In a unique partnership that exemplifies sustainability and innovation, The Yukon Soaps Company from Mayo, Yukon and Yukon Plastics, a local manufacturer of plastic products from Whitehorse, have come together to repurpose waste plastic into unique and beautiful combs and soap dishes. This collaboration solves an environmental problem, and demonstrates the potential of circular economies in the context of Indigenous ingenuity.
Our favourite is her Lava Sopa lavender soap (pictured)
Joella Hogan, the owner of The Yukon Soaps Company, is guided by Indigenous values and principles of sustainability and authenticity. She was a very early collaborator with Yukon Plastics. She recognized the opportunity to participate in the circular economy with her company’s plastic waste, finding a sustainable solution that aligned with her company’s and community’s values. To this day, she continues to bring the jugs from her soap ingredients to Yukon Plastics to make into a variety of products, her mum now does too!
The Plastic Problem
We all know that plastic pollution is a big problem. Millions of tons of plastic end up in landfills and oceans every year
Single-use plastics are a major part of this issue. In small and remote Canadian communities, such as Mayo, Yukon, the logistics of recycling are complex and expensive. The Yukon Soaps Company reduces and reuses where they can, and now they recycle right at home
Turning Plastic into Something New
Owner Joella Hogan was one of Yukon Plastics’ earliest supporters, and she continues to bring in the jugs that her soap ingredients come in to be transformed into new products. Her mum participates too and, due to popular demand, she kindly gathers the pretty coloured prescription bottles from her friends.
The Magic of Injection Molding
Injection molding is a fancy way of saying we melt plastic and shape it into something new using heat, pressure, and specially designed aluminum molds. Yukon Plastics uses this technique to turn waste plastic from The Yukon Soaps Company into two styles of soap dishes and our signature comb.
The Perks of Teamwork
This partnership between The Yukon Soaps Company and Yukon Plastics has so many benefits:
- Helping the Environment: By transforming plastic waste, we’re keeping plastic out of landfills, the landscape, creeks and rivers.
- Creative Solutions: This project shows how we can use innovation to turn waste materials into new things, right at home.
- Supporting Our Community: This collaboration shows us that local businesses can participate in the circular economy in an immediate way, and profit from it. It’s a good thing for our economy, our landscapes and our communities.
Working with The Yukon Soaps Company is a pleasure, and it shows us that with some creativity and partnership we can all make a difference, starting right at home. By turning waste plastic into useful and beautiful products, we are reducing waste, raising awareness about sustainability, honoring Indigenous knowledge, and caretaking the beautiful territory we call home.
