Here’s 5 Sustainable Products to Try in 2022
Here’s some information that might be news to you.
The U.S. creates more waste than any other country on the planet. Think I’m fibbing? A report by Verisk Maplecroft states that the “US creates three times the global average of waste”. Side note: I reallyyy don’t think this is an instance that we have to be number one, guys.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in 2019 the total generation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in 2018 was at 292.4 million tons which equates to about 4.9 pounds of waste per person per day. What does that 4.9 pounds consist of? The largest percentages were made up of paper and paperboard, food, and plastics. The problem is that, despite that we are the largest producers of waste, we also suck at recycling. In fact, we only recycle 35% of our MSW.
But landfills are supposed to hold trash, right? So what’s the big deal? Landfills are sealed sites underground made of mostly of soil and trash.
The Environmental Impact of Landfills
- Landfills, though necessary, secrete methane gas. And methane gas, ladies and gentlemen, contributes to climate change.
- In addition to the impact on the planet, natural habitats for wildlife are destroyed every time we create a landfill.
- Landfills are not always properly regulated and maintained, which leads to contaminated water sources and damaged ecosystems.
- There’s also a 12% higher chance of medical abnormalities in children born to families living near a landfill.
The list goes on. Yes, landfills are necessary for disposing of waste but yes- we can decrease the environmental impact of these landfills through sustainable practices.
That brings us to what you actually came here for.
In an effort to be more sustainable, we tried five different sustainable products. Here’s what we thought.
Yea or Nay?
1. Sustainable Trash bags
Yea.
These are definitely a great way to reduce plastic waste. As plastic bags aren’t recyclable, they tend to get clog up the machines. In fact, the plants typically spend 60 to 90 minutes a day removing plastic bags and other non-recyclables at the sorting facility. Not only does this damage the equipment, but it also hurts the team's morale.
These sustainable trash bags were just like regular trash bags. They were durable, the sizes were fine, and best of all they’re compostable.
What does compostable mean?
It means that these plastic bags break down into conditioner for soil. The process is 100% natural and creates no toxicity. In other words, it helps the planet instead of hurting it.
The only con would be that they cost a tad more than your average trash bag but then, what’s a few bucks to save the planet right?
2. Greenzla Reusable Bamboo Cotton Pads
Yea. Nay. May-be.
They were so soft they felt like velvet against the skin. It wasn’t abrasive like disposable cotton wipes sometimes tend to be. I’m no mathematician but a pack of 80 cotton rounds are about $3 and reusable bamboo cotton pads are $15. By the time you buy a pack of cotton rounds six times, you would have already cost yourself more than just tossing these reusable ones in the laundry.
That being said, there were some downsides. I did not like that when I put toner the cloth it kind of just sat on top. In fact, if you're not careful, the liquid can just roll right off it. In Michelle’s case, she thought the pads absorbed too much of the liquid. So then, is it really leaving any product for you to use on your face? This being said, I have tried other re-usable makeup pads before that I haven’t had this issue with, so read the reviews for the specific brand before you buy if you do decide to try these.
3. Bees Wrap
Nay. I will be honest. I prefer clingwrap. Bee's Wrap seems to work for some items aka oranges, tangerines, etc., but not necessarily for ceramic or dishware. It just doesn’t cling to the containers. This leaves you with the same issues you’d have if you just left it in the fridge unwrapped… dried up food and a smelly fridge.
That being said, it could just have been the brand? But as always, try at your own risk.
4. Brimley Reusable Paper Towels
Yea.
I don’t know about y’all, but I go through a LOT of paper towels. Sometimes I just need to wipe something up, use a piece, throw it away, and then need another one a few minutes later.
This is bad for the environment AND a waste of money.
The Brimley reusable paper towels work really well for wiping up countertops, spills, etc., and then you can just wash them and leave them out to dry.
BUT that does lead me to a con. The challenge with these is keeping them sanitized since you’re using the same piece multiple times. A good way of avoiding cross-contamination would probably be to have a designated towel for specific tasks—i.e. one for cleaning the counter, one for drying the dishes, etc., etc.
5. Huppy Toothpaste tablets
Yes. Yea. Oui. Si. Ne. And any other word you can think of to say yes. I’ll be honest. I didn’t like these when I first tried them. If you’re used to toothpaste, then the tablets will be a bit disconcerting initially. There was something about chewing on toothpaste that was unusual for me. That being said, after a few days of using them I was hooked.
Pros
Plastic Free
Compostable Refills
Foams
Clean ingredients
Not wasting excess toothpaste!
100% Huppiness guarantee
Cons
Texture is a bit odd (almost chalky) initially
Someone (your kids or your husbands/boyfriends) might mistake them for candy
Why Did We Choose These Products?
We spent some time thinking about which products to try. We chose these specific items because they were all plastic-free, zero waste, and use sustainable and ethically sourced materials. By using sustainable products, we reduce the amount of waste going to the landfills. It not only helps the planet, but it might even save you money. So, what are you waiting for? Go buy some sustainable trash bags!