Introducing Net Zero Company and Basic Goods Trading Company

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We are so happy to share about some new sustainable products we’ve had the chance to try! From scrubbing brushes to reusable toilet paper, we’re sharing our review of products from Net Zero Company and Basic Goods Trading Company.

Plastic is Everywhere

I related to Net Zero Co.’s origin story, which involves seeing a video of a turtle with a straw stuck in its nose because I grew up with stories of birds and wildlife getting tangled up in the plastic rings from 6-packs of cans. Images like those are impactful and show how pervasive our world’s plastic problem is.

Plastic is everywhere and it can be challenging to find good, practical, and affordable options to eliminate it from our lives. We’ve spent the last few years exploring those challenges by participating in Plastic Free July and going room by room looking at our plastic problem. Whether it’s the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room, you’re guaranteed to find some plastic somewhere!

Who is Net Zero Co. & Basic Goods Trading Co.?

Net Zero Company and Basic Goods trading Company are two small companies that were each born out of a desire to create access to sustainable products and to do good for our planet.

We exist to offer non-toxic products made with sustainable materials, designed to last. Helping people divert plastic everyday is how we know we succeeded.

Vision + Mission

It isn’t hard to get on board with a mission that includes diverting as much plastic from our lives as possible. Not only is that an important mission, but Net Zero Co. and Basic Goods Trading Co. also have a circular mindset with the idea that companies don’t need more profits, they need more purpose. That’s a perspective I’d love to see more companies have!

In 2023, the Eco-Collective was formed when Net Zero Co. and Basic Goods Trading Co. joined forces with Tru Earth. Together, under one umbrella, they aim to provide easy access to sustainable products. I love seeing small companies work together for the greater good of our planet!

Net Zero Co. & Basic Goods Trading Co. Product Review

We had the opportunity to try a number of products from Net Zero Co. and Basic Goods Trading Co. and are excited to share our review of them with you.

If you’re wanting to make some sustainable swaps, you can shop with a 10% discount!
Shop here: https://www.netzerocompany.com/ASUSTAINAB21249
*Discounts can change, so shop soon!

Bamboo Make Up Removers

Krista tried out the bamboo make up removers and was amazed by them! All you need is just a little water on the make up remover pad and she found they even remove mascara. These make up removers are simple to care for as you just throw them in the washing machine and they come out clean and ready to use again.

The make up removers come in a small mesh bag, which makes packing these for a trip or taking them on the go very convenient. It’s so nice to have an option for travel instead of using face wipes! And an extra added bonus is that, because of the natural materials they are made from, at the end of their life they can be composted instead of sent to the landfill.

Face Wash Bar

Many face cleaners come in small plastic bottles with plastic pumps, so this face wash bar is an amazing option for a plastic free face care routine. Switching from liquid soap to bar soap is one of the easiest ways to eliminate plastic items from your life and we recommend giving this one a go!

Krista gave this bar a try and found it cleans well and left her skin feeling fresh. I loved the fun colour and the refreshing smell of rose and grapefruit the bar has.

Zero Waste Lip Balm

Little plastic chapstick tubes are one of my least favourite things because I know that small plastic items are less likely to be recycled due to them falling through cracks of machines. Added to that is the fact those plastic tubes are unlikely to be clean enough to recycle due to chapstick residue.

That’s one of the reasons why this lip balm is so fantastic. It comes in a recyclable cardboard tube, which can also be disposed of in our city’s green waste program. The scent of this one—vanilla peach—is SO GOOD! It isn’t overpowering, but just strong enough to be enjoyed. It has a slight tint to the balm, which makes me feel a little fancier than usual because I wear very little make up. It is a really light colour that’s probably not noticed by many except me, but it is still a fun feature.

Muslin Shopping Bags

Krista and I literally oohed and awed at these bags when we brought them out of the packaging. If you’re looking for a gift (or even a gift bag!) these would make a perfect option. The colours are gorgeous and eye-catching and the bags have a lovely, soft texture to them.

