Plastic Free Alternatives

I complied a list of things you can get without plastic involved. In our area of the country, we do not have glass recycling and plastic recycling is on its way out. We only have metal and paper recycling. Thus, I made a list of products and companies that offer alternatives, some are even tree free using bamboo. All packaging that the product comes in should be compostable, recyclable or reusable. Hope you find this helpful.

Plastic FREE PRODUCTS (zero waste, everything is compostable or recyclable)

Shampoo, conditioner and body wash 

https://www.plaineproducts.com/ref/64/ 

Can return packaging for refills. 

Dishsoap, handsoap, multi purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, glass cleaner

https://www.blueland.com/collections/refill-pack

Can just use own bottles and just start with refill packs

Cleancult- waxed milk jug containers

https://www.cleancult.com/bundles/refill-bundle?gclid=CjwKCAjwjLD4BRAiEiwAg5NBFuPRfhv7GG5fN18Zf8pCCayPFflAScb06-KshyJFOgBA6LUxSz47dxoCdloQAvD_BwE

Kitchen Sponges

Silicon sponges like these -reusable, dishwasher friendly

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076KC1WFX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_h5CdFb92RQFFN

https://us.miracle-sponge.com/catalog-2.php?fbclid=IwAR2iLwrUt5tD63lvKnyGX88b3OE5tTyY-Wey9cYbsFqvD0uJXJ0QKOAT4uc

Deodorant

Pit Stop sold at various online stores: https://terrashepherd.com/products/copy-of-hh-lucky-locks-shampoo-bar

No Tox Life https://notoxlife.com/collections/deodorants

Bandaids

Patch Bandages - Made from bamboo sold online or at target

https://www.target.com/p/patch-bamboo-bandages-with-coconut-oil-25ct/-/A-78643366

Toothbrushes

If you don’t have teeth problems bamboo brushes are the way to go here. There are many companies that sell these, just do a search online

“Q-Tips” - Cotton Buds

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08128YCYJ/ref=dp_cerb_1

Lip Balm

Many different companies selling lipbalm in compostable tubes, this is a small etsy seller doing it.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/709140599/lip-balm-in-eco-friendly-tube-zero-waste?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_ts1-e-bath_and_beauty-makeup_and_cosmetics-lips-lip_balms_and_glosses-lip_balms&utm_custom1=9b731aea-f45c-48fb-831e-88ffd70b4abd&utm_content=go_1844177495_68645459214_346397173831_aud-736801674656:pla-314548488380_c__709140599&utm_custom2=1844177495&gclid=CjwKCAjwjLD4BRAiEiwAg5NBFgg6uDAxGHJ32NvY2plcnkjxTlBYsm9nv-GJP384MoSe7A4KlUHsARoCbWwQAvD_BwE

Toothpaste

No good alternatives for actual wanting to clean your mouth well.

Best alternative found is David’s Natural Toothpaste, supposedly in an all metal recyclable container, not sure who would recycle it though. https://packagefreeshop.com/products/toothpaste?variant=31942391660641&gclid=CjwKCAjwjLD4BRAiEiwAg5NBFv4pUGbkODzNy-KGG1Z_SycabqzVTtMbNgZgdV5n24TVzsPsSPguGBoC86MQAvD_BwE

Vitamins

https://takecareof.com/products#letter%20vitamins

Period care

Thinx underwear

Menstrual Cups

Reusable cloth pads and panty liners

Razors

Replacable blade razors (costly)

Baby Diapers: 

Alva Baby, Green Mountain Diapers

BumGenius, Fuzzi Buns, Charlie Banana 

(find through a buy nothing or local buy nothing group)

Loofah sponge

Mayan Loofa https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/cleaning-supplies/products/mayan-loofah-scrubbers

Laundry soap

Dropps

https://www.dropps.com/pages/welcome?gclid=CjwKCAjwjLD4BRAiEiwAg5NBFvulETxL4dyr9_NChuxxDrGSXK3sxIRhQ65V9ZvV95ARwC8XkjrUIxoCKiQQAvD_BwE

Sheets laundry club

https://www.sheetslaundryclub.com/product/laundry-detergent-sheets-free-clear/?gclid=CjwKCAjwjLD4BRAiEiwAg5NBFtddRMjsbuL6s9jfxVdoPCdH45pTEz7CpRmdpoZvI41OVQfCc4rW0RoCe4oQAvD_BwE

Ziplock bags

Unzip

Various silicone washable bags can be found on Amazon or other smaller company sites

Plastic wrap

Bees wax wrap

Toilet paper 

Who gives a crap 

Grove co. 

Paper towels and tissues

Grove co.

Cupcake Liners:

Regular ones are compostable 

Silcone Ones are reusable

Companies that carry a lot of niche zero waste products

Package Free Shop

https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/package-free-products

Well Earth Goods 

https://wellearthgoods.com/

https://earthhero.com/20-zero-waste-products-for-2020/

What is okay to share

There's an absolute sense of vulnerability in my life currently that feels like I'm unable to share publicly. Andwhat does that really mean to share publicly? Does one have to bare one's heart to the world to be loved?
In raw pain I'm glad that people can find comfort in sharing. I don't have that in my life. In the hard things I've gone through I've been shut down or gaslit away from being able to feel them freely. It's led me to set up strict boundaries that just are hard because the people around me will never really know our understand what it's like to walk in my shoes. But some do have some empathy and for that I'm grateful.
In knowing all of this, I'm trying to lean into my own discomfort for the marginalized people in our country, the immigrants, BIPOC, and all the people who have to live in fear to be themselves. Because the God l know is full of love, so full he sees us when no one else does. And he says in our mess that he still loves us. And goodness is our nation a mess currently. I've seen in my own life that sometimes you absolutely have to break to be healed, but it's uncomfortable to do so and we often to resist it. I think we need to break as a nation, currently many are trying to cover everything up, but it's not working. It's just beating one's head against the wall over and over.
So if statues have to come down and protests have to carried out to be heard then we need to hear. We need to listen to the broken, because we too are broken and it's in our brokenness that we can find common ground and learn to love.

And yes, our God is bigger than a statue any day.