All that hand washing we’re doing brings two concerns to mind: Can we find better soap? And what’s going to happen with all this plastic from hand wash bottles? A new launch from Japanese beauty behemoth Kao is answering both with MyKirei by Kao, which encompasses nourishing shampoo, conditioner and hand wash, just in time for Earth Day. “MyKirei by Kao is a true representation of Kao and its global commitment to ESG, which stands for environmental, societal and governance,” says Karen Frank, President, Kao USA. “This is filling a white space for us and it is setting a standard in the industry and world that sustainability is not just reducing the carbon footprint. It is about serving self with products that exceed expectations, it is about giving back to society and helping the world be more beautiful. We want to leave behind nothing but beauty. Our competitors talk about sustainability as it pertains to recycling plastic and reducing water. We too want to do this; however, we want to provide a more holistic approach that allows you to simplify without sacrifice.”   The first MyKirei by Kao collection COURTESY OF MYKIREI BY KAO   That’s why all of the MyKirei by Kao products come in their innovative new “air bottle.” The game changing bottles use up to 50% less plastic than traditional bottles. The air bottles are literally filled with air to provide its structure, allowing them to stand upright, and the design purposely allows for complete evacuation of product, so you can use up every last drop—no waste! (Most competitors leave up to 15% of product residual in the packaging.) Plus, it’s water-tight to prevent contamination. “In the US, we know the refill is a hard sell and we will be offering refills within this portfolio, but we wanted to figure out a better way to empower the consumer to cut down on waste and that’s how the air bottle was born,” Frank says. “It allows the consumer to do their part in preserving the world without sacrifice. Many brands on the market now offer recyclable packaging, but how many consumers actually go through the trouble to recycle it? Not many—91% of plastic is not being recycled and 80% of what is sitting in landfills should have been recycled, but it wasn’t. Our bottles do the work for you so you can feel confident that you are respecting the world as soon as you bring them into your home.”   Aptly named, the literal translation of “Kirei” from Japanese to English is “beauty.” “The Japanese have great respect for the beauty of the world in its natural state, the beauty of respecting one another, and the beauty of caring for society and the world,” Frank says. “MyKirei by Kao allows you to incorporate this lifestyle into your every day through these products.” The line embodies a Japanese philosophy of sustainability and simplicity. “If you’ve ever travelled to Japan, you have already experienced the meaning of Kirei without even knowing that’s what it was called,” explains Frank. “If you’ve noticed how remarkably clean Tokyo is or have experienced white glove cab service or extreme hospitality and caring, that is truly Kirei. The way the Japanese showcase that caring for ourselves, our society and the world around us makes it more beautiful is exactly what the line embodies. And that is Kirei.”   MyKirei by Kao shampoo and conditioner COURTESY OF MYKIREI BY KAO   The collection is vegan, plant-based and cruelty-free and intentionally launching with just three products—shampoo, conditioner and hand wash—to keep it streamlined and cut down on clutter. “These three items are everyday essentials that can be used by everyone in the family,” Frank says. “Hand wash is of the utmost importance in Kirei and something that should be at every sink. Kao believes that good hand washing is the key to keeping society healthy, hence why Kao invests so much in education at the grammar school level in educating Japanese children on the importance of hand wash. We are seeing this now with the coronavirus.” All three products feature universal formulas so that they can be used by the entire family. “They’re for everyone so you can pare down on clutter and waste, keep your shower neat and simple, and add the beauty of simplicity to your home,” Frank says. “In Japan, the term Kirei is often described as creating beauty by pairing things back or by subtracting. By taking unnecessary things away, you can enjoy what really works. It’s similar to Marie Kondo’s movement with Kon Mari but it pertains to products.” They all spotlight authentic Japanese ingredients like tsubaki, rice water and yuzu, which have been used for centuries in Japan to promote wellness, health and beauty, giving the products deeper meaning.   MyKirei by Kao partnered with TerraCycle, which is the only way the products can be recycled. Customers can send their empties to TerraCycle free of charge and Kao is incentivizing consumers to do so by offering a donation in their name to a charity of their choice for every bottle recycled. TerraCycle is able to repurpose 100% of the packaging and upcycle the materials so there is no waste. In Japan they have a similar program where they collect all the empty packages and upcycle them into oversized building blocks that are then donated to schools and children's hospitals.   MyKirei by Kao hand soap COURTESY OF MYKIREI BY KAO   It’s all part of Kao’s recent sustainability pledge, which they’ve taken a holistic approach to. “If we all used safer products that work effectively, helped society with innovations that span all the way to children and the elderly, and reduced our footprint in the world, the world would be more beautiful and a better place to live,” Frank says. “Based on the concerning climate changes and the fact that consumers are not recycling, we had to go to the heart of the problem, which is reducing plastic. But we don’t stop there—we put a lot of thought into the societal values of making sure the packages are legible in the shower if you are visually impaired with Braille on the pumps. You will see many more environmental and societal innovations coming from Kao because those are the acts of caring that drives their innovations and technology.”   MyKirei by Kao marks the first time the company is launching a new brand in the US. Every brand in the US portfolio has either been acquired—Jergens, John Frieda Hair Care, Oribe and Goldwell, to name a few—or brought to the US from Japan, like Biore. This is just the first installment for the brand, which is launching exclusively on Amazon. “MyKirei by Kao is of the utmost importance for the company because it is the first brand where the Kao brand mark will be moved to the front of the package,” Frank says. “The next launch will be this summer and will be all about conserving water and instilling the culture of cleanliness into the next generation. Every launch will have a new way to help you live more Kirei, while telling a different story each time. Our launch next month is just the start. We plan to extend into other lifestyle categories that can make your life more Kirei.”