These bags wash up well, so they are simple to clean and they fold up with a little snap to keep them closed, which makes them perfect for on the go.

Since these bags are made of 100% cotton, this means they can be composted at the end of their life, just like the make up removers.

Plant Based Cleaning Brush Set

I was actually on the lookout for a new vegetable scrubber and a new bottle cleaning brush, so I was very excited to see these arrive. The Clean and Green Brush Set comes with every brush you’d need, so I was set! The set has my needed veggie and bottle brushes, as well as a dish washer, pot scrubber, and a general scrubbing brush. All are made with wood and plant fibers, so plastic free!

My favourite features of these brushes:

– The pot scrubber has the benefit of a reusable handle. The brush portion can be removed and easily replaced, which is such a great feature.
– The vegetable scrubber has a rounded, open handle that makes it super easy to hold. It feels nice to use and I can loosely grip it while scrubbing due to its shape. It feels healthier to use than tightly gripping my previous, smaller brush.

Silicone Baking Cups

Reusable baking cups have been on my shopping list for a while now. While the paper ones can be put in our green waste bin, they still come in plastic packaging that I was hoping to eliminate from my life.

These baking cups from Net Zero Co. and Basic Goods Trading Co. are perfect! They come in fun colours and arrived in minimal, recyclable cardboard packaging. I gave them a test run and they were easy to use and easy to clean up afterwards. I loved how the muffins I made slid easily out of the baking cups whereas the paper versions can stick to the baking a little too much and not be easily removed. Cleaning the baking cups was simple and I just used soap and water, then let them air dry.

Unpaper Toilet Cloths

Reusable toilet paper? Seriously?! That might have been my first thought at seeing this product for sale, but I have to admit I was also automatically intrigued. I am all for ditching single use items for reusable ones, so thought this was a great chance to try something a little further from my comfort zone. I have already ditched Kleenex for reusable hankies and plastic period pads for fabric ones, so why not add one more less talked about reusable to the list!

These Unpaper Toilet Cloths come in really cute patterns, so if you have a basket of them in your bathroom, they will be fun to see. They are a great size and shape—essentially just like a few pieces of toilet paper. Not too thick, the material of these is soft and comfortable to use.

Made from cotton, they are really easy to clean as you can just throw them in the wash and hang them to dry or tumble dry on low. If you’re hesitant to throw a seriously soiled item into your laundry basket like I am, keep a wet bag hanging on your laundry bin to place these and items like fabric pads in. I have a bucket behind my laundry bin where I put rags and that’s where I’ll put in soiled items like these until laundry time.

Shopping and Shipping

The entire experience shopping with Net Zero Co. and Basic Goods Trading Co. was fantastic. Their site was easy to use and navigate. The checkout process was seamless and the communication emails regarding order confirmation and shipping details were nice and clear.

Since they ship from Vancouver and Chicago, our order arrived very quickly (since we’re so close to Vancouver). Even my one item that came from Chicago arrived in good time.

I always pay attention to the packaging my parcels come in and was impressed at the minimal packaging involved in our order. There were simply two pieces of brown packing paper (which I’ll be reusing!) cushioning our order inside the cardboard shipping box. And to top off the minimal packaging, the box was sealed with paper tape. A thoroughly plastic free experience!

My one item that arrived from Chicago did come in a plastic mailer bag, so that is the only place that plastic snuck into the shipping side of things.

How to Connect with Net Zero Co. & Basic Goods Trading Co.

You can learn more about these great companies and how to purchase products on their website.

Find their website and social links below!

Website: https://www.netzerocompany.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/netzerocompany
Facebook: https://facebook.com/netzerocompany
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@netzerocompany

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know about these fantastic companies as much as we have!

What product would you be most excited to try? Don’t forget you can purchase items at a discount!

Shop here: https://www.netzerocompany.com/ASUSTAINAB21249

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