Sustainable Everyday Carry Essentials

Having a solid pack of gear for whatever you need when you’re out means you aren’t caught off- guard by what ever happens. The list below is of quality and stylish items that are a sustainable alternatives to everyday carry essentials. If you already have some these that work great, then keep ’em. But if you’re in the market for some new EDCs, well here ya go…

VINTAGE WATCH

 Watches are a stylish staple every man should have. The majority of compliments I get on my wardrobe have to do with the watch I’m wearing. You don’t have to spend a paycheck to get a nice watch. There are a number of good new watches under $200. But having one nice vintage watch that you can keep forever is worth it. I have this vintage Omega Seamaster. I love the minimalist design of the watch, if you are going to buy a vintage watch make sure to do your research on what you want, model type, and associated mfg. numbers to make sure what you are getting is original. I would start your search here.

PHONE CASE

Don’t need much explanation for this. With phones being over $1000 now you need to protect your phone. Check out this case from Pela Case. These are 100% compostable, meaning when you are done with the case it won’t sit in a landfill for 500 years. Also the company is apart of 1% for the planet, which contributes 1% of profits to environmental organizations. 

WALLET

Not your fathers bifold wallet. Most wallets today are thinner to fit in our seamling tighter jeans. You can go for this metal wallet below that also functions as a bottle opener. 

Or if you do decide to get a leather route, buy something from a local leather shop in the USA. I’ve had my wallet from the company below for over 6 years and it’s still in great shape. 

CHAPSTICK

Not much explanation needed here. Just make sure if your putting something on your lips, or face for that matter, make sure they are made with natural ingredients and not harsh chemicals which can be damaging to the body or skin. 

SUNGLASSES

These glasses from Sunski are great. I’ve had multiple from them. They hold up well, are stylish, and are much more reasonably priced than other brands. They use recycled materials, have a lifetime warranty, and offset carbon emissions. I personally have a pair of their Foothill and Olema shades.

BOTTLE OPENER ON KEY CHAIN

I can’t count the number of times a keychain bottle opener comes in handy. Okay well that sounds like I go out way more than I actually do. But for real, it comes in handy not only for you, but your friends too. Check out Etsy for some great hand crafted designs from local artists.

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

Ditch the bottled water which is likely not cleaner than most tab water.Having a water bottle around as you’re on the go helps you hit your daily water intake and saves plastic.

UTENSIL PACK

Plastic cutlery is flimsy and a big single-use item we should be removing from our routine. Even if the fork says its compostable, it will still not deteriorate properly if you put it in the landfill bin.

BATTERY CHARGER

If you’re traveling or out on the hiking trail all day you’ll need some sort of charger. These Anker chargers have worked well for me and have accidentally survived a drop test on some rocks in Zion and only had a few knicks. Speaking of reusable batteries. Make sure to pick up reusable batteries for all your gear. Batteries aren’t cheap and you can save a lot by going to rechargeable ones. 

If you want something even more rugged with an integrated location finder if you lose it, then check out this battery from Nomad. It’s designed for the outdoors.

BACKPACK

Lastly you’ll need some sort of bag to carry all this gear. Whether you’re traveling abroad, fly domestically, or commuting around town. A good bag that looks good no matter what you’re doing is critical. I personally look for something minimal and monotone. That way it will look good regardless on the outfit.

Solgaard

Is an ethically made luggage and bag company that works to reduce ocean plastic by contributing to ocean plastic removal projects and upcycles ocean bound plastics into gear. Photo of Solgaard backpack above

Check out Here

Paravel 

Here is a stylish simple fold up backpack made of recycled water bottles.

Sandqvist

Sandqvist makes high quality products that have sustainable materials and transparent supply chains. They have a very good 4 out of 5 stars rating from Good On You.

Check out Here

Qwiston

The Swiss brand Qwiston makes bags with organic cotton and also has some backpack options made out of banana fibers.

Check out Here

Now, I’m not suggesting that you go out any buy all this. If you have this stuff already then great. No need to go out and buy it if you have it. But if you don’t or need to upgrade than these are good options. 

Note: Now there are some EDCs I left out like a multi-tool or knife, so this isn’t a complete guide. Hoping to do a part two later.

Building Muscle on a Vegetarian Diet

When most of us think of ways to make significant changes to reduce carbon emissions, we think of big purchases like solar panels on our roof or buying a Tesla. That’s not necessarily the case. While doing both those things would make an impact, a relatively simple in theory way to reduce your carbon footprint while saving money would be to change to a vegetarian or vegan diet. Livestock (meat and dairy) make up 15% of global emissions, and switching to a vegan diet can reduce your footprint by 20%. Now you might be thinking, “I CAN’T DO THAT I WOULD LOSE ALL MY MUSCLE”. Or that it sounds like a great idea, but I don’t know where to start since you eat meat every day. And I get it; I thought the same way, I used to have chicken one to two times a day. But after some research, I found you can eat a vegetarian diet and still be a bodybuilder and gain muscle mass. You can actually grow muscle with this diet too.

How to get Started

I made the switch to a more vegetarian diet after a nasty food poisoning incident with some chicken. I quit cold turkey that weekend and haven’t gone back since. I’ll admit it was a little tough at first, especially around the holidays with the family since you don’t have that much control of the food being made. But after a few weeks I got used to it and haven’t thought of going back. Yes, there have been times where I crave chicken strips, but that’s mainly just because I was hungry in general. If you don’t think you can last without a burger, try a plant-based burger from a restaurant that has them. Whether they are much healthier is debatable, but it might curb the craving. Depending on where you live will make this harder or easier to change. Living in a more urban environment that already caters to vegan/vegetarian diet can make the transition a lot easier. Now I’m not suggesting you quit right away like I did. That’s probably the hardest way to do it. You can start by doing a Meatless Monday, then adding Wednesday, Friday, and eventually the rest of the week. This will help you gradually get used to eating differently and time to try out different recipes.

