Biodegradability

Bio-what? A product that is biodegradable is something that can overtime break down (degrade) back into it’s original components by natural, (bio)logical organisms, environments, or processes; thus, (bio)(degrade). So why is it important to know this? Today, so much of our life consists of day-to-day products that make our lives easier. Things like plastic bags and plastic bottles, phones, tires… we might use all of these products daily. But what happens when we’re done with them? Unfortunately, many of these products use materials that don’t naturally come from the Earth. And since they can’t degrade back into the Earth, they end up in landfills or are burned into air pollution.

So what can we do to help? We can’t make every single item a biodegradable product. However, there are many simple, daily things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint on this planet that we get to call home.

Be a Smart Waster

There are a ton of things that we waste or throw away each day, but we can make a significant impact just by being a little bit smarter and more aware of what we throw away! Here are some ways to waste smarter:

Learn to Recycle/Upcycle! While some plastics and cardboard are not biodegradable, they are reused and recycled to create a whole new product. From jewelry, decorations, and bags, these products can live multiple lifetimes as new, amazing things without having to sit in a landfill and further harm our planet.

Compost, Compost, Compost! All food is biodegradable. But depending on the food, it can take anywhere from one month to multiple years before the food is completely decomposed again. So rather than waiting all that time for it to degrade inside of a landfill where it will do no good, choose to compost it instead! Composting turns your green food waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer and soil treatment that goes back into the Earth and helps to grow new food. Ask your local garbage company for a compost bin, or start at home using this guide to composting.

Use Safe Products!

From home cleaning and soap products to cosmetic and hair care items, so many everyday products contain an array of chemicals in them. These chemicals can not only damage your skin upon contact, but they then wash off into our water streams and pollute the waterways. Be wary though of products that say “organic”, or “natural”, as they can be misleading. Rather, look at the ingredients and look for the labels with ingredients that you know and can pronounce.

Here at Morrocco Method, all our ingredients are all natural, plant-based, and chemical free, making sure we get a good clean for our hair AND our environment. For example, our Feng Shea Facial scrub is made with walnut shells, a natural exfoliate that helps protects lakes and rivers from plastic microbeads, which have become common in many exfoliating products.

Built to Last

Apart from our waste, there are other, practical ways to further decrease hurting our planet (and our wallets).

Grocery Bags. Nowadays, most grocery stores seem to be charging money for the use of a plastic or paper bag. Ranging from 5 cents to 25 cents around the United States, the average consumer spends roughly $20-$50 a year on “free” grocery bags alone! Instead, why not buy a reusable grocery tote made from recycled materials? Not only is it a one-time fee to save you money, but you help the environment out too!

Utensils. It’s so easy to use paper plates, plastic utensils, and paper napkins. But did you know that paper and cardboard make up close to A THIRD of all U.S. landfill? Make the transition to sturdy, reusable clay plates and drink out of a glass cup. Opt for a cloth napkin over the paper towel to wipe your hands and face. These can be used over and over again, rather than the one-and-done products.

Help the Planet, Help Yourself

Being environmentally aware does not have to come at a sacrifice to your lifestyle. You can invest in biodegradable, recyclable, and safe products and yet make minimal change to your lifestyle. In fact, over time, this way of life gets you more money in the pocket! We hope to be a part of the movement people are taking to make caring for our Earth the norm. We all have an impact with every decision we make, so let’s make our impact count!