Plastic Free, Zero Waste Shaving with Albatross Designs
One of the coolest parts of my job is having so many opportunities to connect with a broader community of like-minded individuals — and businesses! — who share a commitment to living with intention.
Recently, I had an amazing conversation with the founder of Albatross Designs and learned about the company’s ethos and masterfully designed products for shaving and more. I left that chat intrigued, to say the least. It was clear to me that they get it, and they mean it when they say they care about purposeful living. The team kindly sent me their safety razor, blades, and hemp sack — plus a very special set of cutlery, which I’ll explain further down. I’m excited to share my thoughts on their inspiring work!
First, let’s go back to where their story begins. Founded by a team of surfers, sailors and ocean lovers, the company’s philosophy is all about designing impactful sustainability solutions for the future. Before Albatross came to be, the founders say they learned the value of purposeful living on the sea, where the need to respect and value limited resources was inescapable — as was bearing witness to the shocking amount of plastic litter in the ocean. Albatross Designs was built on the desire to eliminate plastic from our landfills and oceans, and became the first company in the world to eliminate all plastic and waste from shaving.
I was curious to try out Albatross’s products, since they are as focused on designing a premium experience as they are building a culture of sustainability. Their Zero Waste Shave Kit includes a zero waste safety razor set (with a razor, 10 blades, a hemp carrying bag, and an envelope for their Take Back program — more on that below), 1 oz. shaving soap, a vegan shaving brush, and a year’s supply of extra blades (light shaving frequency = 30 blades).
My honest review? I loved it and I would recommend to my family and friends! I found Albatross’s blade loading process much simpler than other safety razors I've tried — and safer, because it kept my fingers totally away from the blade. I felt much more confident about this process. I can confirm: Albatross has successfully created a pressure-free and stress-free experience. You do not need to apply any pressure at all; the razor does all the work! This razor was so much lighter than other safety razors I’ve used. Its double edge design means more shaving strokes per rinse (and less irritation!), and more drainage means less clogging. So overall it's a way more efficient and smooth shave! For once, I can see shaving being an enjoyable part of my self-care routine. Albatross has done what they set out to do in creating something made to last — a better product at a better price that’s better for the planet. (Not to mention, the products are also made for everyone. Why should razors be gendered?!)
As if I needed another reason to get on board with Albatross Designs, the company also launched an initiative to close the loop and make their operations circular. The Albatross Blade Take Back Program — the first of its kind in the world — ensures a completely zero waste, cradle-to-cradle shaving system. Albatross goes beyond taking razors back to recycle them — they upcycle into new products like the Take Back Ware cutlery I received! Even better, they accept all brands of double and single edged shaving blades for this program. This means that the company is able to keep the same resource, high-quality stainless steel, in continuous circulation.
Albatross has gone even further and introduced a new campaign to address the dire issue of ocean plastics. Did you know that there are an estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic floating in the ocean, and that figure is only increasing? That’s where the Trillion Pieces of Plastic Campaign comes in. The mission is to get just 13.8% of the world’s population to commit to picking up and properly disposing of 1,000 pieces of plastic litter from the ground in their lifetimes. (One piece of litter a day and this can even be done in under three years!) This would prevent one trillion pieces of plastic from ending up in the ocean. What I love about this campaign is that it’s focused on individual people taking tangible action and living their values — which is exactly why I started The Purposeful You! We can ALL take personal responsibility and make a difference. If you’re interested, you can pledge to pick up 1,000 pieces of plastic litter in your lifetime here.
I hope you are as excited about this company and mission as I am. I feel so optimistic knowing there are more and more people driven to create businesses that are as much about supporting people and the planet as they are profit. Thank you so much to Albatross for partnering with me so I can spread the word about your amazing work!
P.S. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below or on Instagram. Your support makes it possible for me to partner with brands so that I can introduce you to products that I hope will make a difference for both you and the environment!
* Note: This is a paid blog post in collaboration with Albatross Designs + some links are affiliate links.