Defend The Eco-Trend: Closed Loop Consumption

Is the future refillable? When we look at the history of plastics, it's disheartening to realize that only 9% of all plastics ever created have been recycled. Another 12% has been incinerated; a whopping 79%, then, has accumulated in landfills and nature. That's right: your Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker tube circa 1995 is quite likely still somewhere on this planet.  Refillable products (like ice cream in stainless steel jars and shampoo bottles refilled in-store) aren't new. But while most people say they want eco-friendly product options, their purchasing behaviors sing a different tune. Consumers tend to prioritize convenience over eco-friendliness, time and time again. Today I speak with Izzy Zero Waste Beauty founder Shannon Goldberg about closed loop consumption. Is packaging the problem, or does the problem lie within our consumption? Here's a preview: [6:00] 2 major barriers to mainstream refillables [11:00] Do refillable products *actually* make a dent in our trash production? What about our oversized environmental woes? [15:00] Refillable products and next-level greenwashing: Why we must expand our collective definition of waste to account for excess carbon emissions from sending back our products [20:00] Are refillable options sanitary in a post-COVID world? Resources mentioned: Loop global reuse platform Use code IZZYF20 at yourizzy.com for 20% off (Thanks, Shannon!) -- Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free Better Help: Visit betterhelp.com/sustainable for 10% off your first month Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content