Students from around the world calculated their class mean and standard deviations for their footprints and posted them on our world map.
Do you see differences across the globe? If so, why do you think those differences exist?
Did you use the calculator to try to reduce your footprint down to the average from a citizen of another country? What changes would you have to make to lower your footprint in this way? Are you going to try and take some of these actions in your daily life?
Student Footprints >
Waste with Hygiene Products
Many people have developed extensive personal hygiene routines, especially with modern-day products and skills, people have invested time and money into self-care routines. There is nothing innately wrong with self-care and personal hygiene, it is definitely a positive of modern-day society; the problem with these routines is the waste associated with single-use products and packaging. Items such as floss-picks, disposable makeup wipes, and plastic packaging create an excess of waste on a day to day routine. The easiest way to prevent waste is to invest in longer lasting products, such as purchasing a larger bottle of a product to prevent repurchasing. Many brands have made strides to use recyclable and biodegradable packaging or even to allow customers to bring their own bags. Lush is a brand that has invested in low-waste products that are not only better for skin/hair care but create less waste for the environment. Products such as shampoo bars and toothpaste tabs prevent waste from packaging. Small steps make a larger affect with changing personal hygiene products because of the repetition with the daily use products.
Here are some links I found with zero-waste hygiene products and the impact these single-use products have on the environment.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3791860/
http://trashisfortossers.com/zero-waste-swaps/