Earth-Friendly Boredom Busters to Celebrate 50 Years of Earth Day!    It’s the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and this year’s theme is Climate Action. We can use every day to teach the importance of conservation to help make our world greener, brighter, and healthier. We’re all in a worldwide crisis, but we still can’t stop seeing the bigger picture here. As we stay home, safely social distance, and flatten the curve, I have some fun toys to keep kids busy, but also lend to reducing our carbon footprint. At this year’s New York Toy Fair, the majority of my appointments this year were discussing how toys were going to change a lot from production to the way it’s marketed—less waste, even higher quality, and more thoughtful packaging. As with all Green Toys™ products, the Cargo Plane, Fire Plane, and Shape Sorter Truck are made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic with no BPA, phthalates, or PVC and are responsibly packaged with recycled and recyclable materials printed with eco-friendly inks. Eco-Friendly Plastics that Encourage Eco-Mindful Play Green Toys are my go-to toys! They are well made, made in the USA, and are just so much fun! With cool varieties like tea sets, haulers, and even themed book sets—there are plenty of ways to pretend, play, and reduce your carbon footprint! At Target, you can get an additional 20% off via the Target Circle app right now! Walmart is also sharing 35% for toys by Green Toys all month long! More about these great products on my blog! Fellow Disney fans also note—they’re coming out with Disney Green Toys soon—I can’t wait!!! You can find them on Amazon, too!       MGAE geniuses behind Little Tikes, L.O.L. Surprise, and more amazing toy lines promise to deliver products that are more mindful of an eco-friendly world. In 2019, L.O.L. Surprise collectors could turn in their packaging waste to TerraCycle, and continues this initiative today. Isaac Larian, CEO of MGAE promises that "Beginning 2021, the entire L.O.L Surprise! packaging line will be completely degradable."       Little Tikes will now be launching a Go Green line of products that have that same Little Tikes high quality, high playability we love, but will also reduce the company’s carbon footprint. MGAE’s answer to this crisis of toy waste is their new patent-pending compound that breaks down plastic in landfill conditions. Larian also adds that "Beginning 2025, MGAE will only manufacture products that will degrade when disposed of properly."       Currently, MGAE is working to provide PPE for COVID-19 support via its Operation Pac-Man initiative. This company does so many wonderful things for its community and fans!             Little Tikes Go Green! Playhouse encourages pretend play and teaches children the power of energy conservation and environmental awareness by means of a water bottle sunlight, real garden, and even a water collection barrel. Amazon         LOL Surprise Lights may be the last series with the iconic ball. The latest leaks of the newest series features new eco-friendly packaging, and less waste. Find products by MGAE on Amazon, Walmart, and Target.   Mattel/Fisher-Price is taking the eco-initiative and turning their widely popular baby toy line into a stepping stone to lowering their carbon footprint. Not only are they using sustainable products but they’re using really cool materials!       Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks bundle and the iconic Fisher-Price® Rock-a-Stack® have been produced using sugarcane-based plastics! They hope to produce 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based materials in both its products and packaging by 2030. Mattel has also donated their production line to producing masks and more PPE to help support the frontline employees during the COVID-19 crisis.       Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack & Baby's First Blocks Bundle is not available yet with the new material, but this would be the sets that you can see being transformed into 100% eco-friendly toy!         ZURU is a company that knows how to party, and they just announced something to definitely celebrate! Their widely popular Bunch O Balloons starting in 2021 will be 100% certified recycled plastic with TerraCycle. How cool is that?       You can also reuse a lot of their packaging like 5 Surprise for example, the segments can be turned into little display shelves for toys thus reducing the carbon footprint! Find their whole line of toys and party products on Amazon, Walmart, and Target!       Bunch O Balloons Slingshot (3 Bunches of Bunch O Balloons) is great to keep kids busy outside. Who knows how long we have during this shelter in place? Why not get wet and have a blast while sheltering in place? Find this awesome set on Amazon! Hasbro already has pledged to reduce their carbon footprint by removing plastics from their packaging. They also teamed up with TerraCycle to accept donations of well-loved toys and games. The toys are then transformed into the beautification of outdoor play spaces like park benches, and flowerpots. Hasbro hopes to phase out plastics from their packaging entirely by 2022.       You can find Hasbro products on Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Be sure to add in Play-Doh, plenty of board games into your Boredom Busters collection.

Eco-Friendly Plush

            Wild Republic announced in 2019 that they would be producing a 100% eco-friendly plush called, Eco-kins Ecokins are made of 100% recycled materials —plastic bottles to be exact, which is an amazing technology. They are very soft, and come in a variety of wild animals and mythical creature. Swipe to see some fun rubber duckies too- a peacock, skunk, and unicorn add a lot of storytelling during bath time and pool time. We love their rubber duckies! Find Wild Republic products on Amazon like this cute Stuffed Leopard.       Headstart Toys is known for making awesome toys - a lot of our favorite toys are by Headstart, so when they announced that they would be creating a fully sustainable plush toy line, I was not surprised.   Re-softables are super cuddly and totally eco-conscious. Did you ever think that your bottle of water can turn into a super cuddly and cute plush toy? Re-softables are revolutionizing the plush world with a 100% recycled line of plush toys - cuddly mini koalas, unicorns, kitties, pups to medium and large plush that are comforting to children and good for our beautiful world. Each Re-softables has a recycle symbol on its tush and what looks like to be the lid had been turned into a tag shaped as the recycle symbol. The fur is very soft, the colors are earthy yet bright, and would be perfect for Easter or any other occasion. Headstart Toys is also changing the way they produce their other toys lines and this is a very big step in the right direction.         Hairdooz are a fun and exciting new doll line that encourages pretend-play with the packaging and the doll! You just simply recycle the outer wrapping, plastic ties, and used sticker sheet and keep the rest. Perfect boredom buster! Find Hairdooz and other toys by Headstart on Amazon, Walmart, Target, and even at Five Below!   Aurora World makes 100% eco-friendly plush. With their licenses spanning from Dr. Seuss's The Lorax to Breyer to the adorable show on Netflix Yoo-Hoo, Aurora World quickly captures the essence of cuteness! They are known for their adorable plush that can be found on shelves from Zoo and Aquarium gift shops to flower shops to the toy shelves into your kid’s heart.   They made efforts starting in 2018 to reduce their carbon footprint by making small changes to their plush toy line. Now their plush will be 100% sustainable even down to the eco-friendly recycled biopolymer pellets inside the plush! I love their Shoulderkins and licensed plush! Find Aurora toys at Walmart and Amazon like this adorable Turtle Shoulderkins on Amazon!    

