In the last century we shouted en masse that plastic was fantastic . In recent years we have known better now that the oceans appear to be full of plastic waste. Yet plastic is also sustainable. We need to explain that.
What is plastic?
From toothbrush to garden table - if you take a look around you will be amazed by everything made of plastic. Plastic is an artificially manufactured plastic that can be molded into any shape. They also discovered this in the 1950s, after which plastic was produced en masse. The first Barbie doll and the first Lego block also date from that time. We understand the enthusiasm from the last century. Because plastic is versatile, lightweight and also cheap to make. Without plastic there would be no toys, rain gear, telephones, cars or artificial hips. In addition, plastic packaging prevents (food) waste, ensures a long shelf life of products, it is hygienic, reusable and can - under certain conditions - be recycled again and again.
Good protection
We want our soapies to stay well protected during transport, but also in the shower or on the kitchen counter. And for that, we consciously choose plastic bottles - made of recycled plastic, that is. Plastic provides a good barrier against external influences, so that the wonderful fragrance and other positive properties of our products are well preserved in the bottle. Moreover, the hard plastic ensures that the bottle can take a beating and does not leak or fall apart. So we avoid - both in transit and at home - a lot of waste. So should you accidentally drop your favourite soapie in the shower one day, no worries!
Less emissions, less freight traffic
Plastic packaging is lightweight and takes up little space - which is good for freight traffic and emissions. We also package our products as compactly as possible. This means many more soapies fit in the truck.
Not all plastic is fantastic
Despite all the advantages of plastic, it has one major disadvantage: it does not perish! When plastic starts to wander, it has an eternal life on land or - which is usually the case - in the sea. In 1997, Charles Moore discovered the plastic soup in the North Pacific Ocean. We now know that all the world's major oceans are full of plastic waste, whether or not shredded into microplastics. Cleaning up is a hell of a job and as long as the influx of even more plastic waste does not decrease, it will also be a matter of mopping with the tap open. We know something about that!
Recycled plastic
All Marcel's Green Soap bottles are made from recycled plastic. Recycling plastic is a good way to prevent more plastic from floating towards the sea. And there is enough plastic on our planet. So there's really no need for new plastic! And- good to know - recycled plastic can also be reused again.
Pssst... curious how our bottles are made from recycled plastic? Find out here.
Reusable and refillable
Because (recycled) plastic is robust and lasts a very long time, you can also easily reuse it. This also applies to our soapies! For many of our products we have refills - packaged in recyclable plastic - with which you can refill the bottles. This saves money and freight traffic and prevents the mountain of (plastic) waste from growing even larger.
| Nice to know: with our refills we have reduced plastic use by more than 33.5 thousand kilos in 2023, because the refills are significantly lighter than the bottles. And then we haven't even mentioned the reduced emissions due to the impact of more compact and lighter packaging material... so keep refilling those bottles! |
Microplastic free
Microplastics are anything but fantastic. Microplastics are created by plastic falling apart and wearing out clothes and car tyres. It has now been found that microplastics are everywhere: on land, in the sea and in the air. Unfortunately, microplastics are also still deliberately added to products, for instance to improve their structure or properties. Naturally, we do not participate in this. All our products therefore naturally have a microplastic-free formula.
Easily recyclable
Not only are our bottles made from recycled plastic, they are also easily recyclable. Sounds logical, you might say. However, not all packaging is easily recyclable. In fact, two-thirds of plastic packaging in the supermarket is not recyclable (source: NOS ). This is how Marcel's Green Soap ensures that packaging is recyclable:
Mono material
Most of our packaging is made of mono-material. This means that it consists of one type of plastic. If packaging consists of multiple materials or types of plastic, it is not recyclable and will still end up in the incinerator. Of course we want to prevent this. That's why we do everything we can behind the scenes to get all our products in mono material. We are already well on our way, but this has not yet been achieved for a number of our refill bags. The available mono-material bags do not yet meet quality requirements - and we do not want to compromise on quality for a more sustainable choice. Then the products are not purchased and we still miss our goal!
Washable labels
We like to keep it clean, even when it comes to recycling our packaging. Our labels are therefore easily washable so that the plastic does not become contaminated and can therefore be recycled effortlessly. You do not have to remove the label yourself, the waste processing company will do that. So is your favorite bottle of Marcel's Green Soap empty? Throw it with the cap and label in the plastic waste or - and this is the most sustainable and economical - refill it!
