Simple ways we can reduce single-use plastic in our lives, with a little style and a lot of sustainability.
By Anna Griffin, Editor in Chief
Approximately 8 million metric tons of plastics are estimated to enter the ocean each year, and the United States is one of the top 20 contributors to plastic pollution. Despite our best efforts to recycle our plastic products, only 9% actually gets recycled. Every year 40 billion, single-use, plastic utensils and 100 billion plastic bags are used in the U.S. alone, and as many as 8.3 billion straws pollute the world’s beaches. It is estimated that it would take approximately 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade, 200 years for a plastic straw, and up to 450 years for plastic bottles made of PET. However, these items never fully decompose and become microplastics that continue to harm our health and the environment. The plastic typically used in these products contain chemical additives such as endocrine disruptors, which are associated with cancers, birth defects, and immune system suppression in humans and wildlife. With plastic pollution now a global crisis, this Earth Month is the perfect time to embrace innovative, plastic-free products that will improve ours and our beautiful planet’s health. Here are our favorites! So c’mon now . . . Don’t be plastic!
$8.49 USD
Formulated with 94% plant-based ingredients and no sulfates, silicones, preservatives, soap and dyes, this 97% biodegradable and dermatologist-tested easy-to-use bar softens, repairs and revitalizes for shinier and healthier looking hair. With each bar lasting up to 40 washes and its plastic-free packaging, this shampoo gives us lustrous locks with no harsh effects on our bodies or our environment.
$7.49 USD
Made from non-toxic, European-grade, platinum silicone, GoSili®’s reusable straws allow us to enjoy our beverages while reducing our plastic footprint. Soft and flexible yet strong and durable, these eco-friendly, multi-colored straws won’t melt in your drink like paper or hurt your teeth like a stainless steel straw. Dishwasher safe, they are the perfect alternative to the 500 million single-use plastic straws that end up in our landfills and waterways every day, and make any occasion fun for our planet.
$39 USD
Containing Squalane, a natural moisturizer, and giving a natural, sun-kissed radiance and an instant, youthful glow, this Baked Blush in Copper starts as a creme and is baked into a finely textured powder that feels silky and weightless when applied to the skin. Ecocert/Cosmos certified natural (the EU equivalent to USDA Organic), Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free, and packaged in sustainable bamboo, this blush gives a warm flush to our cheeks and our environment.
$25 USD
Made with BPA free materials and superior grade stainless steel, this stylish, vacuum insulated, 20oz travel tumbler is perfect for keeping our drinks hot or cold wherever life takes us, while reducing single-use beverage containers, plastic use and waste. With its chic, unique, jewel band decoration we can drink life to its fullest and reduce our carbon footprint in style, while celebrating the beautiful outdoors whether we’re on the beach or enjoying a picnic in the park. Get 20% off your purchase using the code KTLA2O!
$10 USD
Powered by Nails.INC’s revolutionary 73% plant-based formula, this award-winning, vegan, cruelty-free, Halal friendly polish is 21 free, including formaldehyde, parabens, acetone, and 18 other nasty ingredients. Its quick drying, sunlight UV reactive formula boosts glossiness and extends wear up to 10 days, yet is pure and gentle.. Each Venetian glass bottle is topped with a compostable, 100% FSC-certified, sustainable and recyclable ash wooden cap, making this nail polish as kind to our planet as it is our nails.
$24 USD
Featuring lemon - best known for its cleansing and uplifting aroma and natural antibacterial and antioxidant properties - and bright, zesty grapefruit, combined with high quality essential oils that offer effective deep cleaning and disinfecting abilities, this biodegradable and 100% natural cleanser effortlessly removes dirt, grease and grime from countertops, cupboards, sinks, appliances, and more. With its concentrated formula keeping recyclable packaging to a minimum, just pour the plant-powered cleaning extract into the refillable, apothecary-inspired, amber glass bottle, fill with water, swirl and spritz, for a clean, refreshingly scented home that is better for your health and better for our planet’s.
$68 USD
This best-selling, superfood serum is a hydration powerhouse that instantly restores dry skin, chapped lips and damaged hair. Sustainably upcycled from the kernel of the French Ente plum, which is packed with vitamins A, C and E, and essential fatty acids, Plum Elixir fights free radicals, brightens, balances and calms, while delivering an instant, hydrating glow. With its MADE SAFE® certification and plastic-free, Earth-friendly packaging, this vegan elixir naturally nourishes both our beauty and the environment’s.
Verve Culture Moroccan Shopping Basket Backpack & Moroccan Shopping Basket
$68 & 48 USD
From the farmers market to the grocery store and everywhere in between, Verve Culture’s beautifully woven, understated Moroccan Basket Backpacks and Shopping Baskets stylishly carry our belongings, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bags. Weaved with Palm leaves by artisans in north and south Morocco, these soft yet strong baskets effortlessly fuse functionality and fashion, and are perfect for both our practical errands or glorious days at the beach.
$9.95 USD
ATTITUDE’s SUPER LEAVES™ plastic-free, vegan and cruelty-free deodorant uses an innovative, all-paper packaging to reduce single-use plastic in our daily routines. This aluminum-free formula is made from natural ingredients including arrowroot and cornstarch, which absorb moisture and eliminate odors for long-lasting protection. EWG VERIFIED™, this hypoallergenic deodorant contains shea butter and coconut oil for easy application, and is free from phthalates, parabens, talcum powders and artificial colors, giving the ultimate protection to our armpits and our planet.
$97 USD
Derived from nature, plant-based LONO sneakers are created with certified biodegradable and compostable wood-pulp, cotton and beans, and an algae-derived Popcorn sole. A performance foam created in partnership with Bloom USA, it replaces plastic and petrochemical alternatives. Committed to reducing waste in their production and in our everyday lives, these comfortable, breathable sneakers are made with bark that absorbs toxins and reduces bacteria giving us the option to go sockless, and feel like we're running on air.
$7.99 USD
Cleansing, hydrating and replenishing, Jada Pinkett Smith’s Hey Human’s Body Wash is free from phthalates, sulfates, and parabens, and formulated without silicones. Vegan and cruelty-free and packaged in infinitely recyclable aluminum, this gender-neutrally and naturally scented body wash is infused with refreshing coconut, cooling mint and eucalyptus, and enriched with jojoba seed oil and coconut-derived cleansers. Its rich and creamy lather leaves our skin feeling clean and nurtured, and our senses revived. Once empty, any remaining product can be rinsed out, the cap screwed back onto the bottle and put in the recycling bin. What could be cleaner than that?
12 pack of 500 ml $21.99 USD
Emerging from their springs alkaline (8.1 pH), the official water brand of the NYC Marathon, Flow water, is full of naturally occurring electrolytes and minerals, giving it a pure, refreshing taste. With Flow’s B-Corp Certification, commitment to climate protection, giving back to communities, water stewardship, and plastic-free, 100% recyclable and renewable packaging, This water reminds us to go with the flow.
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