Toys with an Eco-Friendly Message

  Jay at Play is launching Super Cuties a new toy line featuring adorable babies with superpowers! Not only are these toys just adorable, but they will also convey important messages about environmental awareness. Their plans are to focus on saving humankind from villains all while saving the planet, and spreading awareness of how important kids' roles are in saving the environment too! Plus, these dolls are just so adorable and perfect for pretend play that they would make great teaching tools!   Playbrites use very little packaging to draw the consumer in! This toy has multiple functions as its a night light, a mini disco light, and a buildable toy that can be mixed and matched with other Playbrites!   Boxy Girls are a fun collectible doll line that promotes pretend play! The packaging is so beautiful that I actually keep everything it comes with, I just recycle any plastic pieces which are just ties to keep the doll in place. Boxy Babies will also be coming out later this year with larger packaging, and dolls that are bigger to hold. The packaging is encouraged to be kept as it turns into a high chair for the baby. Find Jay at Play products on Amazon, Walmart, and Target.  

Sustainable Wooden Toys

    HABA is the industry leader in sustainability as they have spread environmental awareness with their toys for many years. They only work with wood suppliers that are PEFC* certified, and only use beech and birch woods from sustainable forestry. HABA cares from their core—their environment awareness starts with their employees to the very hands of the child playing with their awesome toys.   *PEFC = Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification       Bonita Garden is a peg stacking toy that is not only fun to play with but also really beautiful!      Zooing Around Large Playset is a large playset with animals and even a zookeeper to encourage open-ended play. The whole package is the playset!     Le Toy Van is a firm believer that is “wood is good,” Le Toy Van is reducing our overall carbon footprint by creating thoughtful toys made from re-purposed Rubberwood trees that have reached the end of their life. Their products run the gamut from busy toys to tactile toys that facilitate pretend play and expand the imagination! Dollhouses with intricate details, toys for a baby that rattle and shake, and all made from sustainable wood!   Find Le Toy Van products on their website and on Amazon - like this adorable Daisylane Holiday Camper Van. Toys With Less Waste and More Play   LEGO is the perfect boredom buster, and they are also the pinnacle of sustainability as they are all compatible with each other, and have been a generational toy—sanitize and hand them down to the next kid. LEGO’s functionality, durability, and overall fun factor hold their value as the industry’s top toys for sustainability. There is a great selection on Amazon, Walmart, and Target.   Check out the latest Star Wars LEGO sets that are perfect for display and play!    

LEGO Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Resistance Y-Wing Starfighter

  The Mandalorian and The Child Razorcrest LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Razor Crest 75292 Building Kit, New 2020, Amazon Exclusive (1,023 Pieces)       Basic Fun! Toys has a great line of Tonka trucks that will encourage kids to dig in the dirt and get to know Mother Nature more closely. You can find them on Amazon, Walmart, and Target.         Check out the Metal Movers Tonka trucks line that is perfect for pushing rocks and bits of grass - making way for some pretty flowers!     Playmonster has a lot of toys that I found to be very eco-conscious - not only are they big on fun, but they are big on being thoughtful with their toys! Playmonster's Fuzzikins are adorable figures that are flocked and can be decorated over and over again with the included washable markers. All you have to do is rinse them off, wipe clean, dry, and enjoy again. Fuzzikins encourages imaginative play, so even the packaging is used to create an adorable world for the Fuzzikins. My Fairy Garden encourages kids to want to garden, and each set includes everything you need to create a magical world for the fairies. Kids can learn about the wonders of plant life and the importance of water conservation. The My Fairy Garden Nature Cottage includes a water collecting barrel that connects to a simple piping system and it collects the dripping water to re-use!     Fuzzikins Cottontail Cottage uses the entire package for play! Cut out extra characters, color the figures and wash for extended play, and more! Find this set on Amazon!   My Fairy Garden has a wide selection of sets! One in particular that I love is one we just unboxed which included a piping system to collect the water that drained from the soil. This is a great way to teach water conservation! If you're looking for something smaller, but still teaches about gardening and gives the a great starter for eco-conscious homeschooling lesson, then check out the Unicorn Garden Paradise on Amazon. Find Playmonster products on their website, Amazon, Walmart, and Target.   Skyrocket encourages fans of their Blume dolls line to reuse the packaging for gardening! The packaging container is not only for great shelf display, but can be used as a home for the doll, and even used as a flowerpot. You can find exclusive sets on Amazon with extra pieces for more fun!     Blume dolls are adorable dolls that live in flowerpots! The company encourages kids to use the package as the doll's home. You can also use it as a neat flower pot! Amazon Baby Pop is my favorite toy! This toy has about zero waste, recycle the wrapper, and used sticker sheets, and then you can keep everything! Blume House is a full playset that is just magical from top to bottom! Again there is very little waste with this toy! The same premise and concept of environmental awareness is encouraged. Find Blume Dolls and Blume Baby Pop on Amazon, Walmart, and Target.     Just Play Products' encourages pretend play and brings kids (and even parents, too!) into a world of joy and imagination! Their line of Ryan's World toys blows me away! Ryan's World safes, in particular, are a full-on playset with a unique storage system. This set encourages open-ended play where they can unbox surprises that can be used for hours of pretend play. You throw away the wrapping, and keep the rest! The new Ryan's Mystery Playdate Ultra Mystery Box is a full playset once opened leaving very little waste.   Just Play also makes Hairdorables, a really neat line of dolls with big hair and positive attitudes. Their latest Scented Series got a packaging revamp where the collector keeps the container to store their doll and accessories. You just have to recycle the blind bags and sticker sheets, and keep the rest! Find Just Play products on Amazon, Walmart, and Target.   IMC Toys makes adorable babies and other cool products. Their Cry Babies are very popular, and the miniature versions, Cry Babies Magic Tears, actually has great play value and minimal waste once unboxes.       The Cry Babies bottle houses and pet houses are adorable figures that cry when they are fed. Each of the bottle houses includes accessories for a fun unboxing experience. You just discard the wrapper and used the sticker sheet, and keep everything else! Get the 3-pack on Amazon for the ultimate in boredom busting! Find Cry Babies on Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Do you have any more suggestions on how to bust boredom in a more eco-friendly way? Let me know in the comments below! Sharing is caring, too!  