Besides reducing my carbon emissions, what’s the benefit?

Well, quite a few. It can be one of the healthiest ways to eat since it pushes you to eat more whole-grain foods, fruits, and vegetables for calories. In studies done, eating a vegetarian diet lowered your risk of heart disease, cholesterol, blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cancer risk. If you are young, you may take this into account if you have a family history of any of these. And if you’re older and showings signs of risk in one of these categories, it may be something to talk with your doctor about. Now you don’t need to go full vegetarian to see benefits; a Mediterranean diet (focused on plant foods and meat sparingly) lowers the risk of chronic illnesses. 

How will I make up for my missed protein?

While this a constantly debated topic, most bodybuilders, in general, agree that getting one gram of protein per pound of lean body weight will help you put on lean muscle. That should be your goal. So if we take an example of a 185lb guy with 15% body fat. His lean body mass is 157lbs, so he needs a 157g of protein a day. Here is an example day of what he could eat for protein that would get him to that goal.

Sample Daily Meal

Breakfast- 31g protein

Omelet with onions, peppers and mushrooms(4 eggs)

Snack-26G Protein

Jar of Oats, Fruit, nuts, peanut butter, and soy milk

Lunch-20G Protein

Mushroom Lentil Burger

Afternoon Snack-39g

Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Banana Shake

*only one scoop of protein powder

** #3 on link below

Post Workout-21g

Vegan Protein Powder Smoothie

Dinner-22g

Spaghetti Squash with Tempeh

Daily Total-

Calories-2736

Protein-159g

Carbs-267g

Fats-118g

Protein- 23%, Carbs 37%, Fat- 38%

Servings of Fruits provided (4 servings recommended by USDA): 4

Servings of Vegetables provided (5 servings recommended by USDA): 5

Here is a chart explaining what a serving of fruit or vegetable is.

Most macronutrient breakdowns for bodybuilding recommend 30% of calories from protein and fats and 40% from carbs. This comes out to be a little bit higher in the fats, so slight tweaks could bring the fat percentage down. The recommended calories needed for the 185lb guy example is between 2500-2800 calories depending on various online calculators for bulking.  The goal here is to show you can hit protein targets on a vegetarian diet while bodybuilding without the use of a lot of supplements.

One perk about being vegetarian is that there an abundance of different protein sources that you can use to get what you need. You aren’t stuck to chicken for most of your meals.

The key for a vegetarian being a healthier alternative is to make sure your diet is balanced. A diet of cheese pizza and Doritos is technically vegetarian. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help make sure you get adequate nutrients and have you feeling your best. 

If you are unsure if you want to try being vegetarian or vegan, start by slowly swapping out a few meals a week with different proteins. Maybe swap out the steak for fish or get just  black bean burrito and leave out the chicken at your local Mexican grille.

What about meals and recipes?

Today there is a lot of information out there about becoming or trying vegetarian. Here are some articles you should check out to continue on your journey for green gains.

Muscle and Strength

Bodybuilding.com

Vegetarian Bodybuilding

If you are interested in switching to a Vegan diet, which eliminates all animal products, then below is a place to start. There a number of bodybuilders that are vegan as well, proving you can see results in the gym without meat.

Healthline

I hope this article inspired you and gave you information to try a different eating style and to see if its for you.

Note: I am not a dietician or medical expert. I’m just some guy on the internet. Yes I did some research and live this lifestyle, but this should not be taken for medical advice as you should also consult a professional to get their opinion on making this lifestyle change.

60 Day Review of the Avocado Mattress

The journey of buying a new bed and sheets was far more time consuming and difficult than I had imagined. I thought this would be something I could knock out in an afternoon. This ended up taking quite a bit longer, but hopefully my time spent will help save you some time so you can rest easy, pun intended…

The first few things you had to decide is if you want to buy from a store or online. I decided to buy online, a few things to note about buying online is if you have to have the bed by a certain date make sure to thoroughly check how long delivery times will take. My mattress took a week and a half from date of purchase, which is about average of what the mfg. says for delivery. I thought it would be sooner since I live about an hour from where they are made. The first thing you’ll see when looking for reviews of mattresses is that there are a number of websites dedicated solely to mattress reviews. These websites have a lot of good information on mattresses. But don’t rely solely on the opinion of one the mattress only review websites. These sites are paid commission for every mattress they sell. I trust that most of these sites remain unbiased, but then I ran into this articleabout online mattress review sites and a main mattress company. It’s a long article but very interesting. After reading this I made sure to read a few articles from websites like business insider, cnet, and consumer reports where the writters are not paid commissioin based on referral links.

Here is a good place to start: Business Insider, CNET

Here are some main decisions that you’ll need to make before buying:

1. What kind of sleeper are you. (back, side, or stomach) is has a impact on the firmness of the mattress which would be best

2. Do you want memory foam or a hybrid (innerspring +foam)

3. Other considerations like movement. If you have a partner and they move a lot at night, certain types of mattresses transfer movement more

Since I had to buy something new I wanted to make sure it wasn’t bad for my health. If my face was literally going to be in material every night want to make sure it wasn’t made with harsh chemicals, and the workers are paid fairly.

