Plaine Products || A Closer Look
*This post is in partnership with Plaine Products. As always, all sponsored posts are authentic and hand selected by me. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Simply Liv & Co. possible! #sponsored*
(To read my first post featuring Plaine Products, click here.)
Last month I shared about home goods brand that is doing big things to reduce waste and make organic, clean products accessible to everyone. I've been using Plaine Product's shampoo, conditioner, and body wash for almost three months (I'm about to order a refill- that's how much I love these products) and it's been amazing for several reasons.
Not only do I completely trust the ingredients in these products (read on to see a full list of exactly what is in each bottle...no chemicals or unpronounceable's), it's changed my mindset about waste and how silly it is that the majority of our body products come in single use bottles that may or may not be recycled, and will likely be thrown out.
I'm so excited to share an interview with Lindsey, the brand's founder (along with her sister), where she gives insight into her long term plans for Plaine Products, what goes in each bottle, and more.
Can you tell us a bit about your inspiration behind starting Plaine Products?
For 10 years I lived in the The Bahamas doing environment education work. While I loved living there, it wasn’t all rum drinks on the beach. On a small island there’s no first world infrastructure to insulate you from the piles of plastic we are creating. You see plastic bags, bottles and flip flops on the beaches, in the water, spilling out of the landfills, along the side of the road. There’s even a place so full of plastic its called Junk Beach. The message that plastic last forever, no matter how long we use it, is much more obvious living there than it is here.
I wanted to start using less plastic in my life. I started taking action: carrying a reusable water bottle, reusable grocery bags, skipping the straw at restaurants and bars. I looked for other ways to use less plastic. But I couldn’t figure out how to get those plastic bottles out of my shower. I couldn’t find any alternatives that worked for me and my hair. As we contemplated a move back to the States, I realized that I might be able to solve my own problem. Even better, I might be able to help other people use less plastic in their lives. I pulled in my sister, Alison Webster, who has a design degree and strong opinions about the quality of her products. Together we spent two years working hard to making it easier for people to get quality products without having to buy single-use plastic bottles.
You mention on your website that you're excited about the ingredients that make up your body products. Can you elaborate a little bit about what goes into your reusable bottles?
All of our formulas are carefully selected from nature’s most nutrient- and vitamin-rich plants, minerals, and renewable sources. Our main ingredient is aloe. It contains 75 nutrients, including 8-essential amino acids as well as vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E. Here’s a list of the ingredients for our shampoo: Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Saponified Oils of Coconut and Safflower Seed, Guar Gum and Irish Moss (Red Algae Extract – Carrageen), Organic Camellia, Sunflower and Ricebran Oils, Extracts of Chamomile and Quillaja Saponaria, Papaya and Pineapple Pulp Extracts, Rosemary Oleoresin, Vitamin E Complex, Organic Green Tea, Geogard Ultra and Potassium Sorbate. Mint Arvenis Essential Oil. Essence of Rosemary, Mint and Vanilla.
We pride ourselves on transparency, so all of our ingredients are on our website. As a bonus our products are chemical free, as well as kid safe, color safe and our formula is biodegradable. Our vegan shampoo, conditioner and body wash are all cruelty free.
Why did you choose aluminum for your bottles instead of glass?
We spent almost two years researching and working on Plaine Products. We considered lots of options for containers including stainless steel, aluminum and glass. We were worried about potential breakage with glass in the shower, so we steered away and looked at more durable materials. We couldn’t find affordable steel that was high enough quality, so aluminum was the best option.
How do you hope to change people's routines for the better?
The goal of Plaine Products is to reduce waste and help eliminate single use plastics. We designed our products and process to make it as easy as possible for people to have their containers reused. We wanted people to be able to get refills and return their bottles without having to leave the house.
In addition to providing an easy alternative, we hope to just raise awareness about the problems single use plastics are causing in the world. If people take the time to think about their choices I think we can all make choose products that are more durable, long lasting goods. The crazy thing about plastic is that it last for hundreds of years, but more than half of all plastic is used once and then thrown away.
There’s a meme out there that says, “When did it become easier to extract oil from the ground, ship it to a refinery, turn it into plastic, shape it appropriately, ship it to a store, buy it, and bring it home, than to just wash a spoon when you’re done with it."
Where do you see yourself and your business in the next five years?
Our first step is to add more products, we’re just about to add a second scent, hand wash, and body lotion. Down the line I’d love to see us expand into home cleaning products. I also want to figure out a way to have refill stations around the country so people who want to can refill their bottles without having to ship them. We also gotten lots of requests from all over the globe to replicate our model - which would be amazing. I’ve got lots of plans!
And just for fun, what are a few things most people don't know about you?
I’ve worked in the nonprofit world for the last 20 years, this is my first ever for profit job! I lived on a sail boat for a year when my husband and I just met and sailed from Florida to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and back!
