What if we left a planet in (better) balance for our children and future grandchildren? And a planet in balance, how do you get that? And what does that mean? And how do we get there? Where do we start?

Founder of The Organic Company, Joy Vasiljev, has her say on this. Read her exciting perspectives here. Below you can read why Yrolí uses easily biodegradable ingredients.

The Organic Company
The Organic Company designs and supplies everyday products for the home in the kitchen, bath, wellness, bags, relaxation and meditation. Everything is produced under orderly conditions and environmentally friendly. In addition, all products are designed and produced to have a long life. You can read more on their website here

My own journey

I started The Organic Company almost 16 years ago and I am still on a journey. A journey of knowledge that becomes insight. A meaningful journey. I would like to say my ikigai. The latest one that makes good sense to me and that I am practicing is Regenerative Leadership. And “regenerative” means to repair, to heal or to restore. And that is what we need more of on this planet. Think about it. Relationships; private, at work and between nations need to be healed in many places. Nature; biodiversity, the aquatic environment and the climate need to be healed in many places. In general, small and large need to be healed in all possible places at all possible times.

And that's what I've come to now. It's about approach . If we all learned to use the regenerative approach in school and at home, we would use it as a starting point for all life's challenges. Imagine if all conflicts, crises and imbalances were approached with "how do we best restore balance here". How beautiful is that approach?

It is a holistic approach that aims for balance. As in yin yang - the duality principle. We are generally out of balance - isn't that right? We, especially in the West, have to recognize it in order to do something about it. For example, we have too much yang in the world (creativity, achievements, goals, material things, appearance, chores, etc.) and it is eating away at us. Just think about how large parts of our society; education and profession are built on performance. We need more yin (rest, stability, slowness, etc.) to achieve a harmonious balance.

Focus

We know that there are MANY imbalances on this earth, we as individuals or small groups cannot solve them all. So focus. Take a topic and know a little more. I call it “choose your sustainability hat”. Learn from the scholars. Go deep. One topic at a time. And act from your focus.

Connection

We have lost connection to nature, ourselves and each other. Feel and seek connection and connectedness. The era of ego is over.

Community

You can't reach your goal alone, and we are pack animals anyway. So think in terms of relationships, think in groups, think in community. And honor the community. Have a humble approach to the community. Imagine seeing the earth and all of us humans from a long way out in space – here we would look like small, identical dots, standing close together. And that's what we are – small dots that are connected. So let's drop the self-importance and rest in the community. Respect the community and cultivate it.

So where do you start?

Set your intention; do you or don't you want to be a better version of yourself tomorrow than you were yesterday?

Decide on a topic: Ecology, social inequality, plastic in the oceans, improper resource consumption or another topic. There are plenty to choose from. However, remember to focus on one topic (at a time).

And does it matter? Yes, it does. Just try it for a month. Maybe you've saved 2 birds, 3 kg of plastic or our drinking water from more poison. Maybe you've felt joy and meaning. Maybe you've felt an inner balance? And then imagine if there are many millions of us who follow suit. Think about it.

And hey, if you feel bad about working with an imbalance, let me embrace the bad thoughts and remember that doing a little is better than nothing.

No one can do everything, but we can all do something.

Our water

Joy encourages us to take one issue at a time. At Yrolí, we want to raise awareness about our natural aquatic environment and the damage that is happening.

The beauty and clothing industry plays a significant role in the pollution of our aquatic environment. This is due, among other things, to the use of large quantities of chemicals that end up in our waterways and marine environments, where they have negative effects on both marine life and ecosystems. The same applies to microplastic particles that end up in the aquatic environment and cause serious damage to marine organisms, as they can be mistaken for food and accumulate in the food chain .

Pesticides

Our aquatic environment, including our drinking water, is negatively and strongly affected by many of the pesticides that are used all year round in the fields. The pesticides slowly seep down through the different layers of soil. And since an incredible number of pesticides are used almost everywhere on the planet, our water is exposed all the time. For this reason alone, you should choose organic.

In a GOTS certified cotton production, approximately 91% less added water is used compared to a conventional cotton production. And NO pesticides or hazardous chemicals are used at all.

When formulating our skincare products at Yrolí, the choice of ingredients is of paramount importance. We are dedicated to choosing readily biodegradable ingredients that respect our natural aquatic environment. As part of our Blue Beauty commitment, we seek ingredients from wild harvest, organic sources and natural sources. We try to avoid ingredients originating from vulnerable biotopes and only choose synthetic ingredients when it is more ethical, environmentally friendly or safe.

Microplastics

One of the most harmful ingredients for our marine environment is microplastics. These tiny pieces of plastic, less than five millimeters long, accumulate in our oceans and pose a threat to fish and aquatic organisms. Glitter falls into this category and poses a particular danger as fish and birds may mistake it for plankton and ingest it in large quantities. The sharp edges of the glitter can cause internal injuries to fish and birds or lead to starvation when it builds up in their systems. Unfortunately, even if the animals survive, the glitter can end up on our own plates as it can become part of the food chain.

Microbeads

Another form of microplastic is microbeads, found in some makeup and skincare products. Although they have already been banned in detergents due to their harmful effects on the environment, they are still allowed in cosmetic products.

Silicones

Silicones, which are used to give a smooth texture to skin care products, are also an ingredient we avoid. Silicones are virtually impossible to break down within a reasonable time frame and therefore accumulate in our marine environment and waterways. Fish and marine life can be exposed to these ingredients, which can lead to serious injury or death in the worst case scenario.

Teflon

Teflon, also known as PFOA, is found in many cosmetic products, although it does not break down and therefore does not belong in our marine environment, our water supply, or our bodies.

Oxybenzone

Another harmful ingredient is oxybenzone, found in some chemical sunscreens. Oxybenzone is a threat to our coral reefs as it makes them more vulnerable to bleaching and causes long-term damage to these vital and irreplaceable ecosystems. Oxybenzone enters our oceans through human bathers, as well as through our sewage systems.

In addition to these ingredients, we also avoid substances such as EDTA, PFA and PFC, which accumulate in the environment and can cause harm to fish, animals and marine life.

Hazardous chemicals

We are also aware of the hazardous chemicals used in the production of certain ingredients. Many of these ingredients are grown with genetically modified organisms or require the use of heavy pesticides and insecticides. These chemicals can degrade soil, contaminate waterways, and cause harm to animals, marine life, humans, and various types of plants.

Water consumption

Finally, water consumption is also an important factor to consider. Some natural ingredients require large amounts of fresh water for production. To preserve our precious natural resources, it is crucial that we choose water-efficient ingredients that do not waste water.

Readily biodegradable ingredients

By focusing on choosing readily biodegradable ingredients and avoiding harmful substances, we can take responsibility for our natural aquatic environment and preserve its beauty and vitality. As consumers, we also have the power to choose skincare products that are gentle on our planet. By supporting companies that prioritize Blue Beauty and sustainability, we can together help preserve our natural aquatic environment and ensure a cleaner, healthier future for us all.