@dixiedragon there's a reason we're top 3 worst ocean polluter - we're surrounded by ocean and there's too much plastic so a lot of waste goes to the water.
Glass is expensive. Plastic bottles are expensive even. A lot of people can't afford to buy a liter of shampoo so companies have come out with sachets. Even mayonnaise bottles have their sachet little brothers.
Too much trash. That also means there's not many things readily available to reuse if I have to get it from others. We at home have greatly reduced plastics. The few we do use, like milk n yogurt cartons are made into eco bricks.
Our lotion bars at home rests on whatever surface we forget them on lol, or on little plates that are the last of their sets.
I have looked into paper. My issue is, with the sweating that goes on here, I've experienced ink transfers on some of my soaps. It's the same issue for lotion bars. Unless it's traveling a very short distance, all the oil will seep through the paper.
Wow!
where do you live where you can still get paper grocery bags? I envy you that option!
The Philippines
They've stopped single use plastics in supermarkets several years back. If you don't take your reusable eco bag with you (a lot forget still lol) you'll have to lug your stuff in handle-less paper bags, or a big box that they dispose of by giving it to you haha.
Some fast food chains have stopped single use utensils as well when you dine in. They'll give you a straw if you ask, but biodegradable bamboo straws and reusable metal ones are trending now. People bring their own when they go out. In fact, a lot of people bring their tiffin boxes in for their takeaway orders too.
@DeeAnna I've seen people use cloth. Cute ones. Makes me wonder where they got em. Old clothing in this house gets given to the poor or cut up to use in the kitchen, which I'm hoping people will do when they receive something from me wrapped in cloth. That's another of my issues - using something others can safely throw, in case they're not as eco conscious as we are. I will go through the bin and see if there's something there I can use, thanks for the reminder
@Tourmaline thanks, I did not think of fabric stores. I should order glassine to try, but I'm not sure if the lotion bars will withstand the heat. I do make round soaps but not sure yet if I want to buy coffee paper hehehe
@Lindywine and
@CatahoulaBubble, same answer as the above for the glassine but I do use local materials to tie my soaps up once they're wrapped in paper. We have lovely abaca or sinamay string, looks better than jute in my opinion, and I've used colorful paper yarn as well.
@SideDoorSoaps the danger is, if people are like my mom they'll forget that bag and then eventually toss it hahaha. Also, it'll up my customer's costs hehe. I'm trying to get handmade soap to others who can't readily afford the other "premium" ones so I'm keeping my costs low.
I love the idea of wrapping soap in catalogs, book pages and magazines. Is there anything in the ink that would cause DOS?
Good question.
@Lin19687 the paper grocery bags are getting thinner here as well lol
Outlawing 'single use bags' is stupid in the fact of all of the rest of the plastic we use.
It's a start at least. Here people are finding ways to stop using plastic. I mentioned utensils and straws and tiffin boxes above. I also sell biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes and bamboo cotton buds. I've used cloth wipes and diapers instead of disposable ones on my baby. We've not bought bottles of shampoo, conditioner nor lotion in years. We use loofahs even in the kitchen. People are urging companies to do something about plastic use. One small thing multiplied by many will make a difference.
@LilyJo you are right. It has to be in legislation, like with the plastic bags. They can slowly do it with other things too. I hope they do sooner than later, for my kid's sakes.
