Hey earth muffins! Plastic Free July is just around the corner! Every year this challenge comes around, I try to pick an area of my house to focus on in terms of making eco swaps. If you are new to sustainable living, I suggest tackling your kitchen this year! A great way to zero waste your kitchen and reduce single use plastic is to switch to HoldOn bags. These bags are compostable and plastic-free… And they were kind enough to send me some to try out! 🎉 Let’s jump into a full HoldOn review.
Hey earth muffins! A great eco swap for the kitchen is to opt out of plastic wrap and use other methods of keeping your food fresh. One way to do this is to use beeswax wraps – sheets of fabric coated in beeswax that cling to your food, bowls, and containers. I was gifted a set of wraps for Christmas a couple of years ago, so I thought it would be fun to write a review to answer the question “do they really work?”. Let’s jump right into it! 🐝
Obviously it is awesome that this is a sustainable alternative to plastic wrap! Cling wrap is single-use and causes a bunch of waste that ends up in the landfill (or even the ocean). Not great for Mother Earth! Instead of using plastic wrap, I keep my set of beeswax wraps in my mason jar hutch next to all my other reusable containers. Having them accessible makes it easier to remember to use them too!
Unlike the single-use nature of Saran wrap, beeswax wraps last a long time. Once you are done using them, just wash them with soap and water and let air dry. So easy! If you take care of them in terms of cleaning, they will literally last multiple years.
Plus, beeswax wraps work! They keep containers airtight in the fridge which is great for making sure your leftovers don’t go bad. You can also use them instead of plastic Ziploc bags too, as I’ve wrapped sandwiches in them for lunch. Just like with any plastic wrap, make sure you get a full seal to ensure the best result with your food.
Lastly, I love that these are accessible to everyone because you don’t even need to buy these – they are super easy to make yourself! All you need is some fabric scraps and beeswax. There are plenty of DIY tutorials on Pinterest sharing how to melt the wax onto the fabric. Super simple and a great way to knock plastic wrap this summer. 🎉
When you first open the wrap, don’t be alarmed that it seems pretty inflexible. The beeswax has just hardened and needs to warm up a bit. I find that rubbing your hands over the wrap is a quick and easy way to warm up the wax. Once the wrap is more flexible, it will be easier to seal over containers. This tiny extra step may be annoying to some people, so I thought I would include it as a con.
The only other thing I dislike about beeswax wraps is that they don’t last as long as things like mason jars. Obviously metal and glass is going to outlast anything made from fabric and wax, so I often just find myself opting for containers instead of beeswax wrap. However, you can “mend” your wraps by adding extra layers of beeswax if you want… But I personally just find it easier to not even bother and just pull out a mason jar instead.
Overall, I think beeswax wraps are awesome! While I often just use mason jars instead of wrapping up food, it is nice to have a set of these available to me whenever I need them. 😊 They work just like plastic wrap and come in so many designs and colors too. Have you tried beeswax wraps before? Comment below and let me know your thoughts on this eco swap!
Love,
Jenna ♥
Hey earth muffins! Back in February I reviewed my Allbirds flats for you all. I still wear those shoes to the office often – when my Nike sneakers finally wore out (after 4+ years might I add!), I thought it would be a good idea to invest in some sustainable running shoes. Allbirds was obviously the brand that came to mind first. Let’s jump right into my Allbirds Wool Runners review!
Hey earth muffins! Today I’m coming at you with another shampoo bar review… It seems like I’ve been reviewing these a lot lately but it’s just because I like to try new ones whenever one is used up. 😀 I picked up this bar from my local zero waste store (something I am so lucky to have nearby!). It is by the brand Tiani Body Care, which is a Michigan company based out of a town near Ann Arbor. Let’s jump right into my Tiani shampoo bar review!
As I mention in all my shampoo bar reviews, I love that this product is naked and creates no packaging waste. I picked it up from the shelf and took it home in my reusable bag – no plastic needed! Bar products look much better in my shower too, which is why I prefer bars to bottles. This product is shaped like an octagon instead of a circle like the bars from Lush. I personally love that it has a flat bottom, as it helps them stand up in my Ethique soap saver container (affiliate link). Plus, the bar is thicker too which makes it easier to hold onto when I am washing my hair.
Read More ➥Hey earth muffins! As we transition out of winter and into a new season, it is super important to keep our skin healthy and happy… And that means keeping it hydrated! My skin tends to get extra dry whenever the seasons change. Last year I was gifted Public Good’s lotion and have been using it ever since. I posted a short review of it months ago on my Instagram, but I thought I would share a full review of it in today’s post. Let’s jump into my Public Goods lotion review!
First, this company has a strong value of sustainability. This is obviously a huge positive for me. There are plenty of companies out there that say they are “eco-friendly” and then have no green practices to back it up. Public Goods is not like that! This company only makes products that are good for you AND the planet. Their sustainability values also shine through when you get your package in the mail. My lotion was packed in the smallest box possible with only recyclable packaging. Plus, the lotion bottle itself can be refilled with Public Good’s refill pack.
Read More ➥Hey earth muffins! I can’t believe April is almost here 🌷 The weather has been getting warmer and my busy season at work is slowly coming to a close… I am definitey excited to have some free time again! In today’s post, I want to talk about laundry. While not glamorous or exciting, it is a necessary chore that I seem to be doing constantly. To make your laundry routine more eco-friendly, I suggest using wool dryer balls. Do they actually work? 🤔 Keep reading to find out!
There are plenty of ways to zero waste laundry in your house. This is one of the easiest! Instead of using single-use dryer sheets, buy yourself a set of wool dryer balls instead. They are reusable over multiple years, which beats tossing dryer sheets in the trash after every load of laundry. What a win for the planet!
Read More ➥Hey earth muffins! When I was brainstorming post ideas the other month, I thought it would be fun to try out an eco-friendly subscription box and share my thoughts with you all. 😊 I’ve always wanted to try out some sort of subscription service, but I never felt like it was super necessary… There are boxes for anything from international snacks to dog toys; I love that there are sustainable options too. In today’s post, I will be sharing my thoughts on the Goddess Provisions subscription box – let’s jump right into it!
When I first started searching through Cratejoy to pick a box, I went to their “Eco-Friendly” section. While I had all the intentions to pick a box from this section specifically, I decided against it. Most of them seemed to be tailored to people just starting on their eco journeys. That is super fantastic, but I was worried that I would end up getting items that I already own or use alternatives for. That seemed super wasteful and against the whole purpose of getting a sustainable subscription box – what is good about getting another safety razor when I already have one I’ve been using for years?
Read More ➥Hey earth muffins! When I was writing my latest review of the American Cream pressed conditioner bar, I realized that I haven’t written a post about the latest shampoo I’ve been trying. So, I figured now was the time to share my thoughts on Lush’s “New” shampoo! The bar is almost gone, and I am thinking about trying some new brands next. I’ve tried out a bunch of Lush shampoo bars over the past few years. I have enjoyed all of them, but I don’t have a Lush near me anymore. There is a store nearby that sells a bunch of sustainable products, so I think I will be shopping there next. 😊 Fingers crossed I can find other brands I like while shopping local! Without further ado, let’s jump into the Lush “New” shampoo bar review.
Now that I’ve swapped from plastic shampoo bottles to shampoo bars, I will NEVER go back. Bar products are awesome because they are eco-friendly and reduce the need for any packaging. Check out my other reasons for choosing bar bathroom products! This Lush shampoo bar is just like the other bars I’ve tried from them – sustainable and awesomely packaged in absolutely nothing. 😍 I like that the bars are round and easy to travel with too!
Read More ➥