby now routinely inhale more secondhand smoke on their walks between classes.   A solution that would accommodate everyone would be to designate smoking areas on campus, which would encourage smokers to get their fix in a safe and secluded area.   Cigarette disposal receptacles   UTSG used to have ashtrays, but ever since the smoking ban, there has been nowhere for faculty and students to responsibly dispose of their butts. Recently, I noticed that outdoor garbage cans around campus have begun sporting a sticker that suggest that cigarette butts are not permitted in the trash. These garbage cans are the only ones anywhere near campus. If cigarettes cannot be disposed of in the garbage, smokers who consume tobacco on the public streets beside campus are more inclined to throw them on the ground. The lack of places to discard cigarettes at the moment will lead to an eventual build-up of litter on public sidewalks, mere metres away from university buildings.   The university’s Mississauga campus is a prime example of positive change in terms of cigarette littering. Currently, the campus is working with a company called TerraCycle to “recycle waste from outdoor cigarette butt collectors on campus.” The project depends on smokers disposing of their butts in receptacles placed around campus.   TerraCycle receptacles would be useful at the downtown campus, as there needs to be a sustainable way for smokers to dispose of their butts.   This was U of T’s first year banning smoking, so it’s understandable that some of the details surrounding the ban have not been worked out yet. A compromise involving the installation of designated smoking areas and cigarette butt receptacles would benefit everyone. Hopefully, the university will reflect on the way things have unfolded since the ban, and move to accommodate all faculty and students.   Agata Mociani is a second-year English student at New College.

And help keep it that way

1. A copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up because the first step to a truly decluttered space is actually getting rid of stuff — and this method works for me and lots of other people.

I mean yes, you can also totally watch the Netflix show and learn everything you need to know to get started! But the book's packed with extra motivation and tips. (Although I don't think it's the end-all be-all of how to live, I've used her system for my clothes and shoes, and it really does work.)   (If the whole system seems a little — or very — impractical to you, though, I also recommend Rachel Hoffman's Unf*ck Your Habitat)   Popular

2. A pocketed shower curtain liner that, besides keeping the water inside your shower where it belongs, can hold ALL of your stuff (yes, even if you have a ton of it) BEHIND your pretty shower curtain, removing it from the edges of the tub where it's an eyesore. And with the bottles off the ledges, your bathroom will be extra simple to wipe down on cleaning day, too. 

One of our editors uses this in her shower and loves it — read her review.   Promising review: "I have four boys and a husband and one bathroom that only has a small shower. Every child and adult has their own body wash, shampoo, loofa thing, and adults have razors. That's six people using one small shower that literally has no space to store things. I was afraid this thing would rip with how much crap I was gonna store in it. Nope. It didn't. There is a pocket for everyone plus some. The plastic is like a thick heavy duty better than your average plastic shower curtain liner. The pockets hold up well to daily use and it folds pretty well with all the crap in it as well. Tiny home/large family people need this. People who have a never ending supply of shower things need this. And it all hides behind my decorative shower curtain. :)" —LavoneMoltron    

3. Or if you just know your shower curtain rod a little too well and suspect its tension won't hold with the weight of all your products, a rustproof shower caddy because it has enough space for two people's daily routine and features a locking system (and two lower-third suction cups) so it basically never falls down.

Promising review: "Very well designed! Very functional while maintaining good aesthetics. Comes with rubber clamps if you're storing heavy bottles or the likes so that the caddy doesn't move." —Dheeraj

4. A pack of six stackable clear organizers — they'll divvy up all your drawers so you can a) find everything super easily and b) make the most of every inch of vertical space in your drawers. All of which = way less stuff you have to store out on your cabinet.

You can arrange and rearrange them however you need, and because they're clear, it's easy to find the stuff in the bottom layer — you can simply see through.   Promising review: "These are life saving for clutter. My bathroom vanity drawer has always been a mess and I can never find what I need. This product is amazingly perfect so much so I bought a second set for one of the drawers in the kitchen." —MarolynGentles

5. A nail polish organizer that essentially lays all your color options out like a menu — you'll always be able to see exactly what you have — and lets you stash it cleanly away under the sink, so you don't have to look at it until it's manicure time.

