Our personal hygiene is doing a turn to our planet’s hygiene. The three Rs of eco-friendly living — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — seem to lose relevance when it comes to our personal care products. But here’s the upside: There is a way around those toxic chemicals and the non-biodegradable waste generated. We rounded up the five biggest culprits, and got you three greener options to try, for each.
Aerosol Deodorants
Every time you spray your underarms, you’re releasing VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, into the air. Believe it or not, this reacts with other noxious gases, and contributes to the smog. Besides, deodorants have been found to be carcinogenic, too. Instead, try...
Body splash/mist
Fresh, natural, fragrances with essential oils, such as lavender, neroli, bergamot and vetiver. While these aren’t exactly known for their deodorising properties, they will keep you smelling fresh. However, you could look for something with tea tree or witch hazel essential oils — these have cooling and deodorising properties.
Dusting powder
Not talc — that’s still being linked to cancers and respiratory issues. But indigenous brands are now producing dusting powders with clays, root powders and rice flour. “These may not be as effective as your regular deodorants and talcs, but they’re definitely safer,” says Dr Kiran Lohia, celebrity dermatologist and founder of Isya Aesthetics, Delhi. “They don’t get aerosolised — converted into fine particles that are suspended in the air — or get absorbed into your skin, clogging your pores, or into your lungs.” “Besides, most of these are edible ingredients, and even those that are not, are biodegradable,” says Pritesh Asher, of Juicy Chemistry, which has a range of certified organic face and body dusting powders.
Natural deodorant creams
These non-toxic, chemical-free, aluminium-free, alcohol-free creams from brands such as Burst of Happyness, Seer Secrets and Just B Au Naturel are easily available on e-retail websites such as Amazon and Nykaa. They use absorbents such as baking soda, Kaolin clay and arrowroot powder, softening moisturisers such as shea butter, glycerine and coconut oil, and essential oils such as cypress and lavender. So they keep you dry, nourished and smelling great!
Sanitary Pads
According to a 2011 survey, a whopping 9,000 tonnes of menstrual waste was generated in India, every month. While you’re likely contributing only 15 sanitary pads to that immense non-biodegradable heap, it all adds up. The only answer to this issue, then, lies in sustainable menstruation.
Menstrual cups
One silicone cup will see you through the 30-odd years that you’re likely to menstruate. While silicone isn’t biodegradable either, it is easily recyclable — but that can wait till you hit menopause. Besides, it’s one single cup as opposed to the 5,400 sanitary pads you’re likely to go through in 30 years. The only case in which you’re likely to need a change in cup is if you need a change of size, post-baby or post-30.
Cloth pads
If you’re not quite comfortable with the idea of wearing a cup, try a cloth pad. Sounds like going back in time, we know. But it’s really not. The handwoven cotton cloth pads made by Eco Femme, Rustic Art and Goonj are super-absorbent, and will last you anywhere between 5 and 10 years. They are machine-washable, though you will need to give them a rinse out before tossing them in with your other clothes.
Biodegradable pads
This Women’s Day, the government launched Suvidha, an oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkin, available for sale at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Centres. Other brands like Heyday use corn and bamboo fibre, while Saathi uses banana fibre, which are not only better for the earth, but better for your lady parts, too.
Synthetic-fibre innerwear
Not only does the production of polyester and nylon use up extensive energy resources and toxic chemicals, these fabrics are also non-biodegradable. Ongoing research at Plymouth University, UK, has revealed that every time your polyester clothes are washed, they shed plastic fibres that go into the ocean through dirty laundry water. Besides, these fabrics, used extensively in underwear, bras, camisoles and shapewear, aren’t doing your skin any favour either. Try innerwear made of one these fabrics, instead:
Bamboo
A super-absorbent fabric, bamboo is a great option for briefs as well as for bras, in the heat. What’s more, it’s super soft, so no chafing either. It’s also got antimicrobial properties, because it doesn’t let sweat stick around — great if you’re prone to sweat-related rashes or even UTIs. Brands such as Lavos make underwear for both men as well as women, and are easily available on Amazon.
Ethical cotton
While the jury is still out on whether or not organic cotton is actually good for the environment, given that it uses nearly thrice as much water as conventional cotton, the fact remains that organic cotton does not use the harmful chemicals that conventionally-grown cotton does. You can also choose to wear recycled cotton.
Tencel
This fabric made from wood pulp is produced using recyclable, earth-friendly solvents. When blended with cotton, it adds wrinkle resistance and gives the soft feel of silk. Also known as Lyocell, you can find Tencel briefs made by brands such as Jockey and Lacoste.
Oral care
The American Dental Association recommends you change your toothbrush every three to four months. That’s 12 to 16 solid plastic sticks, per annum, for a family of four. That’s not counting all those tubes of toothpaste and those reams of floss!
Bamboo toothbrushes
Biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes that you can change just as often, and not cause harm to the earth. Now, that’s a win, if there were one. Brands such as Purganics and Goli Soda retail bamboo toothbrushes for kids as well as adults, through Amazon and Flipkart.
Water flosser
Perhaps the only fun part of being in a dentist’s chair is when they pick up that jet and send water streaming through your teeth, to clean up. You can now get your own contraption, from brands such as Waterpik, Dentologik, Phillips, Panasonic or Oral Care. While you may still need to use floss once in a while, this will definitely cut down on all that waste!
Neem chewsticks
Step back in time with the good old datun . Organic neem chewsticks are now on sale, to help keep your teeth and the earth clean!
Hair and body cleansers
Plastic containers, surfactants, artificial colouring, chemical fragrances, microbeads… Hair and body cleansers seem to be doing more harm than good. Fortunately for us, there are options aplenty:
Colourless, odourless soap
When we say colourless, we don’t mean clear, glycerine soaps. We’re talking soaps without any artificial colouring agents. Rustic Art, Neev, Soulflower and Aloe Veda, all offer plenty of options, and are available at pharmacies as well as online.
Cleansing Powders
In the good old days, people used herbal powders for their hair and ubtans for their skins. Not only were these effective cleansing agents, they were also excellent for the hair, the skin and the ecology. You can try the Kama Ayurveda Kesini Ayurvedic Herbal Hair Wash Powder and the Kama Ayurveda Ubtan Soap Free Body Cleanser.
Organic Body Washes and Shampoos
Juicy Chemistry, Ancient Living, Rustic Art, Organic Harvest, Soulflower… There are plenty of brands to choose from, although that still leaves the problem of dealing with packaging waste. “All our packaging is Ecocert-certified, too,” says Asher. “The labels are handmade and the containers are easily recyclable and even biodegradable. What’s more, if you’re nearby, you can drop off empty containers, which we will reuse.”