Leatherback turtles are laying more eggs than they have in two decades on now-empty beaches in Thailand.   Sparrows are flocking back to gardens in Britain. Goats are roaming the streets of Wales.   L.A. can see the mountains again. India can see the Himalayas for the first time in 30 years.   If it wasn’t clear before the coronavirus pandemic forced billions of us to stay at home, it’s clear now. Human activity is crippling the planet and the planet can recover…if given the chance.   But there are also some things that haven’t changed: there are still mountains of plastic floating in the oceans. In fact, microplastics were recently found for first time in Antarctic ice where krill source food. That’s how profoundly our plastic habit has poisoned the earth and its ecosystems.   Right now, many of us are thinking more deeply than ever about our impact, on our shared home and on one another. We don’t know what the world is going to look like when we come out on the other side of this, but we have a chance to make it better.   The simplest, most direct impact we can have on the health of our future, right now, is to change our daily habits. Consider the weight of the plastic waste you’re leaving in your wake, every single day, and make small, sustainable changes to reduce that.   With the support of the #LifeafterPlastic revolution-leading folks at Alpine Provisions, we’ve taken our hugely popular Planet Over Plastic Challenge and freshened it up for Earth Day 2020 with new ideas that are doable from home.   We’ve kept our classic avoid-plastic tips: genuinely helpful, practical little things we can all do, with shout outs for some of our fave eco companies doing it right—not because they paid us, or even know we mentioned ’em here, but because we genuinely love what they’re doing to help rescue this precious planet of ours from drowning in plastic.   Take one tip a day to stay inspired, informed, and empowered. Share the challenge with your friends, family, colleagues. Start a Planet Over Plastic group (virtually, of course) to keep each other pumped and accountable.   Even if you only manage to accomplish 1 of these 31 things, you’ll have made a difference, and contributed to a better world for us all to enjoy again, just as soon as we can.  

What products should you choose to compose a more responsible toiletry bag? How to avoid single-use plastic? What are the pitfalls to avoid ? I used my own experience to answer these questions that we all ask! 5 years ago we decided to pay more attention to our daily consumption. We started to eat less meat (because we were big carnivores) and to pay more attention to our races in general . When we left to live in Montreal , we further slowed down our consumption of meat, but for the rest it was "complicated" because all of our landmarks were shaken up, we no longer knew what to buy and where ... When we returned to Paris, start 2018, I was aware that it was not enough . So I decided to go further in this process and do everything to avoid consuming single-use plastic while traveling but also at home.

Is it complicated to zero in on waste?

Some people do not dare to start because they think that "it's complicated", that "it takes more time" or that "it costs more" ... etc We were among these people, so I think we are well placed to testify that no: zero waste is not that complicated , that it does not take more time and above all that in the long term it costs less ! Example: The average price of a disposable toothbrush is 2.5 €. The Caliquo rechargeable toothbrush is € 2.95 and refills cost € 1.25 per unit. Result after a year: if you change your head three times, rather than buying 3 toothbrushes, you are a winner! Finally,it is generally more practical when traveling because liquid products are replaced by solid products . This means that: no more hassle of liquid spilled in your bag / suitcase and above all more restriction of 100ml for cabin baggage.

Why did I choose to speak on this subject?

This is the first blog post where I speak on the subject of more responsible consumption and I hope there will be others. I am not an expert, I am far from perfect, but it is a subject that fascinates me and where I constantly learn new things . To start, I chose to tackle our hygiene and beauty products and therefore our toiletry bag. For some products we are not on zero waste at 100% because we would have to take everything in bulk and sometimes it does not exist for hygienic reasons. But I mainly selected products with packaging in paper, cardboard or reusable plastic. The goal is of course to avoid single-use plastic packaging. Promised my ideas are: easy, fast and economical ! All the products I'm talking about here have been bought and tested by us for several months, even several years for some. For those who follow us on Instagram, you have surely seen our stories “Ecology passer”. It is through them that I shared our new purchases and especially gathered your advice which helped me a lot. So I chose to do this article in the continuity of these stories. I hope that you will discover things thanks to this article and especially I hope to learn new things thanks to you!

Presentation of the products to compose a greener toiletry bag

1. the soap

On the soap side, we alternate between Marseille soap from Corvette and “Nile” soap from Sloe . The first time, we bought the Nil soap in its reusable aluminum box so now we just buy the refill.

The Corvette

Marseille Soap La Corvette has been produced since 1894 at Savonnerie du Midi in Marseille , using the traditional cooking method of cooking with cauldrons. The Corvette is one of the 4 traditional Marseille soap manufacturers members of the UPSM "Union of Marseille Soap Professionals". Economical, ecological and very effective, Marseille soap is used both for personal hygiene (skin, hair and teeth) but it can also be used to clean dishes or detach your clothes while traveling. It is therefore a great multi-use product, essential at home and / or in your toiletry bag ! ☞ Find all the tips on the Corvette blog: www.la-corvette.com . As for Sloe, it is a small brand that we discovered in December 2019 during a Christmas concept store. It was there that we met the founders:  Fanny and Bertrand . They are sparkling and have a real desire to change things and I admire them very much for that! Besides, I love how they define their brand: “Sloe is for everyone who is aware of the climate emergency but who does not always know where to start. […] In short, Sloe is for all those who want to stay clean without dirtying the planet ”!

Why we recommend the brands Corvette and Sloe

Sloe uses the cold saponification method , a  unique, ecological, artisanal and ancestral production  which guarantees the best possible conservation of the properties of the vegetable oils used. And Corvette , makes real Marseille soap according to the traditional method in cauldrons (hot saponification) , based on vegetable oils without perfume, coloring or preservative.

2. shampoo

As for shampoo, I currently have a treatment for eczema, given by the doctor, which requires me to use a shampoo bought in pharmacies. Hi the stressed chick, ah ah! But here are the ones that friends have tested and advised me:

• the solid shampoo "Elbe" Sloe
• the  solid shampoo with almond milk to Breathe
• and if you want a smaller format there is the travel version at Pachamamaï

I'm thinking of testing Sloe's after confinement, so I can give you a return before summer!

