Zero Waste Cosmetics – turn your bathroom into an environmental zone

The zero-waste movement is growing. Yeah! But what exactly is zero-waste cosmetics and is cosmetics in glass more sustainable? Here you will find the answers to your questions, as well as valuable tips and information on the subject of plastic-free cosmetics.

1. What is zero waste cosmetics and where does the term come from?
2. The 5 principles of zero waste cosmetics
3. Is zero waste cosmetics better for the environment?
4. More sustainability in the bathroom
5. Plastic-free cosmetics in the bathroom – our top 5
6. Is cosmetics in glass more sustainable?

What is zero waste cosmetics and where does the term come from?

Plastic-free cosmetics, whether cosmetics without microplastics or cosmetics without plastic packaging, have long been on everyone's lips. But what about zero-waste cosmetics? Zero-waste cosmetics sound like environmentally friendly products - but what exactly is zero waste?

Let's take a little excursion into history. To the mother of the private zero-waste lifestyle: Béa Johnson. When the French woman living in California was forced to minimize her household due to a move in 2006, she discovered the minimalist lifestyle for herself. Two years later, she came across the term zero waste, which had previously been used in production and waste management, and applied it to her own life.

Zero Waste = zero garbage/waste. Step by step, she changed her consumer behavior so that she produced as little garbage as possible. A blog and a book followed, and thousands were inspired by her tips for a zero-waste everyday life. It was almost like trending the 2006 version.

The 5 principles of zero waste cosmetics

Béa Johnson's family of four managed to produce a single large glass of waste in one year. How did they do it? By following the following zero-waste principles:

• Refuse – reject what you don’t need
• Reduce – reduce what you use
• Reuse – what works, is reused
• Recycle – what you can’t refuse will be recycled
• Compost – compost whenever possible

That may sound drastic at first. But pictures of beaches covered in garbage or sea creatures dying from plastic waste make it clear how bad things are already for our beautiful planet. It's no longer just before 12, but rather just after. Action is needed now. And because the legal wheels grind slowly, it's best to start with ourselves and gradually help to reduce the exorbitant amounts of plastic. Where better to start with zero waste than at home? In the bathroom, for example.

Is zero waste cosmetics better for the environment?

In short: Yes, zero-waste cosmetics are better for the environment. But what exactly do we mean by zero-waste cosmetics? Zero waste goes beyond the packaging. In this context, plastic-free cosmetics mean environmentally friendly cosmetics without microplastics and without other environmentally harmful ingredients that are difficult to break down, as well as packaging that is not reusable or compostable.

In everyday life, the issue of zero-waste cosmetics is unfortunately not so easy. After all, cosmetics cannot simply be hygienically filled when shopping. Especially since filling stations, such as those that already exist for washing powder or food, are not exactly the norm for cosmetics. So what can you do? Choose cosmetics that are as environmentally friendly as possible.

We use as few and as natural ingredients as possible for our products, such as sugar-based surfactants. We consistently avoid microplastics or chemical preservatives, fragrances, parabens and everything else that you don't want on your skin and that shouldn't end up in the wastewater. To save paper, all product information is printed on the folding box or directly on the product container.

We also focus on:

FSC-certified and CO2-compensated cardboard boxes
Climate-neutral shipping to the DACH region Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Bottles and jars made of brown glass that you can send back to us and receive a 10% discount for every 10 bottles.

We are currently working on an even more sustainable reuse process for our containers and packaging so that valuable raw materials remain in the cycle. Of course, we will always keep you up to date on the blog, in the newsletter and on our social media channels!

More sustainability in the bathroom

Would you like to join the zero-waste movement and start the fall clean? Very cool! But before you panic and banish everything from your bathroom after a great summer and throw away everything that doesn't fit your sustainable lifestyle concept, it's best to get an overview first.

Checklist for zero waste cosmetics in the bathroom:

Refuse – What do you really need? Do you really need the serum for your hair, the chemical self-tanner, the five different nail polish colors? Or aren't high-quality basics for daily skin and hair care more sensible? This way you save money, do something really good for yourself and contribute to saving raw materials and CO2 through conscious consumption.

Reduce – Do you really need a lot of different cosmetic products? Or can some products be mixed together so that you can adapt them to your skin's current needs? An example: Our aloe vera gel is brilliant for caring for dry skin all over the body. But if your skin needs richer care, you can add a nourishing oil like our organic rosehip seed oil. Of course, the "mix & match principle" also works with our skin creams. Savings factor: The products can be used alone or mixed as needed and used all over the body or, for example, for hair care!

