Your grooming regime may take care of you, but are you making your Mama proud by being as kind as possible to the planet? We uncover 5 ways to make your grooming regimen more sustainable, protecting both the environment, and your skin. 

Globally, an estimated 12 tonnes of plastic enter our oceans each year – that’s a lot of fed-up fish and disgruntled dolphins. Plastic waste is one of the biggest environmental challenges our generation is facing, and our personal grooming routines – while they help us maintain our good looks and rugged charm – aren’t always kind to our planet (with throwaway razors and toothbrushes, plastic packaging galore, and all manner of chemical nasties entering our waterways).

Gentlemen, it doesn’t have to be this way. As consumers of grooming products, we can vote with our feet and drive change towards a more sustainable industry. Knowledge is power, so we’ve highlighted some products and practises to look out for, ensuring that maintaining your marvellous masculinity will be guilt-free in the future. 

Check the label

Like checking your testicles for lumps on a regular basis (start doing it now if you don’t already) examining the label of a grooming product for its sustainable and ethical credentials, before taking it to the checkout, should become second nature.

Many of us grab products based on the recommendations of friends, or simply because the bottle matches our bathroom decor or gym bag (don’t deny it – we’ve done it too). Like the food we put in our bodies, however, paying a little more attention to the grooming products we buy will keep our planet healthier for future generations. 

What to look out for? No one product ticks all sustainability boxes, but make a bee-line for those that can claim to be cruelty-free, use as many natural ingredients as possible, and come packaged in a bottle that’s made from 100% recycled plastic (remember those sad sharks and weeping whales). 

Avoid disposable items 

Anything designed to be thrown in the bathroom bin after only one or two uses should be eradicated from your grooming armoury, immediately. Instead, look for high quality products that are built to last, and can be disposed of ethically, once they’ve come to the end of their lifespan (thinking investing in a pair of Docs, rather than grabbing a cheap pair of crocs). 

Disposable razors (the clue’s in the name) are a major culprit. They’re designed to be thrown away, and most brands are not easily recycled as they’re made from mixed materials. Their blades also make them hazardous to handle, so they clog up landfill sites for all eternity (if you didn’t feel guilty about your throwaway razor habit, we’re hoping you do now).

Boldking have solved the disposable dilemma with their revolutionary recyclable razors. Sold in packs of four, they’re flexible, easy to clean, and provide a super-close shave, with the added benefit that blades can be fully recycled – just send them back to the brand and they’ll take care of the rest.  A grooming product that’s kind to your pocket, your face, and the environment – that’s a  win / win / win, right there. 

Avoid unnecessary packaging

Keep it simple, and avoid purchasing men’s grooming products that are over-packaged with unnecessary plastic, like a Kardashian’s closet. The more ‘naked’ the item, the better, so look out for clever products like shampoo bars, refill bottles where possible, and bulk buy the biggest bottle you can afford, to save throwing aways lots of smaller ones. 

Big, bold, badass beauty brand, Kiehl’s, are paving the way for ethically disposing of packaging, with a reward scheme for returned empties (nope, you can’t send them your beer bottles, lolz). Look out for other brands jumping on the sustainability bandwagon, and vote with your wallet. 

Shower gel powered by fresh air, not ghastly gases 

Pay attention, here comes the science bit… OCs, contained in traditional aerosol cans, damage the environment by constantly contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone. Aside from this, once the pressurized gas or liquid inside the can has been used up, the metallic steel of the can itself remains a pain in the ass to dispose of ethically. 

Look out for cleverly packaged products like Boldking’s alcohol-free shower foam, which washes away the grime of a hard day at the office, and nourishes your skin. Despite being extra foamy, to make soaping up easier and more fun (yes, we’re big kids too), it’s dispensed using air-power rather than harmful gases, upping its planet-friendly credentials (did we mention that like all the brand’s products, it’s also as pure as possible and packed full of natural ingredients like almond oil and prickly pear). 

Don’t waste water

This may sound like a ‘duh’ moment, but water is one of our planet’s most precious resources, and we need to conserve it wherever possible. 

During your grooming routine, this can be as simple as turning off the tap while you’re bruising your teeth, taking shorter showers, or running shallower baths. We all love a good gadget, and there are also tonnes of water-saving devices, like eco shower heads, on the market, that can dramatically reduce waste water in the long term. 

Taking these simple steps will help to make your 20-minute bathroom routine in the morning and evening a little more sustainable, so that you can be a lot more smug when talking to your girlfriend about it. You. Are. Welcome.