Part 3: Zero Waste Challenge – Do It Yourself Plastic-Free

*Updated April 2019 for Earth Month.

Welcome to Part 3 of the Zero Waste Challenge I took up in summer. I know, I know…it’s practically winter now but this challenge is for all seasons so no excuses.

The challenge gives tips on starting and living a plastic-free and sustainable lifestyle in our consumer society.

Catch up on previous challenge posts: Part 1 on plastic pollution and Part 2 on zero food waste.

Part 3 is all about do-it-yourself sustainable products that are not only plastic-free but are healthy for the home and environment.

We’ve all seen crafty Pinterest mamas creating herb gardens, cleaning products & soap that are aesthetically pleasing and affordable; and some of us might pin them for later (both my hands are up!) but we never get round to it.

Well, this is the time to start. We’re all aware of the horrible plastic pollution occurring in the Pacific Ocean as well as the prevalence of microplastics in our water, soil and fish. In fact, estimates show that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

Clearly, a lot of things have to be done to alleviate this and many companies have introduced plastic-free products for food and non-food items as they realize that they can conduct business for good.

If you peruse products like me, you’ll notice that not every ingredient is “natural” and there is an abundance of E-additives.

I completely understand that some products incorporate chemicals from plant sources and that I am amenable to but the E-additives, parabens & phthalates I avoid like the plague.

Without further ado, get straight into do-it-yourself plastic-free products that can be whipped up  however you prefer. Be mindful of any allergies and research alternatives to ingredients.

Day 16

Clean up Wo(man): Do-It-Yourself Cleaning Products

I understand that for convenience, we purchase conventional cleaning products instead of making ours. Some might even say, “where are we? In the Middle Ages?!” and I totally get it.

The whole point of innovation and modernism is to simplify life and streamline its processes especially in our current rat-race life. Who has time to make products from scratch with many ingredients, right? Fret not, lads and lasses.

Citrus: This cuts through grease and for fish eaters, lemons eliminate smells on kitchen surfaces. Freshly squeezed lemon juice (or lemon slices) can be mixed with white vinegar for an effective cleaning solution on kitchens and bathrooms.

Bleach and conventional cleaners affect my eyes and nostrils & I have to crack open windows for ventilation, and I know others experience it too. How healthy is that!?! Not!

Fresh lemon juice can be decanted into a non-plastic bottle and lightly spritzed in your home for a natural smelling ambience as most people are allergic to the chemicals in air fresheners.

Alcohol: Some folks might remember grandparents using liquor to disinfect household items and even wounds and cuts. Right? Well, it still happens.

Some swear by pure vodka with over 90% alcohol to kill bacteria and sanitize any area.

Newspaper: I personally use this one I learnt from childhood. Wad newspaper sheets and sprinkle with water for an effective clean on glass -mirrors, windows and tables.

I believe the ink and water mix works wonders and it is chemical and plastic-free too. No more different cleaners for each section of the home with their competing headache inducing smells.

Plastic Free Product: If you still cannot be bothered to do this – sigh – purchase natural cleaning products in plastic-free containers and breathe a sigh of relief that at least, you’re contributing to less plastic pollution in our environment.

Day 17

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: Shampoo & Conditioner

Conventional shampoos & conditioners contain sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), parabens, alcohol and all what-not that are harmful to hair and have been known to even cause allergies in some women.

Thankfully, brands are pivoting the natural way by eliminating these chemicals and incorporating more organic products but it isn’t enough.

If you have naturally coily or curly hair, you should avoid conventional shampoos as they strip hair of natural oils leaving it dry and prone to breakage.

Dryness is more pronounced if you have natural Black hair – like me – that is very tightly coiled.

Most brands have recognized our particular need and there is an abundance of natural products for coily/curly hair.

