Reviews by Charlotte Alner, Saffia Farr and Jess Hazel , published in SPRING 2019, Issue 60.
1. Bamboo Nappies, Nü
Nü nappies are attempting to solve the problems of landfill and deforestation by creating nappies made from sustainable materials. Their focus is the “end of life” credentials of a product. The nappies are made from 100% bamboo pulp, so they are naturally compostable, and they include a lot less plastic than other brands. I trialled the size 3 nappies with my daughter. They were a good fit around her legs and tummy, with no gaping. I was reluctant to use them through the night at first. However, we had a successful first night, and no leakage! I was very impressed and continued to use these nappies with no leaks throughout the day or night. I really like these nappies and would be happy to make a switch to them from the other brands we currently use. CA
£7.95 for a pack of 30 size 3 nappies
2. Biodegradable Bamboo Baby Wipes, Bamaboo
These wipes have the bonus of bamboo’s natural antibacterial properties. They are over 98% plant-based, so they can be composted and are said to biodegrade completely in 6 months. I found the wipes to be just as effective as traditional ones. They were strong and absorbent but soft, and they were able to clean up messes well. Ecocert certified. SF
£1.89 for 60 wipes
3. Bamboo Cotton Buds, ecoLiving
Cotton buds are something I have struggled with because I find them useful but I don’t like the single-use plastic. I am therefore delighted to have found these ones, which are made from bamboo and soft cotton, are 100% biodegradable and can be thrown in a compost bin. The bamboo makes them very sturdy, so they are practical for a range of uses. The packaging is recycled cardboard. Made by ecoLiving, a carbon-neutral, vegan and fair company. SF
£2.49
4. Super Ultra Pads, Natracare
These are slim-fitting but absorbent pads with wings for a secure fit. They are made using certified organic cotton and non-toxic glue, so they help reduce your exposure to synthetic materials. No perfumes, dyes or chlorine are used in their manufacture. Each pad is individually wrapped, but the wrapping and the peel strip are made from paper and are easily recycled. Natracare pads are entirely plastic-free and home compostable, so they can biodegrade naturally. The packaging is recycled cardboard with plant-based inks. I found them very easy to use, comfortable, discreet and absorbent. SF
£2.29 for 12 pads
5. Bamboo Floss Picks, The White Teeth Box
I have had ongoing discussions with my dentist about flossing because I struggle to use the string and I don’t like the waste of the single-use plastic harps. I was therefore very interested to try these, which are made from biodegradable plant-based corn starch. The advice is that garden composting might not reach a hot enough temperature, so you may need to find a local commercial compost site, but this is still a step up from plastic. The floss is made from bamboo fibre infused with charcoal; dentists warn that charcoal is abrasive, but this floss has worked really well for me, and at my latest check-up my dentist was very impressed with my teeth and gums. The picks come in a bag made from TDPA, which is also compostable. SF
£4.95 for a pack of 30 flosses
6. Organic Cotton Wool Pads, Organyc
These pads are made from 100% organic cotton and are vegan, biodegradable and certified by Ecocert. The packaging is made from Matter-Bi, which is a biopolymer derived from corn starch and is therefore biodegradable and compostable. I really like that these pads are small and not excessively thick or padded, so I didn’t feel I was using unnecessary cotton. However, they are thick enough to be effective and sturdy and are really soft. SF
£2.80 for a pack of 70
7. Facial tissues, Green Cane
This is a fantastic way to buy tissues. The large box contains 24 packs, each with 90 quality two-ply sheets. The tissues are made primarily from recycled sugar cane and fast-renewable bamboo, are free from inks, perfumes, GMOs and BPA, and are septic-safe and rapidly biodegradable. I found them very comfortable to use; they don’t feel any different or less effective than conventional tissues, and my son commented how soft he thought they were. They are sustainably produced and there is no unnecessary plastic insert in the box. The boxes are an attractive matte cardboard with a white bamboo design, so they look good around the house too! SF
£19.80 for a box of 24 packs (90 sheets per pack)
greencane.com
8. Glyde Condoms
Glyde pioneered the use of thistle extract to replace the dairy derivative casein in condom production, making it the first vegan-certified condom on the market. They are also glycerine-free, paraben-free and manufactured without chemicals. They are made from natural latex taken from rubber trees grown in sustainably managed plantations in Malaysia, so this is a 100% plant-based product that can be composted. The box is made with 100% recycled cardboard and vegetable inks, and it was welcome to see that there is no cellophane wrapping. Glyde Health works with partners to ensure sustainable practices and fair working conditions. There are 4 sizes available. SF
£7.99 for a pack of 10
9. COMING SOON – paper pregnancy tests
Lia has developed the world’s first biodegradable pregnancy test, made from paper instead of plastic. Results are visible in just a few minutes, with over 99% accuracy. The test can be composted or flushed down the toilet after use, behaving like two-ply toilet paper, and is safe for most septic tanks. The test has been shown to biodegrade in soil in just 10 weeks.
Hopefully these will be available in the UK soon, so to find out more and stay in the loop, visit meetlia.com
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