One of the best parts of celebrating Earth Day this Thursday, April 22, is raising awareness of the many ways everyone can help the planet. This includes supporting green initiatives by using sustainable products, recycling services and eco-friendly beauty and wellness products. When focusing specifically on eco-friendly grooming, the topic of disposable razors inevitably comes up in the conversation.

So just how bad is your disposable razor for the environment? Considering that billions of plastic razors and refill blade cartridges get tossed in landfills each year, the truthful answer is pretty bad. What makes disposable razors so environmentally unfriendly is largely the materials used in each razor. Typically made from different components in a variety of material such as plastic, rubber and metal, most municipal recycling programs in the U.S. will not accept disposable razors, making them hard to be recycled. A majority end up in landfills or contaminating our water systems. But there is a solution to the pollution: Double Edge Razors.

For those looking for about an eco-friendlier shave, Double Edge Razors, or Safety Razors as they’re also referred to, are a great alternative to disposable ones. While the term may conjure images of your grandfather’s old razor, today’s Double Edge Razors are both modern and perfectly gender-neutral, as ideal for shaving a beard as for shaving legs. Crafted from stainless steel, Double Edge Razors handles, such as the Feather All Stainless Steel Double Edge Razor, are built to last a lifetime. In fact, many razor collectors purchase and use old Double Edge Razors from as far back as the early 1900s with no problems. These razor handles use all-steel replacement blades with no plastic. This means the only waste is the blades and some municipalities do recycle those. Should you ever need to replace or dispose of your razor handle, that too can be recycled.

Due to their quality and sharpness, Double Edge Blades last longer than standard metal and plastic cartridge blades, meaning less waste. Feather’s Double Edge Blades are platinum coated which extends the life of the blade, preventing them from dulling as quickly as other blades might. The blades are also two-sided allowing for additional shaves with each blade. Depending on technique, hair density and thickness, and skin type, some users can get anywhere from three to seven shaves per Double Edge Blade. They can even save you money in the long term since Double Edge Blades are more affordable than cartridge replacements – not to mention more high performing by providing a closer shave. The refill blades, such as the Feather Hi-Stainless Double Edge Blades, are very inexpensive – as low as 50 cents each compared to $2+ each for the average modern cartridge. Economic and eco-friendly – a true win-win for your wallet and your carbon footprint.

While one person switching from disposable razors to a Double Edge one may not seem like it will have a huge impact on the environment, it is important to remember that every person together adds up. When it comes to protecting Earth, it is a shift that can have an impact for generations to come.