3. the toothbrush

At first I started with the idea of buying a bamboo toothbrush then Chrystelle from the travel blog Wait & Sea made me realize that I had to be careful with bamboo objects. Some dishonest people are riding the ecology wave to make money…. So small certified ecological farms and / or fair trade are no longer sufficient to meet the great demand for bamboo and we are witnessing in particular in Asia, the deforestation of other species to make gigantic plantations ... I discussed this with Fanny , the co-founder of Sloe , for their part they selected bamboo "Moso" to make their toothbrush. Moso bamboo grows in abundance and its culture does not require water. In addition it is a bamboo which is not consumed by pandas, so the impact of its culture is less for the environment.

Which brand of toothbrush with interchangeable head should be chosen?

My choice therefore turned, on Chrystelle's advice, to the bioplastic toothbrush with the interchangeable head . So when the hairs start to do the hop face I just change my head! And what's great is that you just have to send the heads to Terracycle, who takes care of recycling them. I bought our two toothbrushes from Altermundi because it was the only "responsible" store I knew near us. Finally, I chose those of the Lamazuna brand but with hindsight, and after a discussion with our friends Chloé & Gurkan from the blog Van life goes on , I realized that I had been tricked! I paid € 7.90 for the Lamazuna toothbrush while the Caliquo brand does the same at 2.95 € . The beginner's mistake ... But at least you are warned!

4. the toothpaste

After the toothbrush, my second fail was: the toothpaste ... I bought at the same time as our toothbrushes the solid toothpaste on a wooden stick of the Lamazuna brand . The peppermint taste was frankly not bad. But the solid toothpaste on a stick was a really bad idea . Firstly: since you have to wet the head of your toothbrush to rub it on the toothpaste, the toothpaste is wet ... So after that you have to wait for it to dry before putting it in your toiletry bag. So not ideal for travelers. And secondly: after a while it falls from the stick so it becomes hell to use the little bits of toothpaste that remain. Since that day, I learned from my mistake and so I turned to a solid toothpaste in a reusable aluminum box. I chose Sloe's because they are the few to offer toothpaste lozenges and frankly I love the concept: you crunch and you rub. It's easy, it lathers just enough and you have the feeling of freshness thanks to the natural mint flavor! Perfect !

5. the deodorant

For the deodorant I use the “ Superstar ” from the Canadian brand Routine. that I had in a box during our trip to Calgary. I love its creamy texture which I find super easy to apply. Unfortunately the brand is not distributed in France… There is only one European distributor which is located in Denmark, so we will see if one day we go there, I will make myself a stock. So when it is finished I will use Sloe's “Louga” deodorant cream .

6. cotton swabs and ear picks (oriculi)

I bought a metal oriculi two years ago in supermarkets but I can't find the extra washing experience. So I bought bamboo cotton swabs at Altermundi but it was quite expensive: € 4.90 per box of 100. We finally opted for biodegradable paper cotton swabs which cost around € 2 per box. 200.

7. washable cleansing cottons

Two years ago I invested in a kit of washable cleansing squares in eucalyptus, with a washing net and a travel kit at Emma's Trends . Personally I use this kit as storage at home, but not when traveling because it is a little big knowing that I use one square per week. I take a few squares in my toiletry bag, depending on the length of my stay. Note that there is also a glove version if you prefer! To wash them, nothing simpler I rub them by hand with soap. And if they are still stained I use baking soda, it helps to re-whiten them.

8. products for making up, removing make-up and moisturizing the skin

So, friends, it's now that I'm going to need your advice! Let me explain the situation to you: I wear very little makeup and besides I think I started to wear makeup around 16 and that since my routine hasn't really changed… Basically I use a moisturizer as a base , a good-looking powder, a black pencil and a mascara. And sometimes I put on a little red lipstick to spice it up a bit. So as much to tell you that my makeup usually lasts two years! But here I use a little the same brands since I was 16, which are big brands known to all and which are far from being green… So I need your advice to know which brands of cosmetics more ecological to choose ? Same make-up removal side I have used make-up removing milk for a long time, now I use micellar water but apparently it is not great for the skin (and it is in a plastic bottle). So I was advised to buy Jojoba oil to remove my makeup . In which I can dilute a few drops of Tea Tree essential oil to disinfect the skin. What do you think ?

9. feminine protections

Adios tampons, panty liners and disposable towels! I bought a menstrual cup of the brand “BeCup” in supermarkets two years ago and frankly to try it is to adopt it. When traveling you just have to think of having a water bottle to clean it in the toilet when you have no access to a tap… But otherwise it's super practical, I no longer have the little irritations that I sometimes and above all I produce less waste. And for those who wish, you can complete the cup with washable panty liners . Otherwise, you can also invest in washable sanitary towels made of organic cotton and / or menstrual pants . I love the brand “ in my pants ”, I follow it on social networks and I find it really hot! (I did not expect to find washable sanitary napkins… Ah ah). I have never tested their products but I find that they have succeeded in modernizing female protections . It's design, while protecting your body and the planet! So it's threefold cool!

10. sun protection

It's difficult to find a solar range with refillable containers. Personally I use the EQ brand sun and after-sun range because I know that at least the cream respects corals. EQ is  certified ORGANIC by Ecocert® and labeled Cosmebio® so it allows to reconcile skin protection and ocean protection ! In addition, all of their products are PETA certified. That is to say that they do not use any components coming from animals and that the products are not tested on them. For the body I use SPF 30 sunscreen to protect my skin from the sun. And for the face I had the combistick index 50 that I had trouble spreading ... Suddenly I traded it against the golden stick SPF 50+ which I clearly prefer, because it does not make a white mark. This format is often used by surfers and I find it perfect for hiking! On the after-sun side, I use the sublimating moisturizer  which hydrates my skin well while leaving a delicious smell of coconut.

For further…

As I said above, I am not at all an expert in zero waste. I chose to do this article on "how to compose a greener toiletry bag" to help you in your research of clean and nomadic products. And above all, to avoid you making the same mistakes as me. There are no small gestures when we are more than 7 billion to do them!   Here are some sites to help you in your zero waste approach:

• Zero Waste France
• Zero Waste Home by Béa Johnson (I recommend his book)
• the workshops of the Maison du Zéro Déchet in Paris

I hope this article has helped you find the right products for your needs. If you have any advice, don't hesitate to write them in the comments , I would be happy to include them in this article! And if you see new topics to cover here, or if you have ideas on a future eco-responsible subject on which you want me to write, I'm all ears!