Here are some key sustainability facts about the Avocado Mattress:

• They use 100% organic cotton and latex

• Greengaurd Gold Certified- means low chemical off-gassing

• OEKO-Tex Class 1- product not made which known toxic chemicals

• GOLS certified- this is an organic latex standard that sets procedure to ensure product is all natural and made without certain chemicals

• GOTS organic certified cotton-means you are getting 100% wool and not a blend with other materials

• Carbon neutral production and shipping

• Recyclable and biodegradable at end of life. Which shouldn’t be for awhile since they have a 25 yr. warranty

Also they have a 1 year trial, free shipping and returns, and 25 year warranty. Which falls in line with what other manufacturers offer since most offer a trial periods for an online mattress. 

I ordered the Green mattress with the additional pillow top, which I am glad I did since it is very comfortable. It took a week and a half from when I ordered for it to arrive at my door. Now they do not install it for you, but you can get that as an option. If you don’t have someone else to help you then you might want to consider them installing it for you because the mattress is HEAVY. I didn’t get help and tried to bring it up the stairs myself and it was definitely a challenge I would not recommend for one person.

But once everything was set up it was time for the first night sleep…

The first few nights it wasn’t the most comfortable I think because the mattress was still settling in and my body was adjusting, but after those few nights its been great. It’s super comfortable. I feel supported, but not stiff. It has the right amount of cushion and support. I’m a back and side sleeper, and have had no complaints. I have noticed it is a bit warmer of a mattress than my previous spring bed. But from what I’ve read it is going to be warmer than a traditional innerspring, but not as hot as a memory foam bed. Overall I would recommend this mattress. It’s comfortable, the shipping process was easy, and their support was very responsive.

Making an Impact on the Environment- Beginner’s Guide

I don’t think it takes any reminding that global warming is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. I think often times we feel so overwhelmed by how big the problem that we feel helpless. But if individual actions caused the issue, then they can also be the solution. Like with other things in life, worrying about things you have no control over doesn’t help. You can only worry about things which you can influence, and I want to talk about three areas that can have a substantial impact on your carbon footprint which you can influence. They are:

• The power of your wallet to make smart buying decisions which impact how businesses operate

• The power of your habits

• The power of your voice

“Between 60-80 percent of the impacts on the planet come from household consumption.” (Science Daily)

Of which, 80% of the impacts that can be attributed to consumers are not direct impacts, but are actually producing the goods and products that we buy. (Science Daily)

The decisions that you make have an impact on the environment.  Your purchasing does have an impact, just check out these articles here, here, here, and here that mention how consumer pressure if forcing companies to change practices.

Now that you know your spending has an impact, next it’s best to understand what that impact actually is. That is by using a tool to evaluate your yearly carbon footprint like:

Carbon Footprint

OR

Footprint Calculator

Now that you know your footprint -what can you do to reduce it? I’ll highlight some ways below. In addition to the changes listed below you can buy carbon offsets which go to fund projects in developing countries. Similar to giving to a charity, but the donation pays for offsetting carbon emissions by funding wind, solar, and tree forestation projects in developing countries. This is a great way to be carbon neutral. But if you are buying your offset credits, make sure they are from a reliable source that enforces that what you give actually goes to the project as stated. Look for projects that are Green-E Climate certified. This is a third party testing to verify offsets. I purchased my offset credits through Gold Standard which undergoes rigorous verification process for offset credits. I not only wanted to offset my impact, but make a positive impact so I doubled my offset so that I am contributing to a more sustainable world. Purchasing carbon offsets are not as expensive as you might think. They range from $10-$20 per metric ton.

FOOD

One of the biggest things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint is change your diet. A typical American diet that incorporates meat and diary is very resource intensive. Around 40% of land used for agriculture in the US is for animal based products. With a growing population and demand for food, having more land available for feeding people that is not as resource intensive is important for sustaining a growing population. (IA State Article)

It is projected in the next few decades dairy and meat producers could surpass Exxon, BP, and Shell as the biggest climate producers if we keep current trends. (Grain)

Eating red meat can have 100 times the the environmental impact compared to plant based food. (NYT article) Consider eating a more Mediterranean diet will reduce emissions and also as additional health benefits (NYT article). I’ve personally noticed since switch to a pescatarian diet (vegetarian + fish) that I am less tired throughout the day.

If you’re not quite ready to make the full swap. Start buy replacing more red meats with chicken, and incorporate one or two days a week where you eat vegetarian. In addition to switching to more plant based foods, also consider buying local. Organic doesn’t necessarily reduce your carbon footprint, but buying local and in season does.

In addition to GHG emissions, food has a big impact on water use. Reducing meat consumption will have bigger impact than reducing shower times. To produce one pound of beef takes 1800 gallons of water, that would take a lot of showers to make up for those few burgers you ate this weekend. If you can’t cut out meat entirely, then look to chicken, it takes 518 gallons of water to produce a pound of chicken breast, which is still a lot when you think about it. This water consumption is not only related to meat, but dairy too. It takes 1000 gallons of water to produce a gallon of cows milk, while 300 gallons to produce a gallon of soy milk. But all alternatives are necessarily better. Almond milk, which has become a popular alternative, is very water-intensive. It takes 920 gallons of water to produce a gallon of almond milk. Almost 80% of which  is grown in California which doesn’t receive a lot of rainfall, and relies on diminished groundwater wells and snowpack from the Sierra Nevadas. A less water-intensive option than almonds could be cashew, macadamia, or even pea milk. Peas are much less water-intensive than almonds, require less fertilizer in general, and have more protein than nuts. (Well and Good Article)

HOUSING

Sometimes when renting our buying, people only take into account the cost of what they buy, but there other factors to consider like gas for commuting and wear and tear if you live far from work and stores. Not to mention the cost of time driving around for errands, to work, and to go places. Opting to live in a walkable community will relieve stress of driving, help you get more exercise, and save time.

