Top Realtor POV: Waste Not Want Not

by Courtney Banks

A graduate of University of San Francisco and originally from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Courtney Banks joined Kindred SF Homes in 2020, as a Realtor with Jamie Comer and Associates. For her full bio and contact information, please follow this link.

Reading time: 1 minute and 30 seconds

If you’ve scrolled through Instagram lately, you’ve seen all these new products to help you be less wasteful day-to-day. One of the biggest pushes is for using fewer single-use plastic. I, of course, want to find ways to be less harmful to our beautiful Earth.

One day I looked around my bathroom and was like… “Woah…there really is SO much plastic, and I need to start this process now.”

Here are the simple fixes I’ve made so far:

Shower products were first on my list: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant. I googled best bar soap products and was directed to numerous sites, ALL with great products! I ended up choosing a company called The Earthling Co. They have a variety of items on their site to choose from, as well as accessories to accompany these products.

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the shampoo and it made my hair just as soft as any bottled product. There are even companies that make products specifically for colored hair!

My next move was toothpaste. The most popular brand that I found is a company called BITE Toothpaste. They make toothpaste into single tablets, delivered in a glass container. One order will last you almost 6 months! They also provide mouthwash, toothbrushes, teeth whitening products, and floss.

It’s a little overwhelming to think of all the things that I should be replacing, but small changes matter, and I’m working towards becoming more and more environmentally conscious. Some of the easier changes I’ll make soon include lotion bars, laundry detergent that comes in dehydrated sheet form and cleaning products from Grove. The hardest swap for me will be kitchen/grocery products!

If you’re looking for a quick and simple way to get started, a company called Mighty Fix will send you a monthly subscription box of sustainable home goods!

And here are some additional companies to get you started:

Photo Credit: Svitlana