It holds 48 total bottles, 24 on each side, so you can always find the color you want with a single glance. Promising review: "This is better than advertised. Essie, OPI, Pop-Arrazi, Sinful Colors, SH Instadry, SH Triple Shine, SH Xtrreme Wear, Wet & Wild, SH Hard As Nails and Covergirl all fit perfectly; my Julep colors fit two to a compartment! The first row has adjustable dividers, you can use them to keep odd-shaped bottles or do what I do: use one side for my nail stamper, dotting tools, and the drying drops and the other for foam wedges and nail pens. It looks way neater easily tucked under my vanity instead of the baskets and baskets of polishes I had to hunt through!" —Clouds

6. A set of four sepia glass bottles because all your different brands of soaps with clashing labels don't necessarily say ~tranquil, decluttered spa~.

Promising review: "Finally, pumps that are strong and won't easily break. I use these bottles for everything from hand soap (medium thickness), to my personal mixture of hair oils (coconut, neem and tea tree — very thick) and extra rich hair conditioner. All of the mixtures flow easily. The pump also doesn't dispense too much, so you're not wasting product. As for the glass, the color is beautiful, as pictured and it's a good heavy, quality glass." —True-Review   Popular

7. A drain millipede so you can free up the cabinet space you've devoted to stocking drain cleaner (which doesn't work half as well, BTW) because your tub clogs up like, weekly. The millipede is covered in tiny little hooks to grab onto the clump of hair that's preventing your sink or tub from draining well, and yank it all up so water flows freely.

Promising review: "The shower drain has been clogged for months. We’ve tried so many bottles of Draino and other products, but nothing worked. After I saw this product listed on BuzzFeed, I thought I would try it. (It’s less expensive than Draino Max, so why not?) It was incredible how much hair this thing pulled up from the beginning. It look about five minutes and lots of clearing of clumps, but the shower is draining perfectly again! Like some other reviewers have mentioned, it’s best to toss it after use, especially if your drain is as bad as mine was. I’m definitely hooked!" —E. Marlowe Popular

8. And a universal fit–hair catcher for your drain that stops those gross built-up clogs from forming in the first place. Which means you (or those you share a bathroom with) can freely rinse any shed hair to the drain with no worries about clogs, instead of sticking clumps of hair to the wall and leaving 'em there for far too long.

If you live somewhere with a more humid climate (or tbh just a humid bathroom in general), it's probably a good idea to rinse it off and lay it on its side to dry after every few showers or so, to prevent mold — btw, that goes for every hair catcher out there!   Promising review: "I've been very impressed! It's tall enough to fit easily over my pop-up drain and the weighted top keeps it in place, even with my faucet running almost directly on it. I have medium-length hair and seem to shed almost as much as my cat, but the drain protector catches it all and is easily removed and tossed away. Best of all, in my case, the silicone hasn't held onto mildew or mold — I have been able to spray and wipe away any grime with very little effort. It looks like this drain protector will last a very long time." —Suneimi  

9. A few medicine cabinet organizers because they'll let you fit even more stuff behind your mirror (taking advantage of all the vertical space available and freeing up storage space elsewhere) while also ensuring that everything stays neat, orderly, and easy to find.

Promising review: "This fits perfectly on the bottom of my medicine cabinet. It is very sturdy plastic with a great design. I can't believe how many jars, tubes, etc., it has managed to corral. Everything looks so neat! If they make a smaller one for upper cabinet shelves, I'm buying it. Wonderful little product!" —Alex

10. And a little toothbrush holder that can mount directly on the inside of your medicine cabinet (or TBH the inside of any bathroom cabinet), so your brushes are covered, out of the way, and separated from one another, but still quick to grab when you need them.

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  A handful of pioneering brands are beginning to realise that our beauty products effect far more than our faces. These natural beauty brands use biodegradable or compostable packaging for their cosmetics to foster a shift in the beauty industry. Using these products could make your run-of-the-mill morning routine into a meaningful ritual that is mindful of the planet.

The Gaia hypothesis and natural beauty

  In 1995, maverick climate scientist James Lovelock and pioneering female evolutionary biologist Lynn Margulis published a book called the Gaia hypothesis. Their argument was that the entire global ecosystem – from the microbes we wash off our faces in the morning, to the river basins running to the sea the world over – should be considered as a single super-organism called Gaia. The popularity of the book wasn’t unfounded; it makes a lot of sense.   We humans flourish from natural ingredients, but haven’t always followed the ethics of mutual care (or as biologists would say, symbiosis).   This is essential for a healthy, functioning organic system. We are especially lacking when it comes to the ingredients we use in our beauty routines. In fact, the packaging and chemical content of a lot of beauty products have choked watercourses with pollutants and plastic for decades.   Tending to nature and putting on makeup?   It’s one thing to reduce the environmental impact inherent in the beauty industry by reducing plastic packaging. But many companies worldwide are going further. They look at the way that natural ingredients allow us to care for ourselves and ask how can we return the favour?   If we took as much time in the day to tend to these natural systems as we took in front of the mirror using the ingredients they produce, could we ensure their sustainability for the future?   Some brands believe adding such consideration to a beauty routine can make it a ritual; a meaningful practice that redefines the way we think about make-up so that the environment benefits as well.   Here are a handful of the most inspiring brands from around the world, working to change the beauty industry from the inside out.   They are seek to re-write every step of the beauty system, from the environment that produces the ingredients to the communities where they’re farmed, to us as consumers and back again to the soil.  

