How To Live A Less Wasteful Lifestyle With The Minimal Co.
“Of course we are not perfect, and we don’t see any problem in that because the truth is you could always do better.” - The Minimal Co.
Living with less waste isn’t an overnight swap. It’s not as hard as it looks, but it’s certainly not a walk in the park. Our current systems don’t make doing the right thing for the planet easy. However, having lived for several years with a low waste lifestyle, I can tell you with great confidence that it’s getting easier.
Because places like The Minimal Co. exist.
The Minimal Co. is a zero waste home and body product store. If you’re in Wellington City, you’re lucky. You can waltz through the doors of The Minimal Co., grab whatever waste free home and bathroom goodies you need, fill up your jars and bottles with cleaning and body products, and know the store will be there for you the next day when you realise you forgot to buy a replacement dish scrubber head. If you’re anywhere else in Aotearoa New Zealand or across the ditch in Australia, you're only slightly less lucky; The Minimal Co. is online. They’ll package your goodies waste free, always with reused/recycled/compostable packaging that you are encouraged to reuse over and over again.
The Minimal Co. officially launched in April 2019; Bridget emailed me to put her beautiful store in my radar - we’ve talked most weeks since then! You know when you find your people?
I had the chance to meet Bridget in person and visit her collab store, Smashed Avocados, in Wellington when I visited our capital city in July 2019. Smashed Avocados is a combination of women in business from across Aotearoa with sustainable and philanthropic values. Bridget bought them all together, to sell their products in one physical (now online) store.
Here’s me, hanging with the plants in Smashed Avocados, July 2019….
Aside from the fact The Minimal Co. sells so many different brands that I personally buy and use on a daily basis, one of the main reasons I’ve partnered with them to share this blog post, is our ethos alignment.
The Minimal Co. aim to prove to their friends and family that less wasteful living is not just for hippies. It can be sleek, classy, desirable, and without compromises that make life ‘less’. I’m a fan of the way they quietly but thoughtfully use their store as a way to educate around all sorts of environmental and social topics. I’m a fan of their unisex marketing (sustainable brands almost always present a feminine vibe), and their collaboration over competition approach to everything they do. I’m a fan.
I’m also a fan of Bridget herself: potentially the most hardworking person I know. I mean, when the Government announced enforcements and recommendations around wearing masks, Bridget stayed up for several nights, making her own reusable mask pattern and whipping some up so we’d all have cute masks by morning (when she would head to her 9-5)… I chose a llama mask FYI. See below.
If you’re not already convinced that The Minimal Co. won’t help you get rid of waste in your home and bathroom, here is a quick review of a few The Minimal Co. products I’ve used that will help you live a less wasteful lifestyle.
Agave Woven Soap Bag - Exfoliating Scrubber
Although this little soap bag is meant for body exfoliating, I use it to store the last little bits of my Zero Waste Dish Washing Block when its near the end of life. The dish washing block is great (and so long lasting) until the end, when it’s hard to juggle little pieces of soap. The agave woven soap bag changes this. It dries quickly, and means the last little bits of soap aren’t wasted. There is so much you can do with this little soap bag!
Wooden Soap Keeper
My wooden soap keeper is a new bathroom favourite. Going from an old piece of deck to a hand crafted slab made from sustainably sourced NZ rimu is a total luxury. Each wooden soap keeper looks unique and the large size means you can store a few types of bars (face wash, hand soap, shampoo) on it. Pictured above, the wooden soap keeper currently stores my Onyx Face Washing Block. This charcoal block is vegan friendly, made from mango butter and coconut oil, and suitable for all skin types. I love how it cleanses my skin without leaving it feeling tight and raw, however I wouldn’t recommend it for removing eye makeup; it hurts my eyes. I know others who have success! That’s simply my personal experience.
Icy Pole Set
I’ve always envied people with stainless steel popsicle sets… now I have the privilege of being one of them, I feel like I’ve made it. This DIY ice block set is not only the epitome of style, it’s also a brilliant way to use up old fruit (like wrinkly, squishy kiwifruit) or save money if you have kids pulling on your shirt sleeve asking for ice creams everyday during summer.
‘Simply’ Macrame Plant Hanger
My husband and I have been setting up our new spare room as a space to work, create, and craft. We call it our ‘media room’. This macrame hanger and plant sit nice and pretty in the corner, making the space cosy and pairing perfectly with our lock wood walls. It’s currently the only green lushie in the room, and I’ve learnt how just one plant can transform a boring space into an inviting one. The macrame hanger is admired by anyone who visits, and as a proud plant mum I can report that it’s been low maintenance and no fuss.
Un-Baking Paper
I’ve bought home-compostable baking paper for several years, reusing it over and over again until I put it on our compost bin. BUT I’m a big believer in reusing. Even when the product is compostable, it still takes resources to create every single item. These un-baking paper sheets are exceptional!
It’s not just their reusable quality that sold me. Nothing sticks to them. This means they are a breeze to clean, and when it comes to baking cookies, these vegan, gluten free cookies below were even more delicious than usual- no burnt or sticky bum.
Levitate Mascara
Although I realise this mascara is not waste free, this is the mascara I rate above all of the others that are better for you and the planet (note the word ‘better’, still not ideal). The mascara application is a breeze, it stays on well, and doesn’t go clumpy like other more-natural options sometimes do. I love that the company who make the mascara, Indigo & Iris, give back 50% of profits from each sale to the Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand. I also appreciate their continued efforts in trying to find a recycling solution for their tubes.
Purchasing gift cards from The Minimal Co. for friends and family’s birthdays is slowly becoming a go-to (highly recommend). As you can see from everything above, the options are broad. All gift receivers love being able to pick what they want/need, rather than me guessing for them!
I rate The Minimal Co. highly. I back their values, I could point out endless items in my home that you can buy from their cleverly curated store (they have very good taste), and I think you’d enjoy shopping with them too.
Whether you’re in Wellington, somewhere else in the beautiful country of Aotearoa New Zealand, or in Australia too
Shop The Minimal Co. Here.
Use code ETHICALLYKATE for 10% off all products.
As a rule, I only work with brands I love, use, and can whole heartedly back. This is a sponsored blog (I can't pay my electricity bill with free products), but 100% my own words, photos, and opinion.