One of the many Zero-waste kits that Package Free Shop offers. Image via

If you’re looking to hop on the zero waste train, are already on board, or just want one of those reusable straws everyone’s been talking about, Package Free Shop is the place to go. ‘Zero waste’ refers to the increasingly trendy phenomenon of minimizing the massive amount of trash that is a byproduct of consumerism. It can involve at-home composting and shopping at bulk stores, but the largest push by the zero waste movement is to eliminate single use items. Think plastic water bottles, take-out containers, paper towels, shampoo bottles, etc. Single use items are everywhere and once you start to see them it’s difficult to stop noticing how much we rely on them in our daily lives. Although it is largely systemic change targeted at large corporations that we need to stop the progression of pollution and climate change, making individual lifestyle swaps can be influential in other ways. Intentionally searching for re-usable items shows companies that the public takes the environment seriously, helps small and local businesses, and can align your day-to-day practices with the values of environmentalism.

An easy place to start is to take a look at Package Free Shop. It is the online marketplace for sustainable and reusable everyday items. From shampoo, to dog toys, to vibrators, Package Free Shop has eco-friendly and reusable versions of all your must-have products sourced from companies that consciously make a positive environmental impact. The items are (usually) reasonably priced and they ship in completely recyclable packaging. Since Package Free Shop’s founding by zero-waste blogger Lauren Singer of Trash is for Tossers, the company estimates they have kept kept 4,025,600 plastic straws, 3,061,240 plastic bags, and 1,419,260 non-recyclable bottles and cups out of landfills. I personally own their string grocery bag, large metal straw, and two silicone sandwich bags I make frequent use of. 10/10 would recommend for those wanting to be more environmentally friendly in their daily lives but are not sure where to start or aren’t able to sacrifice convenience.

If you’re looking to do even more for the environment by cutting out shipping emissions, then Hyde Park residents should stop by Bonne Sante Health Foods on 53rd before placing an order at Package Free Shop. The store has been open for 35 years and sells a huge variety of specialty food items, herbal remedies, and eco-friendly home and beauty products, some even from local businesses! They also have a delicious juice bar and food menu. Basically, a one-stop-shop for vegans/vegetarians/zero wasters. I picked up a loofah and a shampoo bar and was severely tempted by the natural deodorants and makeup before I snapped out of my stupor. Please go get these things and allow me to live vicariously through you. Stop by on your way to Target, CVS, or Whole Foods and who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite eco-friendly product and support some local businesses too!

Featured image via.

I’ve been searching for the right toothbrush since I started attempting zero waste living in August. The blogs I’d read recommended switching to bamboo toothbrushes, so I logged onto my Amazon Prime Student account and 1-Step ordered a package of highly recommended compostable, bamboo toothbrushes and threw in a matching bamboo bath scrub brush to match.

I was sorely disappointed when, after a week of use, toothpaste began to build up on the bristles and after another few weeks, the wood on both the toothbrush and body brush began to crack and the toothbrush began smelling…funky?? I thought that I would just have to deal with this as a part of the zero-waste process, but I was unhappy with it to say the least.

The toothbrush comes in four colors; black, pink, red, and blue. Image via

Then I came across a New York startup called Boie (pronounced boo-ee). They sell two things: toothbrushes and body scrubbers. Both are made from BPA and latex free recyclable thermoplastic elastomer and include silver in the bristles which gives the products antimicrobial properties through ~chemistry~. A body brush costs $8 and a single toothbrush is $10, with subscription plans for their replaceable heads at $20, $15, and $10, making them affordable, but definitely pricier than a $1 Colgate brush.

I decided on the most frequent replacement plan for my toothbrush (4 heads a year) and added on a bright yellow body scrubber as well. A week later I said goodbye to my crusty, cracked, bamboo toothbrush and hello to a sleek, minimal, eco-plastic one with four detachable heads. And lemme tell you, the search is over.

The brush is skinny, effective, and stays clean with little more than a short rinse. It takes some getting used to because the bristles feel a bit different from your average toothbrush, but after one or two brushes, you won’t notice a difference at all.

I’m still getting the hang of the body brush, though. Because it looks like this:

The body brush comes in five colors; yellow, pink, mint, red, and blue. Image via

It takes some experimenting to figure out how to hold. It also doesn’t retain suds as well as my bamboo scrubber did, but the upside is that it also doesn’t retain hair as well as my bamboo scrubber did. You win some, you lose some.

Besides being recyclable, Boie’s products are cruelty-free and made in America to reduce the emissions caused by international shipping. They also donate a portion of their profit to charity and strive to reduce emissions in every step of production process. The only thing I noticed was that they ship in cardboard and plastic rather than environmentally friendly packaging. I can only hope this is something they will change in the future.

Overall, I highly recommend Boie’s products. They’re environmentally friendly, durable, and functional. My search for the right toothbrush is over!

Feature gif via.