Natural brands are making beauty bio

  For the most part, these natural brands beautify the product cycle by being smart about packaging, using either compostable or biodegradable materials. And there is a difference between the two.   Compostable materials can be decomposed at home, and can benefit the soil in your garden.   Though biodegradable packaging doesn’t add nutrients to the soil it is better than the plastic alternatives that will hang around for hundreds of years in landfill or in the sea.   Depending on where you live and what recycling facilities you have access to, biodegradable packaging such as cardboard can be broken down quickly in commercial waste facilities. Check your local council or borough’s website.   Biodegradable packaging in the beauty industry   Here are a few steps you can take to make sure you’re dealing with packaging that is as green as the eco powder:  

• It’s important not to get ‘greenwashed’ by recycling claims so do a little bit of research.
• If you’ve purchased something in compostable packaging, make sure you actually compost it.
• Check if the packaging can be composted at home or if it has to go to an industrial composter.
• It’s best to put biodegradable packaging in your recycling and let the council take care of it.
• Of course, some packaging can be avoided altogether and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask about the packaging on your favourite products.

  On this last point, brands like Elate (mentioned below) are happy to accommodate those with a plastic free lifestyle with their postage. As many eco-conscious beauty brands only have online stores, this global selection might also help you to consider shipping distances.  

1. Seed Phytonutrients

The tour begins with an absolutely amazing brand called Seed Phytonutrients. It’s an incubator project from the US beauty giant L’Oreal. Their packaging is made at the Ecologic factory.   What makes Seed Phytonutrients a great natural beauty brand?   Its shower-friendly paper bottle is made from a 100% recycled material.   Seed take newspaper, paper bits, cardboard, etc and grind them up to create what is essentially paper mush. The paper mush then transforms into beautiful, recycled packaging.   Their partners at TerraCycle have ensured that everything from Seed’s bottle to their pump can be recycled, making for a zero-waste situation. The natural beauty brilliance doesn’t stop there.   Together with Hudson Valley Seed Company, they have developed a little surprise inside their paper bottles. After you’ve used up all of the product in your bottle, crack it open to discover a beautifully-designed packet containing a range of heirloom herb seeds that can be grown in your garden or on your windowsill.   What have seeds got to do with natural beauty?   All of Seed’s products are sourced from seeds grown by Barefoot Botanicals. So, why the emphasis on seeds?   Seed saving is extremely important because it creates diversity in plant species that help protect them from pests, diseases and changes in climate.   The over-commercialisation of seeds in modern farming practices has meant that global biodiversity has decreased, decimating plant resilience to pests and diseases and meaning that pollinators such as bees are declining.   Seed Phytonutrients are therefore committed to supporting the growth of organic, heirloom and open-pollinated seeds and sharing them with you to create more resilient plants across our planet.   The last step in the Seed cycle is to pay growers ahead of time for 100% of their products, regardless of harvest yields, ensuring that the farmers are truly put first. If that’s not a healthy beauty system, I don’t know what is.  

2. Zao

  Next up, we go to Italy. The group of friends who founded Zao were convinced that a line of certified organic makeup must use natural packaging and the elegance and modernity of bamboo asserted itself as an obvious answer.   Why does bamboo go well with beauty?   Bamboo is really a miracle plant.  

• Its exceptional growth rate makes it a carbon capture champion during its life-cycle, without the use of fertilisers and pesticides, and allows Zao products to display a reduced carbon footprint.
• Unlike most timber, bamboo is a self-regenerating natural resource, meaning new shoots appear annually to ensure production continues after individual culms are harvested.
• It needs only four to five years to regenerate compared a minimum of 30 years for a tree.

  The bamboo Zao uses grows in endemic forests in protected areas. Their bamboo products are sold in cotton pouches to further protect them. Though less sustainable than bamboo, these pouches can be reused. As a natural material, it also biodegrades in landfills. Zao’s research and development programme is currently looking to replace their cotton pouches with bamboo fibre pouches from the end of 2018.  