Nevertheless, if you still want to experiment with an affordable, do-it-yourself sustainable method, you can do so with the following mix:

• Natural full-fat coconut milk
• Oils: coconut, jojoba, almond etc
• Organic honey

Pour into a jar and massage small quantity into hair during wash day.

For coily/curly strands that tend to dry easily, this doesn’t strip moisture from hair and helps retain oils.

For straight strands that leak oil, doing an apple cider vinegar (ACV) wash with baking soda helps cut through the greasy texture. If you do it often, you “train” your hair therefore not requiring a daily hair wash.

As conditioner, a mix of avocado, honey and your fave hair oil under a steam cap works wonders. Don’t forget to wash out thoroughly. I’m clearly an expert at this lol.

Plastic Free Product: If the thought of using avocado as conditioner makes you want to hoard all avocado toast, fret not.

Try this handmade aloe & tea tree shampoo bar with aloe vera, rose extract, lavender and calendula as the only ingredients.

It is vegan and cruelty-free in an aluminium tin that can be reused or recycled thus contributing to zero waste in our environment.

Day 18

Your Lips Are the Balm: DIY Lip Balm

Every woman – and most men – has at least 3 lip balms in different locations of her home, purse and bag…and they always end up missing for some odd reason! Gremlins at work, obviously.

Never fear. You can still make a home version with ingredients you already have or can easily get:

• Shea, cocoa or mango butter
• Beeswax
• Natural oil of choice
• Essential oil (optional)

Melt a couple of tablespoons of these in a pan on low heat, add to a small tin or old lipstick tube and cool. Et voila! A do-it-yourself sustainable skincare product you are proud to show off and use.

Plastic Free Product: Try this 4-piece organic lip balm made from tangerine, ginger and lemon, mint and unscented olive.

There are no parabens, GMOs et al and they ship in recycleable packaging.

Once done, you can ship the empty tubes back to Earth Hero OR you can keep them for your home made lip balm. This reduces plastic pollution in our waste stream, landfills and water.

Day 19

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: Natural Deodorant

Conventional deodorants contain aluminium and other endocrine-disruptive compounds resulting in many women pivoting to natural deodorants.

While these are an upgrade, some of them still contain chemicals that cause irritations. Guess what? You can make a batch at home with these ingredients:

• Shea butter
• Light, natural oil
• Baking soda
• Arrowroot or cornstarch
• Essential oil (optional)

Melt spoonfuls of shea butter and oil, remove from heat & add two tablespoons of soda & cornstarch/arrowroot, essential oil for the aroma and let cool in open or fridge in old deodorant stick or mason jar.

Plastic Free Product: Still lazy to experiment? Try this rose geranium and jasmine natural deodorant made from natural leaf extract in recycled packaging. It is paraben and phthalate free & undergoes no animal testing.

Day 20

Make A Dent(ure): Natural Toothpaste

Growing up in Nigeria, the elders use chewing sticks and charcoal as dental care and they hardly ever suffer any oral issues.

I used to think it was all nonsense as a child till I moved to the West and discovered that all the “natural” and “organic” products and processes going for exorbitant figures had been done for generations – and still being done – in mama Africa.

Conventional toothpaste contains triclosan that is linked to thyroid issues and because of this, most brands have reformulated their products to exclude this chemical.

Furthermore, experimenting with DIY toothpaste reduces plastic waste in municipal waste streams and landfills, which the world at this point is trying to drastically curb.

Combine tablespoonfuls of the following into a paste and transfer to a jar for daily use:

• Bentonite clay
• Baking soda
• Sea salt (a pinch)
• Activated charcoal
• Mint or peppermint oil

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There are two more parts to go on zero waste, plastic-free and sustainable living but I hope that this post on do-it-yourself sustainable products will inspire you try some as it has inspired me.

I already do some home made cleaners and conditioner and I want to experiment with the deodorant and lip balm soon.

Don’t forget to comment and let me know if you’ve ever tried any of these natural skin & hair care products, or if you ever will. See you on the social streets! xoxx

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