A house is the biggest expense we make and most of us stretch ourselves to get the nicest house we can afford. This not only creates more stress in our life, but more expenses in upkeep, utilities and property taxes. All those additional costs take away from other things that could better improve your quality of life like taking more trips, having more time with loved ones, and retirement savings. Having a smaller house that you can easily afford opens up oppurtinites elsewhere. Now I’m not suggesting we all go out and get tiny houses, although I do think its an interesting concept. But living below your means for housing and other areas allows for less financial stress and to be able to use that money for other things in life that are important. Especially during these current times, not having debt and being able to have money in savings for whatever comes next is very relieving.

Regardless of if you rent or own, look into switching to the renewable energy option through your utility if available. A number of utilities have the option of having your energy use to be from renewable resources.

If you own your home, look at evaluating your home for ways to improve your energy efficiency to increase the value, and also reduce energy costs. Improvements like more efficient appliances, replacing windows, adding insulation, and buying a smart thermostat save on utility bills, and can increase your homes value.

If you rent, look for apartments that are LEED certified, these buildings are designed to be more energy efficient which reduces your energy bill. Not to mention they have to use materials in construction that reduce VOC off-gassing which is harmful to your health.

TRANSPORTATION

8% of your personal carbon emissions come from transportation.

• Driving -The biggest way to reduce your driving is not to drive in the first place obviously, but if you have to then limit your trips. I talk more about working from home below, and I already discussed living close to stores that you can walk to. But if you do have to drive, make sure your car has the correct amount of air in the tire, and put the car in cruise control when possible on the highway. If you are in the market for a new or used car. Consider a hybrid or full electric. There are a number of other articles which discuss how much you can save by doing so. Today there are so many options for electric or plug in hybrid cars that look great and are fuel efficient. I have a Ford Fusion plug in hybrid that I love. It has over the 75k miles and my average is 48 mpg. Thats almost double what my previous car was! I save a ton on gas and save on break pad replacement because the brakes aren’t always used since regenerative braking is used to slow down instead of break pads.

• Flying- now this is a tough one since a lot of us travel for work, to see family or go on that trip to relieve stress. And while the industry is making some small improvements, airline travel is a big polluter, not to mention the poor air quality near an airport. One flight from LA to New York emits 20% of your car emissions for the year. Look at buying carbon offset credits to reduce impact. That same NY to CA flight would cost about $11 in carbon offset credits, which is a relatively small % of a overall cost of the plan ticket.
  
  

  • Sidenote: If you are looking to move, do not buy or rent near an airport or airport flight path. The air quality is those areas is bad for your health (NHS Article and MINNpost article)

LIFESTYLE

“The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity’s carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and pollutes the oceans with microplastics” (Business Insider)

Clothing  is a  huge polluter worldwide. And fast fashion is a big part of that. Clothing companies are churning out cheap new styles of outfits regularly. These clothes often don’t last more than a few washes. A better alternative to not regularly buying clothes is to invest in a capsule wardrobe. This is a set of well-made clothes that are more monotone that can work with a variety of outfit styles. Buying a limited set of well- made clothes can not only make you look stylish, but it also saves on clothing expenses in the long run.  If you do opt to buy new, make sure to look for quality well- made pieces that won’t go out of style with the seasons, and who practice fair trade manufacturing. Check out the App Good On You, which provides ratings on how environmentally conscious a clothing brand is.

Shop Secondhand- What you buy makes up 26% of your personal emissions. Most of what you buy loses its value substantially over its life. For example, buying new furniture as you move can be quite expensive. Furniture is costly, and doesn’t hold its value. There are so many good deals to get furniture second hand. Just about all my furniture I own is second hand, and it looks great.

Minimalism- Look at embracing a minimalist lifestyle. In a consumerist country, there are so many things that we have that are not needed. Keeping things you barely use or having multiples of the same things not only takes up space, but has associated costs in maintaining everything and is a considerable pain packing if you have to move. Now everyone has their own take on what “minimalism” means. I take the approach of buying a few, high-quality pieces of goods that will last a long time. For anything that could be temporary, like furniture when you’re young, buy secondhand for cheap. I invest in a few key wardrobe pieces that look great and will last a long time like a nice suite, suede jacket, and boots.

Food-Reduce your food waste by not letting food go bad or having so much food in your refrigerator that you forget about some or can’t eat it all in time. This will cut down not only on the resources used to produce the food, but also from the methane emissions that occur when it is in a landfill. As opposed to composting, which allows the food to break down into a fertilizer properly. I usually try to go to the grocery store 2-3 times a week so I’m not keeping too much food in my refrigerator, and everything I have is fresh. Now you will likely have food scraps like apple cores. The suggestion for those is to get a compost bin. Some garbage companies pick up compost separately; if yours doesn’t there are several places that pick up or donate your compost.

7 Things to Do With Compost if You Don’t Garden

WORK

If the recent pandemic has taught us anything. It is that companies don’t need these big offices to have everyone in person to keep an eye on them to get work done. Most of us can do our jobs remotely. Commuting is not only costly, it also is a mental drain having to sit in traffic, which also increases stress levels. Consider going completely working from home or reducing how many times a week you go into the office. It’ll save time, money, and stress.

YOUR VOICE

"If you're doing your part, corporations and governments should be doing theirs."

Making your voice heard not only with your wallet, but also with your vote. Making sure to become knowledgeable about the policies that affect you, whether they be local or at the government level, and to vote for officials that take your health and wellbeing seriously.

