A Sustainable Alternative to the Plastic Loofah

The natural loofah is actually the ripened fruit of a plant of the cucumber family!

The natural loofah (or luffa) sponge does not come from the ocean – it is actually the ripened fruit of a plant of the cucumber family and is the best sustainable, plant-based, biodegradable alternative!

The natural loofah is actually the ripened fruit of a plant of the cucumber family!
Photo Credits: Left: Loofah vine at Goobs Garden Right: Loofah scrub by Saniya Malhotra

The loofah is cultivated and eaten as a vegetable, but must be harvested at a young stage of development to be edible. When the fruit is fully ripened, it is very fibrous and is the source of the loofah scrubbing sponge which can be used for the body, washing the dishes or scrubbing anything in general.

So the next time your plastic loofah needs to be replaced, buy a fruit instead!

Features:

The natural loofah is actually the ripened fruit of a plant of the cucumber family!
Photo Credit: Oliver Flynn
The natural loofah is actually the ripened fruit of a plant of the cucumber family!
Photo Credit: Oliver Flynn

• Natural and Non-toxic — The loofah is a plant (and not plastic). It is neither bleached nor dyed which means no chemicals coating your dishes or entering the water system.

• Compostable and Biodegradable — No more plastic and synthetic scrubbers that end up in the landfill which makes the loofah the ideal zero-waste alternative.

• Versatile — Use it to clean dishes and baby bottles, to scrub veggies, as body scrubbers in the shower, or use it as soap lifts.

• No Scratches — The loofah becomes soft when wet and is not abrasive. It’s durable and has amazing scrubber power with it’s natural fiber, but won’t scratch your non-stick pans or softer materials.

These loofahs are more common than we think and are surprisingly easily available. And also very easy to grow! I myself saw it first at a corner shop in Athens, mistook it for an ocean sponge and being vegan, ignored it completely. You will probably find it in a regular store in your city or search for it in your favourite online or offline zero-waste shop and you can even find it on Amazon.

Here are some links to purchase the loofah:

Scrufah by Oliver Flynn from their website

Scrufah by Oliver Flynn from Amazon (US)

Plastikourgeio online shop based in Athens

Plastikourgeio offline shop on Asklipiou, Athens

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