Zero waste facial tissues (and tips for good immunity)

Naked Paper recycled paper tissues

Blowing your nose may seem like something of no importance. But switching to alternative brands of facial issues can save the Boreal forests, where elk and moose reside! Most brands use paper from trees that are logged down in Scandinavia, and also sold in paper packaging.

In the UK alone, over 5 million tonnes of used disposable facial tissues end up on landfills. And due to the contents in them (yuk!), they can’t be recycled.

Don’t flush disposable tissues down the loo, as they clog drains and cause garden floods (won’t make you popular with neighbours).

In this post, you’ll find alternative brands of disposable facial tissues made from waste (or bamboo). Plus where to find quality washable hankies.

Then we’ll finish with a few tips on how to protect your immune system during flu season – and a couple of good immunity and/or vitamin C supplements if you need some extra help.

How to safely blow your nose

Apparently most of us don’t blow our hooters properly. This not only makes it more uncomfortable if you have a cold – but can rupture blood vessels and even force air into the middle ear. Next time you have the sniffles:

• Place one finger against your nostril, and apply pressure.
• Take a breath, then gently blow the other nostril into a tissue.
• Do the same on the other side.
• Wash your hands, to avoid passing germs onto others.

Naked Paper (affordable recycled paper tissues)

Naked Paper is a lovely little brand that makes recycled paper tissues, toilet roll and kitchen roll, all at affordable prices and sold in zero waste packaging. These tissues are free from scent, and cost no more than leading brands of virgin paper tissues in plastic packs.

Serious Tissues (made in the Midlands)

Serious Tissues offers quality paper tissues as nice on your nose as premium brands, but these are made from 100% recycled paper, in plastic-free packaging. Free from dyes or scents, they are also made in the Midlands to provide jobs for local people.

Don’t flush disposable tissues down the loo, as they clog drains, cause fatbergs and garden floods (which won’t make you popular with neighbours).

Made from old cereal boxes and newspaper, each delivery includes 6 packs of 72 tissues, in thick 3-ply size. The tissues are naturally off-white, using a non-chlorine bleaching agent to remove colour from recycled magazines.

Who Gives a Crap? recycled paper tissues

Who Gives a Crap? is from the brand known for its recycled paper toilet roll, the tissues are also sold in colourful paper packaging. These 3-ply tissues can cope with sneezes so strong, they sound like a mini-scream! And work out as affordable as any other brand, when bought in bulk.

50% of profits are donated to sanitiation projects abroad, providing access to clean hygienic toilets (which saves many lives).

Washable organic cotton hankies

LittleLeaf Organic makes nice organic cotton hankies in cute designs (bicycles, turtles, Christmas trees). Made with solar power, and sold in recycled cardboard boxes.

This pack of organic cotton reusable tissues makes a nice little zero waste gift to yourself or others. Organic cotton is kinder to the earth, farmers, water and wildlife. And as fibres are not treated with chemicals, they tend to last longer after repeated washing.

Last Tissue (organic tissues in an eco box)

LastTissue is a US invention and pretty nifty. The silicone case contains 6 organic cotton hankies designed to replace 3000 single-paper tissues in its lifetime. Just pull a tissue from the dispenser, which seperates clean and used hankies (just place used one in the top).

While the tissues are laundered, you can clean the case in the dishwasher.

HankyBook (a ‘book’ of organic cotton hankies)

HankyBook is another good idea from over the pond. Invented by an engineering student, just ‘turn the page’ for a fresh handky. You then ‘pull apart the pages’ to wash in the machine. The protective cover keeps your hands clean, and helps to prevent invention.

Cheeky Panda bamboo facial tissues and wipes

Cheeky Panda is a brand of facial tissues made from bamboo. This is the world’s fastest-growing grass (up to 3 feet a day) so it’s pretty sustainable, although it’s not local. Industrial bamboo is not the same as fresh bamboo shoots, eaten by pandas. This range is all sold in plastic-free packaging.

Unlike some bamboo companies (that mix up bamboo fibre with tree fibres), this company guarantees that everything is 100% bamboo!

This brand offers standard boxes or handypacks. Ideal for big sneezes, hayfever attacks or ugly cries after a break-up. Soft enough for a teary goodbye, but strong enough to survive a full-force nose blow!

The 4-ply luxury tissues include a little aloe vera, to soften your nose for the strongest flu-colds, or a full-blown meltdown (if it was a really bad break-up).

Together Health Immune supplement (plastic-free)

Together Health Immune Support is vegan and sold in easy-to-take capsules (made from plant-cellulose) sold in easy-to-recycle plastic-free pouches. Even the protective film is made from compostable wood pulp.

Subscribe online for big savings (pause or cancel anytime). And earn points to redeem against future orders. Take this supplement with some fat-based food (like with oil) for best absorption. Store out of sunlight and use within 60 days once opened. Keep away from children and pets. 

As with any supplement, check with your GP if on medication or pregnant/nursing. Always recycle unused supplements/medications at pharmacies for proper disposal.

This supplement contains:

• Zinc and selenium to build good immunity
• Vitamins C and D (from plant lichen)
• Live cultures (no yoghurt required!)

This brand uses wholefoods for better absorption (and less likely to give you tummy ache). For example, the vitamin C is not acidic, but from organic amla superfruit berries.

More tips for a healthy immune system

• Eat plenty of healthy foods. Include plenty of fresh organic fruits and vegetables, plant-based proteins (like pulses, nuts and seeds) and wholegrains.
• Sleep at least 7 to 8 hours a night. You don’t gimmicks or oils. Sleep in a comfortable temperature room with clean sheets, and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Keep to a routine, so your body knows when to fall asleep.
• Take regular exercise. NHS recommends around 150 minutes of moderate activity each week.
• Quit smoking and you’ll find your immunity improves no end.
• Reduce or give up alcohol. NHS recommendations are no more than 1 beer or 1 glass of wine or 2 spirit measures 6 times a week (either/or – not all at the same time!)