Your changes make an impact, but it should not deflect from the fact that only 100 companies are responsible for 71% of the cause of pollution. The changes above are how to address climate change as you, the consumer, now I want to shift attention. It should not be solely up to the consumer to make changes. Corporations and governments need to follow suit. And only governments have the ability to keep corporations in check, consumer influence does have an impact, but governments carry the big stick, so to speak. It is the government’s job to protect its citizens. We, as voters, need to elect officials who will do so—also supporting the group of non-profits which keep an eye on corporations. Now I’m not saying corporations are evil, I work for one, but there needs to be checks and balances. A publicly traded Corporations first priority is to its shareholders and clients, not the citizens of the country it resides. Hence tax shelters, and significant political spending to get policies that benefit them which aren’t entirely illegal, but certainly not ethical.

Governments need to step in to regulate emissions, invest in renewable energy, and charge a carbon fee for emissions created. The emissions that corporations create have a cost to consumers, deplete resources for future generations, and cause health issues to individuals- are not adequately reflected in the prices of products they produce. If the real cost of the good or service were reflected, we would see a shift to a more circular economy, which is beneficial to everyone. Until environmental considerations are factored into their bottom line, sustainability for many will be a nice to have or a PR move. In a linear economy, you can only extract and dispose of resources without you replenishing for so long before we run out. We already see this with elements, minerals, and oil. Oil companies are attempting to drill in even more remote and hard to reach places than previously because we have already extracted from most of the easy to reach areas.

We need everyone to take action and responsibility from yourself, to governments, and corporations to do their part to make a difference to make everyone’s lives better.

Note: Now this is by no means a comprehensive list. But I want to list out some of the biggest things you can do that will make the most impact to improve your health, wellbeing, wallet, and protect our resources. 

*I understand that not every person has the ability to make all these changes depending on their individual circumstances*

6 Grooming Swaps to Try

Grooming products are usually the last thing we think about on our list of to-dos. It isn’t until we run out that we make it a priority to get more. That is maybe one of the reasons there has been a surge of subscription-based companies selling grooming products. The cost of using these companies can be more than a little effort in planning ahead to save money and time. That’s really what we want right (besides it being effective). I’ll walk through some alternatives to some of our typical buying habits of just grabbing the red bottle with the dude with the funny commercials from the grocery store shelf to swaps that can be cheaper and less damaging over time.

#1 BODY WASH GEL FOR BAR SOAP

The main task of soaps is to provide proper hydration to your skin and remove dirt and oils. Picking the right soap depends on your skin type. Soaps can be more drying than body washes, so make sure you choose a bar with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and glycerin[1]. But just like body wash gels, body soaps should not be used on your face unless you get one specifically for that. Body washes have a lot more unnecessary ingredients that aren’t doing your skin any favors. Many body washes contain synthetic detergents, while bar soaps use fats to clean dirt. These artificial ingredients can cause skin irritation for sensitive skin types [2] 

Ingredients you should look for are glycerin, botanical oils, shea butter, cocoa butter, aloe vera, and moisturizing vegetable oils (olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil)[3]. These ingredients provide the cleaning, vitamins, and the moisturizing you need.

If you have acne-prone or oily skin, you may want to opt for a potent detoxifier like activated charcoal, which draws oil and dirt out of doors, helping to reduce breakouts[4].

There are also several ingredients to avoid since these ingredients are related to birth defects, cause skin conditions, such as dermatitis, can irritate the eyes, and are associated with increases in cancer[5]: Fragrance, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, triclosan, SLS

I recently had some breakouts of dermatitis and saw that propylene glycol was an irritant, when I checked my cabinet, I found several products have propylene glycol as an ingredient in addition to some other ingredients on the list above. 

           Bar Soaps

• Dr. Squatch

• Leef

• Dr.Brommers–I do advise caution on using this on acne-prone skin, as olive oil can have a pore-clogging effect for some people.[4]

• Good Soap for Oily & Acne prone skin

• byHumankind– natural soap that comes in a brick so it last longer and is easier to grip.

• Bulk Bar Soap Option– to cut down on costs and save on cost per bar of soap

If you do buy bar soap, I would recommend buying in bulk to get the most savings. If you do that, the cost can be the same or cheaper, depending on what you use and how often you wash. Keeping your soap dry and out of the way of the shower will preserve it. I would recommend some sort of stand for the soap to allow it to dry. If you do want to take your soap to the gym for after you shower; keep in mind that if you leave your soap in a soap container closed it will likely deteriorate faster if it was left out to dry at home. 

Having bar soap is especially handy when traveling since you can’t bring your normal size body wash as a carry on during your weekend trip, and TSA doesn’t have an issue with bar soap.

Wood Slated Stand

Metal Container 

Soap Bag–  good for when  soap gets thin and starts to break into thin pieces, this will help to contain the soap pieces for longer use

#2 MULTIBLADE TO SAFETY RAZOR

So many shaving commercials out there are saying that you need more blades on your razor for less irritation, is this true or is it just a clever marketing scheme to get you to buy more blades? One reason some of this big companies don’t market safety razors is because there isn’t as much money to make as in those disposable razors. That’s a sign of a good deal for you. Hard to prove the later but what if I said that one blade was all you need. A safety razor uses one dual-sided blade, virtually two blades in one, so your blade lasts longer. The blades are a one size fits all so not brand specific. The handle itself is metal and doesn’t need to be replaced. Instead of using a gel, a brush and bar of soap are used to make the lather. It’s a little more time-intensive process, but you get a better, closer shave, and you feel pretty manly using the single blade technique. But probably the most significant benefit is the amount of money you save. The only cost you have after buying a starter set is the blades and soap, which last a long time. I’ve had my safety razor seven years and still in great shape. My cost average over the last 7 years for shaving my face have been $16. Compare that to just buying a set of disposable blades and you’ll see how much you can save.

This is the razor I have. If you have thicker hair, you might want to try a heavier razor.

