Living with Less Plastic

For one week, you joined us for our "Plastic-Free Challenge." On Instagram and TikTok, we shared tips on how to avoid plastic. Here's our conclusion from the week along with more ideas!

Use Vytal

Yes, we know: Our Vytals are also made of plastic, but the key difference lies in the circular system. Single-use plastic has a short usage span but a long lifespan, taking 20 to 450 years to decompose. That's why we rely on our reusable system: the plastic has a much longer life cycle and is fully recycled at the end of its "life." So please look out for our reusable solutions or others. This applies to plastic bottles too—reusable plastic is always better than single-use.

Use Solid Products

There are now plenty of great and affordable alternatives for personal care. Solid shampoos, body washes, and even lotions not only reduce plastic packaging (since they're often packed in cardboard) but also save water in production. Natural cosmetics are preferable since they often use sustainable and natural ingredients. Even deodorants come in solid forms, saving plastic balls in roll-ons and propellants in sprays. Brands like Ben & Anna and i+m offer deodorants in paper tubes.

Wash with Biodegradable Ingredients

Washing often involves a lot of plastic consumption and environmentally harmful ingredients. You can avoid both by using detergents with biodegradable components (e.g., Sonett, Ecover, Sodasan) or completely switching to natural options like soap nuts, chestnuts, or ivy. Household vinegar (5% acidity, not essence) can also work as a fabric softener—don’t worry, the smell dissipates. If you prefer a pleasant scent, add a few drops of pure essential oils.

Make Your Own Cleaning Products

You wouldn't believe how simple and cost-effective it is to make your own cleaning products. Ingredients like baking soda, vinegar essence, and citric acid are affordable and go a long way. From descaling your bathroom to cleaning your oven or making stain removers, you can replace many chemical products with a few natural ingredients, save packaging, and protect the environment. Of course, you can't make everything yourself, but when buying, look for sustainable ingredients or check eco-friendly product reviews.

Shop Secondhand & Choose Natural Fabrics

The fashion industry is a throwaway society. Multiple collections are launched annually, often becoming outdated within half a year and sold off at rock-bottom prices. Clothing priced at 5 euros is unlikely to be valued as much as a 50-euro item, right? As a result, much of it ends up in the trash.

The solution: Secondhand! Not only can you earn money by selling old clothes, but you can also find great pieces at low prices. Anything that doesn't sell can be donated—clothes to the Red Cross, and bed linens or towels to local animal shelters.

Whether secondhand or new: avoid plastic! Opt for natural fabrics like cotton, hemp, bamboo, and linen. Polyester is petroleum-based, consuming natural resources and harming the environment during production, washing, and disposal (keyword: microplastics).

Shop at Zero-Waste Stores

You can save the most plastic by avoiding packaging altogether. The best place for this is a zero-waste store, organic shops, or farmers' markets. These stores usually have a smaller selection, but if you need to shop at a regular supermarket, choose loose produce, look for cardboard packaging, or select plastic packaging with a high recycling content—and always bring your own bag.

For water, tap water and a soda maker are great alternatives: German tap water is high-quality and regularly tested. There are also toothbrushes made entirely from natural, biodegradable materials.

These are just a few suggestions. Like with reducing meat consumption, it's not about total abstinence but simply cutting back. As with our mission at Vytal, we're not here to wag a finger but to provide options. Everyone can do as much as they want and are able to!

PS: All mentioned brands are personal recommendations and marked as unpaid advertising.

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