As we continue to try our best to watch our consumption, be mindful of our impact and, most of all, the waste we produce, we have been searching for brands, products and ultimately solutions to help take the steps in doing our part.
In that search, we came across the Basic Goods Trading Company. They offer cleaning, home, and personal products made with all-natural materials, are eco-friendly and are never packaged in plastic.
So, as we do, we spent the last month testing out an array of their products, and we have to admit, we are big fans, and not just for environmental reasons, we really do love the products, so here’s is a breakdown of what we tested.
Laundry Detergent Strips
If you aren’t already aware, there is massive waste involved in cleaning our clothes. From the number of bottles used to the emissions from the trucks shipping products to the impact the chemicals in the product have on our planet, it’s time for a change.
While we haven’t come up with a way to eliminate all that, we have eliminated all those plastic bottles with laundry strips.
We tested the laundry strips, and they work great, and because there isn’t a big bottle, there is nothing to “recycle.” Furthermore, the trucks that bring shipments can fit so much more. Hence, less energy is used for shipping products, and the laundry strips leave your clothes clean and fresh!
Swedish Sponge Dishcloths
Like many, we are guilty of using far too many paper towels in the past. Now that might not seem like a big issue. It is.
From cutting down trees to the production, shipping, to the use itself and subsequent waste, paper towels really should be a thing of the past, even more so since there are viable alternatives like Swedish sponge dishcloths.
These have become our kitchen and cleaning go-to and are reusable over and over again.
Reusable Cotton Mesh Shopping Bags
We’ve been using the same three shopping bags for years, along with our backpacks, and it’s perfect timing, now we have some replacements.
The idea is that if we all just had a few reusable bags that we then used for years, it would be so much better for the planet than the constant production and consumption of plastic bags.
So, we try to do our part.
Muslin Market Bags
If you’re not a fan of mess bags, then a great option instead is muslin market bags. They snap right back up when you’re down with them, so you can easily sock them away in your backpack or closet.
Biodegradable Sponges
We as a collective have probably thrown out hundreds of sponges over the years, but now, we have swapped over to biodegradable sponges, and honestly, we can’t tell the difference.
The sponges work just like the store brand but won’t stack up in a landfill or dump.
Silicone Fruit and Veggie Covers
While we know all about beeswax wraps, we’ve never used silicone fruit and veggies covers, but, ever since we’ve started using them, we’ve not only found them super handy, they have further helped us cut down on waste.
Not only that, they bring a bright pop to your cleanup.
Cotton Buds
While we can probably replace certain personal care products, we should also be aware of the chemicals and bleaches used in many products in our local stores.
These buds are organic, and not only that, they work great and are biodegradable, so there is no waste from these little babies either.
Like the other products we tested above, we also loved the cotton bud, and we love the idea of zero waste throughout the entire product line.
Dryer Balls
I’ve never been a big fan of dryer sheets, so when I found out about dryer balls, I jumped right on the bandwagon.
Basic Goods Dryer Balls are made from 100% natural wool making them an eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets. These wool balls also prevent static cling and wrinkles by softening fabrics as they tumble.
The pack of four is a laundry must-have.
Here’s the thing, we don’t expect anyone to change their entire way of living in one day. That being said, it’s good to know that the environmentally friendly solution may be the more adorable choice in some cases, especially nowadays. For instance, the dryer ball four-pack is 21.95, which is more than a pack of dryer sheets, but, after a year of using them, having not bought many boxes of dryer sheets, you’d end up saving a fair amount of money.
So think about what waste your household makes, and see if you can make some minor tweaks to help create a more significant change for you, hopefully, and ultimately the world.
markmunroe
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