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Sustainability

Plastic Free Living

Products are often made of or are sold in plastic packages that are destined to be thrown away and end up in landfills where it takes hundreds of years to decompose. Break the cycle by switching to products that produce less waste and use less plastic!

Click on the different product names below to find a more sustainable option.

Shampoo

  • Online bulk refills: , , 
  •  Products:
    • Package free solid shampoo (LUSH, Whole Foods, Mom’s, Etsy, & more)
    • Dr Bronner’s Castile Soap (low waste option if used for all purposes)

Conditioner

  • Online bulk refills: , , 
  •  Products:
    • Product: Package free solid conditioner (LUSH, Whole Foods, Mom’s, Etsy, & more)

Body Wash

  • Online bulk refills: , , 
  • Products:
    • Package free solid bodywash or bar soap (LUSH, Whole Foods, Mom’s, Etsy, & more)
    • Dr Bronner’s Castile Soap (low waste option if used for all purposes)
  • Make your own
    • Liquid body wash – you can reuse an old container

Hand Soap

  • Online bulk refills: , , 
  • Products:
    • Package free bar soap (LUSH, Whole Foods, Mom’s, Etsy, & more)
    • Dr Bronner’s Castile Soap (low waste option if used for all purposes)
    • Tablet soap: just add water! ()

Razor

  • Products:
    • Safety razor

Shaving Cream

  • Consider using soap bars or coconut oil instead

Loofa

  • Products:
    • sisal body scrubber, hemp body scrubber, silicone body scrubber, natural loofa

Toothbrush

  • Products
    • KnottyBrush, Brush with Bamboo
  • Consider lower waste option of replaceable head toothbrushes electric or manual (Goodwell Premium Toothbrush, Greener Step, Eco-dent Terradent)

Toothpaste

  • Products:
    • Toothpaste tablets (LUSH, bite)
    • Toothpaste in metal tube or recyclable butes (Davids, Weleda, Goodwell, Marvis)
    • Dr Bronner’s Castile Soap (low waste option if used for all purposes)

Floss

  • Online refills: The Good Fill, The Refill Revolution, The Refill Shoppe
  • Products: Knotty Floss, Dental Lace

Toilet Paper

  • Consider brands that do not include plastic packaging (, ) or those that use recycled content (, )

Menstrual Hygiene 

  • Products: menstrual cups, cloth pads, period underwear, or sea pearls reusable sponge

 

Hand Sanitizer 

  • Online bulk refills: , , 

Make Up

  • Avoid glitter (glitter is just tiny pieces of plastic)
  • Be on the look out for refillable compacts in mainstream brands
  • Sites/brands: Elate Cosmetics, Faraday Face, Kjaer Weis, Little Ondine (biodegradable nail polish), & Etsy

Lotion

  • Online bulk refills: , , 

Deodorant

  • Products:
    • Package free bars (LUSH, & etsy)
    • Paperboard tube (meow meow tweet, ben & anna, & etsy)
    • Paste in glass or metal containers (Whole Foods, Mom’s, Etsy, & more) o Cork tube (Biork)

Ear Swabs

  • Consider reusable (stainless steel pick) or compostable swabs

Tissues

  • Consider using a cloth handkerchief

Water Bottle

  • Buy a reusable version, check out the selection at the campus store!

Iced Drink Cup

  • Buy a reusable version, check out the selection at the campus store!

Hot Drink Cup

  • Buy a reusable version (such as a thermos, reusable coffee cup), check out the selection at the campus store!

Food Wraps/Bags

  • Products:
  • Food wraps: Beeswax wrap (bees wrap), Vegan wax wrap (Wrappa, Khala, etsy), silicone food huggers, elasticated fabric bowl covers (wegreeco), silicone stretch bowl covers
  • Storage bags: Silicone (stasher, other brands), PEVA ((re)zip, keeper, other brands), or cloth bags (wegreeco, itzy ritzy, & others)

Utensils

  • Products: metal or bamboo kits

Straws

  • Consider reusable straws (stainless steel, bamboo) or edible and biodegradable straws

K-cup

  • Consider reusable k-cups or a French press that does not require a filter

Ice Cream Dishes

  • Consider getting an ice cream cone next time you go to an ice cream shop to avoid plastic or Styrofoam cups.

