The article will detail the biodegradability aspect of Burt’s bee shampoos. Other covered aspects would include:
- Is Burt’s Bees shampoo biodegradable?
- What kind of ingredients are used in Burt’s Bees shampoo?
- Is Burt’s Bees shampoo good?
- How green is the packaging of Burt’s Bees shampoo?
- Is Burt’s Bees shampoo carbon neutral?
- What are the green steps taken by Burt’s Bees shampoo?
- FAQs
Is Burt’s bee shampoo biodegradable?
Burt’s Bees shampoos are biodegradable as these are made from natural ingredients and harmful chemicals such as sulphates or parabens are avoided. This environmental benefit does not come at the cost of utility.
As per the packaging, it is not biodegradable but is made from recycled plastics which is also considered sustainable.
There are a number of green steps taken by the Burt’s Bees shampoo manufacturing such as the use of clean and renewable energy, being carbon neutral, being waste-free, being cruelty-free, and avoidance of over-packaging.
What kind of ingredients are used in Burt’s bees shampoo?
The type of ingredients used in any product can reveal a lot about that particular product. For example, if something is made from natural materials, it will be more eco-friendly as compared to a shampoo that is made from chemicals such as parabens or sulphates.
As regards the ingredients in Burt’s bees shampoo, it is claimed that Burt’s bees shampoo is made from natural ingredients. It is claimed that more than 99% of the ingredients are natural. Therefore, it also can be said that Burt’s bees shampoo is certified by ISO 16128.
It is also stated that Burt’s bees shampoo does not contain harmful ingredients such as parabens, sulphates et cetera. Usually, when ingredients such as sulphates or parabens are used in shampoos, there are degradative effects on the environment such as water pollution.
Is Burt’s bees shampoo biodegradable?
By definition, biodegradability is the breakdown of waste by the action of microbes. However, it is not only about microbes, there are other factors too at play. These factors include sunlight, aeration, temperature, et cetera.
Usually, there are two factors that determine the biodegradability of any substance. These include:
- How long does it last?
- What is the environmental impact of the particular substance?
Let us take the example of plastics. Plastics are synthetic polymers that are made from the derivatives of fossil fuels. Due to this, plastics have a degradative impact on the environment and also last for as long as 500-1000 years.
In the case of shampoos, the main factor that determines the biodegradability of shampoos is what materials or chemicals are used in the making of a particular shampoo.
As a general rule of thumb, shampoos should not contain harmful chemicals such as parabens or triclosan because these chemicals will make shampoos bad not only for the skin (as there would be harsh effects on sensitive skin) but also for the environment in the form of water pollution and toxicity.
In comparison to this, if a shampoo is made from natural materials and ingredients such as plant extracts et cetera, then it would be rather gentler on the scalp and the planet. In that case, that shampoo will be called biodegradable shampoo.
Therefore, as we have discussed that Burt’s bees shampoo is made from natural ingredients that are not degradative to the environment, it can be concluded that Burt’s bees shampoo is biodegradable.
Is Burt’s bee shampoo good?
It is an established fact that the concern should not be only about the environment but also about the utility. After all, if the product is not impressive enough in terms of utility, people will not buy it regardless of how eco-friendly or sustainable it is.
Therefore, although we have built a stance on the environmental qualities that should be present in a good shampoo. Let us also talk and discuss what utilitarian features are offered by Burt’s bees shampoo.
The benefits of Burt’s bees shampoo should include:
- Maintenance of pH of hair
- Improvement of condition
- Stimulation of growth
- Colour protection
- Moisturising the scalp
These are some of the benefits that the best biodegradable shampoo should ensure other than being eco-friendly or sustainable.
It is commonly wondered if it is possible to safeguard all these benefits by only using natural ingredients. The fact of the matter is that it definitely is. There are countless studies that have proven that the natural or herbal alternative of any product is much better than its chemical counterpart in terms of both the environment and utility.
How green is the packaging of Burt’s bees shampoo?
Packaging is another very important factor that needs to be addressed and given due assertion. This is mainly because every consumer product needs to be packed so that its inner contents may be saved from external damage.
However, the problem is that many producers and manufacturers rely on plastic packaging. It is good from the aspects of utility, but from the aspects of the environment.
It already has been asserted that plastic packaging is made from synthetic polymers. These polymers are made and derived from the derivatives of fossil fuels. Therefore, there are a number of degradative effects on the people and the planet.
Therefore, it is recommended that the packaging of the best shampoos should not be made from plastics. It is bad for the people and bad for the planet. The first preference is biodegradable packaging made from natural materials such as cardboard, bioplastics et cetera.
