|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bluedot Living’s BuyBetter Marketplace newsletter includes affiliate links, including to Amazon. If you purchase a product through one of our links, we may earn a commission. These commissions help us fund the great journalism that you see on Bluedot. Thank you for supporting us! |
|
|
|
Dear Readers,
I recently looked over a list of topics I’ve tackled over the past two and a half years in the BuyBetter newsletter — swimwear and beach gear, vegan leather, laundry, tech, and more — and I noticed one glaring omission. In all this time, I’ve never devoted a newsletter to sustainable swaps: one focused entirely on how to replace single- and short-term use items with products that will last a long time or dramatically reduce waste. While that topic, arguably, drives this newsletter overall, I decided that now’s the time to zoom in, because it’s Plastic-Free July.
|
 |
|
“You can’t with sit us — unless you bring your own reusable cup.”
– What we wish The Plastics had said in 2004’s Mean Girls. (Alamy Stock Photo) |
|
This influential global movement began in 2011 in Perth, Australia, where it was spearheaded by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and the Plastic Free Foundation. What started as a local initiative has since grown into one of the world’s most influential environmental campaigns, with an amazing 174 million people participating last July. Plastic Free July’s 2023 Impact Report states that 87% of participants made at least one lasting change, and that over the last five years, participants on average avoided 18 kilos (nearly 40 pounds) of household waste and recycling each year. That adds up to a staggering 1.4 billion pounds of plastic avoided overall. Amazing, right?
The challenge is simple: for one month, reduce your reliance on single-use plastics and explore reusable or package-free alternatives. You can choose to tackle a single issue, like always keeping a stainless steel water bottle with you, or bringing your own reusable produce bags to the grocery store. Or, you can try to introduce some new habits that also support your community, like shopping at the farmers market or at a local package-free store.
So, are you ready to quit cling wrap, ditch heavy detergent bottles, and even rethink your underpants? You're in the right place.
Wishing you a lovely July and happy shopping,
– Elizabeth Weinstein, Marketplace Editor
P.S. Amazon Prime Day begins on Tuesday and runs through Friday, July 11. If you're a Prime member, check out Bluedot Living's new Amazon storefront! It's a great place to find our favorite books, cookbooks, pantry staples, kitchen tools, and more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid Advertisement with Money |
Private loans can bridge federal funding gaps |
 |
|
Don't let them fall short. By this time of year, most students already have their college plans sorted out for the Fall semester - but figuring out how to pay for it can be a big question mark. If their federal aid package doesn't cover everything, a private student loan may fill the gap. College Ave makes it easy with a 3-minute application process, flexible loan options, and great customer service. Plus, their loans cover 100% of school costs* and don't have origination fees! |
| SEE STUDENT LOANS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zero Waste Essentials
|
|
Zero Waste Store is one of our top stops for sustainable goods of all kinds. Their house brand, Zero Waste Essentials, makes all kinds of swaps for everyday use. We love this Agave Soap Saver Bag, which is a great sub for plastic loofahs, and these mesh and muslin bags that will help you eliminate your use of produce-aisle plastic. Save 20% with code BLUEDOT. Read our review. |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
Meow Meow Tweet
|
|
If you’d like to smell good (or not smell bad) and avoid virgin plastic, Meow Meow Tweet has the answer. This Brooklyn-born, queer-owned brand was the first to start selling waste-free deodorant in backyard-compostable tubes. All of the effective skin, hair, and body items are made in California in small batches. Read our review. |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
Friendsheep Dryer Balls
|
|
Friendsheep’s Eco Dryer Balls are a great alternative to plasticky, chemical-laden Dryer Sheets. The company employs disabled and disadvantaged Nepalese women, offering them fair wages, medical care, and education. Each set can replace up to 1000 dryer sheets, at which point you can compost the balls (or give them to your dog). Save 10% with code BLUEDOT. Read our review. |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
Bee’s Wrap
|
|
Bee’s Wrap is an all-natural, zero-waste alternative to plastic cling film. Using the warmth of your hands, you can shape these beeswax-coated, organic cotton sheets around any item you’d like to cover. We like to use Bee’s Wrap to store cheese, cover bowls or stand in for lost lids, and wrap up lemon and onion halves. It’s easy to wash and the cheerful patterns look nice in the kitchen. Read our review. |
| SHOP ON AMAZON |
|
|
|
Kooshoo Hair Ties
|
|
If you’ve ever felt guilty about tossing a stretched-out hair tie in the trash, Kooshoo has your solution. Founded in 2010 by a forward-thinking husband-and-wife duo, this brand created the world’s first biodegradable hair ties. Long-lasting, stylish, and snag-free, these ethically made natural rubber and organic cotton hair ties are an effortless sustainable swap to add to your routine. Read our review. |
| SHOP ON AMAZON |
|
|
|
Dirty Labs Laundry and Home
|
|
Laundry and dish pods and laundry sheets use a plastic polymer called polyvinyl alcohol that sheds microplastics directly into waterways during washing. Yikes! Try Dirty Labs’ incredibly effective, bio-based, enzyme-powered, plastic-free detergents instead. Save 15% on your first purchase with code BLUEDOT. Read our review. |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
Ethique Solid Hair Care
|
|
Bluedot editor favorite Ethique makes shampoo and conditioner bars for all hair types. Each bar can replace four standard bottles, and the Aussie brand has helped consumers save over 40 million bottles since its founding in 2012. Mini sizes make choosing the right bar for you easy. The crescent-shaped shampoo bars feel wonderful against the scalp, and it only takes a couple of washes to get used to the new method. Read our review. |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
Kent Super Natural Basics
|
|
Almost all the undies on the market contain fossil-fuel based materials like spandex or polyester for stretch. Kent makes super-comfortable underwear, boxers, bras, and tees for men and women using organic cotton and a small amount of bio-based elastic from trees. You can actually “plant your pants” when your underwear eventually wear out: They’ll compost at home in about 90 days! Save 15% with code BLUEDOT. Read our review. |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
|
|
Paid Advertisement with Option Pit |
Make Profits from Market Pullbacks—Even When the Market is in Chaos
|
 |
|
The market experiences 10% pullbacks regularly, and for many investors, it’s a stressful time. But did you know that you can actually make money during these market corrections? Mark Sebastian shares his powerful strategies for thriving in a volatile market with his Weekly Profit Cycles system, designed to help you navigate market uncertainty and turn fear into a tool for consistent profits.
