The ecological and climate crisis in India is visible, we don’t need numbers to tell us that this has been the hottest summer, that waste is accumulating in our water sources, and that the skies are mostly gray! The damage is visible. But so is the consumer’s desire to do something about it. With the consumer’s desire to be eco-conscious along with initiatives and policies geared towards a more sustainable India, eco-conscious products have become popular and seemingly abundant, especially shampoos and shampoo bars. But, are they truly abundant? Or is it just greenwashing? Thankfully, in this article, you’ll find a checklist to help you identify truly eco-conscious shampoos.
We reached out to Kanchan Gusain, Formulation Scientist at The Switch Fix to get a guide on how to find the right shampoo that is truly eco-conscious, and here’s what she shared:
First, why is it important to make the switch?
In the face of such ecological and climate crises, many consumers feel overwhelmed and ask, “How can one individual make any difference? Does my switch matter?”
Every year, millions of people in India buy shampoos and other personal care products. These individual purchases add up to make the Indian Beauty and Personal Care market Rs. 1.8 lakh crores strong. These individual purchases also add up to the many million tonnes of waste that accumulates in the landfills and oceans polluting our water and food sources. It doesn’t help that a majority of these products are also riddled with chemicals detrimental to our well-being.
By making the switch, you’re signaling to the industry that “Hey, if you don’t offer sustainable products, you’re going to lose me as a customer to your competition”. And that, we as consumers are enough to create a shift in the market, to create a massive positive impact.
Here is a list of 5 simple questions you can ask to determine if the product is eco-conscious. If a brand fulfills more than half of these, they’re truly working towards being sustainable and you should continue to support them.
1. Are the ingredients plant-based?
Animal-derived ingredients aren’t just cruel but they also have a higher carbon footprint than their plant-based alternatives. Additionally, plant-based ingredients are usually milder yet more effective.
2. Are the ingredients petroleum-free?
Sometimes, the product form (liquid or solid, etc.) may be sustainable, for example, a shampoo bar. But, if the ingredient list contains petroleum-based ingredients such as Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, it defeats the purpose. Look out for ingredients that have ‘PEG-‘ in them. Relying on petroleum-based ingredients while working against the damage done by fossil fuel companies is counterintuitive.
3. Are the ingredients biodegradable?
Sometimes, a product may be free of animal-derived ingredients, or petroleum-derived ingredients, but it can still contain ingredients that aren’t biodegradable, for example, silicones and dimethicones. These ingredients not only clog your skin but also accumulate in our nature when washed down our drains. Also known as ‘bioaccumulation’, it leads to disturbances in our ecosystem.
4. Is the packaging biodegradable?
Packaging is arguably the most problematic aspect of shampoos. Every year, over 14 lakh million tonnes of plastic bottles are trashed in India. Shampoo bottles are part of the second-highest contributing category to this waste.
By turning shampoo solid, in the form of shampoo bars, this waste is completely eliminated!
5. Is the packaging recyclable? Follow up: Does the packaging actually get recycled?
Reportedly, around 40% of the plastic that can be tracked goes unrecycled. It’s great to make packaging recyclable but serious commitment needs to be shown by brands to ensure that the ‘recyclable’ packaging is actually able to get recycled. It’s unfair to leave the onus of recycling onto the consumers.
Additional Tips:
One of the questions you can ask your favorite brands to know more about their sustainability initiatives is this: “are you practicing extended producer responsibility?”. By being vocal about your desire to be sustainable, you can nudge your favorite brands in the right direction. Happy switching!
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