So this week's review is a deodorant from direct to consumer start-up brand Wild.
My problem with deodorants from the supermarket shelves are predominantly the packaging - single use plastics for roll-ons, or single use aerosols - typically not recyclable due to the multiple different components. They did the job though - and set a high bar being well formulated (chemicals fit for purpose, if not for the environment) to not mark shirts etc. But with over 250 million deodorants bought in the UK each year alone, and a typical plastic container lasting over 400 years in landfill, that's a big old unsustainable problem we need to tackle.
So as part of the general move to get rid of repeat purchase single-use packaging products (even those that are recyclable), we started looking around for some options.
There's quite a few options on the market now, but here's a couple of others that caught our eye when searching that looked like good options - but not tested, so no opinion on the product:
> Ku.tis - small batch, natural deodorant, made in Wales, card packaging and vegan
> Earth Conscious - plastic free as well, "no nasties", made in the Isle of Wight
Why did we go with Wild for the first test?
1. It's completely plastic free - the reusable container is aluminium, and the refills are bamboo.
2. The bamboo refill cartridge is compostable and degradable. We put them in Betsy, our trusty composter for the garden, but it can also go in food waste collection.
3. It's unisex - although some of the lines are more floral, some citrus and others more herbal, so you pick what you like.
4. No parabens - so removing some of the less sustainable parts of the ingredient base
5. Ease - the subscription model means that refills arrive, you can adjust how long between deliveries, but the case you use again and again. Packaging is minimal and all recyclable / compostable.
Are there any downsides?
Sure, it's not perfect (but it's pretty darn good!). A few points:
1. The direct to consumer subscription service won't appeal to everyone, and the extra packaging that this can generate might be a slight downside to the the products' life cycle.
2. The formula can leave a residue which can build up on clothes - this will come out in the wash with a pre-soak/direct application of your laundry liquid to the affected area every few cycles.
3. The refill cartridges do have some use left in them which is left on the stub, so can be wasted or used when taken out of the aluminium case.
Overall
But so far - now about six months in, we're both converted. One of the best environmentally friendly products we tested so far - the thought put into the design, the inputs and endpoints of the product is clear. LOVE. We may not test anything else in this category!
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