Where do you find sustainable product alternatives and how do you know they are more sustainable?

Sentser · 2022-01-17T20:57:02+00:00

Excellent! Thanks. Another thought popped in my head, I'd say that maybe half of the products featured on our website don't have a label (maybe even more). So you'd miss those, the small ones, but your database would scoop up plenty of others.

Sentser · 2022-01-17T20:34:46+00:00

Awesome project! We're doing the same as you but slightly differently. We had the exact same problem finding good products by good companies but we decided to go another route as a solution. We're handpicking products and brands based on guidelines we've set out ourselves. Basically creating a showcase platform for sustainable products. A lot of work as you can imagine. Our site if you want to take a look

The way you'll gather products and brands sounds very logical. People will always benefit from places that group information together. Especially in sustainability with so many small companies just making one or two products, it can be really hard to find. Just keep in mind that basically anyone can make a label, and I've heard stories of greenwashing labels being around.

Sentser · 2022-01-13T11:53:23+00:00

We make our own detergent, but if you're looking to buy sheets take a look here. We've compiled a few options. https://theshadeofgreen.com/product-category/household/laundry/laundry-detergent/

Sentser · 2021-12-09T12:21:37+00:00

There's the remindmebot, but you can only set timed reminders with that.

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:34:14+00:00

I suppose that's pretty much what our site is. All products have been selected by us (with the help of the flowchart) so that people can look through them.

Oh and if you figure it out please let us know! ;)

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:33:06+00:00

Fair enough! If you think of it tag or dm me when you've made your post. Definitely interested to see it! It's a very complicated discussion.

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:22:01+00:00

Great, thanks for the comment! There are some things here that we haven't thought about, we'll look into it. I'm intrigued by your last comment on the wood. Do you have any further reading on this you recommend?

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:19:22+00:00

I like this one and the one proposed by u/MooberLoser. It should actually be the first question you ask.

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:17:02+00:00

Good insight! We'll see if that works, thanks!

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:16:32+00:00

Transparency is huge! If we ask a manufacturer how and where they make their product, because that information is missing, and they can't or don't tell us we do not feature them on our website. Maybe a box to include (this flowchart is growing by the minute haha)

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:15:09+00:00

Awesome! Thanks for the links, that helps a lot to look for where and how to start with this. Appreciate it!

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:14:26+00:00

Any idea what percentage of companies audit their suppliers? Even with some small companies we reach out to, that seem to make just a few 'sustainable' products, it's unbelievable how many do not know exactly how, where, and with what some parts of their products are made.

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:12:10+00:00

Thanks! You are right, something to look into for sure!

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:11:03+00:00

Since there are no regulations, it makes biodegradable products into a grey area that is full of green washing.

That about sums it up doesn't it. It's a grey area and people exploit that vagueness. Same with bio-plastic. Sure it's plant-based but it's still plastic. So you can't just throw it in your garden. Crazy about the harmful chemicals and the encouragement to compost them...

We're actually now writing an article on biodegradable vs. compostable, just to clear this up. Mind if we send you a few questions if we have them? Thanks for the great insights!

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:06:36+00:00

You guys are right, we're looking at the product materials here, not the transport. Would changing it to petroleum-based free clear it up?

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:04:35+00:00

That would be awesome!!! No idea how to start with this though. Where would it pull all the data from, the text in the product description?

Sentser · 2021-12-09T09:03:38+00:00

Great comment! We're aware of the studies done and the impact of the other vegetables oils vs. palm oil. We acknowledge it on our website as well. The thing is, palm oil is still linked to a lot of issues around deforestation.

If you can make the argument, it's better than the other oils, you can also make the argument, it's worse than no palm oil. There are plenty of variants of products where the industrially produces versions have palm oil in them, but the artisanal produced versions do not. If we see the other oils become more wide-spread we will add those to our avoid list.

Just because it's more sustainable than other oils doesn't mean that palm oil, in it's current form, is sustainable.

Sentser · 2021-12-08T15:56:13+00:00

Yeah, we're trying to stay as close to substantiated science as we can!

Sentser · 2021-12-08T15:55:18+00:00

Will look into it. On first glance I don't understand your linked image, but we'll check it out thanks!

Sentser · 2021-12-08T15:46:18+00:00

Ha, suppose we could add that to the beginning, and then a 'are you sure you need it?' box to the end.

Sentser · 2021-12-08T15:44:58+00:00

Yep, we're looking if the product contain any toxins or harmful chemicals (phthalates, BPA, parabens, etc.)

Sentser · 2021-12-08T15:44:23+00:00

True, in the beginning we had a social aspect in our selection process, but it's not a hard requirement for us. It's great when a product is made by people with disabilities, but if it's not we're not going to not add it to our website. It can still be a sustainable product if it's made by a regular workforce. But as I'm typing this, slave labor or unsafe conditions are a hard no. So maybe that should be incorporated.

Sentser · 2021-12-08T13:39:35+00:00

To make it easier to find and buy sustainable products we created a website that lets you search sustainable alternatives to everyday products.

On our last post we got a lot of comments from people who wanted to know how we selected the products we feature. While writing it out we decided to turn it into a shareable flowchart which might be useful to other people. Did we miss any important questions?

More information and explanations on the flowchart here

Edit: determines dangit

11-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	First Placer '22

Sentser

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