What’s Really In Your Everyday Products? 6 Sustainable Home Swaps

October 6, 2026 Biome team

What’s in it? How was it made? Is there a local option?

These are the kinds of questions we ask every day at Biome. We know many of you ask them too.

We care about what comes into our homes, what goes onto our skin and what gets left behind in the environment. And we believe you deserve to know more than the label might tell you.

Sometimes that means looking past a green claim. Sometimes it means asking why an everyday ingredient has travelled halfway around the world. And sometimes it means choosing a product made to last.

Here are six things worth a closer look, with practical alternatives we’ve chosen with care.

1. Sheet really? What’s holding your laundry sheet together?

A small sheet in a cardboard box can look like a simple answer to plastic bottles. But the packaging is only part of the story. What’s holding the sheet together?

Many laundry sheets use polyvinyl alcohol, also called PVA or PVOH, a water-soluble synthetic polymer commonly made from petrochemicals. Dissolving and fully biodegrading are different things. A sheet disappearing in your washing machine does not, on its own, tell you what happens afterwards.

At Biome, we research beyond the packaging and challenge greenwashing. We question claims so you can make informed choices.

Refill the bottle you already have

Make your own laundry liquid with Biome’s Laundry Liquid Concentrate Bar. A practical alternative that puts your existing container back to work.

Explore the laundry concentrate bar →

2. No, chef! Do you need a coated pan?

Easy cleanup shouldn’t be the only thing we ask of a frying pan. What it’s made from matters, for our health and the environment.

Many conventional non-stick pans use PTFE, often known by the trade name Teflon. It belongs to the broad PFAS family, which includes substances linked to potential endocrine disruption, including effects on hormone regulation and thyroid function.

With durable alternatives available, we don’t believe PFAS coatings are necessary in our kitchens. Convenience should come with fewer compromises.

At Biome, we put human health first. We take a precautionary approach and choose cookware without PFAS coatings.

Choose a pan worth keeping

Explore Solidteknics cookware without synthetic non-stick coatings. Choose the material that suits your cooking and follow its seasoning and care instructions.

Explore Solidteknics →

3. Cut out the microplastic: what’s on your chopping board?

Those knife marks on your plastic board? They’re signs of a surface wearing away. Research has found that chopping on plastic boards can release microplastic particles.

We don’t think plastic belongs in food preparation when a durable wooden alternative can do the job.

At Biome, we believe in buying well and wasting less. We choose quality wooden boards that keep plastic off the cutting surface and can be cared for and used for years.

Put timber on your bench

Choose a camphor laurel cutting board for everyday food preparation without a plastic cutting surface. Wash and dry as directed, and avoid soaking or dishwashing.

Explore camphor laurel boards →

4. Salt doesn’t need a passport: why not choose Australian?

Why ship salt halfway around the world when we have excellent options here in Australia?

Before reaching for imported Celtic sea salt or Himalayan pink salt, turn the pack over. Where was it harvested? Who produced it? Is there a local alternative?

At Biome, we’d rather back Australian producers and skip the international journey.

Good flavour, clear origins and support for Australian businesses. That’s plenty of reason to choose local.

Give local salt a place at your table

Discover Australian-harvested salts for cooking, seasoning and finishing your favourite meals.

Explore Australian salt →

5. Chemical haze: what’s behind that lavender scent?

A lavender picture doesn’t mean there’s lavender inside. A floral name tells you what a product smells like, not what creates that scent.

The words “fragrance” or “parfum” can cover a blend without identifying its individual ingredients. You’re left choosing what to spray into your home without the full picture. We don’t think that’s good enough.

At Biome, we stand for clear ingredients and choose alternatives without synthetic fragrance. You deserve to know what you’re bringing into the air you and your family breathe.

Know what you’re spraying

Explore botanical room scents with ingredient information to help you choose. Prefer no scent? Fresh air is a good place to start.

Explore room scents →

6. Why send petrol to do a plant’s job?

Why rely on petroleum for a job plants can do?

Petroleum jelly, also called petrolatum, is derived from crude oil. It forms a barrier on the skin that helps reduce moisture loss. We don’t believe our everyday skin care needs to depend on the fossil fuel industry.

That’s why we created CastorGuard with castor oil and plant waxes. A practical, petroleum-free alternative for dry lips, hands and cuticles.

At Biome, we question where ingredients come from, even when they’ve been used for generations. When plants can do the job well, we choose plants.

Let plants do the job

Discover the CastorGuard family, from multi-purpose skin balm to lip care.

Explore the CastorGuard family →

Keep asking. It makes a difference.

You don’t have to change everything at once. Start with something you use often. Read the ingredients. Check its origins. Ask the brand a question.

Clear answers should be part of what you’re buying.

Thank you for being curious and caring alongside us. You help shape what we do every day.

Tracey

Frequently asked questions

Are laundry sheets plastic-free?
Some laundry sheets contain polyvinyl alcohol, also labelled PVA or PVOH, a water-soluble synthetic polymer. Plastic-free packaging does not necessarily mean the detergent itself is free from synthetic polymers. Check the complete ingredient list.

Does PVA dissolving in water mean it has biodegraded?
No. Dissolving and biodegrading are different processes. PVA’s biodegradation depends on its formulation and environmental conditions. Disappearing in a wash is not proof of complete biodegradation.

Is Teflon cookware unsafe to use?
Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment says adverse health effects are not expected from correctly used PTFE cookware. Strong overheating can release harmful gases. At Biome, we take a precautionary approach and choose alternatives without PFAS coatings.

Do plastic chopping boards release microplastics?
Research has found that chopping on plastic boards can release microplastic particles. The amount varies with the material and how it is used. Wooden boards avoid a plastic cutting surface but still need appropriate cleaning and care.

How do I know whether salt is Australian?
Check where the salt was harvested, rather than relying only on where it was packed. Biome’s Australian-harvested range includes Tasman Sea Salt, Murray River Salt and House of Pincho.

What does “fragrance” or “parfum” mean on an ingredient label?
These terms can describe a fragrance blend without listing its individual components. They do not, on their own, tell you whether the scent comes from natural or synthetic ingredients. Ask the brand for more information.

Are natural air fresheners suitable for everyone?
No fragrance suits everyone. Essential oils and other natural fragrance ingredients can still cause irritation or sensitivity. Check the directions, use sparingly and choose fragrance-free if scents bother your household.

What is a petroleum-free alternative to Vaseline?
CastorGuard is a petroleum-free alternative made with castor oil, castor wax, carnauba wax and coconut oil. It can be used for everyday dry skin care, including lips, hands and cuticles. Check the product directions for your intended use.