How do I start to reduce plastic packaging and go natural?
I can honestly say that we at Red Panda are so pleased that more and more people are asking themselves this question. It’s a discussion that I often have with customers at our stall at Sherborne, Shaftesbury and Gillingham markets. Every person I’ve spoken to who has made changes to their buying habits and taken the eco path has found that they are much happier with their new purchase. They have also noticed that the product lasts longer and is much better value for money. Win win!
Let’s get started!
The bathroom is one of the key places in most homes where it is choc-a-bloc with products that, for some reason, are automatically packaged in plastic. Soap wrappers, toothpaste tubes, shower gel bottles, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, the list goes on. This is without the items that are FULLY made of plastic such as a nailbrush, the family set of toothbrushes, soap dish and razors!
It can be a bit overwhelming if you try and tackle it all at once, but at Red Panda, our goal is to make it super easy for you to start with a clean sweep. Simply use up what you already have (low waste is also what we’re aiming for), then make those changes.
Fresh ideas 🍋
Here are some great ideas about where to begin….
Natural suds 🌼
Our soap dishes come in a choice of either bamboo (which is great for large soap bars) and olive wood which are carved only from retired olive trees that can no longer bear fruit. Both have drainage holes or slats and are much better for the life of your soap than sitting in a puddle in a plastic dish.
Natural dental 🦷
We have toothbrushes for the whole family 👨👩👧👦 sets of four soft bamboo brushes in two colour choices for the children and beechwood brushes for the grown-ups, complete with bristles made from the castor oil plant. How’s that for serious green credentials?
Other bathroom plastic 🛀🏼
Bin the plastic nail brush and exchange it for a beechwood one instead, this time with bristles from the agave plant. Much sturdier and will last you for years! Swap your plastic handbag hairbrush for a natural mini beechwood brush. Ours are prettier and will last and last.
Chemical-free hair 👱🏼♂️
As for hair washing and conditioning, our 2 in 1 bars from Zero Waste Path in Cambridge leave your hair feeling fantastic with no transition period either. Save money and feel good about going chemical-free. We also stock their soaps, deodorant and solid body lotions which are all palm-oil and cruelty-free. All of their products use zero waste from start to finish and are full of beautiful essential oils. They make brilliant gifts too 🎁
And don’t forget some of our new Swedish cloths for getting the bathroom (or anywhere!) clean. They can be safely washed at up to 90° and are a great way to make a change from microfibre cloths and synthetic sponges. Each pack has four differently coloured cloths to help avoid mix-ups (between kitchen and bathroom!) and are dyed using water-based environmentally friendly ink.
Remember, if you have any tips of your own or any questions for us please do get in touch below. Don’t forget to join us to receive our Red Panda newsletter 📰 Let’s keep the conversation going with all things eco!
Love, Red Panda 💚
