Before we dive into ways to make your life more sustainable, let's kindly remember that sustainability, for many, is a privilege. Unfortunately, a lot of it comes down to cost. With that being said, we'll share some tips on how to be sustainable, without spending a fortune, along with discount codes and features of some amazing companies who are working to reduce waste for our planet and at an affordable cost.
A DAY IN THE SUN
Some of our favorite products that are reusable, made out of recycled materials, or hold eco-conscious ingredients for spending a day in the sun:
Project Kolika Buffs
Our very own Project Kolika Bull Shark Buffs are reusable and breathable. Able to shield you from the sun and wind, they make the perfect alternative to using sunscreen if spending the day on a boat or even working outdoors. You can even use it as a face mask (Tip: use outdoors while still keeping your distance from the public). Double up with another reusable, thicker face mask when being inside a building, saving sea birds and other marine life
from getting entangled in disposable masks. They can even be used underwater to
keep strands of hair out of your face and dive mask. All proceeds from purchasing a Bull Shark Buff helps support our research and conservation efforts.
Soular Organics Sunscreen
Soular Organics' sunscreens are reef-safe, organic, vegan, and eco-friendly. Containing non-nano zinc oxide as it's main UV fighting ingredient, it does not bring harm to corals! "Non-nano" is the particle size of the zinc, meaning it is large enough to not be able to get absorbed by coral polyps, thus not harming coral reefs. Our team of marine biologists and conservationists approve!
It's got organic adaptogens (non-toxic substances that help the body adapt to stressors whether chemical, biological, or physical), such as maca root powder and chaga mushroom powder. Chaga mushroom has the highest melanin content on the planet; Melanin allows our skin get darker when exposed to UV rays. With an ingredient like chaga mushroom full of melanin, the sunscreen protects you from harmful UV rays.
Not only are the ingredients incredibly safe and natural for your body and the environment, the sunscreen packaging is too! You can choose from cardboard packaging or reusable plastic packaging. We only recommend getting the plastic packaging if you are in the water and can't get back to shore easily to reapply sunscreen. That being said, you could reuse the plastic packaging to make homemade lip balms using beeswax (or a vegan alternative) and cocoa butter as a base! Safe for the whole family to use. Shop here: https://www.soularorganics.com/shop, use code "CASSIE" for 25% off!
Sustainability Tip: To make your sunscreen last, only use it on the parts of your body that are most exposed (i.e. your face). Use a rashguard, wetsuit, or old t-shirt to protect your body from the sun's rays.
Soulti
Soulti is our favorite and highly recommended swimsuit brand. Using recycled nylon, made out of recycled fishing nets, it helps clean up our oceans and reduce fashion waste. We thought this photo above was so fitting, as we found a discarded fishing lure and massive wad of fishing line right next to a group of California Sea Lion pups. We made sure to remove it from the ocean, as we see many of our local sea lions with monofilament scars and entanglements. Fishing line can take over 600 years before it degrades from the environment, making this swimwear brand a solution for discarded fishing nets/line.
Soulti's surf suits are not only amazing at staying put while surfing, but even while you're twirling a bunch of sea pups! A favorite brand amongst our team of freedivers. Additionally, their two piece swimsuits are reversible, giving you two bikinis in one, saving you space in your closet and from having to buy another swimsuit.
Onezie featured in photos: Ginger Rose.
Buy yours here: https://www.soultisurf.com/
Photos taken by Trystan Snodgrass.
BATHROOM ESSENTIALS
Alpine Provisions
Alpine Provisions, a castile soap company, is by far our favorite natural soap we have ever tried. Not only is not a lot needed to get those suds going, but it also comes in plastic free packaging options, such as paper for bars of soap or aluminum bottles for their body wash. Bringing you organic, affordable, and sustainable products is Joshua Scott Onysko's (the founder) wish.
Did you know? Natural soaps, such as these, start to biodegrade within 48 hours, while synthetic soaps take up to 50 years to break down... Yuck! Their soaps are sustainably produced and distributed, so it's good for your body and the planet.
Their aluminum bottles are fully recyclable too. While plastic pollution kills over 1 million marine animals per year, aluminum can be recycled an infinite number of times. You can even repurpose your aluminum bottle to drink out of, just make sure to thoroughly wash it beforehand.
Use code to shop: Kolika25 for 25% off your purchase, code expires 12/31/2020. https://alpineprovisionsco.com/
Bite
"Because it's the earth" is a very fitting slogan by the toothpaste bit company, Bite. Being cruelty free, plastic free, and made out of clean ingredients, get ready to take your teeth-brushing routine to the next sustainable level. Their toothpaste and mouthwash bits are so simple to use: just bite and wet your toothbrush, or add water, respectively. They come in refillable glass jars and their refill packets and floss are compostable! They have a variety of products to choose from for your oral hygiene, so go check them out: https://bitetoothpastebits.com/.
Featured in this photo is their Mint Charcoal 4 month supply toothpaste bits, Fresh Mint mouthwash bits and pocket-friendly tin, and Floss.
Sustainability Tip: You can even make your own toothpaste with 2-3 ingredients in a small, clean, reusable tin (i.e. a cleaned out, small skin care jar):
2 tbsp. coconut oil
2 tbsp. baking soda
2-3 drops of peppermint/mint essential oil (optional)
Coconut oil holds antimicrobial properties and whitens teeth! Just make sure it's sustainably sourced coconut oil, as coconut oil can be as damaging to the environment as palm oil.
Project Kolika wishes to thank all of the companies featured in this post for your support! Thank you for creating products that are sustainable and setting a good example for other companies to be more eco-conscious.