Blog
Plastic-Free July: Plastic Policies That Give Us Hope
With Plastic-Free July in full swing, here are five policies from around the world that give us hope for a plastic-free future.
Learn more
How 2020 Changed Hair Care For Good
The pandemic changed virtually everything including our hair care and the relationship between our products, our bodies, and our planet.
Learn more
The 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize
We were so thrilled to learn of the Goldman Environmental Prize recipients last week! In particular, two of the award winners stood out to us with their work against plastic pollution, and we want to tell you a little bit more about them. The Goldman Environmental Prize The prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize is also known as the “Green Nobel Prize”. This prize is awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists from the world's six inhabited continents in recognition and honor of their achievements in facing the environmental issues of their communities. The award winners, past and present, are a huge inspiration to us to continue to take action and advocate to protect our planet. Sharon Lavigne, Rise St. James In 2020, we shifted our focus of Plastic-Free July away from ways to reduce single-use plastic waste every day to supporting and highlighting the work of environmental justice organizations, specifically around plastics. One of the organizations we came to learn about was the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and Rise St. James and their work to Stop Formosa Plastics . How exciting that Sharon Lavigne, founder of Rise St. James was awarded a Green Nobel! In September 2019, she successfully stopped the construction of a $1.25 billion plastics manufacturing plant alongside the Mississippi River in Louisiana. A spokesperson for the Goldman Prize said: “Lavigne’s grassroots campaign successfully defended her community from the construction of yet another toxic plant in its midst. Her activism prevented the generation of a million pounds of liquid hazardous waste each year … for her unwavering commitment and dedication to her community, Sharon Lavigne will receive the Goldman Environmental Prize.”And she does not quit! Sharon is working tirelessly to stop yet another plastic manufacturing plant, Formosa Plastics, in her ongoing campaign for environmental justice and her community of St. James Parish. Congratulations Sharon! We stand with you in your fight against plastic pollution! Gloria Majiga-Kamoto, Malawi Plastic pollution is a huge problem all over the world. Gloria Majiga-Kamoto fights the plastic industry in her country of Malawi and successfully led a grassroots movement in support of a national ban on thin plastics, a typical single-use plastic used for plastic bags.80% of the plastics produced in Malawi are single-use plastics. Gloria recognized the devastating effects that plastic pollution, and single-use plastics in particular, has on Malawi's environment. On her own time, she has volunteered her time and energy to work toward a plastic ban. After several years of organizing, Gloria and the coalition of NGOs and activists she formed convinced the High Court of Malawi to rule in favor of enforcing a ban on the production, importation, distribution, and use of thin plastics.Please join us in congratulating all of this year's Green Nobel prize winners. You can learn more about the additional winners here .Thank you for inspiring us to protect our planet and all who live on it. Our dedication to a better environment is a dedication to a better environment for everyone. The Plaine Products Team
Learn more
PLAINE PROMOTER HIGHLIGHT: Suzan C
Meet Suzan C., a Plaine Promoter, a writer, environment advocate, martial artist and big fan of Plaine Products!
Learn more
Products We Love: ECOBAGS
Plaine Products has long been big fans of ECOBAGS, one of the original, reusable bag companies. We are closely aligned, with our shared dedication to eliminating single-use plastics and their mission to offer thoughtful, ethically and sustainably sourced, durable-reusable bags that inspire people to reduce, reuse, recycle and re-imagine the world we live in. We asked them to share a little more about themselves so we could get to know them better. Based on what we’ve learned we think you’ll love them as much as we do. Who They Are ECOBAGS was started in 1989 with a desire to see a better world, with less plastic, and more hope. They opened at the 1989 NYC Earth Day celebration offering their classic, reusable string bags, hoping they could help to make reusable a part of life. Today they sell a wide range of 100% cotton,100% biodegradable bags to replace single-use plastics. Their business is driven by two age-old sayings "Leave no trace" and "Do no harm." They are a certified B Corporation, and their products are all made with fair wages, fair labor and according to SA 8000 standards for social accountability. A Little History ECOBAGS opened for business in 1989 with a simple goal: to produce responsibly made and sourced bags, so that reusable becomes a way of life. They started with the ECOBAGS Original String Bag.ECOBAGS were part of the first plastic bag bans in the UK (Modbury) and Ireland. They believe that bringing your own bags to the store is the first step of many toward creating a world with less waste. Today, there are movements all over the world, banning and taxing single-use plastic bags, creating a "reusable-revolution." How thrilling!There’s a greater understanding now, that when you "throw away" a single-use plastic bag, there is no "away." If you want to live in a clean environment that means you need to participate in keeping it clean.Company Sustainability Highlights Since they began in 1989, all ECOBAGS products are made in socially responsible environments. Their primary production partners, in India, have always shared the vision of an engaged and sustainable work environment. The partners offer competitive