I admit the pandemic and parenthood did a number on our previously low-impact, nearly plastic-free life. Being generally safety-conscious, we became heavily reliant on online shopping for most of our needs and wants.

Thankfully, that’s starting to change. Sprout is growing up fast – thus becoming less needy – and Francis and I are slowly getting our green groove back. These past couple of months, we have been consciously trying to pivot back to our old lifestyle, preferring playgrounds over buying our daughter her own toys, eating a predominantly plant-based diet, and shopping in physical stores.

But of course, living far from the National Capital Region has a lot of cons. There are some things we have no choice but to buy online. The great thing is, more companies and small business are now shipping their products in plastic-free, planet-friendly packaging!

(There are lots of tiny individual steps we can take to look after our planet that don’t involve buying more stuff. But one of the most powerful things we can do is voting with our peso. But by spending on eco-conscious companies and small business, we are forcing big corporations and our governments to take our environment seriously.)

This May 14, treat your favorite woman – your mom, your mother-in-law, your fabulous aunt, your mother figures, or yourself – with gift ideas from one of these eco-conscious shops on Shopee:

1. Human Nature
2. Project Refill Metro Manila
3. AkkulaPh
4. Lieu PH

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Human Nature

Human Nature is quite popular as one of the first Filipino companies that fully embraced environmentalism. Their products range from bath, body, hair, beauty, feminine care, men’s care, kids, pets and home cleaning. All of their products are cruelty-free and many are vegan. They ship their products in plastic-free packaging.

Here are some great options for Mother’s Day:

• Marine Caviar HydoMiracle Set (₱1,045) – Due to the many responsibilities at home, work, and the community, many moms forget to look after their skin. This set includes a face cleanser, essence and face moisturizer to help her achieve supple skin.
• Acne Defense Trio (₱490) – Hormones, lack of sleep, and neglect of self-care are some of the reasons why moms, especially new moms, can have occasional breakouts. This trio helps clear her skin from impurities. The line has a solution gel, facial wash, and toner that work together to fight pimples.
• Body Butter (₱350) – Give your favorite woman the gift of moisturized, glowing skin with Human Nature’s Body Butter. It comes in peach vanilla and berry bliss variants.

Project Refill Metro Manila

Project Refill on Shopee is my personal go-to when it comes to home cleaning stuff. They have a wide selection of cheap and compostable personal and cleaning products that come in 100% plastic-free packaging.

Here are some of the giftable stuff from the shop:

• Wooden Paddle Hair Brush (₱105) – My personal favorite, this huge hair brush makes me feel like Rapunzel. It’s not harsh on the scalp at all, so it also feels relaxing whenever I use it. (Note to Francis: I already have this.)
• Washable Menstrual Cloth Pads Overnight (₱150) – I’ve been using washable menstrual pads for years, and they’re a life-changer. If she’s still using disposable menstrual pads, help her make the switch by getting her a batch of menstrual cloth pads that’s good for a cycle. (I’ve tried menstrual cups before, but, to be honest, the prudish Catholic woman in me just can’t make it work.)
• Laundry Detergent Sheets (₱250) – This is not one of those passive-aggressive, sexist washing machine campaigns from the 50s. But as I get older, the more I appreciate useful gifts (e.g. mugs and face towels). Especially with the ever-weakening purchasing power today, any responsible adult – not just moms – will be happy to receive detergent. It’s even eco-friendly and includes 90 sheets.

AkkulaPh

Looking for natural, cruelty-free, sustainable, zero-waste, and local gifts? Akkula produces a variety of self-care, home care, pet care and sports care products that are good for the planet. All of their packaging, including their tape adhesive, is paper, so you help reduce plastic waste when you buy their products. You can find them on their website, but you can also buy their products on Shopee.

Here’s what I think are the best gift boxes for Mother’s Day:

• The Home Box (₱450) – Perfect as gift for the eco-conscious mom, The Home Box contains a wooden soap dish, a dishwashing soap bar, a cotton towel, a coco bristle brush, and a 250 mL lavender multi-purpose cleaner.
• Nama Spray + Lip Balm Bundle (₱489) – The best bundle for the health-conscious mom is this yoga mat spray and vegan lip balm (in your choice variant) combo. Whether she’s practicing yoga at home or working out in the gym, the Nama Spray will help eliminate the sweaty odors. And also, Akkula’s lip balm is plantable, so it’s okay to toss it on the ground once you’re done with the tube.
• The Paw Box (₱399) – A pet-loving mom will love this combo of a cotton towel, Paw Balm, Pee-Wee Spray, and a coco fiber bone for her fur baby. She gets to pamper and care for her furry child and help the planet at the same time.

Lieu PH

I discovered Lieu back during the initial lockdowns, and here’s where I bought the utensils we are now using in our house. They are focused on kitchen and personal care products that are natural and reusable. I don’t think they had a Shopee store at that time, but now they do. They also ship the products in plastic-free packaging.

• Organic Cotton Produce/Fruit Bag Set (₱265-₱355) – I’m glad that many groceries and supermarkets here in San Jose City have switched from plastic to paper and eco-bags. But our ordinary eco-bags are not suitable for the planet. They don’t decompose and instead disintegrate into microplastics that pollute our waters. The best thing to do is use any durable bag you already have, but you can also get this organic cotton produce bag that will excite you to bring on your next market day.
• Collapsible/Foldable Silicone Container (₱199-₱350) – Like BYOB, Bring Your Own Container should also be a thing. This collapsible baunan perfectly fits your office bag for your emergency dinner takeouts. Of course, you can use whatever container you already have at home.
• Reusable Organic Cotton Rounds (₱155-₱215) – You’d be surprised that cotton balls are neither biodegradable nor compostable. That means that small ball we use on a daily basis for barely a few seconds will pollute the Earth for a very long time. These reusable organic cotton rounds do the same job while being lighter on the planet. You can also make your own washcloths.

Let’s make Mother Earth smile on Mother’s Day.