Seemed Like a Good Idea...

First, we'll tell the good story and give praise. Then, we shall discuss why it's still a bunch of horse-pucky.

"The story of the handle: 1. From plastic hangers. 2. To 100% recycled plastic. 3. To Xtreme3 Eco Handle.

"Schick Xtreme 3 Eco helps keep plastic waste out of the landfill by using 100% recycled plastic in the production of the razor handles. In addition, the package is made with 100% post-consumer recycled paper. It is still the same great shave for your skin, but now better for the environment. Aloe & Vitamin E; Flexible 3 Blades. Great for Your Skin; Better for the Environment; 100% Recycled Handle."

Great, right? Stop for a moment, and think about it. Plastic can only be recycled - actually downcycled - maybe once before nothing more can be done with it. Compare that to metals and glass which can endlessly be recycled into something equal. So, this "recycled" handle is now no longer able to be anything else after this, and so shall end up right where those plastic hangers would be anyway. Is that an improvement, or just a delaying tactic of the same result? Of course it's good if you buy these instead of their other lines with brand new plastic handles... oh... wait... so they are still making their other razor products with "virgin" plastic handles? Why, yes, yes they are. So all that plastic is still getting put out there in the world? Why, yes, yes it is. If they care so much, shouldn't they try to make ALL handles of all their products from plastic hangers? Hmm. Well, THAT would seem like progress. This? This is just a shallow effort to get some greenwashing money to try to make people think they are doing something green and great. 

There's no reason to continually use disposable razors. None. Even if you are using one with the little changeable heads, sure that's plastic, but it's a lot LESS. I have been using the same handle for the better part of a decade, and I use the heads way longer than a few weeks, because they are still good for a lot longer than the manufacturers say they are. Of course they are. Of course they just want you to buy more, more quickly. Not necessary. Someday, I will graduate back to a metal handle and real blades. Someday. 

What's even funnier is that when I was researching Schick and these greenwashed garbages, I came across another wonderful product they have: Xtreme3 with "SCENTED HANDLES." Yes, Hawaiian Tropic scented handles.

Um.... WHY???? Sigh. There is no hope.

Good Rule of Thumb: if "disposable" is in the name....

DON'T use it!!!

There are obvious exceptions that we can't avoid. But we're intelligent people, and I'll not dwell on those things. I'm talking more things that we use for the supposed convenience, when really, the non-throw-away alternative is not so terribly un-convenient. There are things that are made to be disposable, but when you have a non-disposable alternative, why not use that instead?

The main things that come to mind are disposable razors. Why use these? Because they are cheap? I know razor refills are pricey, but if you break it down, they last a lot longer than the cheap-o plastic things. I'm Italian, therefore I am hairy, and Italian hair ain't no fuzzy soft downy stuff. It's resistant. But I can make that razor head last a LONG time with no major blood-lets. And I use coupons and I stock up when they are on sale. Heck, you can buy them on eBay at a reduced price. Disposable razors are a very big waste of plastic, and they are not needed. Stick to the much much smaller bit of waste in the razors with replaceable heads. 

Forks, knives, spoons? Easy to avoid. ESPECIALLY in the home. For outdoor activities, get bamboo utensils or hit the thrift store and get a set you won't care about if any gets lost. I can't quite recommend the compostable ones, unless you are a really good composter. They resemble plastic too much and they get in the recycling, and we're not good at dealing with that yet. Better to reuse a set from the thrift store, for sure. Those were already made!

Paper napkins? Cloth instead. Kleenex? Hankies instead. Paper towels? Real towels and rags instead. Paper plates? Covered that last time. Dixie cups in the bathroom? Unnecessary. Wash a reusable one. Plastic wrap? Foil instead. Or containers. 

There are SO many ways we can save resources. Easing away (or going cold turkey) on disposable stuff would be such a giant help... let's try it. Let's all work on consuming less of everything. We'll be healthier, and the planet will be healthier, and that will make us healthier... it's a perfect circle.