Give Dry A Try in 2024
Give Dry a Try in 2024
We started our ‘Give Dry a Try’ campaign in January – but not for the reason you might be thinking – though that’s an excellent idea as well!
From January 27th, the Sussex Green Hub our once a month event is encouraging all to ‘Give Dry a Try ‘ by offering concentrated water-free household cleaning and personal hygiene products, which can then have water added at home.
The photo to the left is one of our volunteers Marilyn showing the bottle she has been refilling for five years, she is now ditching liquid refills and switching to give ‘Dry a Try’!
Why the shift to a dry approach? Well, it’s all about cutting down on the energy-costly transportation of liquids and minimising the use of plastics, even when it comes to refills. Yes, we know refills are a big step in the right direction, but they still involve moving liquid which is heavy and bulky to carry compared to concentrates.
Concentrated products typically come in smaller, lighter, often cardboard packaging, reducing their overall carbon emissions. This means fewer trucks on the road and a lighter load on our planet. We can say goodbye to bulky bottles taking up precious space under the bathroom sink or in the kitchen cupboards.
One size doesn’t fit all, and with concentrated products we can customise the dilution to fit our needs. Want a stronger cleaning solution? Add less water. Prefer a milder shampoo? Dilute it a bit more. It’s like having a tailor-made product just for you!
Concentrated products may be more cost-effective in the long run too, although the initial price might seem higher, they can last longer so we end up saving in the long term.
We’re coming full circle:- liquid soap pumps and bottles have been super easy to use and refills clearly save plastic – but hand soap, shower gel, hair conditioner, shampoo, cleaning products and even powdered oat m*lk can easily be made up at home.
We’ve been so focussed on labour-saving products that now, ironically, we need to use our precious saved time and hard-earned cash on finding ways to use our bodies! A friend does squats when cleaning the shower screen, or what about channelling your inner dancer by donning a leotard for some cleaning glam? Who knew being an eco-warrior could double up as a fitness routine! We can build in ways to use our bodies more and (back to Dry January)…maybe being kind to our bodies might involve shelving the booze…although as I said last week, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing…so maybe let’s just call it ‘Damp January’ and slowly start transitioning to using boxed not bottled refills.
Enough of my soapbox!
It’s time to stop pontificating and start doing. Whether you’re mixing up concentrated cleaning potions or perfecting your squats, let’s make this Dry January and beyond an epic journey towards a cleaner, greener lifestyle.
So, who’s up for the challenge? Let’s raise a glass (of water, of course) to a planet-friendly, body-loving Dry 2024 like never before! Cheers to cleaner homes, healthier bodies, and a happier planet!
We will be planning some workshops with local eco companies like Green Boutique at the Sussex Green Hub (last Saturday of every month in the United Reformed Church in Horsham, so sign up to our newsletter and keep an eye in the social media – Facebook and Instagram for dates. Come and have a go at our ‘Switch & Ditch’ game/display and learn about how we can make better shopping choices which will save money and help the planet.
By Morag Warrack