Brown Bag

  • Consider bringing your lunch in a reusable lunch box

To-go containers

  • Consider bringing your own tupperware to restaurants to bring leftover food back with you

Notebooks

  • Products: paperboard glue or sewn bound (e.g. DeComposition books) or reusable notebooks (, )

Pens

  • Consider products that are made of recycled content or have refillable ink (Recycled Paper Pens, Refillable Fountain Pens, Inkless Pens)

Pencils

  • Mechanical Pencil Products: , , , 1000P & 1500P,
  • Other Pencil Products: Recycled Newspaper Pencils, Sprout Wood Pencils, Biodegradable Pencils

Laundry Detergent

  • Online bulk refills: , , The Refill Revolution
  • Products:
    •  
    • or (low waste option if used for all purposes)
    • in metal tin (w/ refills)
    • Other products: ,

Dryer Sheets

  • Products: Wool Dryer balls ()
  • Consider line drying your clothes to reduce waste and energy

Dish soap

  • Online bulk refills: , , The Refill Revolution
  • Products:
    • Package free bar soap (Etsy)
    • Dr Bronner’s Castile Soap or Sal Suds (low waste option if used for all purposes)
    •  

Cleaning General

  • Online bulk refills: , , The Refill Revolution
  • Online bulk refills: Fillaree, The Refill Shoppe, The Good Fill, The Refill Revolution
  • Product: Dr Bronner’s Castile Soap or Sal Suds (low waste option if used for all purposes)

Paper Towels/Napkins

  • Consider using a reusable towel or opt for products made of recycled content and has no outer plastic packaging

Shopping Bags

  • Use reusable shopping and produce bags!
  • Turn an old T-shirt or fabric into a reusable bag ()

Lip Balm

  • Go for balm in recyclable tins rather than plastic tubes

K-Cups

  • Use the reusable brew you own filter include with your machine
  • Product: Ekobrew Elite stainless steel

Gift Wrapping

  • Consider wrapping your next gift in a reusable wrapping such as cloth, bags or scarves
  • You can also use recycled paper, newspaper, and reuse gift bags that were given to you. Even better, use a reusable shopping bag to wrap your presents in! 

Look out for products with these certification seals to ensure you are purchasing safe, eco-conscious products: 


GreenCircle: products with this label are from companies who are certified zero waste companies.


B lab Certification: products with this label are from companies who put consumers, employees, communities and the environment first.


True (Total Resource Use and Efficiency): This is a zero waste certification that enables companies to reduce their carbon footprint and support public health.


Made Safe: Products with this label have been screened for toxic and harmful chemicals.


EWG Verified: Products with this label have met a strict standard for safety and have disclosed all of their ingredients.


USDA Organic: Products with this label contain 95% or more organic ingredients and does not include any GMO ingredients.

NSF

NSF/ANSI 305: Products with this label contain 70% or more organic ingredients by weight. This seal can be found on personal care and cosmetics products.


Rainforest Alliance: Products with this label are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. Standards met include ecosystem conservation, wildlife protection, and fair treatment and good working conditions for workers.


Fair Trade USA Certified: products with this label have met social, environmental, and economic standards and provide workers with fair wages and safe working conditions.


CarbonFree Certified: products with this label have gone through the process of reducing their carbon footprint and offsetting the remaining emissions associated with that product.


Leaping Bunny: products with this label are cruelty free and have not been tested on animals.


Certified Vegan: products with this label contain no animal ingredients or by-products and are not tested on animals.

You can find Dr. Bronner’s in bulk at MOM’s in center city, or Weaver’s Way Co-Op in Ambler. Main Line Shift offers select workshops and events that are open to the public and support plastic free living.

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VUSustainability

ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University, as a community of learned and learning scholars, respecting the sacredness of all creation, accepts its responsibility to the integrity of Earth and its biodiversity, to the heritage of future generations, and to the security of nations. By utilizing the Augustinian values of Unitas, Veritas, and Caritas, meaning love thy neighbor, promote community unity, and live life in moderation through our curriculum, work environment, and operations, ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥â€™s approach to sustainability exemplifies an emphasis on social justice and community service.

For questions regarding campus sustainability email Sustainability@villanova.edu


Are you passionate about ecological justice? Would you like to deepen your relationship to Earth and others who share this concern? Campus Ministry and the Office Sustainability encourage you to commit to eliminating 2-3 plastic items from your daily life while being more intentional about consumer habits and what that means for the environment and others. You will have the opportunity to engage in supportive community building while meeting new people. Ultimately, the invitation to a Plastic Free Lent will allow you to reflect on your daily actions and engage in meaningful dialogue about what it means to live intentionally in our time.