After decades of bitter fights, environmentalists seemed to be winning the war against single-use plastics in recent years, with cities around the world banning or taxing them. Then the coronavirus arrived, raising fears that reusable goods might lead to infections. The impact has been swift. From Maine to Hawaii, plastic-bag bans have been suspended or postponed. In San Francisco, reusable shopping bags — once totems of the city's vibrant commitment to sustainability — have simply been outlawed. These reversals have sparked deep concern among activists. Some fear the bans will never be reinstated; others that reusable products may be permanently tainted as “unsafe.” The good news is that activists aren’t the only ones demanding more sustainable packaging these days. So are consumers — and some of the world's biggest corporations are paying attention. Campaigns against consumer plastics date roughly to the discovery of the Pacific garbage patch in 1988. The environmental movement was soon galvanized, and single-use plastics — especially grocery bags and straws — became a focus of global activism. Much of this was misdirected. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, plastic bags and wraps amounted to only about 0.3% of all the waste generated by homes and businesses in 2010. By comparison, containers and packaging make up about 30%. Nonetheless, the proliferation of ocean plastic has worried consumers well beyond San Francisco. Last year, a survey of 6,000 people in 11 countries found that 77% perceived plastics to be the "least environmentally-friendly packaging material.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, 72% said they're buying more environmentally friendly products than they were five years ago, and 83% thought it was important for companies to design products that can be reused or recycled. Those shifting perceptions haven’t gone unnoticed by consumer brands. Over the past decade, some of the biggest have adopted ambitious sustainability agendas. In 2017, Apple Inc. rolled out an aggressive strategy to embrace sustainable paper and cardboard, which resulted in a 30% reduction in plastic use in iPhone 7 packaging. The next year, nearly 300 global organizations, including companies such as Nestle SA, Mondelez International Inc. and Colgate-Palmolive Co., pledged to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging entirely. Some of those commitments may not amount to much. But the broader trend is unmistakable. For example, last May, 5,000 U.S. households gained access to a zero-waste e-commerce site called Loop. It offers brand-name products packaged in custom-designed glass and metal containers, which the company will deliver to your doorstep in reusable tote bags. Once you’re done with them, Loop will collect all the packaging for washing and refilling. Tom Szaky, the chief executive officer of TerraCycle, the company behind the site, told me that the experience isn't all that different from throwing stuff out; it asks almost nothing of the consumer. Loop isn’t making much money to start. But its animating idea — that reuse should be as easy as throwing something away — is powerful enough that some very big consumer-goods companies are now designing packaging specifically for the site. Want Clorox wipes delivered in a reusable metal container? Loop has them. Want the same experience with Haagen-Dazs ice cream or Pantene shampoo? Loop has those too, along with products from 400 other brands. It also has a waiting list of would-be shoppers that's about "100,000 long," Szaky says. Later this year, the company will start offering pick-up-and-return services at retail outlets around the world. "Manufacturers are promising recyclability and reusability," Szaky told me during a Zoom session, "and we're the easiest way to do it." Loop may or may not be successful in the long-term. But the fact is, consumers everywhere are expressing a clear preference for sustainability — and brands are increasingly responsive. Whatever happens with plastic-bag bans, it’s highly likely that this dynamic will ensure that single-use plastics continue to fade from the marketplace. The coronavirus, for all of its challenges, won't change that hopeful trend.

After decades of bitter fights, environmentalists seemed to be winning the war against single-use plastics in recent years, with cities around the world banning or taxing them. Then the coronavirus arrived, raising fears that reusable goods might lead to infections. The impact has been swift. From Maine to Hawaii, plastic-bag bans have been suspended or postponed. In San Francisco, reusable shopping bags — once totems of the city's vibrant commitment to sustainability — have simply been outlawed. These reversals have sparked deep concern among activists. Some fear the bans will never be reinstated; others that reusable products may be permanently tainted as “unsafe.” The good news is that activists aren’t the only ones demanding more sustainable packaging these days. So are consumers — and some of the world's biggest corporations are paying attention. Campaigns against consumer plastics date roughly to the discovery of the Pacific garbage patch in 1988. The environmental movement was soon galvanized, and single-use plastics — especially grocery bags and straws — became a focus of global activism. Much of this was misdirected. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, plastic bags and wraps amounted to only about 0.3% of all the waste generated by homes and businesses in 2010. By comparison, containers and packaging make up about 30%. Nonetheless, the proliferation of ocean plastic has worried consumers well beyond San Francisco. Last year, a survey of 6,000 people in 11 countries found that 77% perceived plastics to be the "least environmentally-friendly packaging material.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, 72% said they're buying more environmentally friendly products than they were five years ago, and 83% thought it was important for companies to design products that can be reused or recycled. Those shifting perceptions haven’t gone unnoticed by consumer brands. Over the past decade, some of the biggest have adopted ambitious sustainability agendas. In 2017, Apple Inc. rolled out an aggressive strategy to embrace sustainable paper and cardboard, which resulted in a 30% reduction in plastic use in iPhone 7 packaging. The next year, nearly 300 global organizations, including companies such as Nestle SA, Mondelez International Inc. and Colgate-Palmolive Co., pledged to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging entirely. Some of those commitments may not amount to much. But the broader trend is unmistakable. For example, last May, 5,000 U.S. households gained access to a zero-waste e-commerce site called Loop. It offers brand-name products packaged in custom-designed glass and metal containers, which the company will deliver to your doorstep in reusable tote bags. Once you’re done with them, Loop will collect all the packaging for washing and refilling. Tom Szaky, the chief executive officer of TerraCycle, the company behind the site, told me that the experience isn't all that different from throwing stuff out; it asks almost nothing of the consumer. Loop isn’t making much money to start. But its animating idea — that reuse should be as easy as throwing something away — is powerful enough that some very big consumer-goods companies are now designing packaging specifically for the site. Want Clorox wipes delivered in a reusable metal container? Loop has them. Want the same experience with Haagen-Dazs ice cream or Pantene shampoo? Loop has those too, along with products from 400 other brands. It also has a waiting list of would-be shoppers that's about "100,000 long," Szaky says. Later this year, the company will start offering pick-up-and-return services at retail outlets around the world. "Manufacturers are promising recyclability and reusability," Szaky told me during a Zoom session, "and we're the easiest way to do it." Loop may or may not be successful in the long-term. But the fact is, consumers everywhere are expressing a clear preference for sustainability — and brands are increasingly responsive. Whatever happens with plastic-bag bans, it’s highly likely that this dynamic will ensure that single-use plastics continue to fade from the marketplace. The coronavirus, for all of its challenges, won't change that hopeful trend.

