Sustainability Initiatives at SCSC
Climate crisis is in the news, in our halls of government (or not, as the case may be), and at the forefront of our collective minds. While I could wax poetic on policy, corporate responsibility, and global actions needed, that’s not really what this post is about.
It’s so easy to feel that our individual actions don’t matter, that we are insignificant in the greater world, but there are 7 billion of us here on Earth, so what one person does, that they share with a friend, who shares with a friend… we DO have an impact, and our actions, taken collectively, can make real change. If you haven’t read The Compound Effect, I highly recommend it. Small, daily actions, taken on with consistency, can and do change the world.
Remember that scene from Finding Nemo? All of the fish swimming down? That’s what we need now. So here’s what I’m doing for my part, and how you are helping me:
- Sustainably-sourced Palm Oil
- Reusable packaging and containers
- Renewable energy
- Carbon offsets for shipping provided by Etsy
Palm Oil: My first awareness of environmental decision making was dolphin-safe tuna in the 80s and 90s. I remember imploring my parents to chose the dolphin-safe brand, even if it was a little more expensive. Palm oil has similarities to tuna of yore; these Palm trees are in orangutan habitat , and when clear cut for palm oil, the environmental impact on this already endangered species is grave.
I’ve therefore made the decision to ensure that any and all Palm Oil I use is sustainably sourced. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certifies companies who are not engaging in deforestation and habitat destruction.
You may ask why Palm Oil is needed? Palm oil makes your bar of soap hard and long lasting. There are other oils (lard and tallow are common substitutes) that can create a hard bar, but when I look at cost to source RSPO palm versus ethically grown and slaughtered pork or beef, the calculation of cost, product quality, and impact weighs towards RSPO palm for the majority of my products.
Packaging: Shaven Crown Soap Co aims to use packaging and container materials that are either recycled, recyclable, re-used, or reusable. You’ll see that the label bands on our body soaps are a brown paper – it’s actually strips of the packaging material that my raw oils and fragrances are shipped to me in. I have been collecting boxes that items are shipped to me in, to reduce the number of shipping boxes I am purchasing. Packaging that I do purchase is either recycled, eco-certified or eco-conscious rated. All materials can be recycled.
Our lotion and lip balm tins are also re-usable, either for other uses once you’ve used your product, or, you can return your empty containers to me for a custom refill!
I am constantly looking for better options (currently on the hunt for a label sheet with recyclable backing paper…), but as a paramedic, I specialize in better, not perfect. It’s important to constantly evolve and look for better options, while not allowing the hunt for perfect to get in the way of good.
Energy: Shaven Crown Soap Co uses renewable Solar Energy! Our entire property is off the electrical grid and using solar.
Carbon Off-sets: Etsy, the platform I am currently doing commerce through, off-sets 100% of the carbon footprint caused by shipping. When I do move to my own website commerce, this is an initiative I plan to continue on my own.
So there it is! I’m excited to hear what you think of these, suggestions you may have, and what small actionable items you’ve incorporated into your own life to make a positive impact on the world around you.