Before plastic, there was everything else
Before plastic was invented in 1907, everything was made from materials the Earth provided. Organic cotton, beeswax, cork, hemp and wood are not alternatives to modern materials — they are the originals. And they still outperform plastic in longevity, safety, and end-of-life impact.
The facts, with sources
| Fact | Source |
|---|---|
| Organic cotton uses 91% less water and 62% less energy than conventional cotton | Soil Association, 2019 |
| Cork bark is harvested without cutting the tree, which lives 200+ years absorbing CO₂ | WWF, 2018 |
| Hemp is harvest-ready in 90–120 days, with zero pesticides | EIHA, 2022 |
What it means day to day
- One beeswax wrap replaces about 1,000 sheets of cling film
- All fully biodegradable — they return to soil, not landfill