Reuse - What can you reuse? Are there products that you can refill or use elsewhere in the home? For example, you can use a glass spray bottle to make an environmentally friendly DIY bathroom cleaner with vinegar or lemon juice. Speaking of cleaners: do we really need a special cleaning product for every corner of the house or doesn't an environmentally friendly all-purpose cleaner do a wonderful job? You will see how your household becomes more and more organized. And that not only calms the mind, it also feels pretty good to live more in harmony with nature.

Recycle – Which recyclable materials can be returned to the cycle? Not all plastic waste that is actually recyclable is recycled. It is not known how much plastic waste is dumped, burned illegally or used as substitute fuel. However, the fact is that the recycling rate in Germany is not satisfactory when viewed critically. Another good reason to switch to cosmetics in glass or solid products.

Compost - what can you compost? You may already discover products in the bathroom that you can dispose of in the organic waste bin or on the compost in the garden. And if you need new products, you will find many innovative alternatives to common cosmetic products. For example, there are cotton buds made of bamboo and compostable dental floss.

Does this all seem like a lot at once? Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Switching to zero-waste cosmetics and generally to a lifestyle that produces less waste is a process. You will surely gradually find more sustainable solutions and be surprised by your creative ideas. The important thing is to share your knowledge with others. Spread the word!

Plastic-free cosmetics in the bathroom – our top 5

We love our solid products. Why? Because they are packaged in a particularly environmentally friendly way and are easy to handle. This means you can enjoy your product for longer, CO2 emissions are saved by less frequent transport routes and zero plastic ends up in the trash.

Here is an overview of our strong pieces :

Solid shampoo – cleanses hair and scalp gently but thoroughly and nourishes with precious plant oils and aloe vera from controlled organic cultivation.

Solid conditioner – nourishes from scalp to tips with organic coconut oil, organic shea butter, white clay and vegetable wax

Solid shower gel – cleanses your delicate skin with mild plant-based surfactants and pampers it with precious plant oils and aloe vera

Solid shaving soap - Aloe vera, shea butter and natural organic oils ensure a smooth shave of the face or body. Also perfect for zero-waste couples who live and love minimalism in the bathroom.

Solid hand soap – our solid hand soap with pampering plant oils and aloe vera ensures clean velvet paws

You can store solid cosmetics in special soap bags, on a plate or in a basket. Make sure that soap and other items are stored in a dry place and not floating in a small puddle of water.

Is cosmetics in glass more sustainable?

Glass is a valuable, recyclable material. It is true that more fuel is needed to transport glass than, for example, plastic bottles. And energy and resources are also needed to produce it. But the advantages of glass, especially reusable glass, are obvious.

If disposed of correctly, glass can be melted down and formed into new glass containers an infinite number of times. This means that a large proportion of the material remains in the cycle. In addition, less energy is required to recycle recycled glass than to produce new glass. At the same time, recycling old glass saves the raw materials needed for production. Therefore, when disposing of old glass, make sure to dispose of glass containers in the appropriate container.

You can also use many old glass containers in everyday life. For example, a rinsed jam jar can be used as a toothbrush cup, a larger glass jar with a screw top can be used as a storage container for accessories such as hairbands, or a spray bottle for making your own room fragrance with organic essential oils.

We only use brown glass for our environmentally friendly cosmetics. It filters out UV rays well and thus ensures that cosmetic products last longer. It is important that you always close them tightly to prevent oxidation.

With our natural cosmetics and the most environmentally friendly shipping and packaging options possible, we have come quite a long way and are very proud of what we have already achieved. Just as the JUNGLÜCK community is constantly growing, so is our wealth of experience and enthusiasm for even more environmentally friendly solutions. So we are always moving forward and we are deliberately driving forward our sustainability. We would be delighted if you would share your findings, ideas and successes in the field of environmentally friendly cosmetics with us and send us your ideas and opinions on our concept via social media or our customer service!

Until then, keep shining!
Your Lena

Sources:
https://www.conversio-gmbh.com/res/News_Media/2020/Kurzfassung_Stoffstrombild_2019.pdf

https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/ressourcen-abfall/verwertung-entsorgung-ausgewaehlter-abfallarten/glas-altglas#glas-gut-recycelbar