We know that much of what we recycle isn't actually recycled, especially plastic. According to the Plastic Soup Foundation, only 9% of plastic is recycled worldwide. A terrifying figure and one that I hope by reading this blog post might make you think about reducing your plastic consumption. 

So what happens to the rest? It ends up in our oceans, killing wildlife, in landfills destined to take 500 years to decompose, being incinerated, and generating harmful toxins and microplastics that disrupt neurodevelopment, endocrine, and reproductive functions.

Scary stuff, but what can mere mortals like me and you do about it? It's up to the big guns, the government, the huge corporations, the fashion houses, the billionaires with all the power, right? WRONG. That's not working, is it? 

It would make a difference if we all did something, even if it was one small change. So today, why not do something differently? What if you stopped leaving it up to them to fix? What if you stopped buying single-use plastic cleaning products because that's what you've always done? What if you slowed down for a minute to think and swapped to refillable products? What if you stopped buying into the annoying TV adverts promoting harmful, toxic, plastic-heavy products and instead took a stand against them and started supporting an environmentally friendly small business?

That's what I've done, and I want to tell you what I've learned.

1. I'm too busy to think about swapping products

I am always too busy. I always have too much work to do, too much housework, and too many life admin tasks on my to-do list, which is why I love Bower Collective. First of all, they stock almost everything I need in one place. I can place one order and get it all. That is so much quicker and easier than shopping around. They also offer a subscription service, so you don't need to waste time ordering the product! It is also great if you are not particularly organised or have a bad memory.

When you place your first order, you can choose when you'd like the next delivery for each product. If your laundry liquid lasts two months, you set it to then, and you can log on whenever you like to adjust it. It's so easy.

2. Eco-friendly products are more expensive

I'm not going to BS you. Some eco-friendly options are more expensive, which can make it a difficult choice if you're on a tight budget, as it may mean something else has to give. However, there are so many ways around this. 

Firstly, do your sums. I have found that sometimes they work out cheaper; for example, when I learned about the cost per sheet of an eco-friendly bamboo toilet roll compared to that of a supermarket loo roll, it was actually 7p cheaper per 100 sheets!

Second, buying more costs less. Ok, buying in bulk isn't a good idea if you have very limited space in your home, but it most certainly costs less, as explained in this blog post.

Third, we should all prioritise our actions towards the environment and make cost allowances elsewhere. Have fewer takeaways: declutter your home so you don't need to buy duplicates when you can't find things, get organised with your bills and switch providers when contracts end. 

Finally, it costs a lot to research and create eco-friendly products, which seems ridiculous, but sadly, it is cheaper to produce toxic products, in the same way that it's cheaper to produce Ultra-Processed Food than healthy, fresh food. Businesses must make money; otherwise, they can't continue in business! From my point of view, I would rather support a business whose ethics are built on doing good for the planet over the likes of Temu, built on slave labour... 

3. If you're hard-up, make your own

Making your own cleaning products costs a fraction of even the nasty, toxic cleaning products sold for a pittance in the likes of B&M and Poundland, with little to no plastic waste. If you want some inspiration, follow Kate from @my_plastic_free_home on Instagram. She is the queen of natural cleaning and all-round plastic-free delights. 

I am absolutely up for trying a few make-at-home products, but so far, I haven't been able to prioritise the time, even though I know it doesn't take long! It's on my list, but using Bower Collective works for me for now.

Who is Bower Collective?

Bower Collective is UK-based and makes 90% of its products in the UK, unlike many brands, to further reduce its carbon emissions. It has created a range of refillable cleaning and household products to remove the need for single-use plastic around the house. From dishwashing to personal use products, it covers a huge range. 

Not only will Bower Collective help you reduce your carbon footprint and personal climate impact, but they can also save you time and energy!

A subscription service can send your household and cleaning products straight to your door, which is ideal if you're super busy like me!

When you have emptied the product bag into your re-useable container, you can put it into the prepaid envelope to send back to refill it. The envelope can take up to 10 packets, although 4 is the recommendation.

Of course, none of this matters unless the products work, right? I’m always a bit sceptical about non-toxic, eco-friendly products because I’ve tried things that haven’t worked in the past, which is infuriating. Not only that but we are conditioned to think that surfaces aren’t clean unless we use harsh chemicals on them!

Here's what I buy from Bower Collective

1. Limescale Remover (This is literally better than Viakal!)
2. Rinse Aid
3. Laundry Liquid and Fabric Softener (Fresh Linen and Orange Blossom)
4. Toilet Cleaner + Refill Bottle
5. Washing-up Liquid + Glass Dispenser Bottle (Dishwashing Starter Kit)

Initially, I bought the Bower Dishwashing Starter Kit because it came with a refillable glass dishwashing bottle dispenser. To be honest, if you want to do this and do a full eco swap, I recommend buying the starter kits for all or whichever areas you're interested in because they come with the refill bottles and other bits and bobs and include a bigger discount.

These products are so good; it's hard to believe they're eco. It all works; the Limescale Remover is better than Viakal and other Limescale Remover products I've used. The fragranced laundry liquid is the nicest smelling I've used; even the toilet cleaner works and isn't dangerous like bleach. 

I feel so much better using these products with a toddler in the house, and it's also better for me—I no longer have to breathe in toxic products when cleaning! 

If you love the sound of these fabulous, eco-friendly, toxic-free products, click here and use my code SPACE to get 15% off your entire order. This only works on one-off orders rather than subscriptions, but it's perfect if you want to try them out before committing to a subscription. 

How does it work?

Bower Collective products are all either plastic-free or arrive in refillable packaging. With every order, you receive a pre-paid card return envelope. When you have emptied your product into the refillable dispenser, you just pop the packaging with the caps on into the envelope and post it on your next walk! 

Ready to elevate your lifestyle with fabulous, eco-friendly, toxic-free products? Click here now and use code SPACE to unlock a special 15% discount on your entire order. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned eco-enthusiast, this offer is your ticket to a guilt-free shopping spree. 

I hope you and your family love it as much as I do!

Did you find this post useful? If so, please comment below to let me know!

Amy xx

-Your decluttering bestie

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[For total transparency, this blog post is not an ad. I am not working with the brand for this article, but Bower Collective previously gifted me a few products to try out, and the link is affiliated. I have since purchased the above-listed items myself, as I thoroughly believe in the products and the brand's ethos.]

* Some links above may be affiliate links, which means if I have inspired you to make a purchase and you choose to buy something through one of these links, I may receive a small commission by way of thanks from the brand for recommending their product to you. It makes no difference to you as a buyer; the price remains the same it is not increased, but I may receive a small compensation from the brand.