A Call to Rethink Cosmetic Wet Wipes
Of all the plastic we use, 40% is used just once
Following up from where I left off here, sometimes we don’t realise how much an individual contributes to the plastic waste problem. And so, it’s important to take a step back and just ponder over what we’re binning, what we’re consuming and how much.
The wet wipes industry
The convenience which wet wipes provide make it undoubtedly a very popular choice for people to purchase — used for sticky fingers and removing eye make-up, as well as on other parts of the anatomy. The global industry is on a rise and is expected to reach $23.9 billion by 2023.
An online survey with around 1,400 female respondents in the UK were asked how frequently they use facial wipes. The results show that 73% women use facial wipes with the largest proportion of women (27 percent) using facial wipes every day and 16 percent using them multiple times a week.
These numbers are, of course, on the rise. North America dominates the global facial wipes market and is expected to remain the dominant regional market with Asia-Pacific projected to be the fastest-growing regional market for facial wipes. Demand for wipes such as those made from natural fibres is driving market growth in Europe [src].
The issue with wet wipes
Use and throw wet wipes are undoubtedly harmful to our environment. It’s the sheer number of single use wipes that a person goes through in a day that adds enormously to the problem.
They often contain plastic, meaning they do not disintegrate like toilet paper. Many people even end up flushing them which is a massive problem for sewers.
- Fatbergs: Despite the name, fat, oil and grease make up a very tiny percentage of a fatberg. The rest is all made up of wet wipes. The flushing of wet wipes has lead to serious sewer blockage problems in the past. 93% of blocked UK sewage pipes are caused by wet wipes. Once flushed, they readily combine with oils and fats and grease. Even wet wipes usually used after toilet paper that are said to flushable are not environmentally friendly. They say flushable because it can break up into smaller pieces but it still constitutes plastic and so doesn’t degrade.
- Washed up wet wipes are clogging beaches and ending up in oceans more than ever before causing an ecological hazard for marine life.
- Those that are not flushed down and binned, ultimately end up in the landfills, where it can take up to 100 years for a wet wipe to degrade.
- Cosmetic wet wipes are in fact not doing anything good for the skin. They tend to remove only the top layer of dirt by soaking the skin with chemicals and alcohol and ultimately need a lot of pressure to properly remove anything applied on the skin. Face wipes have been called out on in-numerously by skin specialists and now by environmentalists.
Ultimately, we should aim for not using single-use wipes at all. Reusable is better than disposable any given day; better for the environment and one’s wallet!
The solution for cosmetic wipes
The wet wipes industry is substantial with products ranging from ‘flushable’ wipes to baby wipes to hand wipes, make-up wipes, kitchen wipes, surgical and medical wipes, etc. The truth is, we don’t need any of these single-wipes- there are eco-friendly alternatives for all.
Surface wipes can easily be replaced by an anti-bacterial spray and washable cloth and it is more effective to wash hands with soap and water rather than wipes!
Focussing a little more on cosmetic wipes, I used to use them quite a bit, but was never particularly fond of them — how it made my skin feel and how much waste I ended up generating. To cleanse the face, once shouldn’t 100% depend on facial wipes — stick to a mild cleanser and water!
A great alternative is reusable cotton rounds. They are very gently exfoliating and can be used from both sides. I’ve got a pack of 20 and I’ve never run out of them completely. I use them for applying toner everyday; can use your favourite skin cleanser (soap, micellar water, coconut oil, cleanser etc). Once done, put them in a net washing bag and finally into the washing machine!
Granted there are situations where one would prefer wet wipes on the go. For those times look at 100% biodegradable or compostable options. And always remember to bin it!
And you’re one step closer to a more sustainable skincare routine.
