ASSESSMENT AS OF: JANUARY 2024
HOW TO GET STARTED
Go with good old cotton when it comes to bath mats. Many modern bath mats are made of microplastics. When washed, these microplastics get released and easily make their way into the water supply. All cotton bath mats are easy to wash, feel great underfoot, and are extremely practical. Use two with one on top of the other for extra absorption. 100% looks great and never goes out of style. Cotton is a thirsty crop, but it's an ideal option over microplastic-laden microfiber mats.
EMBRACE
The military or women's hat-making industry led to the wholesale slaughter of America's only native parakeet - the Carolina Parakeet. The insatiable desire for colorful feathers resulted in these beautiful birds being massacred en masse.
AVOID PRODUCT TYPE
AVOID
Our clothes are pulling the oceans with microplastics. When we wash microfiber fabrics and fleeces, small plastic particles are shed and make their way into our waterways and oceans. These include polyester garments and polyester blend garments.
Source: https://www.oceancleanwash.org/#:~:text=These%20tiny%20pieces%2C%20called%20microfibers,the%20degradation%20of%20large%20plastic.
Overall Sustainability Score - 85 / 100
Score Breakdown
Manufacturing (Score - 5/10) -
The product is made overseas far from its target market.
Distribution (Score - 5/10) -
Product is distributed from overseas far from its target market.
Cost (Score - 10/10) - Good relative price-performance.
Packaging (Score - 10/10) - Uses some plastic packaging.
Effectiveness (Score - 10/10) - Does not have great anti-slip properties but has good absorbency.
Lifespan (Score - 8/10) - Has the life space of a typical towel of several years.
Fun (Score - 8/10) - Natural cotton feels good underfoot.
Relevance (Score - 9/10) - Good fit for purpose product.
Disposal (Score - 10/10) - Cotton does not emit microplastics and can be composted.
Recycling (Score - 10/10) - Cotton cannot be indefinitely recycled without some degradation in quality. However, it can be composted.