After decades of bitter fights, environmentalists seemed to be winning the war against single-use plastics in recent years, with cities around the world banning or taxing them. Then the coronavirus arrived, raising fears that reusable goods might lead to infections. The impact has been swift. From Maine to Hawaii, plastic-bag bans have been suspended or postponed. In San Francisco, reusable shopping bags — once totems of the city's vibrant commitment to sustainability — have simply been outlawed. These reversals have sparked deep concern among activists. Some fear the bans will never be reinstated; others that reusable products may be permanently tainted as “unsafe.” The good news is that activists aren’t the only ones demanding more sustainable packaging these days. So are consumers — and some of the world's biggest corporations are paying attention. Campaigns against consumer plastics date roughly to the discovery of the Pacific garbage patch in 1988. The environmental movement was soon galvanized, and single-use plastics — especially grocery bags and straws — became a focus of global activism. Much of this was misdirected. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, plastic bags and wraps amounted to only about 0.3% of all the waste generated by homes and businesses in 2010. By comparison, containers and packaging make up about 30%. Nonetheless, the proliferation of ocean plastic has worried consumers well beyond San Francisco. Last year, a survey of 6,000 people in 11 countries found that 77% perceived plastics to be the "least environmentally-friendly packaging material.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, 72% said they're buying more environmentally friendly products than they were five years ago, and 83% thought it was important for companies to design products that can be reused or recycled. Those shifting perceptions haven’t gone unnoticed by consumer brands. Over the past decade, some of the biggest have adopted ambitious sustainability agendas. In 2017, Apple Inc. rolled out an aggressive strategy to embrace sustainable paper and cardboard, which resulted in a 30% reduction in plastic use in iPhone 7 packaging. The next year, nearly 300 global organizations, including companies such as Nestle SA, Mondelez International Inc. and Colgate-Palmolive Co., pledged to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging entirely. Some of those commitments may not amount to much. But the broader trend is unmistakable. For example, last May, 5,000 U.S. households gained access to a zero-waste e-commerce site called Loop. It offers brand-name products packaged in custom-designed glass and metal containers, which the company will deliver to your doorstep in reusable tote bags. Once you’re done with them, Loop will collect all the packaging for washing and refilling. Tom Szaky, the chief executive officer of TerraCycle, the company behind the site, told me that the experience isn't all that different from throwing stuff out; it asks almost nothing of the consumer. Loop isn’t making much money to start. But its animating idea — that reuse should be as easy as throwing something away — is powerful enough that some very big consumer-goods companies are now designing packaging specifically for the site. Want Clorox wipes delivered in a reusable metal container? Loop has them. Want the same experience with Haagen-Dazs ice cream or Pantene shampoo? Loop has those too, along with products from 400 other brands. It also has a waiting list of would-be shoppers that's about "100,000 long," Szaky says. Later this year, the company will start offering pick-up-and-return services at retail outlets around the world. "Manufacturers are promising recyclability and reusability," Szaky told me during a Zoom session, "and we're the easiest way to do it." Loop may or may not be successful in the long-term. But the fact is, consumers everywhere are expressing a clear preference for sustainability — and brands are increasingly responsive. Whatever happens with plastic-bag bans, it’s highly likely that this dynamic will ensure that single-use plastics continue to fade from the marketplace. The coronavirus, for all of its challenges, won't change that hopeful trend.

The beauty industry has a bad reputation when it comes to sustainability, and a lot of that is because of the sector’s dependence on single-use plastic packaging. The numbers are staggering — the cosmetics industry produces about 120 billion units of plastic-containing packaging a year, according to Zero Waste Week, an awareness campaign in the U.K. And after 60 years of global plastic production, only about 9 percent of the collective 8.3 billion metric tons has been successfully recycled, according to a study by Great Britain’s Royal Statistical Society. It’s unclear how much of that successfully recycled plastic has come from the beauty industry, but the industry’s penchant for housing tinctures in bottles made from multiple materials means the packaging is often tough to recycle, according to TerraCycle’s Gina Herrera, senior director of brand partnerships.  “The easiest rule to follow is that the more materials — plastics, glass, metals — that compose your beauty product packaging, the lesser chance it is recyclable in your blue bin. This is because it can be too costly, in regard to both time and money, to separate and process,” Herrera said.

The platform, which ships things like ice cream in metal containers you then send back for reuse, is expanding this summer, after a huge surge during the pandemic.

If you’ve started buying basic supplies like shampoo and toothbrushes online during the pandemic, you may notice that you’re creating a lot of extra waste in your house. But soon you’ll also be able to buy versions that come with sustainable, reusable packaging. Loop, the milkman-style platform that partners with big brands to offer subscriptions to common products like Tide detergent in reusable packaging, will expand its delivery service across the contiguous U.S. early this summer. The startup, which began its first pilots in and around New York City and Paris in 2019, has seen record sales in March and April as consumers have turned to e-commerce to avoid shopping in crowded stores. The expansion is a response to demand from customers, but also offers an alternative to recycling at a time when the recycling industry is struggling even more than it already was. [Photo: Loop] “We’re in a waste crisis,” says Tom Szaky, Loop’s CEO, who is also CEO of Terracycle, the recycling company that first helped launch the new platform. “That’s only worse because of COVID. During COVID, recyclers are hurting even more because oil is at an extreme low, so it makes it hard for recyclers to compete. And many are struggling because of health and safety—recycling is crashing during COVID.” Instead of shipping products in packages designed for a single use before recycling (or going straight to landfill), the platform sells products in packages designed for multiple reuses. When a container is empty, a consumer drops it in a shipping tote, schedules a pickup, and then sends the packaging back to be fully sterilized and then repackaged for another customer. Reuse has faltered in some cases during the coronavirus outbreak—some grocery stores have banned reusable bags, and some coffee shops have stopped reusable cup programs. But Szaky says that hasn’t been the case for Loop. “We’re learning that consumers are comfortable with reuse during COVID, which is very important,” he says. “If you give a coffee cup to a barista at a Starbucks, it has no dwell time, no health and safety protocol, and no cleaning. So it’s pretty bad. In Loop, it’s a professional reuse system, which has all of those three things in a very, very big way.” The platform now offers around 200 products that major brands have redesigned for reuse, either in the packaging or the product itself. A new toothbrush from Oral B called Clic has a reusable base and a head that snaps off to be sent back for recycling. Pantene shampoo comes in a lightweight aluminum bottle instead of plastic. Puretto, Loop’s in-house brands, sells snacks like chips and pretzels in stainless steel tubs instead of plastic bags. The design process for each item takes months; a tub designed for Häagen-Dazs ice cream, for example, uses a unique structure that works in the system, but also keeps ice cream colder longer. Four hundred brands have now signed onto the platform and are working through the process of developing new packaging for their products. As the company tracks where orders are most popular across the country, that will help its retail partners—Kroger and Walgreens—decide where to prioritize offering the same platform in stores later this year.

