November's sustainable superstar: Plaine Products
Ali & Lindsey (pictured above) are SISTERS and co-founders of Plaine Products — a circular, plastic-free solution for hair and body care.
Conceptually we understand how much plastic is produced and wasted, but when you live on a coast those numbers become reality. That’s exactly what happened when Lindsey lived in the Bahamas.
After seeing the consequences of single-use plastic first-hand, the two spent over a year researching safe, non-toxic formulas and testing refillable packaging that would actually work.
Because ultimately, they believe sustainability should be simple.
So how does it work?
-
First order your favorite product (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, skin & hair care).
-
Unbox your sustainable (and pretty) products packaged in refillable aluminum bottles
-
When you’ve used your products and receive their replacements, move the plastic pump to the new bottle
-
Rinse the empty bottle, pack it in the refill box and send it back!
-
You can also find Plaine Products at refill stores across the country!
Once at HQ, the products are cleaned and reused. Eventually they get recycled to be made into new bottles!
In 2024, Plaine Products (and customers) prevented 13,000+ lbs of plastic from being sent to a landfill!
How to support:
november's message from Paulina:
Hello from Nashville!
My partner and I have been living our best van life this fall.
We rolled through the Badlands in North Dakota, Teddy Roosevelt National Park in South Dakota, the Catskills, the Berkshires and the home of the one and only Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut).
We landed in Boston for my birthday (October 18th) just in time for the No Kings Rally.
The energy and hope at the rally was incredibly powerful.
I've felt the same thing at the sustainability, networking, and small business events I've been attending lately.
That same vibration of positivity and hope. Not just from leaders, but from everyday people too.
Because two things can be true: things suck right now in so many ways, but hard times force us into creativity and solutions we wouldn't have considered before.
These events remind me how much work is happening that we don't see. That people are still fighting and will never back down. There's momentum building, connections forming, ideas sparking.
So, how can you pick up these same vibrations of hope?
-
Follow creators and hyper specific news. Pick a topic you’re passionate about and find good people making content. (link to blog)
-
Vote. Always. In every election
-
Boycott strategically
We've seen some leaders calling for boycotts recently and honestly? I’m on board.
I quietly boycott a lot in my regular life because we’re living in a time of unmatched corporate power who face basically no consequences.
And one way to get people to listen is to fuck with their money. We saw it with Jimmy Kimmel!
So boycott if that feels right to you, but remember:
-
A true boycott doesn’t have an end date. Be prepared to let it go on forever or the company will just wait you out.
-
Don’t include small businesses. Unless they’ve done something boycott-worthy, channel your money into small businesses instead.
And finally: major elections are coming in 2026. The people in Congress were put there by your votes to represent YOU.
Get out and vote in anything and everything you can.
If you don’t want to go to the polls, register for mail-in voting. That’s literally what it’s there for.
november's blog: declutter with intention
Your closet holds more than just clothes; it holds your energy for the year ahead. Ready to let go of what no longer serves you and make space for who you're becoming? Our 4-step decluttering guide helps you sort through the chaos, organize with intention, and maintain that fresh-start feeling all year long. Because less really is more, and your 2026 self deserves a space that sparks clarity, not stress.
november's earthly eco news
🍃 renewable energy outshines coal: Despite this administration's attempts to slow and downplay renewable energy, it’s booming (globally)! For the first half of 2025, solar & wind exceeded global demand while solar energy alone met 83% of the global demand. It’s worth noting the US & EU relied more than before on fossil fuels. Read more in BBC
🥜 Peanut allergies in kids is decreasing: For years, parents were told to avoid exposing babies to peanuts to prevent severe allergies. But in 2017, The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found the opposite to be true. They took the new evidence and put out updated pediatric guidelines. And in a study recently completed, they found it worked! Peanut allergies are on the decline and peanuts have moved out of the #1 spot for food allergies. This is how progress works. We learn, we act, we keep learning. It's never perfect, but it has to keep moving forward.
☕️ People being good people: Heretic Coffee in Portland offered to serve free breakfast to anyone losing SNAP benefits starting November 1. So far they’ve raised over $300K and expanded to breakfast and lunch as the administration is still withholding funds.
🌞 The sun is 41% cheaper than fossil fuels: According to two new studies from the UN, renewable energy has reached the tipping point and is now significantly cheaper than fossil fuels. And on that same note, Australia is getting so much energy from solar farms it’s going to start offering free electricity during mid-day!
Thanks for reading! Stay sustainable 💚