Every minute, the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic is dumped into the ocean. You read that right. So by the time you’ve finished reading this article, around 5 garbage trucks of waste have just polluted our ocean. And from there, over 13 million pounds of plastic waste is thrown into the oceans every single year. We wish this wasn’t true. This litter and pollution endangers aquatic life and threatens human health but keep reading, we have solutions for you.
The biggest issue is that we can’t see the ocean plastic pollution problem right in front of our eyes, and the trillions of microplastic particles that lay on the seafloor. When we go to the beach, we only see the surface of the plastic all around us like straws, food wrappers, bottles, bottle caps and grocery bags we find on the sand. Welcome to the harsh reality of throwaway culture!
It almost seems inescapable and overwhelming, but there are small habits we can make daily that have a real impact on minimizing our waste, especially when it comes to the products we use in our pampering. As a society, we have become addicted to single-use plastic products but we can make an easy, cost-effective switch. You don’t need to become a zero-waste human overnight. However, you can make eco-conscious choices to buy ocean-friendly, people-friendly products that help the environment, your bank account, and your hair and body too.
So how bad is this whole plastic problem? Microplastics, pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size, have been found in consumer products like cosmetics, toothpaste and household cleaning products. Plastic has become a human health issue since plastic products contain chemical additives that have found their way into our bloodstream (how scary). A number of these chemicals have found their way into our bodies and have been associated with serious health problems such as hormone-related cancers, infertility and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Personal care products happen to be a major source of microplastics and get washed into the oceans right from our bathrooms. Over the past decades, natural materials used in manufacturing such as paper, glass, and cotton, have been replaced by plastic. Now, plastic has found its way in our bodies, in the food we eat, the water we drink and even the air we breathe.
That’s why it’s essential we choose to buy plastic-free deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lip balm. Long Wknd products contain zero-plastic packaging so you can hit reset on your routine and clean up your hair, your body and the planet too. Worldwide, only 9% of plastic makes it to a recycling plant. That means a whopping 91% of plastic isn’t recycled. How to avoid being a part of this statistic? Start by ditching the plastic in your morning and evening regimine.
Wondering how our products compare to the plastics? Our packaging is made using post-consumer recycled paper and cardboard, and works more effectively than traditional bottled hair and body care (that’s because we’re also waterless and ultra-concentrated, not diluted). We use nutrient-dense, plant-based ingredients and low-waste, compostable packaging that doesn’t contribute to waste in landfills or pollute our ecosystem. Our sustainable self-care essentials are made in small batches which are more eco-friendly than conventional hair and body care items that are mass produced using excessive energy and resources. Around the world, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute. This includes bottled hair and body care. Will you be one of those purchasers after reading this article? We sure hope not.
Today, the world produces about 400 million tons of plastic waste every year. We can make the smart swap to plastic-free alternatives that don’t sacrifice quality, the environment, space in your luggage or your showers. So, are you ready to banish the bad stuff and swap sustainably?
Browse the eco-friendliest hair and body care here.