Instead of watching your portfolio take a hit, you can learn to leverage market pullbacks for potential gains. Bluedot Living readers can use this exclusive link to discover Mark’s proven strategies. Don’t wait for the market to turn in your favor—take control now.
|
| Learn How to Profit from Market Pullbacks Today |
|
|
|
|
|
5 Must-Try Clean Skincare Brands With Sustainable Packaging
|
 |
|
When shopping for sustainable skincare, it can be overwhelming to sort through all the buzzwords to find quality products that will keep your skin and the planet happy. We want our skin to feel fresh, clean, firm, hydrated, and protected. We want to use products with effective, non-toxic, clean ingredients. We want these products to come in packaging that fits into our low-waste lifestyles. And, we want to support companies with values that align with our own. Is all of that too much to ask?!
The Bluedot Living Marketplace is here to help! We’ve put together this list of five of our favorite clean beauty brands who stand out in the crowd for their thoughtful approaches to crafting eco-conscious products.
Click to learn more about five of our fave skincare brands.
|
|
|
|
|
Paid Advertisement with NativePath |
What Collagen Companies Don't Want Seniors to Know |
 |
|
Why do some people see amazing results with collagen while others notice nothing at all? The answer isn't in your age or biology – it's hidden in the supplement label. Most consumers over 50 are missing 5 crucial signs that reveal whether their collagen supplement is the real deal or just expensive protein powder. Before you spend another dollar on collagen, discover what leading researchers say you must look for. This could be the most important label-reading lesson you'll ever get. |
| Learn More |
|
|
|
|
|
Deep in the woods of Catskill, New York, some 120 miles north of Manhattan and 15 miles east of Kaaterskill (one of the tallest waterfalls in the eastern United States), lies a quaint little village. Like any good town, it contains a library, a chapel, and some houses. There are unconventional attractions, too: The Archive of Lost Thought stands not far from a building known as the Fun Palace, to name but two. Visitors can go from the archive and the palace to the local sauna and even the Whiskey Still!
Just a typical, quirky town.
Except it is built entirely from trash.
The village — or you might call it a project — is known as b-home, and it’s the brainchild of Matt Bua, an artist and “intuitive builder,” who has been toiling away at the land for nearly 20 years, alongside a ragtag band of fellow creatives.
The 26-acre property and nearly five dozen complex structures on it can now be yours for $215,000.
Interested in learning about the b-home and maybe even buying it? Click for more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid Advertisement with Option Pit |
Make Profits from Market Pullbacks—Even When the Market is in Chaos
|
|
|
The market experiences 10% pullbacks regularly, and for many investors, it’s a stressful time. But did you know that you can actually make money during these market corrections? Mark Sebastian shares his powerful strategies for thriving in a volatile market with his Weekly Profit Cycles system, designed to help you navigate market uncertainty and turn fear into a tool for consistent profits.
Instead of watching your portfolio take a hit, you can learn to leverage market pullbacks for potential gains. Bluedot Living readers can use this exclusive link to discover Mark’s proven strategies. Don’t wait for the market to turn in your favor—take control now.
|
| Learn How to Profit from Market Pullbacks Today |
|
|
|
|
|
Want to get in touch? I’d love to hear from you. Tell me about your favorite sustainable products, topics you’d like to see covered, or anything else that’s on your mind — email marketplace@bluedotliving.com.
I’ll see you again in two weeks.
– Elizabeth |
|
Elizabeth Weinstein, Bluedot’s Marketplace Editor, lives in Manhattan with her husband; her papillon, Finley; and her cats, SanDeE* and Modell. When she’s not asking the folks at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom to try on all of their sustainable sneakers in a size 9½, she can be found at the Union Square Greenmarket or gardening on her rooftop terrace. |
|
|
|
Our audience is informed, intentional, and tuned in to sustainable living. Reach our 300,000 readers by advertising here, or contact adsales@bluedotliving.com to reserve your space. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
