Friday, August 7, 2009

Top 10 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Bathroom

1
Think About What You Really Need
Learn about cosmetics ingredients and their effects. Read product labels. Avoid ingredients that are not beneficial to you or that are harmful to the environment. Ask for samples so you can try a product for a few days to help you make the right choices. The single most eco-friendly thing you can do is avoid collecting half-used bottles of products that weren't right for your needs.
2
Use Solid, Unpackaged Products
Choose bar soap instead of shower gel or liquid soap. Use shampoo bars instead of bottled shampoo and solid massage bars instead of massage oil. These are all better for the environment as there is little or no packaging. Solid products also contain no water and therefore need no environmentally-damaging preservatives.
3
Avoid Buying Heavily-Packaged Products
When you have no minimally packaged alternative, remove the packaging immediately after purchase and leave it at the cash register to send a clear message to the retailer. Be aware that sometimes the contents cost less than the packaging of a product.
4
Check For A Use-By Date
No use-by date usually means that the product is heavily preserved. (Read the ingredient label and you'll see...) More preservatives down the drain are bad for the environment.
5
Try to Buy Products Produced Locally
Check the label. Has it been made locally or air-freighted in from afar?
6
Buy Long-Lasting Products
Look for personal hygiene products with extended life spans such as toothbrushes and razors with disposable heads. If you only replace the head you are throwing less away.
7
Explore Water Recycling Systems
Around 60% of the Japanese population filters, recycles and reheats bath water. When you do have a bath, make the most of it! Take at least 45 minutes out of your schedule to relax and unwind. Even better, share your bath with your partner. When you're finished, try recycling your bath water. You can use it to water your house plants, garden or lawn. Your begonias will thank you.
8
Don't Leave The Tap On
When you shave, brush your teeth, or even shower, only turn on the water when absolutely necessary: at the beginning and the end. While you're soaping yourself or when brushing, stop gallons of water rushing down the drain needlessly by turning off the tap.
9
Recycle Your Plastics
Most of us are already in the habit of recycling containers like water bottles and milk jugs but we don't always remember that most of our bathroom containers can be recycled too. Just be sure to wash them first. If you don't, they can contaminate the rest of your recycling and end up in a landfill.
10
Shop With A Lower Carbon Footprint
Whenever you shop for cosmetic products, take your own reusable bag. Reduce your carbon footprint even more by walking or cycling to the shops. At the very least, take public transportation or carpool.

Source: http://www.lushusa.com/about/green-tips

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