Switch to bar soap, shampoo, and conditioner
On the subject of what’s in bars vs. what’s in bottled soaps, shampoos, and conditioners — you’ll find that bars are more likely to use natural and cruelty-free ingredients while bottled options are usually a mix of chemicals and mostly water. In fact, National Geographic notes that most shampoos are up to 80% water, conditioners are up to 95% water, and that shampoo bars can outlast two to three bottles of liquid shampoo. As an added bonus, using natural ingredients means your hair and skin won’t be stripped of natural oils resulting in dryness.
In terms of waste, bars feature less packaging than bottles and many are wrapped in recycled paper or boxes. Also, bars are less likely to contain plastic microbeads which damage marine life when they get into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Beyond switching to bar soap, shampoo, and conditioner — another great way to get softer skin and healthier hair is using a shower water filter to remove contaminants like chlorine from your tap water.
Use a water filter to improve your health and extend the life of your appliances
Another water-related sustainable New Year’s resolution that’s great for the environment and your health is to invest in a water filter at home. Water filters are a great way to remove harmful contaminants that are sometimes missed by treatment facilities including lead, PFOA/PFOS, chlorine, and several others. By installing a water filter, you can improve the health and taste of your water at home, and bottle it in your reusable water bottle of choice.
Beyond your health, this also positively impacts your wallet and the environment by improving the efficiency and lifespan of your appliances. Over time, sediment in your tap water can build-up in appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators, water tanks, and washing machines — which reduces their efficiency and requires them to use more energy in order to continue working. Generating extra energy can contribute to pollution and higher energy bills. Sediment build-up causes wear and tear on appliances that reduces their lifespans — meaning you’ll have to discard them sooner and purchase replacements more often. While some of the discarded material may be recycled, a lot of it will end up in landfills.
To improve the health and taste of your water while making a positive impact on the environment, consider investing in a whole house water filter that removes contaminants and reduces sediment build-up.
We hope this list of healthy, sustainable New Year’s resolutions provides you with a few unique ideas that you’ll be trying in 2023.
WHOLE HOUSE FILTER
Rhino® 1,000,000 Gallons
High-performance water filtration reduces chlorine, lead, and more from every tap for 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years.