Kinship is on a mission to make the world a better place. And we’re not just talking about giving people better skin, but of course the clean skincare line does that too. Kinship was created by two industry vets—Alison Haljun and Christin Powell, the former vice president of marketing at Benefit Cosmetics and co-founder of Juice Beauty, respectively—to address the white space they saw in the beauty world. “Kinship is at its heart all about connection and self-care,” Haljun says. “Christin and I created Kinship because we felt the values of today’s generation were not being represented in a meaningful and conscious way.”     Specifically, they wanted to bring sustainability and wellness to the forefront, as well as other values. “We were tired of seeing blonde, blue-eyed girls—we didn’t feel that was representative of the population and certainly not today’s generation,” Powell says. “We didn’t see the beauty industry keeping up with the changing cultural values of today, so we felt like we needed to create it. When we came together, we had 16-plus years in the industry; we had seen and done a lot of it.”   A mutual industry friend set Haljun and Powell up on a blind 30-minute coffee date, which turned into breakfast and then lunch. “I had five meetings that day, but I kept pushing them back because I felt so connected to Alison,” Powell says. “We had to keep putting money in the parking meter because we couldn’t stop talking.” They instantly bonded over everything from being moms to realizing they had complementary skill sets in the beauty industry.       “I wanted to buy products for myself and my family that were that were clean and formulated more consciously and so my intention was to go to this meeting to get a bunch of production recommendations for myself and my kids because I knew Christin was also a mom,” Haljun says. But when Powell revealed that was struggling with the same mission for her daughter. “I don’t want to use [cheap] products because I know what’s in them and I don’t trust it, but I don’t want to spend $50 on an acne serum because she’s 12,” Powell recalls. That essentially sparked the creation of Kinship.   “As we reflected on our experience and our personal journey with our own skin, we had this moment of if we don’t do it who will?” Haljun says. “I remember Christin saying she could formulate it and I could market it. It was this really palpable connection that she and I had that was all built upon this premise that everyone deserves healthy skin and there is an undeniable connection between inner and outer health. Kinship is really a love letter to the next generation because it’s everything we’ve learned and know and we’re wanting to share it and have an impact on people’s health and the health of the planet.”     Kinship launched in November 2019 with five core products that cover the essentials: The Supermello Hydrating Gel Cream Moisturizer, Insta Swipe Lemon AHA Pads, Naked Papaya Gentle Enzyme Face Cleanser, Pimple Potion Retinal + Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment and Self Reflect Probiotic Moisturizing Sunscreen Zinc Oxide SPF 32. The line took two and a half years to formulate, since they had to walk the fine line of being luxurious and efficacious from an ingredient standpoint, but at an accessible price. The entire range features their exclusive Kinbiome complex, which boosts the skin barrier and microbiome. “With the skin barrier and probiotics we saw a tremendous difference in how skin looked, felt and behaved,” Powell says. “We started experimenting with pre and probiotics and were amazed with how well they work, alongside tried and true ingredients like AHAs, retinal and vitamin C. I think they will become part of the toolbox for formulation from here on. You have this ecosystem that lives on your skin and is constantly changing because of your environment and the products you use, so it’s important to keep it balanced and protected.”   But Kinship goes much further than skin deep. “We felt to be authentic, this brand needed to reflect the values of the founders throughout the organization,” Powell says. “We really wanted to express this was missing in the beauty industry because we feel there’s a lot of superficiality in beauty. There’s not anything wrong with that, but I think people—especially Gen Z—want something with a meaning and purpose behind it. Gen Z doesn’t like to be marketed to—they can see through all that. This was our chance to express our own values authentically and honestly.”   That’s why Kinship uses Ocean Waste Plastic (OWP) for their jars and lids. Every year, 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean. OWP works with local fisherman and volunteers to collect that plastic waste in and around the Java Sea and beaches of Bali, then it’s recycled into new, sustainable packaging. Kinship is the first clean skincare brand in the US to be using OWP. “It just seemed insurmountable from a cost perspective to invest in but I went to a conference and learned about how bad the problem is when I heard biologists talk about it having such a detrimental effect on the ocean,” Powell says. “Alison and I said we have to do this. We can’t develop a product that contributes to the plastic problem in ocean. We saw this opportunity as a way to lead in sustainability, especially as a startup, to show other brands you can do it. Yes, it’s more expensive, but our investors were aligned with us. And it’s really setting you apart in doing the right thing.” Clients can even trace where the plastic from their product came from on Kinship’s app.       To reduce their carbon footprint, Kinship uses the minimal amount of outer packaging—only two of their products have an actual box, which was legally necessary to list all of the drug information. “Those boxes are made using FSC paper and all shipping material is also made from 100% recycled FSC paper,” Haljun says. “There is no bubble wrap or any plastic used in shipping. It’s really important to us that we’re thinking it through and realizing there are so many different ways and so much more we can do to be earth conscious.” They are currently working on explaining what each material is made out of and how it can be recycled on their website. Since curbside recycling varies from city to city, they are developing a program to pay for customers to send Kinship empties to be recycled with TerraCycle.   Ultimately, as Kinship expands and launches new products, all of them will meet their exacting standards of products with purpose. Haljun says, “We really only want to create something if it can improve people’s lives and move the industry forward.”