Quiz: Washable or disposable, does being green save money?

2023-06-02 11:00:59

In 2016, Ademe carried out a survey on the consumption of cleaning and hygiene products, ecological and non-ecological. Seven families used ecological (with the organic label) and non-ecological products. At the end of the survey, the agency determined that it was possible to consume ecologically without additional cost, but that among the practices, that of consuming differently had particularly counted: “The quantities of product used decreased by 46%, from from 22 to 12 kg / person / year. This is due to a better dosage, an optimization of washes, but also to the abandonment of the use of certain products which may be less necessary (certain disposable products). If the practices weigh so much in the balance, they are therefore a real means of saving.

Seven years later, in the midst of inflation, we scoured the virtual shelves of a supermarket to see whether or not you would save money by changing your practices and consuming green. Without spoilers, it’s not always so obvious.

Methodology :

We used price averages for each product, from the Carrefour site in mid-May. Depending on the products, we used the least expensive product (private label) and the most or least expensive (brand such as Dop, Spontex, Albal, etc.). For washable products, we based ourselves on online stores or brand sites and, here too, calculated an average of the prices observed.

On certain expenses such as sponges or cotton swabs, the volume is complicated to determine. We have chosen to cross-reference the recommendations with the practices. Example: it is recommended to change sponge once a week, but in fact, we are rather (at best?) on a change once a month, or even less. We therefore chose for the calculation every fortnight. On the amount of parchment paper, we also made this choice of pizzas and homemade cookies, once a week.

Finally, the products are those which are used by the students, the list is therefore not exhaustive; and we haven’t factored in water expenditure for washable products because… 14 make-up remover cotton pads per week won’t greatly change the consumption of your washing machine.