Have you ever heard the expression “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”? Meaning, don't be so concerned with doing everything perfectly, that if you can't do it perfectly, you don't do it at all. That is such an important mantra when taking steps to leading a more eco-friendly lifestyle. There is so much information out there that it is easy to get overwhelmed. It can also feel very binary – like you can either grow your own vegetables, be a vegan, and whittle toys for your children out of corn cobs, or you are an evil capitalist who kills sea turtles with every life choice.
So that is where we refuse to let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and commit to making small changes that add up. One easy change is to purchase products that are packing-free or utilize a closed-loop packaging system. Over at Sustainimals HQ, we love using products from Lush. While many of Lush’s products use no packaging at all, for certain products, packaging is unavoidable. This is where the closed loop comes in! Lush offers a variety of products in their signature black pots, which are made from recycled plastic sourced from California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Once you finish your product, you bring the pot back to the store, where it is sent back out to Lush’s manufacturing facilities, so you can be confident that your container is actually being recycled, not just dumped into the trash.
While a closed-loop packaging system is great, an even better alternative is to find a store where you can bring your own container for products like shampoo, household cleaners, and hand soap. If you live in Los Angeles, you can refill your toiletries and cleaning products from the comfort of your own home with a house call from The Refillery. If you are in the Boston area, Cleenland offers personal and home care products, as well as eco-friendly items like silicone reusable storage wraps, and beeswax food wraps. Other shops / services include The Refill Shoppe in Ventura, CA; Utility Refill in Portland, OR; The Package Free Shop in Brooklyn, NY; and Joy Fill in Denver, CO.
Sustainimals LLC is in no way affiliated with any of the products or establishments mentioned. We just like sharing helpful info we have found in our quest to make the world a little cleaner.