compensation, extended health coverage, retirement benefits, pension plans (under government programs), vacations and holidays; going well beyond local labor requirements. ECOBAGS CEO and Founder, Sharon Rowe, travels to India regularly and, over 25+ years, has created lifelong relationships. With CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), getting so much media play it's important to hold certifications that are reviewed and recognized, internationally, by third-party agencies. ECOBAGS' supply chain for organic fibers (no chemicals, synthetic fertilizers) is certified through GOTS. Their supply chain for recycled & conventional fibers, is certified by SA-8000. These certifications are recognized internationally and cover operational and social workplace accountability. ECOBAGS introduced certified organic cotton (1996) and recycled cotton (2004) to their product line long before there was awareness or a market for them, knowing it was the right direction to go in. All products are made of 100% cotton and are therefore biodegradable.Their recycled fibers are post industrial, keeping waste out of landfill. All fabric dyes are azo free and all screen-print inks are non toxic to both humans and the environment. Knowing that conventional cotton has a negative environmental impact, they are working to transition all of their products to organic and recycled fibers.As a fellow woman owned / led company and a certifiedB Corporation , ECOBAGS is on a mission to live in a world with less plastic waste.What the Future Holds ECOBAGS are well on their way to transitioning to only offering recycled or organic cottons and no longer offering conventional cotton. Having recently revamped their packaging - most of the products come package-free with a 100% compostable hangtag - the new packaging is 100% recyclable or compostable and has ZERO plastics! It's very minimal. They are moving toward compostable case-packs for wholesale orders and becoming 100% carbon neutral and offset all shipments shipped via UPS Ground. ECOBAGS take not just environmental sustainability, but social sustainability, very seriously.
Learn more
Airbnb Green Filter
We are constantly evaluating our lives and looking for ways in which we can live more sustainably. That also holds true to how we want to travel. We seek to discover more sustainable ways of travel and the opportunities to find and book more environmentally friendly vacations.And yet, this is not always so simple.There are many aspects ofsustainable tourism to consider, including staying at eco-friendly accommodations. However, finding eco-friendly accommodations is not as easy as one may think. Many of the popular booking sites do not include eco-friendly features in their search filters, including Airbnb. Despite 87% of global travelers stating that they want to travel sustainably and 40% saying that online booking sites offering a sustainable or eco-friendly filter option would help, Airbnb, and other leading booking companies, do not currently include a green search filter. At Plaine Products we want to support others that embrace sustainability, so we're trying to change that.We already know that Airbnb stays are more sustainable compared to hotel stays and many of their experiences are also helping introduce people to sustainability. In an internal study in 2018, it was found that 88% of Airbnb hosts incorporate green practices into their hosting, such as environmentally-friendly cleaners, encouraging recycling or composting, and more. However, there is no good way to identify those hosts. Sign and Share to Support A Green Filter in 2021 Plaine Products embarked on a campaign to encourage Airbnb to add a sustainable filter on the AirBNB site to help to help users find and support eco-friendly accomodations. While we did not achieve our goal of getting the filter on the site, we hope that it helped move the needle in the right direction.We are frequent users of Airbnb and we selfishly would love this feature ourselves! We also have many Airbnb hosts who stock our products and we want to help them highlight this feature and any other environmentally friendly actions they've taken to green their properties. The addition of a Green filter to Airbnb's accommodations search would allow hosts with eco-friendly practices and properties to differentiate themselves and reach guests who share those values. Green features could include properties powered by renewable energy, having car-free accessibility, using toxin-free cleaning products, having energy-saving lighting, reducing single-use plastic via reusable personal care products, cleaning products, and kitchen storage options, among others.Airbnb set the industry standard early in the global pandemic with cleaning protocols. We think that Airbnb has another opportunity to set the green standard that will meet the growing demand for more sustainable travel options. A Green Filter would: Help highlight the hosts that are investing in greening up their homes. Resonate with the desires of Airbnb users who are interested in sustainable travel. Raise awareness and visibility for environmentally friendly actions. A Green Filter would be a natural extension of the Airbnb Experiences some hosts use to educate guests about sustainability. It would further encourage hosts to address climate change and other environmental justice issues from the personal space of their very own homes — and simultaneously give guests the chance to do good while enjoying great travel and leisure adventures. It’s an easy win-win. In the meantime, if you are an Airbnb host who stocksPlaine Products in your properties, please tag us in photos and share listings with us! We would love to share your properties on our social media channels and encourage users to choose greener properties!
Learn more
6 Things We Hope Continue in 2021
While we can’t wait to get back to life as we once knew it we hope to hang on to some of these silver linings that 2020 brought us.
