Where To Find The Best Reusable & Sustainable Products
Every year, more than 2 BILLION TONS of waste is dumped in lands and oceans. Yet, according to a report published by World Bank, annual global waste production will increase by 70% if countries worldwide continue with their current waste management practices of dumping and burning. By 2050, the World Bank estimates overall waste generation will increase to 3.4 BILLION tons. This astonishing amount of waste is because we trash 99 percent of the stuff we buy within six months. With that in mind, seeking sustainable and reusable goods will become critical for future generations and mother nature.
The fact is with the rising population, the demand for goods also increases. And although controlling our needs for food, electronics, and articles of clothing is tricky, we have options to reduce the amount of waste by shopping for sustainable and reusable items or by recycling clothes. Some of the ways to contribute to sustainability are investing in quality sustainable fashion and pre-owned luxury (vintage). But what about the things we consume daily? Things like personal care products that grow mountains of waste every day.
Bathroom hazards!
Take a look inside your bathroom trash can and count the number of cotton swabs, tissue papers, floss, and cotton rounds used in the household each week. These items like cotton buds that impact the environment are hazardous to land & marine life, as well as the recycling process. For one, cotton buds are not recyclable. Due to their small sizes, cotton buds can easily escape the recycling machine. Consequently, they can jam the recycling machine. And according to the Clean Ocean organization, cotton buds are among the most common litters found on water bodies worldwide! I was utterly oblivious to these hazards until I began researching and reading published reports and data. And that’s when I started looking for sustainable and reusable alternative personal care products to reduce our household waste.
Stumbling upon LastObject!
In my quest for sustainable and reusable products, I came across LastObject, a Danish company with a mission to eliminate single-use items, like cotton swabs, cotton rounds, and tissues, and replace them with reusable, sustainable alternatives. I was very impressed with their innovative approach to sustainability and by the company values. In addition, the founders emphasize the importance of producing premium products with high usability and exceptional designs. As a result, LastObject manufactures products that are at least 10x real environmental impact vs. the traditional single-use products.
I reached out to the company and requested samples of their products to test and review. Undoubtedly, their response was promising, and they instantly mailed a sample of LastObject travel kit, which included one of the following:
- LastSwab Basic – Each reusable 1000+ times
- LastSwab Beauty – Reusable 1000+ times
- LastRound – Reusable 1750+ times
- LastTissue – Reusable 3100+ times
- Laundry Bag – To wash your reusable products
To my delight, the kit arrived within two days from Denmark, which gave me ample time to review and examine each item. Interestingly speaking, even my child liked the reusable swab and took ownership of it almost instantly. And the best part of the kit is that each item comes in a quality case made of Recycled Ocean-Bound Plastic. That makes it effortless to store in your bathroom or bring on travels.
LastSwab Basic
LastSwab Basic is a sustainable alternative to Q-tips. It left my ear clean and I enjoyed the gentle ear massage with its Medical grade TPE bud. It’s easy to clean by hand using water and soap. And you can use it up to 1000 times. That’s an excellent bargain for your buck, too, as it sometimes costs less than a pack of 500 Q-tips!
LastSwab Beauty
I feel bad wasting a Q-tip to wipe bleeding mascara and makeup. The LastSwab Beauty has a soft tip that precisely fixes makeup around the eyes, brows, and lips. It’s the perfect reusable and sustainable makeup too, guilt-FREE. Similar to LastSwab you can use it up to 1000 times and hand wash with water and soap.
LastRound
I often avoid using cotton rounds in personal care, such as wiping my makeup and relying on reusable cloth. Plus, I find the touch of cotton balls and rounds to be bothersome. At first, I hesitated to touch it and didn’t believe LastRound was reusable because it looked very similar to the disposable cotton rounds. However, when I soaked it in water, it didn’t disintegrate and held its shape. In addition, it’s gentle on the skin and can effectively remove makeup and oil.
You can wash LastRounds with a drop of soap at 140°F / 60°C in the laundry bag (it comes with the bundle), and they dry pretty quickly. Make sure they dry before putting them back in the case. Reuse each LastRound up to 1,750 times.
LastTissue
LastTissue is a handkerchief made of 100% organic cotton and comes in a cute travel-size silicone case of 6 units. Although I prefer a disposable tissue to clean a runny nose, LastTissue is an environmentally friendly alternative. I keep one in my bag when I need to clean a spill, dap my face, or cover an odd sneeze.
You can machine wash used LastTissues at 140°F / 60°C in the laundry bag that comes with travel bundles. As well, you can wash the silicone case in the dishwasher. Each LastTissue can be washed up to 520 times, and with 6 in a pack, it can eliminate 3,100+ single-use tissues.
Laundry Bag
When you buy the travel bundle, you receive a complimentary laundry bag which you should use to wash LastRound and LastTissue.
Claim your 10% discount from LastObject
LastObject is offering you a discount of 10% when you place an order directly from their website. Make sure to use promo code: ElleMus10 at checkout. Click on this link to claim your discount.
There’s more! We are obsessed with these innovative and environmentally friendly products
Reduce the use of plastic cutlery, grocery bags, and teeth floss with more reusable and sustainable alternatives.
Makeup Removal Cleaning Cloth
Made with microfiber material, these soft cloths help remove makeup without damaging your skin. The reusable 5×5 pads come in a pack of 10 at an affordable price and are easy to wash.
Devico Portable Utensils, Travel Cutlery Set
Disposable flatware is one of the significant contributors to the plastic problem. DEVICO portable travel cutlery set is made of high-quality food-grade stainless steel. The 8-piece utensil set is suitable for travel, camp, school, or workplace.
Biodegradable Bamboo Charcoal Dental Floss
Traditional dental floss is made out of Nylon, a small non-biodegradable material that end up in the ocean. Ultimately it can suffocate marine animals or make its way into their digestive system causing serious health problems. This 100% Biodegradable floss is made from Bamboo Charcoal Fiber so it breaks down in approximately 60-90 days.
Baggu Reusable Bags
Baggu is a cult favorite that’s been making reusable bags for 14 years. The original reusable bag is perfect for groceries, travel, and laundry. It holds up to 50lbs and folds into its own 5″x5″ pouch. It comes in different colors and patterns and you can carry it in your hand or over the shoulder. It is made with recycled ripstop nylon and is Machine washable.
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4 comments
This is a great list! I loved seeing the examples about the tissue and cotton rounds! They certainly do look a bit doubtful since they look so much like their disposable cousins! I’ve actually been trying to avoid using any cotton rounds, earbuds or any of that all together! Even switched to a waterpik for flossing (though full floss is still the best) to help out and reduce my environmental footprint in the bathroom!
Thanks for this great list! I’ve been transitioning into using more zero waste products in my bathroom, like toothpaste tablets. Love the idea of introducing more reusable items like these!
You are so right! I’m always amazing with how much waste originates in my washroom and with beauty supplies. Great products to consider.
Thanks for sharing these! I would have never thought a cotton ball would be so scary!