If the packaging can not be biodegradable, it should at least be recyclable so that the degradative effects of plastic packaging could be avoided.
In the case of Burt’s bees shampoo, it is seen that the shampoo does not come in biodegradable packaging and neither it is compostable. However, as claimed by the manufacturers, Burt’s bees shampoos do come in recycled packaging.
The material used for packaging purposes is usually plastics. It is claimed that most plastics used in Burt’s bees shampoo packaging are made from PCR. PCR expands to post-consumer recycled material.
By depending on PCR, Burt’s bees shampoos ensure that non-biodegradable materials including plastics are deterred from harming the environment.
It is claimed that more than 50% of the plastics used in the packaging of Burt’s bees shampoos come from recycled plastics which is a commendable effort.
Is Burt’s bees shampoos carbon neutral?
It is a commonly burgeoning question that if something is claimed to be eco-friendly, it also should be carbon neutral.
By carbon neutral, it means that there is no net release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The amount of carbon dioxide released is balanced by eco-friendly initiatives so that the impact on the planet may be buffered to the best of our capacities.
You may wonder what is the need for Burt’s bees shampoos to be carbon neutral. The answer is that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that has a lot of negative and detrimental impacts on the environment.
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide et cetera result in environmental anomalies such as global warming, the greenhouse effect, deforestation et cetera.
Hence, it is essential to ensure that the production processes of the consumer products are made carbon neutral so that the degradative effects of carbon dioxide may be buffered.
What are the green steps taken by the manufacturers of Burt’s bees shampoos? (7 green steps)
Let us dedicate this section to understanding and deciphering the green steps that are taken by the manufacturers of Burt’s Bees shampoos. This will help in building a stance on how sustainable or eco-friendly the shampoo is.
The steps are:
- The production is carbon neutral
- The production uses clean energy (renewable)
- The products include PCR plastics
- Over-packaging is avoided
- Zero waste program
- Composting of product waste
- Cruelty-free
Now, let us explore some of these points in detail.
Burt’s bees shampoo is cruelty-free
There is no testing done on animals when it comes to Burt’s bees shampoo. That is why it is termed cruelty-free. There are a number of conventional and contemporary brands that do animal testing to check and assess their products. However, this is against animal rights violations.
In the case of Burt’s bees shampoo, this does not happen. That is why Burt’s bees shampoos are Leaping Bunny certified.
The production of Burt’s bees shampoo is waste-free
This is another very important and commendable point that there is no waste generation during and after the production of Burt’s bees shampoo. What this means is all the waste generated is utilised in efficient ways such as recycling and composting.
The waste generation scenario is quite dense since more than 2 billion tons of waste are generated every year. However, with the zero waste programs such as that of Burt’s bees shampoo, a positive nudge is given to the waste management systems.
There is the use of PCR plastics
Burt’s Bees shampoos make use of post-consumer recycled materials which reduces the environmental impact of non-biodegradable substances such as plastics. More than that, the accumulated waste is dealt with better as when plastics are recycled, there is less waste generated.
Conclusion
It is concluded that Burt’s Bees shampoos are biodegradable as these are made from natural ingredients and harmful chemicals such as sulphates or parabens are avoided. This environmental benefit does not come at the cost of utility.
As per the packaging, it is not biodegradable but is made from recycled plastics which is also considered sustainable.
There are a number of green steps taken by the Burt’s Bees shampoo manufacturing such as the use of clean and renewable energy, being carbon neutral, being waste-free, being cruelty-free, and avoidance of over-packaging.
Frequently Asked Questions: Is Burt’s bee shampoo biodegradable?
Is Burt’s bees shampoo vegan?
No, Burt’s bees shampoo is not vegan as there is the use of beeswax to make the shampoos.
Is Burt’s bees shampoo certified?
Yes, Burt’s bees shampoo is certified with the ISO standard ISO 16218. This means that it has more than 50% of its ingredients as natural materials. In this case, more than 99% of the ingredients are natural.
What are some vegan alternatives to Burt’s Bees shampoo?
The alternatives include Derma-E, RIver organics, Meow meow Tweet.
References
Chris. Is Burt’s Bees Dog Shampoo Safe? Retrieved from: https://www.oodlelife.com/is-burts-bees-dog-shampoo-safe-review/
Mitchel, Delia. (July 6, 2022). Is Burt’s Bees Cruelty-Free, Vegan, and Sustainable? Retrieved from: https://www.treehugger.com/burts-bees-cruelty-free-vegan-5213917
(June 21, 2021). Defining Natural Beauty. Retrieve from: https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/blog/burts-bees-advocates-for-natural-product-standards/
Burt’s Bees. Retrieved from: https://www.burtsbees.com/changefornature