Learn more
Plaine Promoter Highlight: Jen Rivera Bell
Plaine Promoters are individuals who use Plaine Products, love them and want to get others to join in eliminating single-use plastics while enjoying outstanding products. Plaine Promoters spread the word about our products and get 10% from every sale they generate. Our latest Plaine Promoter highlight is Jen Rivera Bell. Jen is an intersectional activist with a passion for food, travel, and sustainability.. Tell us about yourself and your message. Why is it so important to you to share that message with others? Piyalli! My name is Jen Rivera Bell (she/her) and I am an indigenous mama living on occupied Osage Nation Territory (Central Missouri) with my partner Zac, two kids, two dogs, and two pigs. I grew super passionate about intersectional environmentalism after seeing the connections within moving to a more sustainable lifestyle. I truly believe that by seeing all of the intersections that come up with becoming more aware of the issues, we can do much better as a collective. We can make better decisions for the earth and for our communities. What’s your one best, easiest tip for minimizing single-use plastics? My biggest tip that I tell everyone who wants to live a more low waste life is to prepare. Preparing and thinking ahead is what is going to let you be mindful of what you will be purchasing that might not be so great on the environment. Over the years, the idea of preparing has become second nature and when I walk out of the door I know I need to carry the essentials (this looks different for everyone). With me, my essentials are a reusable water bottle, reusable bags, food containers for any leftovers, and snacks in our reusable snack pouches. And also to give ourselves grace, we should be striving for progress not perfection in our lifestyle so that it continues to give us the momentum to do better every day. What do you think is usually the biggest blocker for people in regards to living a more sustainable lifestyle? I believe one of the biggest blockers that folks have to live a more sustainable lifestyle is the idea of perfection. We all want to do better but if we are comparing ourselves to other people who have more access, money, and time than us then we will feel discouraged. We must do the best we can given our circumstances. And those of us with privilege to those resources must advocate for accessibility for those who do not. Folks even hear the words "zero waste" they can feel like that is just a completely unrealistic and unobtainable goal so why even try. The reality is that in our current state zero waste is truly unobtainable because we do not live in a circular economy, but every single thing that we do that pushes us in the right direction is a great one. Do you have a favorite Plaine Product and if so, what is it? I have been using the Plaine Products shampoo and conditioner for over 3 years so it has become a cult favorite of mine! But now with the new beauty oil out, I think that it may be taking in that favorite spot! Especially living out here where the winters can be extremely dry the beauty oil has been a lifesaver for my face, body, and hair.
Learn more
Aloe Barbadensis: The main ingredient in our premium products
Plaine Products is proud of our vegan products and their natural ingredients. We are completely transparent about all of theenvironmentally friendly ingredients that go into each and every bottle. We’ve also talked about what youdon’t want in your shampoo orconditioner , or evenhand wash; the potentially toxic and harmful ingredients you won't find in any of our products.But did you know? The main ingredient in almost all of our products isaloe .More About Aloe Aloe Vera Extract, also known as Medicinal Aloe, is our main ingredient, as opposed to water in most personal care products. The aloe vera plant, Latin name: Aloe barbadensis, has been used medicinally since as early as 1500 BC. Even Cleopatra used aloe vera as part of her beauty routine. Aloe vera isknown for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic properties. Its key benefits include antioxidants like beta carotene and Vitamins C and E all of which can aid in reducing the appearance of damaged skin through their nourishing and skin-brightening properties. Aloe contains 75 beneficial nutrients, including 8-essential amino acids as well as vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E. Long noted for its healing properties, aloe vera is used in the treatment of wounds, burns and minor skin infections. It is one of the reasons our products are so amazing.For Your Hair Aloe vera has many benefits when it comes to your hair. With aloe instead of water as our main ingredient,Plaine Products Shampoos restores essential nutrients to enhance scalp health and hair texture. The anti-inflammatory properties of aloe can help to relieve itchy scalp and may even help the scalp inflammation that dandruff can cause. Aloe has a similar pH level to your hair's natural pH level and as a result, can help to reduce frizz and dry scalp. Your hair loves aloe's high water content which can help to moisturize both the scalp and hair. Aloe vera can attract and lock in moisture helping your hair to be shinier, smoother, and more healthy-looking. The numerous vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that aloe contains promote hair growth, prevent and soothe itchiness, reduce dandruff, calm inflammation, and condition hair.For Your Skin Aloe vera also has great benefits for your skin. It helps soothe, soften and hydrate the skin. Itmoisturizes dry skin due to itshigh number of mucopolysaccharides. Mucopolysaccharides help in binding moisture into the skin and are a common ingredient in many moisturizers. Aloe also has collagen-producing effects that can help make the skin more elastic and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. By stimulating fibroblast which produces collagen and elastin fibers, aloe reduces inflammation, puffiness, and dark circles and can help fade dark spots and acne scars. Aloe also contains salicylic acid which works as a light and natural exfoliant. All of these great benefits can be received through our skin care andface care products .Aloe really is one of the main reasons our products are so amazing! So good and magical it makes us want tobathe in the stuff. Oh wait, we do!
Learn more
