Refill, Single use, recycle, trash
What is single use?
What is a single use package? It is a package that contains a product. You buy it, open up the item and use it. Then dispose of the package. You can either compost, recycle, or it's trash. The package is used one time. It's a big conversation.
A single use package is one that is rarely or hard to impossible to reuse.
Individually packaged single dose soap like substances, are packed in mylar, which is a polyester bag, known for its strength.
Work with us to promote industry change. Tell your friends!
Lower carbon emissions, reduce greenhouse gas
Environmental Impact
The industry and manufacturing terms," lower carbon emissions" and "reduce greenhouse gas", refer to how much energy is used in the manufacturing process.
The language used is how much is "saved", meaning how much is not used. This is a comparison between the old way of manufacturing the no longer used package, and how much energy is used to manufacture the "new" package.
Old - new = reduce greenhouse gas.
There is always going to be some waste in the manufacturing process. It is almost impossible to have zero waste when producing anything, especially on an industrial scale.
The trick is to be able to read through the manufacturers lines, so you fully understand what you are participating in by using a product.
Gentler package, environmental and social impact
What are plastics?
In a nutshell, to manufacture a plastic milk jug, petroleum oil is drilled and put into 55 gallon drums. These drums are loaded onto trucks, trains, and boats, and moved around over long distances to refine it,. Then it is loaded back onto trucks, trains, and boats to get the refined product to it's next destination in the manufacturing process. Gasoline is only 1 product. There are a variety of factories, to then further manufacture the final by-products, which are used to make most plastics. There are other plastics made from other resources. The question is, "Are they less water intensive, in their manufacturing process?"
A paperboard carton used to be coated in paraffin, which is a petroleum wax. Now paperboard cartons are coated in polypropylene, which is a variation of paraffin. A lot of clothing is made with polypropylene. This leads to micro-plastics, which is a whole other conversation.
Water is used to drill for oil and in the plastics manufacturing process. Changing to a more eco friendly, less water intensive manufacturing process to produce a package, is only part of water conservation.
The most water is used in the product itself
Ship it Dry
If it's possible, ship a product dry. I am not a fan of non-fat dry milk powder. I much prefer whole milk. But it is very possible to get milk from a dairy nearby to where you live, even if you live in a city. The dairy is likely not far out of the city limits.
Liquid soap is a different story. The water does not need to be included in the soap, in the package. Liquid soap can be shipped dry, diluted into the final liquid soap product at its final destination. If manufactured properly, the soap is in no way compromised. It is the same product, as if it was shipped already diluted.
If the soap is shipped dry, the package can be a cellulose lined paper bag that composts. The environmental impact is reduced a lot. The social impact is increased greatly, since the end user gets to participate in part of the process, by adding water in their location.
It's a win win!