The topic is on everyone's lips, with some more, with others less. However, it has developed into a topic and that is already very positive. Of course it is the case that it is quite “enough” if everyone contributes a small part. The big picture makes a big difference.

Sustainability and children's toys are not always easy to implement. 

It already starts with the packaging. When I go through the shops, it is almost impossible for me to order a toy for children in plastic-free packaging. Especially in the slime area. Not only is it in a plastic cup, it is also shrink-wrapped in plastic for hygienic reasons. Not cool! Fortunately, there are many start-ups that have been dealing with this topic for some time and offer environmentally friendly toys in environmentally friendly packaging. Especially when it comes to toddlers... that's not quite our age group, but we, as parents of three, would much rather have such toys move into our home. And optically, of course, it is always a total eye-catcher. 

Speaking of home - since we have been dealing more intensively with the topic of sustainability and environmental protection, we naturally not only wanted to include it in our slime business, but also implement it privately. Of course, we can't preach about environmentally friendly packaging and then crash everything at home... preferably still wrapped in plastic. So we have created many alternatives for ourselves. That means not only in the children's room, but also in the bathroom and in the kitchen. For example, if you want to shop more often without packaging in the future, or if you want to reduce your personal 'waste footprint' in general we are happy to list some of our alternatives that we have discovered for ourselves:

Purchasing:

• Fruit nets are now available in almost every large supermarket. So you can confidently leave the plastic bags where they are and keep your nets for fresh ones fruit and vegetables use, which is not sold in plastic trays and shrink-wrapped... of course. You can use these directly in the supermarket or at your fruit and vegetable dealer as well as at the weekly market.

• Pastries, bread and rolls: For this we can recommend the fabric bread bag, which not only makes going to the bakery (please inform yourself whether your baker is allowed to accept bags or nets you have brought with you) more environmentally friendly, but also makes the rolls even crunchier. With a bit of skill you can even sew it yourself. There is also an alternative to the cloth bag made of berry wax (which we like even better like as the alternative made from beeswax). Link to site you will find a DIY guide for this. 

• Unpackaged shops or weekly market: If you would like to avoid even more garbage in everyday life, have a look whether there is an unpackaged shop near you. Here you either bring your own container or buy one in the shop. You can then fill your groceries yourself. Alternatively, visit the weekly market more often, be it meat, fish, baked goods, fruit, vegetables, flowers or cheese. Here you will find many fresh goods at reasonable prices. Here, too, simply use the vessels or nets you have brought with you. At the bakery, butcher or at the cheese counter in the supermarket you can have problems with the cans you have brought with you, because the employees are usually not allowed to accept them for hygienic reasons. At least that's what I've experienced.

Household:

• Bake: instead of the usual baking paper, just switch to a silicone baking mat. Not only does it take up less space in the kitchen cupboard, but it also takes up absolutely none in your bin because, as you can imagine, you can use it over and over and over again! 

• To wash: For some time now I've not only been saving a lot of money when doing the laundry, I'm also protecting the environment at the same time... Cooking your own detergent is the answer! It's super quick and only requires a few ingredients. You can find a recipe for it here: Link to site

• Cleaning and cleaning agents: for e.g. an environmentally friendly detergent can be found under Link to site a great recipe. Detergent is also available in a solid version, which with a suitable sponge and a nice little brush even looks good. (You can find an example here hellosimple.de a nice selection)

If you don't have the time or desire to deal with the production of cleaning agents, there are of course already large companies online, such as Everdrop, who will take over this part for you. But I have to say that it's often just too expensive for me and I then take the time to produce certain remedies myself and I'm actually doing very well with it and my conscience likes it too! :) There are also other alternatives for the tabs for the toilet, glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, etc. I'm not listing all the links on this topic here, I just want to point out that there are so many simple and sustainable alternatives for so many things . Link to site is always a nice source of inspiration for me.

• bathroom: Of solid Shampoo you've probably all heard by now that soap and the like are also available in solid form. Shampoo parties is in itself the same as liquid Shampoo, only it was deprived of water, it becomes more compact and is more productive. The important thing here is that it is completely plastic-free. If you like, you can also find it in the usual drugstore. Of course, also in environmentally friendly packaging. 

• Handseife I also like to make my own. For that there is here: Link to site a recipe. But sometimes I'm lazy or I'm pressed for time, so I use solid soap in a cardboard box from the drugstore. When it comes to hair removal, we also produce an unnecessarily large amount of waste, which we can easily avoid by using alternative products to disposable razors. Of course, this is also a question of costs. You quickly reach for the disposable razor, it is super cheap but also produces a lot of waste. Under Link to site the whole thing is great discussed, here you can take a lot of information about shaving with you if you are interested. My favorite is the safety razor. My husband, however, can't do anything with it and prefers to use the electric shaver. 
• toothbrushes, dental floss, Kosmetiktucher. / Pads, cotton swab, toothpaste. Again, I use alternative, environmentally friendly products. You can find a lot of products on e.g. Amazon, which you can get in a set with discounts. So far, for example, I've been using cotton swabs made of bamboo, but I'm going to buy new cotton swabs made of silicone, which I can clean and reuse. Isn't that practical? Instead of the usual make-up removal pads, I use washable ones made from bamboo. They are always used, washed, reused and decorative. Because they are often offered in a suitable box. Dental care in general is also more environmentally friendly. Toothbrushes made of bamboo, dental floss in glass bottles or toothpaste tablets in paper packaging or glass containers offer many options here. As you can see, a lot can be changed in the area of hygiene

• Self-employment: Last but not least - slimeslime.de As you can already see from our website, our shipping carton is made of 35% grass paper and 65% waste paper. The special thing about these boxes is that not a single tree has to be felled. Our packaging chips are made from plant starch and are 100% compostable and our slime containers are made from glass that you can use over and over again. Because we only have this one planet.

Finally, I would like to say again that I do not want to ask anyone here to implement all these things now and immediately! But maybe ONE thing. It would change so much!

All the best and stay healthy

Your Tanya