As often we all shave; there are some exceptions of course – all the more power to those who don’t shave, few of us think about the effect that we’re having on the environment. That’s right, the type of razor you’re using could be harming the world around you. 

If you’re using disposable razors, just consider how many you go through in a year. Although the EPA doesn’t track the impact of disposable razors on the environment, over $1.2 billion in disposable razors were sold in 2018 in the U.S. alone, which means quite a few of those likely made their way into a landfill.

Fortunately, there are both eco-friendly women’s razors and eco-friendly men’s razors that you can switch to, thereby reducing your environmental footprint.

Look for reusable razors made with eco-friendly materials

The most eco-friendly razor is a reusable razor made of bamboo or stainless steel. 

Safety razors that are made using bamboo handles are quite eco-friendly. Bamboo is a renewable resource as a result of being a fast-growing grass that grows almost everywhere throughout the world.

Metal safety razors, such as those made out of stainless steel, will last a lifetime too. The only thing you will have to replace is the razor blade itself.

Are eco-friendly razors more expensive?

Upon initial inspection, you might think that disposable razors or cartridge razors are cheaper. This may be true if you’re just looking at the sticker price.

There are plenty of cheap disposable razors available that cost roughly $1 each, while many electric razors, safety razors, and even straight razors can cost anywhere from $10 to hundreds of dollars.

However, you have to take into consideration long-term costs. An electric razor can last up to ten years. Safety razors and straight razors can last a lifetime. The only additional cost would be the blades that you would have to purchase for a safety razor, which is quite inexpensive compared to the cost of continually purchasing disposable razors.

When you look at all of the costs associated with buying a razor, you’ll find that an eco-friendly razor will be much less expensive in the long run.

Are there eco-friendly disposable razors?

Disposable razors are made of plastic. They are also sometimes referred to as cartridge razors.

Because they are made from plastic, they are not eco-friendly. Not only are plastics made from petroleum products, but they are not biodegradable either. 

Add to that the fact that most disposable razors can only be used six to nine times before they become useless, and it’s not difficult to conclude that disposable razors are a very wasteful product.

If you’re still not convinced that such a small item can have such a big impact on the environment, consider the following facts about plastic pollution:

• Less than 20 percent of all plastic produced around the world is recycled
• The U.S. only recycles nine percent of its plastic garbage
• Around eight percent of the world’s entire oil production is used to manufacture plastic
• It’s estimated that by 2050, 20 percent of the world’s entire oil production will be used to manufacture plastic. 

It’s also worth noting that you can’t just toss your disposable razors into the recycling bin since the blade part of the head cannot be recycled using traditional recycling means. Disposable plastic razors can only be used 6 to 9 times and can’t be recycled.

Eco-friendly shaving tips:

 One thing to keep in mind as you search for an eco-friendly razor to purchase is that the razor itself is only a part of the shaving process.

With that in mind, the following are a few additional tips for ensuring that the entire shaving process remains eco-friendly:

Use eco-friendly shaving cream

Shaving cream can be used for any part of the body to help make it easier to shave your hair. Unfortunately, a lot of the shaving cream products that you find in stores are not very eco-friendly.

Many shaving cream products come in aerosol cans. While the cans themselves, which are typically made from aluminum or steel, can be recycled, they contain aerosol propellants to help push the cream out of the can.

These propellants are often hydrocarbon propellants such as butane and propane, which are another source of greenhouse gases.

Shaving products that don’t come in aerosol cans often come in plastic tubes. However, this doesn’t mean that there are no eco-friendly shaving products available.

Use eco-friendly alternatives for aftershave

Men who have sensitive skin will often use aftershave on their face after shaving.

Just like shaving cream, many aftershave products contain ingredients that are harmful to the environment, such as artificial chemicals. Many are also packaged in plastic bottles or containers.

Recycle your blades

There are plenty of people who use safety razors simply because they are easy to use and they provide a cleaner shave than other alternatives.

 However, they just toss the blades away after they’re done using them. Because of how sharp and small they are, it’s recommended that you do not just throw them in your recycling bin. 

There are blade banks available that you can purchase. You can just put your double-edged razor blades into these blade banks.

It will typically take around six months for the bank to fill up, after which you can just recycle the entire bank, filled with your used blades. 

As far as what blade bank to get, just make sure the entire bank is recyclable so that you can just recycle the entire thing when it’s full.

Shaving less

Giving up shaving altogether is the most eco-friendly option.

However, it’s not very realistic to just stop shaving, especially for men and women who feel uncomfortable when their facial or body hair grows in.

You could try to shave less often though. Doing so can help to preserve your razor blades or electric razor so that they last longer.

Eco-Friendly Razor Brand:

Picking out an eco-friendly razor isn’t that difficult when it comes down to it. Simply switching from a disposable razor to a reusable one will reduce your environmental footprint significantly.

ecofworld is an eco-friendly brand trying to help you cut down your plastic consumption. Ecofworld’s double-edged safety razor, which has a long handle made from 100% bamboo. The Bamboo handle will never splinter nor will it become slippery. Its features include:

PERFECT SHAVING: Achieve a closer, smoother, more professional shave without the hassle of irritation or ingrown hairs with the ecofworld double edge safety razor. 

DURABLE: ecofworld double-edged safety razors are pretty much guaranteed to last a lifetime. Made from high-quality materials, a 100% bamboo handle, and stainless-steel parts, your razor is incredibly strong and durable.

ECO-FRIENDLY: Conventional plastic razors are practically impossible to recycle and end up in our landfills and oceans. With our safety razors, all you need to do is replace and recycle the blade, which helps create a cleaner planet.

COST EFFECTIVE: Once you have the safety razor, all you need to buy are the blades. You simply can’t get any better value for money in the long run.