Back in 2019, Maru and I made the decision to move to more sustainable products in the home. Some changes we kept, and some didn’t work out (read: making our own cleaning solution using white vinegar).
One change that has persisted has been me switching from using disposable razors to using a safety razor. It’s been a hugely positive change, and I realised that I’ve never written about it.
I bought a Merkur 34C stainless steel razor for £34, and it looks exactly the same as when I bought it. I also bought a pack of 100 blades that came in 100% cardboard packaging for £10, and I haven’t even finished the pack yet.
I broke even versus disposable razors within a year, and I feel much better about all the plastic waste that I’m avoiding.
The safety razor did take a little bit of getting used to though. The single blade means you need to get the angle right to get a close shave, versus disposable razor cartridges that typically have 4-5 blades.
My only bug bear is the safety razor is hard to travel with; I can’t take blades in a carry-on for obvious reasons, so I end up switching to disposables when travelling.
After 3 years, the net benefit of the change has been positive, and I see no reason to go back to disposables.