Everyone has an infinite number of daily responsibilities - towards their health, family, career, friends, social life - the list goes on and on. Amdist this, pollution, climate change, going green can be overwhelming.
How can you be expected to take the extra effort to lead more environmentally friendly lives as well? This is exactly where Spree fits in.
At Spree, our job is to vet and research existing everyday products from kitchenware, fitness and personal care products to appliances on a scale of sustainability. We want to make it easy for any shopper to make more environmentally responsible choices. We make sure our products are easy to buy, sustain and value for money.
So, on the occasion of World Environment Day, take one step towards sustainability by swapping your regular products with eco-friendly ones.
Here are 5 alternatives to your regular ones to go green.
Regular toothbrush bristles made of nylon, the production of which produces nitrous oxide - which is 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Handles made of plastic stay in landfills indefinitely. 1 billion toothbrushes are thrown away every year.
Try our range of bamboo toothbrushes which have a biodegradable Handle, Plant-based bristles, compostable packaging, and 100% vegan. Bring about a change, 1 toothbrush at a time!
Find them here.
Plastic bottles contain Bisphenol A (BPA) strongly linked to a host of health problems including certain types of cancer, neurological difficulties.
As per Ayurveda, water stored in a copper vessel has the ability to balance all the three doshas (vata, kapha and pitta) here is the collection of copper bottles leak proof and easy to carry.
Copper is also one of the metals that are 100% recyclable. Unlike plastic, it has a value at the end of its usage cycle and is recovered to be recycled.
You must have heard of the term "greenwashing". With a rising demand for natural skin care products, companies have started marketing their products as 100% natural. This is a sham. If your shampoo and soap lathers or does not require refrigeration, it will have chemicals. On the contrary, many skincare items are manufactured with over 10,500 unique chemical ingredients. Just saying paraben-free does not qualify a product for being natural. Here's how you can avoid getting greenwashed:
1. Ingredient List The first and most important thing to do is to check the ingredient list. It tells you everything that the product has. A product without mentioned ingredients is a complete no-go.
2. Composition The total of your all the ingredients mentioned on the label should add up to 100%. Since there is no policy in India to disclose the full ingredient list, many products will conveniently only mention the natural ones. Take those with a pinch of salt.
Even if all the ingredients are mentioned, as a consumer it is hard for you to decide which one is safe to put on your body and which one is not. At Spree, we spend a lot of time analysing ingredients of each and every cosmetic item by running them on databases like Environmental Working Group, Campaign For Safe Cosmetics, Made Safe. The items we finally list are carefully handpicked and made from safe natural and chemical ingredients.
A 2011 survey has calculated that 9000 tonnes of menstrual waste, largely used sanitary napkins, is generated in India every month.
Good news is that there now a handful of companies that are making pads with bioplastics and organic cotton that are fully biodegradable. What's more, is that they come without that icky perfume like fragrance and are completely allergen free.
We have compiled an exhaustive list of cotton pads, tampons, menstrual cups and reusable pads
Find them here
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality has been linked to health issues. Studies show that Indoor Plants can detoxify and improve the air quality. The Air Quality Study by NASA found that numerous types of indoor plants effectively removed formaldehyde, benzene, and other indoor pollutants.
At Spree, we have all these air-purifying live plants and planters to help you build an urban garden.
Choosing energy-efficient appliances has the largest impact on reducing your personal carbon footprint. What's even better is that energy efficiency reduces your electricity bills drastically. Between a 2 Star and 5 Star rated air conditioner, you can save up to 50% electricity.
At Spree, we researched and handpicked energy-efficient Air Conditioners from the top brands like Voltas, Hitachi, LG, Carrier, Samsung, Whirlpool etc and rated them on a scale of environmental friendliness. Our selection criteria were:
1. 4-5 Star BEE ratings of 2018 only. Every 2 years the star rating drops by 2 stars. This means if you buy a 2016 5 star ac, it will become 3 stars in 2018.
2. Ozone-free refrigerants (which can pollute up to 1700 times more than CO2)
3. Made of the latest Inverter Technology. Inverter tech ensures 10% less electricity consumption in houses where the AC is used for more than 8 hrs regularly.
HFCs of Air conditioners represent a small portion of total greenhouse gas emissions, but they trap thousands of times as much heat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide
Author: Kiran Katyayni
Kiran is an Environment enthusiast, an optimist who believes that with the right information, awareness and approach we can bring about a measurable change in our lives and for the planet.
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