You might be surprised to learn what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. This month Green Space picks include body lotions that are good for you and for the planet. Green Space is an online collection of good finds worth sharing. We challenge ourselves each month to answer the question, why can’t we have something good for us that is also good for our planet? And just as importantly we provide solutions – products that are worthy of being in our homes and reducing our carbon footprint on the planet. In our efforts, we are finding a lot of products deemed “clean” that rely on plastic packaging and ingredients that harms our planet. And more and more,research is showing that exposure to microplastics (particles that break down from plastics) are not clean for us either. Make May your make the switch month and give any of these products a try or our previous posts on haircare, body washes, shavers and toothpastes — your small change can make an outsized difference for a healthy home, community and planet.
What’s the big deal with body lotions? We put on our favorite brands and don’t think much else about it. But chemicals in body lotion and any plastic packaging waste have downstream environmental effects. If we don’t use clean products, chemicals like parabens, sulfates, and fragrances get washed down the drain into our water systems, polluting water bodies and endangering aquatic life. Many lotions that contain petroleum such as mineral oil and paraffin are derived from fossil fuels. We already know the permanency of plastic waste beginning with its fossil fuel dependency to outsized contributor of greenhouse gas emissions as landfill waste. Opt for clean products and packaging that are gentle for you and the environment from start to finish. These picks are free from harmful ingredients, animal testing and permanent packaging and they feel great too!
This is the perfect lotion for my sensitive and dry skin. A little dab goes a long way. The brand’s natural and biodegradable ingredients including avocado, sweet almond and jojoba smells like you’ve just stepped out of the most luxurious spa. Every day is a special treat when I put on this lotion and it’s been a game changer for keeping my skin soft and smooth. The brand is also committed to zero waste with closed-loop refills and no single-use plastics. The glass bottle has a white plastic pump so ordering your next bottle is easy. Just select “refill” and you will be shipped a new bottle (with no pump) with a return label to send back your used glass bottle for free. Travel bottles are made of glass too. The brand plants one tree for every item purchased and 1% of their sales are donated to ocean conservation.
Since its inception, Dr. Bronner’s has married the health of their products to the health of the planet. One of their philosophies “Treat the Earth Like Home” ensures that their products maintain the highest standards of ecological and social sustainability verified by independent certifications. Their body lotions are made with organic jojoba oil, coconut oil, US grown hemp and avocado oils and free from synthetic preservatives and foaming agents. Even their fragrances available in some of their body lotions are derived from essential oils. The result is a long-lasting lotion that glides on smoothly and leaves your skin soft and supple throughout the day. I opted for body lotion with a lavender scent which surprisingly did not irritate my dry and sensitive skin.
Dr. Bronner’s has been addressing the plastic pollution problem for over a decade. Many of their products and packaging are paper based refill cartons. Their body lotions and liquid soaps are in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic avoiding virgin plastic production and use of vital natural resources. Their outreach and advocacy in the community supports policy changes for reducing companies’ carbon footprint. The brand leads by example — instead of purchasing carbon offsets they invest in waste management and environmental initiatives that remove plastic waste from within their own supply chain. All of this investment in people, products and the planet also comes with economically competitive pricing that is less taxing on the wallet.
The OSEA brand launched in 1996 and makes every effort to live up to its name of protecting the resources they draw their ingredients from namely the Ocean, Sun, Earth and Atmosphere. Their products are gluten-free, vegan and cruelty free with safety standards for ingredients followed by the strictest global regulations. In 2020, OSEA became one of the first skin-care brands to be Climate Label Certified through The Change Climate Project.
I have tried many of their body lotions understanding that their price point is higher than other recommended products. The hyaluronic body serum for example is worth the occasional splurge. The lotion is oil-free and fragrance free. The lotion goes on light yet is highly effective with peptides and seaweed to keep your body hydrated all day long. I’ve often thought any of their product line would be a lovely and special gift for any occasion — a joy that comes with passing along a shared love for a healthy body and a healthy planet. The brand has prioritized packaging in glass with pumps and lids made from post-consumer recycled materials and reducing paper waste in their shipping.
Take a moment in May to try these lotions and then pass along your favorite find to family and friends. Any of these picks are worth it – embracing a healthy habit for your home and for the planet that makes you feel good!
For other ideas on removing plastic from your home, visit our Plastic Free July page.
Next month, Green Space will share our picks of deodorants so stay tuned and happy swapping!
Julie Andersen
Contributing Writer & Volunteer, Wilton Go Green