Double Edge Razor and Handle

Next you’ll need a bar of soap to lather on your beard, a brush to apply, and potentially cup to make the lather. Avoid buying a badger hair brush, a synthetic like the one below will do just fine. Most badger brushes are from China where they don’t enforce animal cruelty laws.Your brush should last a long time if you wash it after every use. 

Brushes- Option 1 & Option 2

Blades: Sample Pack- Not all blades are the same, best to try a sampler back to see what feels right for you 

Soap: Option

Now I’m not saying you can’t use a gel to shave with, but the traditional method is with a brush and soap puck.

You can substitute buying a cup for a old cofee mug, that works just as well.

Now that you have all the gear, now time to actually save. The technique is different that a typical razor. Check out this video for how to shave using a safety razor.

Lastly don’t forget about the after shave. Maybe, this is just may sense of smell, but this one smells like fruity pebbles. Sounds weird, but smells great. After Shave

#3 REGULAR DEODORANT FOR NATURAL DEODORANT

Like most guys, we have probably used the same deodorant, since well, forever. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Well, most “deodorant” are actually antiperspirants that use aluminum to block sweat glands. Aluminum compounds are what causes the yellowish stains on your shirt.  Most of what you are buying are the grocery store is an antiperspirant. A deodorant on the other hand doesn’t block the pores, but instead masks the sweat with essential oils and other natural fragrances. Below are some alternative deodorants to keep your shirts crispy white, are also effective at blocking odors, and use natural ingredients. 

Make sure to check the labels and avoid these ingredients:

• Triclosan: likely to be harmful to the immune system, is an endocrine disruptor, and an environmental toxin

• Phthlate- harms male reproductive system development and potential endocrine disruptor

• Parabens: As mentioned above, they are preservative that might have a link to breast cancer

• Propylene Glycol: As mentioned above is a petroleum based product that can irritate skin. Now I want to clarify use of Proplyene Glycol, it is a widely used chemical in a number of beauty products. It is regarded by the FDA as generally safe for use. The two reasons I mention it is because if you have sensitive skin or have noticed a mild allergic reaction to some products you use, it might be related to PG.
  
  

  • Also, a number of products below use propylene glycol in their ingredients, but they derive it from plants, not petroleum.

Deodorants

Refillable Deodorants

With refillable deoderants you get one container that you use and get replacement deodorant sticks. Makes sense, why not save on buying a new container and just buy the deodorant. That’s really all you need. No reason to buy a container every time.

• byHumankind

• Myro – the most masculine scent is cabin #5

Regular Deodorant

• Toms of Maine– this is probably the most affordable on the list. Only downside is they aren’t refillable

• Hawthrone

#4 MOISTURIZER/ TONER/ CLEANSER

Whatever you put onto your skin ends up directly in your body, so you only want to use products that are going to be kind to your skin and your health. Below is a list of some skin care brands that use more natural ingredients to keep you looking good.

Top 5 ingredients to avoid:

As mentioned above you want to avoid SLS, Triclosan, Fragrance, and Parabens. But when it comes to skin care you also want to avoid BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) and Vitamin A which is found to be a carcinogen. The problem with Vitamin A is that sunlight exposure reacts with the vitamin to produce the negative effects. Products with retinyl or retinol which are ingredients of Vitamin A are used in anti-aging products. If you have products with it, avoid using it for other than your face, and use only at night. 

When picking products out yourself review the EWG CERTIFIED list of products, they are tested by organics.org and come without any fake Amazon reviews.

• Brickell -is a mens skin care company that provides a wide variety of products for men of different skin types using organic ingredients.

• Seed Phytonutrients– is a smaller US based brand that operates as a independent offshoot of L’Oreal. They work with local farmers in Pennsylvania for their products and use manufacturing processes that extract the oils and ingredients in a natural way without harsh chemicals. They also work with Terra Cycle on a recycling program for the plastic in their bottles.

• Thrive– is a startup company that works with local farmers in Costa Rica for its unique natural ingredients. They plant their ingredients in previously degraded lands restoring biodiversity to the area. They have daily face balms with SPF that are reef safe to keep your skin protected from the sun’s rays outdoors.

• Journeyman- was started by two friends from Southern California that wanted to create effective premium products that are good for you and smell great. They give back to the environment by being apart of 1% for the planet, which gives 1% of profits to environmental nonprofits.

#5 Shampoo and Conditioner

Buying shampoo and conditioner is one of those things you typically don’t give much thought to in the store. You typically just grab whatever. But there is much more to it that something just to get you clean. Your hair type should be a factor in picking out products in addition to looking for ingredients to keep your hair and scalp healthy. I think by now you’ll see that these same a pattern that these same chemicals you should avoid show up in a number of beauty products : SLS, Parabens, Fragrance, Phthalates, and Tricloson.

Quick Tip#1- You don’t need to wash your hair more than once every other day or a few times a week (even with oily hair). Too frequent washing can cause hair damage and dry, itchy scalp. If you do shower everyday due to working out, you don’t need to wash your hair too, rinsing your hair will help it clean and preserve the oils that keep your scalp from drying out. How often you choose to wash your hair depends a few different factors, but try out going a little longer between shampoos to see if you notice any difference.

Quick Tip #2- As you look for products keep in mind that the words “organic” and “plant-are  terms are not regulated and there is no requirement for them to prove they are natural so always check the ingredients to make sure what you get is actually what they claim.

I’ll provide some suggestions of companies to check out below, but here are some ingredients you should look for as you pick out shampoo and conditioners. Now a product will likely not have all of these, but having a few should be a step in the right direction.

