Funny what turns me on and this one hits the spot! It’s a biodegradable shower cap that can be used again, composted, or thrown straight to the trash. Guilt free is the key emotion here.
ecoLiving Essentials is an impressive young company created by a couple of moms who share a passionate respect for our planet and concern for our children’s future. As frequent travelers, they became annoyed with the “remove shoes” routine at airports. Their naked or thin-hosed feet were subject to bacteria, fungi, and who knows what else? So they cleverly coordinated the invention of disposable footwear for airports that meet Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements.
The polyethylene film is free of the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), which is in most plastic products and has become a publicized health concern. It’s also polylactic acid (PLA) free. The moms’ favored material then led to shower caps.
The shower cap film material is disposable, but with a reasonable shelf live and multi-use option. It’s also anti-static and the elastic is made from natural rubber. How cool is this?
Yet what is polyethylene? Polyethylene film is a resinous material with thermoplastic properties that is synthesized by inducing oxidative polymerization of ethylene gas. Thermoplastic means that it can be melted to a liquid and remolded as it returns to a solid state.
BPA is generally understood, but I was confused about PLA and so asked. Cofounder Quyen Huynh explains that BPA-free is terrific, but PLA-free is questionable.
The problem with PLA products are that they need to be separated when you recycle. To my understanding, they can not be recycled in the same manner. Also, the other controversy is that PLA products seem to be not as efficient to produce, using more energy.
So the best compromise is the result of conscious consumer use studies. The caps are manufactured without PLA because they are made to go into the trash, or reused. The film can commingle in any environment and degrades naturally through microorganisms. Packaging is a biodegradable PLA bag with recycled gloss paper and a soy ink label.
Find shower caps in single or triple-item packs. Both caps and travel booties are available wholesale and cater to travel and hospitality industries. Let’s all commend Quyen and ecoLiving Essentials for supplying such well-needed products for every eco travel bug.
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