Take an eight-mile journey along the M4 and you’ll arrive at Reading’s Gillette factory, established more than 60 years ago. Alongside it you will find the company’s Innovation Centre, where experts have spent decades attempting to understand the perfect shave.
Companies like market leader, Gillette, Wilkinson Sword and Bic dominate a $30 billion dollar global market in disposable razors, a firm fixture in most homes first introduced in the 1970s.
As a planet we go through tens of billions of disposable razors every year, with most made from plastic. They generally have a short lifespan. Then we, well… dispose of them. Being hard to recycle most will find their way into landfill, or worse our oceans.
According to several manufacturers, we should be throwing away and replacing our disposable razors after around 10 or so shaves.
A recent study found than on average men shave between four and five times per week, while women on average do so once. It also showed than younger people are more likely to use disposable razors, with a higher proportion of those aged 30 + using electric shavers.
While the latter option is certainly preferable to disposable razors, they aren’t the ideal solution either. As their name suggests, they require electricity, and of course a battery, neither of which are brilliant news environmentally. And if you’re thinking “I use a razor with replaceable blades”, they’re made of plastic and the blades are heavily packaged.
So, enter a product first pioneered in the 19th century and later honed by American businessman King Camp Gillette at the very start of the 20th century. The original safety razor with replaceable blades.
Made from metal, or even better from a mix of metal and wood or Bamboo, a growing selection of safety razors is available. They are attractive (and can even make a nice gift), long-lasting (potentially forever), require low cost replaceable blades and the best bit… recyclable.
Brands worth a mention include Bambaw, Mutiny and Primal One but by far our favourite razor is from Naked Necessities. The company is based in Devon and their products (and packaging) are easy on the eye, plastic free and recyclable. Their entire range is vegan friendly and does not contain palm oil or chemicals such as SLS and parabens.
Available from www.nakednecessities.co.uk or a growing number of retailers, a boxed razor with replacement blades comes in at around £26. If your first reaction is to balk at the price, remind yourself of the cost of disposable razors or a new electric shaver. You will soon be in profit!
For a chance to win a Naked Necessities boxed set, simply email [email protected] answering the question, where are Naked Necessities based? by Friday, June 21. And if you’ve got any questions or suggestions around Plastic Free Home, get in touch too.
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