We interview Zero Waste for a sustainable life

Since we are affiliated with Bezzia to continue sharing knowledge, ideas and tips to change our habits for other more sustainable ones, we thought it might be interesting to do an interview. Zero Waste, a reference company in product sales for a waste-free and sustainable life.

Surprisingly, they agreed to answer all our questions, sharing with us some essential products from your Zero Waste online store catalog take care of both our body and our home. Discover them in our interview with founder Barbara:

Who is Zero Waste and what led you to create this project?

Since I was little I have been a very environmentally conscious person and have always tried to spend little and recycle a lot; however when I discovered the Zero Waste movement I realized that this was not enough and that there were many more things I could do to take care of the planet. That is how Xavi and I created Bàrbara, the Zero Waste Online Store in 2018. We started by storing and shipping products from our own home and our aim was none other than promoting the Zero Waste lifestyle. Make it easier for everyone to have access to more sustainable, plastic-free and natural products.

Over time and thanks in part to the popularity that the Zero Waste movement has gained in Spain, online store is growing, There are currently 7 of us who make up the Zero Waste team. The first to join was Mar, who is responsible for managing all the sections related to the photos and advertisements we share on the web and social networks. Later, Lia, who is responsible for the project management and customer service section, Edu, who places orders, manages the warehouse and stocks of products, Coni and Cintia, who take on the communication section with suppliers, joined the project. She is responsible for writing the content of our social networks and our Blog.

How is your project different from many others inspired by the Zero Waste lifestyle that exists today?

We truly care about presenting as Zero Waste Plastic-free and highest quality products to our customers. In this way, we not only ensure that the packaging of the products does not contain plastic, we also pay great attention to its quality, how, where and by whom it is produced, which materials are used and how it reaches us.

We ask our suppliers to deliver orders without plastic and we prepare our packaging without using this material; even the adhesive tape we use to close it is made of paper. We use the minimum possible packaging inside, most of it is reused. everything we can deliver in bulk and we use recycled and recyclable paper strips to protect some products if necessary.

To be consistent with our values, we try to have local suppliers and products manufactured in Spain or Europe whenever possible. Not only because the carbon footprint is lower, but also because we support the local economy.

What are your star products?

We currently have over 500 Zero Waste products, the vast majority of which are designed to facilitate the transition to a plastic-free, sustainable and waste-free life. Among them, the solid natural deodorants from Kutis Skincare stand out for their effectiveness; the plastic-free, handmade and irresistibly aromatic solid shampoos from the Inuit brand; the Georganics toothpaste bar for its innovative format; the planet-friendly natural sunscreens from Amazinc; the luffa scrub, a must-have for Zero Waste homes; and the solid soap from Marseille, the perfect all-purpose soap.

Many of us have replaced shower gel with a solid gel, but we have yet to do the same with shampoo. What shampoo would you recommend we start with and how should we use it?

First of all, it's important to note that if you've never tried a solid shampoo made with natural ingredients before, your hair will most likely need a few days (or weeks) of adaptation. This is because your hair is getting used to the chemicals in traditional shampoos, and when you make a change, you need a 'detox' time. But once this detox phase is over, your hair will look better than ever.

Inuit solid shampoo series There are 7 different varieties for every hair type or hairline need. Our favorite thing about this brand is that all of their shampoos are handcrafted with natural ingredients, waterless and preservative-free, and are 100% free of parabens, silicones, sulfates, petroleum derivatives, animal fats, and palm oil. The pleasant scent comes from the essential oils used. Our favorites are No. 7 with Castor Oil, Pink Clay, and Geranium Essential Oil, or No. 4 with Keratin, although they are all great.

All shampoos are used in the same way: just You should moisturize your hair and shampoo and rub it into your hands or directly onto your scalp to create a lather. Then you just have to massage it in, wash it off and rinse it with water. It is undoubtedly a simple change in our bathing routine that will save us a lot of plastic waste on the planet.

Among the products that stand out, you also mentioned solid toothpaste. What are the benefits or advantages of these over other cream products?

Georganics Solid Toothpaste is a biodegradable and recyclable cardboard tube, So from the start it was a better alternative to traditional toothpaste tubes (which are very difficult to recycle, by the way).

This toothpaste does not contain synthetic glycerin, so it allows the teeth to absorb nutrients without covering them, promoting remineralization and nutrition. Additionally, there is made only from natural ingredients such as organic olive oil or cocoa butter. It also contains essential peppermint oil, so it leaves a refreshing and very pleasant touch in the mouth.

Compared to traditional toothpastes, solid toothpaste has many advantages. First of all, you are using a biodegradable product that will not pollute the environment either when using it or when disposing of the container. On the other hand, its chemical-free formula is much more respectful to our body and Its innovative format makes it last much longer than traditional toothpaste.: 6 months or longer! Another plus point is that it is robust and not subject to liquidity restrictions of the airlines, which means you can carry it in your travel bag without any problems.

You have a wide range of solar products. Thinking about summer, which ones would you recommend packing in your travel bag?

All of our sunscreens are incredible. From the brand Amazinc! Skin careOur company produces natural sunscreens and uses mineral filters such as Zinc Oxide. Mineral filters do not contain nanoparticles, oxybenzone and other toxic ingredients, unlike chemical filters in common sunscreens.

The 50 SPF protective liquid sunscreen is very easy to apply and gentle on the skin: it moisturizes while protecting from UVA and UVB rays. However, if you are looking for a practical sunscreen to take on a trip, then Sunscreen abbreviation with SPF 30 packaged in aluminum can This is very convenient.

In addition to taking care of personal hygiene, Zero Waste also offers you a wide range of options for taking care of our home. What are the most versatile cleaning products? How do they help us minimize waste?

We use many products made of plastic at home, some of which are very harmful to the planet and we do not even realize it. For example, the scouring pads used to wash traditional dishes are 100% synthetic and every time we use them, microplastics are released and directly pollute our seas and oceans. It is very easy to find your alternative! We recommend loofah for pottery, But really, the luffa will help you clean the house in general and you can even use it as a sponge for the shower.

Luffa is a fruit of the squash and gourd family that is grown and allowed to dry so that only its fibers remain, from which sponges, scrubs and even exfoliating facial discs are made. It is therefore 100% biodegradable and There is no risk of contaminating water with microplastics after use or when there are no residues on the dishes that we could accidentally swallow

Another versatile and multi-purpose product that we always recommend to have at home is Marseille soap. This traditional soap is made with olive oil and coconut oil, is hypoallergenic and can be used for many things: for hand or machine washing, as a shower soap, to make homemade detergents, or even as a repellent! We have already explained in our blog the many uses that can be given to this handmade soap.

To finish and look back, how did the general interest in zero-waste products develop after you launched the online store?

Over time we realized this More and more people are interested innot only in Zero Waste, but in living a more conscious and sustainable life. Fortunately, more and more people are trying to live less polluting, and the goal of Zero Waste is to make it easier for all these people who are starting to become or are already aware of it.

However, there is still a large segment of society that does not even know what Zero Waste is and that is why our other big study and spread this lifestyle, both on our networks and on our Blog, but also in talks and events.

We recommend you to follow Zero Waste on the networks so that it is easier for you to live a sustainable life. And once again, thank you to Barbara for her kind reply and to Mar for answering all our messages.

The topic We are interviewing Zero Waste, your online store for a sustainable life, was first published on mobeltrend.com.