• Rosemary- Rosemary can protect against hair loss and promote hair growth

• Coconut oil- Coconut oil improves the strength of your hair and helps protect from damage caused by blow drying

• Olive Oil- if you have dry hair this will help bring back much needed oils

• Jojoba Oil- Jojoba can help get rid of dandruff, promote hair growth and keep your hair thick.

• Honey- Helps get rid of itchy and flaky scalp by hydrating your hair and skin. It can also add shine to dull hair

There are two different routes you can go when it comes to shampoos and conditioners. You can go the with traditional bottled lotions or you can use bar shampoos. Bar shampoos are different from from liquid shampoos. They are made with vegetable oils. These oils don’t remove the natural oils from your hair so with bar shampoos you don’t need a conditioner.

 Shampoo & Conditioners

by Humankind -bar shampoo option 

They reduce single use plastic with its packaging. Their shampoo bars come with a tray to help keep the bar lasting longer. Even if you don’t decide to use the shampoo bar for regular use. It could be a good idea for traveling so you don’t have to go out at purchase those little 3oz bottles or be stuck using whatever you find where you’re staying.

Maple Holistics– Good for dandruff reduction

Maple Holistics is a New Jersey based company that provides reasonably priced premium products that are naturally sourced and cruelty free. They also offer a cool program if you return your bottles to them for recycling they will send you a free bottle for every six you send back. Recycling program

Brickell- Good All around Shampoo and Conditioner

Brickell provides natural effective ingredients for a healthy scalp. Their shampoo uses amino acids to increase volume and tea tree oil to reduce irritation and their conditioner uses aloe for moisturizing and borage oil to promote hair growth.

Jason

If you suffer from a lot of dandruff or seborrheric dermatitis(flaking on scalp) then there is a natural product by the company Jason. They have been around since the ’50’s providing safe and natural ingredient products

Ursa Major- 

Looking for a simple, effective natural ingredients from a US based company. Then Ursa Major may be worth checking out. They offer their a trial kit to test out your products to see what you like before spending the money for a full size bottle

References:

[1]  https://www.birchbox.com/guide/article/bar-soap-vs-body-wash

[2]  https://www.healthline.com/health/mild-soap

[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/skin/soap-for-dry-skin#how-to-choose

[4] https://www.bustle.com/p/the-4-best-natural-bar-soaps-16965945

[5] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dangerous-beauty-products_b_4168587?      guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGCWmkE38TMvN1TyzDsej1SXWXA4iY98zAEsP7MVHmVkSaUBx6nHOsjfrk4drJEP-l4jMuUqRxBbIkzSp-hUw9d4JU4Z19FZSOhAe0yxJ4qwq5yyWquggX1I1Yk8bTWuZNgxFV8VwYG_A-ezl47UlhAJ2VsXCKc8zlls3pCjAs1h

*I am not a dermatologist so, check with your doctor regarding your skin care routine and if these products are right for you*

5 Everyday Carry Zero Waste Additions You Should be Using

Keys, Wallet, Phone… The holy grail of daily carry essentials. While this trinity has served use well over time. We have limited ourselves to only these items to carry most of the time. However, adding in these 5 items below to our repertoire for running errands, and being out and about will save us money and time. Now these are not technically “zero” waste since you may need to buy some of these, but the intent is to have these everyday carry items that will reduce you needing to get single use packaging when you are out, and hopefully make life a bit easier.

1. REUSABLE BOTTLES

STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE

I don’t need to remind you that drinking water is good for you health, skin, and energy. Just reusing old plastic water bottles isn’t ideal as they become a breading ground for bacteria. A reusable bottle makes a great addition at the gym as a way to reserve your bench while you run to get weights. Plus they keep your water cold, which who doesn’t want that, unless room temp water is your thing.

REUSABLE SMOOTHIE/JUICE BOTTLE

I’ll be the first to admit that have used my fair share of plastic smoothie cups and straws. I love smoothies so that just came with the territory. Until I started to bring my own insulated cup with me. I haven’t had any issues for places accepting my cup. Just make sure you get a size big enough for the size of smoothie you want. A 20 or 24 oz should do fine. On the upside if you get full halfway through or just want to save some for later, having an insulated cup makes it last much longer.

2. COFFEE CUP

I’m not a big coffee drinker, but do need the have the occasional afternoon coffee and cream. If I don’t drink it all in one go, having an insulated cup is great for not letting it get cold. Also make sure to get one that has a sliding lid so if you tip the cup or knock it over it doesn’t spill everywhere. 

3. METAL STRAW

This is great to have if you like using straws or bobba tea. I personally don’t use one often, but the metal or metal with silicon are easy to use and clean. Make sure to get a kit with a case and cleaning brushes. There are also glass options which people say is better for not getting a metal taste or burning your lips with a metal straw if used with a hot coffee. The bamboo ones look cool, but are harder to clean then metal of glass.

4. REUSABLE UTENSILS

If you go out to eat at one of those fast casual restaurants, they likely only have single use utensils or only a handful of metal ones. They may say they are compostable, but unless they go to a compost bin instead of the trash then its not much better than plastic utensils. I bring my own silverware from home.  Trying to cut something with plastic silverware is a pain and its easy throw the used silverware in the dishwasher and grab the next set for tomorrow. Or you could opt for a wood style utensil. Make sure to have a case for the utensils to keep them in for after use since you likely can’t rinse them off until you get home.

5. REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS

If you don’t want to carry a bunch of bags out the grocery store or you are a one trip kind of guy. As you should be, it should all be done in one trip or less. Then a reusable bag is a strong secure way to carry your groceries to save to grocery bag tax ( if your state has that) and to not worry if your paper or plastic bag will break as you walk out the store. I would also recommend getting some cloth or mesh product bags while you’re at it so you don’t have to hassle with those thin plastic wraps which are very wasteful and unnecessary.

Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps

If you’re not familiar with the term “zero waste,” it’s a movement to reduce the amount of single-use plastic and disposables in our daily lives that come back to harm us in the form of increased greenhouses gases and plastic pollution. The average American throws away roughly 4 pounds of trash a day. That’s quite a bit, and even if we try to recycle, most of us aren’t good at it, only 9% of all plastic has been recycled. And currently, the world recycling system was thrown into a mess when China stopped accepting most recyclables. China accounted for the majority of the recycling market, and since the U.S. sent a lot of recycling to China, most municipalities are struggling to figure out what to do with all this material. That’s where the zero waste movement comes in. The 5 Rs of zero waste are refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. The aim is to not generate plastic or waste in the first place, and if you do, find ways to reduce purchasing of those items and swap products that are not single-use. When it comes to the kitchen, so much of what we buy and use comes in single-use plastic containers or paper. If we take a proactive approach to getting our kitchen set up so that we don’t need so many single-use materials, it can save us time and money. And with cooking already being time-consuming and expensive. If we can streamline the process, it can reduce the cost at the grocery and time preparing meals.

Now before you scroll down and see the list of kitchen items you should swap out, you should first start with the food you are buying and how often. Food waste accounts for 8% of global emissions, not to mention the cost savings of not throwing food away. Take look at the food you throw away and way. I used to make all my meals for the work week on Sunday, but found by Friday the food wasn’t that fresh and I was more likely to go out during lunch or dinner to get food instead. If I went to the store on Wednesday and made meals for the remaining few days it was better, since the food was fresh and I threw less away. So if you are throwing food away, think why did you let it go bad, and what you can do to not waste money next time.

It might take some initial investment at first to get these reusable items, but they will pay off for years to come.

SILICON BAKING MATS

Swap aluminum foil for Silicon baking matts. These are non-stick matts that you can put on your baking sheet when you use the oven instead of aluminum foil or greasing the pan.

CLOTH NAPKINS

So often we buy paper towels and use them and toss them without a second thought. This recent shortage of paper towels might ave you think of an alternative of what to do if you run out. Well the solution is you don’t really need them in the first place. Cloth napkins or towels can be used in place of paper towels. Buy some cloth towels or use the ones buried in a drawer in your kitchen, use them like you would for normal paper towels. Once they get dirty, put them in a container or someplace to store them before you do your next load of laundry. Just toss them in the wash with your other towels. If its particularly dirt you can hand wash it and hang it to dry. I typically have a few towels hanging on the oven door to use to dry my hands. If you have 5-7 cloth napkins that should be enough to take care of daily chores without running for about a week. If you buy a set of cloth napkins this will save on having to buy paper towels on a regular basis, saving quite a bit of money in the long run.

SILICON BAGS

Swap sandwich ziplock bags for silicon bags. Think of the savings if you use ziplock bags everyday for lunch and you switch to a reusable silicon bag that you wash and use again.

BEESWAX WRAP

A reusable alternative to Saran Wrap. Instead of dealing with this clunky clingy foil you can get these wraps which you wash the cloth in cool water, dry, and use again.

REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS

I think we’ve all had the instances of a paper of plastic bag breaking on us. We can eliminate that worry and make carrying groceries easier since you can fit a lot more into cloth shopping bags.

PRODUCE BAGS

In addition to bringing your reusable bag to the grocery store, you should also have some reusable produce bags so you don’t have to fiddle with those thin plastic bags and ties. Those thin bags are not recyclable at all, and if you try to recycle them they only end up clogging up the machines at the recycling plant.

DISH SOAP BLOCK AND BRUSH

The kitchen is likely the largest waste producer in your home. In addition to looking for reducing single use plastics. Also look at eliminating plastics from other things you buy like your dish soap and scrub brush. Similar to eliminating plastic bottles in the bathroom, you can swap for bar soap for cleaning. If you’re not ready to take that step yet then you could look at refillable soap options that don’t use harsh chemicals. Ingredients to remove from your dish cleaning would be chlorine, formaldehyde, fragrance, and ammonia. When we wash our dishes by hand the soaps and chemicals on them can linger on the dishes which then can transfer onto our food.

GLASS /METAL TUPPERWARE

If you already have a set of plastic or reusable tupperware then great. No need to replace it, but you don’t meal prep for work or travel then you should consider these reusable containers. Buying lunch everyday at the office can be less healthy and expensive. And if you are traveling or running errands around town then you should pack some food to eat instead of stopping at the nearest sandwich shop. If you are focusing on getting in great shape, then having prepared meals ready to go wherever you are will help you stay on track.

COMPOST BIN

So we’ve talked about limiting your food waste, reducing single waste items in your kitchen-and lastly I want to mention how to reduce the food waste that goes to the landfill. Food in the landfill emits more emissions as opposed to natural decomposition since it can’t properly decompose in that environment. By taking the food scraps and collecting in a bin, they can decompose naturally and be turned into nutrient rich soil that you can add to a garden, nearby plants, or give to your local compost pick-up if you have that.

So what can you compost? 

Quite a lot: fruits, veggies, eggshells, coffee grounds, nut shells. 

What you can’t: meat, dairy, bones, pet litter, grease or oils

Where to keep the compost?

Put it in a bin in the kitchen or on your patio and empty every so often.

To get rid of the compost you can use your cities garbage pick up if that is available, if not, find a local drop off or private service to pick up. 

If you want to try to make your own compost to use for a garden or bin check out this article from NPR to get started.

From reducing single use purchases, to eliminating food waste, to reducing your trash. There is lots you can do to save money on food, which is one of our biggest monthly expenditures, and create less waste in the process.