3. Elate Cosmetics

  On we go to Canada, where Elate Cosmetics also use bamboo for all of their compacts, tools, and palettes. They offer discounted refills with an extra incentive in the form of special seed paper enclosed in every refill purchased. All you need to do to grow this sweet little care package is to wet, plant and water it before you step in front of the mirror to nourish yourself too.   Elate also embrace imperfect products in order to tackle waste and offer a range for their bamboo capsule products with minor flaws. Their tube products, such as the gorgeous creme blush, come in completely biodegradable paper that the DIY enthusiast in you will love, as they make perfect little seed planters!  

4. Sulapac

  We end across the border in France with some motivating news. Last year, iconic luxury house Chanel invested in Sulapac, a Finnish start-up that has produced a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.   Sulapac products use a biodegradable and microplastic-free material made of FSC-certified wood chips and natural binders. They have all the benefits of plastic, biodegrade completely and leave no microplastics behind.   Even better, they’re designed to be immediately replaced by manufacturers using plastics, because they are compatible with existing machinery.   Biodegradable beauty is big news   There’s reason to be excited about this kind of news. Applying pressed powder from a cute compact may not feel like a revolutionary act, but big changes are happening from within the beauty industry and you can be a vital part of its transformation.   If there’s one thing that Lovelock and Margulies can teach us, it’s that the Earth is a complex system, but actions at every scale have their impacts on the total functioning of this huge, beautiful organism.   So, let the revolution begin on your skin.   Dora Young is a freelance writer and geographer with a background in sustainable food systems and a passion for finding out how to do things differently.

With climate change front and centre in the mind’s of consumers in Australia and around the globe, FMCG businesses and retailers are removing plastic, cutting back on packaging and reducing food waste, to say the least. But pressure is building to reduce waste further across the supply chain and in stores. Zero waste retailers are no longer a myth and are starting to gain momentum in the current climate. In August, Australia’s largest bulk foods and zero waste retailer The Source Bulk Foods unveiled its first outlet in Singapore. And earlier this week, Coles announced that it was trialling its first zero waste to landfill store as part of its sustainability initiatives. Irene Chen, founder and CEO of Unpackaged Eco, is working with Australian suppliers and retailers to help make zero waste achievable. Unpackaged Eco is a Melbourne-based shop, refill and return model, similar to the Loop model developed by Terracycle and used by Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Mondelēz, to name a few. The start-up was founded just under 12 months ago, borne from Chen’s own frustrations about waste as a consumer. “I saw the plastic waste issue and felt a little bit helpless about what I could do from a practical perspective, and I realized that perhaps there’s another solution to this,” Chen told Inside FMCG. With a background in retail, she started to examine it from that perspective. “Unpackaged Eco is a way for consumers to purchase their everyday products in reusable and durable packaging. We give them the option to come back and refill in-store. When they’re done with their container, they return it back to us, we clean and return it back to be reused,” Chen explained. Unpackaged Eco has launched a private label range across four shops in Melbourne with manual dispensers in-store to test the refill model for products such as dish washer liquid, handwash, laundry liquid and multi cleaner. The team are also looking to venture into shampoo and conditioner as well as dry food and eventually dairy and other groceries. “I think one of the learnings that we’ve had from early trials and feedback from customers is that, they want to shop zero waste across the board, not just two or three items. Otherwise, it’s just a lot of trouble to go to five different shops. Our aim is to offer a good basket of products to customers, and obviously, with brands involved it will really elevate the offering.” The business is also developing technology that uses a combination of radio-frequency identification (RFID) and quick response (QR) to track every single container. “We want to harness that whole refill, shop, return model, and collect data to enable us to make better decisions around packaging; to understand consumption patterns a bit better, to help brands and retailers really get some customer insights on how they shop. So that’s very exciting. We’re just under six months away from a trial launch.” Customers will be able to tap to borrow containers, and tap to return. The container deposit management system is automated to make borrowing and returning seamless. “The technology will help us get a little bit closer to the customer. We’re so used to disposing so to actually encourage a shift in behavior, I think we need to do a bit more than just put a refill station there. I think we need to actually engage with the customer,” Chen said. Commenting on industry efforts on sustainability, Chen believes the intentions and goals are right. “I’m talking to most of the brands, they all have the similar 2025 packaging targets, which is great. I think what’s missing for us as a means to get there.” She expects brands may be reluctant to commit to costs of such a project but said it needs to be viewed as a long-term solution. “Packaging now, instead of being a single use disposable thing, is an investment. So you lay out more upfront, but the more times you reuse it, and refill, the more you save,” she said.